The Monster and His Queen

Chapter 7

"We have to break into Lord Marek's study? Are you insane?"

Martha crossed her arms, glaring at Draven. "Do you have a better idea, Prince?"

They huddled in a storage room near the castle kitchens. The smell of old vegetables and dried herbs filled the air. Elaria kept watch by the door while Draven and Martha argued.

"I could just make him talk," Draven suggested, shadows curling around his fingers. "The darkness has ways of loosening tongues."

"And alert everyone that we know about the plot? Brilliant strategy." Martha's sarcasm was thick. "No, we need proof that doesn't come from torture. Documents, letters, something that can't be denied."

Elaria turned from the door. "Martha's right. If we're going to expose them, we need evidence that my father can't ignore. Real proof that nobles were planning murder."

Through their bond, Draven felt her determination mixed with fear. He wanted to wrap her in shadows and hide her away until the danger passed. But he could also feel that she wouldn't allow it. She was done being protected like a helpless child.

"Fine," he said. "Where is Marek's study?"

"West wing, third floor. He locks the door, but I know where he keeps the spare key." Martha pulled out a ring of keys from her apron. "Perks of having served here for forty years. Nobody notices the old servant woman."

"When does he usually leave his study?" Elaria asked.

"He takes evening tea in the great hall every night at nine o'clock. Regular as clockwork. That gives us about thirty minutes before he returns."

Draven looked out the small window. "It's almost nine now. We need to move."

They crept through the palace corridors like thieves. Draven used his shadows to hide them from passing guards. Twice, servants walked right past without seeing them, even though Elaria was certain they'd been spotted.

"How are you doing that?" she whispered.

"Shadow veil. I'm bending the light around us. They see the hallway, but not us in it." Draven's voice was strained. "But it takes concentration. Don't distract me."

Finally, they reached the west wing. Martha led them to a painting of a past king—Elaria's great-grandfather. She felt along the frame until something clicked. A small compartment opened, revealing a brass key.

"Clever," Draven murmured.

"Marek thinks he's so smart," Martha said. "But servants see everything."

She unlocked the study door, and they slipped inside. The room was exactly what Elaria expected—dark wood, leather chairs, shelves filled with books and scrolls. A massive desk dominated the center, covered in neat stacks of papers.

"Start looking," Martha said. "We don't have much time."

Elaria went to the desk while Draven checked the bookshelves. Martha examined a locked chest in the corner. The only sound was papers rustling and their own breathing.

"What exactly are we looking for?" Elaria asked, scanning document after document.

"Anything connecting Marek to Selene," Martha said. "Letters, plans, payment records."

Draven pulled out a leather-bound journal from between two books. "What about this?"

He opened it, and his eyes widened. "It's a record of meetings. Look—here's an entry from three days ago." He read aloud. "'Met with S. again. She insists the girl must die before the ceremony. Too risky otherwise. Agreed to provide coin for the necessary arrangements.'"

"S. for Selene," Elaria breathed. "That's proof!"

"Keep looking," Martha urged. "One entry isn't enough. We need more."

Elaria rifled through more papers. Most were boring—trade agreements, tax records, letters about grain shipments. Then she found a folder hidden under a false bottom in a drawer.

Inside were letters. All signed with an S.

She read the first one quickly. Her blood ran cold.

"Draven. Look at this."

He came to her side, reading over her shoulder. His shadows darkened with anger as he read.

The letter detailed everything—how Selene had been promised marriage to Draven months ago. How her family had paid gold to secure the arrangement. How furious she was when King Zarek had offered his daughter instead. And most damning of all, specific plans for how to kill Elaria and make it look natural.

"Poison in the wine at the wedding feast," Elaria read aloud, her voice shaking. "Or perhaps a tragic fall from the balcony during the dancing. There's even a note about bribing the physician to declare it an unfortunate accident."

Martha came over, her face grim. "This is what we need. But there's more." She held up papers from the chest she'd been examining. "Financial records. Selene has been paying Marek substantial amounts. And look at this list of names."

Elaria took the paper. Her heart sank. The list included at least fifteen nobles—all prominent members of her father's court. All conspirators.

"This is bigger than we thought," she whispered. "They're not just trying to stop the wedding. They're planning a complete takeover."

"There's a date here," Draven noted, pointing to a notation at the bottom. "Two weeks from now. 'Final arrangements complete. New order begins.'"

"They're planning to kill my father," Elaria realized. "After the wedding fails, while the kingdom is in chaos, they'll move against him."

A sound in the hallway made them all freeze. Footsteps. Getting closer.

"He's coming back early," Martha hissed. "We need to leave. Now."

"The papers," Elaria said, gathering them up.

"Leave them," Draven ordered. "If he knows we found them, he'll destroy everything else and warn the others."

"But we need proof!"

"I can remember every word." Draven tapped his temple. "Shadow-touched memory. I can recall it perfectly. And through our bond, you can too."

It was true. Elaria realized she could see the documents in her mind as clearly as if she was still looking at them. The bond let them share memories, thoughts, everything.

The footsteps were right outside now. Martha pushed them toward a side door that led to a servant's passage. They slipped through just as the main door opened.

Through a c***k, Elaria saw Lord Marek enter. He looked troubled, walking straight to his desk. He opened the drawer where the letters had been—the one with the false bottom. For a terrifying moment, she thought he'd notice they'd been disturbed.

But he just pulled out a different paper, scanned it, and tucked it into his jacket.

"Tomorrow," he muttered to himself. "It has to be tomorrow. Before the shadow prince's family arrives and everything becomes too complicated."

He left again, locking the door behind him.