Chapter 424: New Doubt
Samantha paced the length of the hospital hallway, her arms folded tightly across her chest. The sterile scent of disinfectant mixed with the faint coppery tang of blood in the air, making her stomach twist with unease.
Julian, watching her from his seat against the wall, sighed in exasperation. "Can you stay in one place? You’re making me dizzy."
Samantha shot him a glare. "The doctor hasn’t come out yet," she said, her voice edged with frustration.
Julian leaned back, tilting his head against the wall. "It’s just a gunshot to the leg. Xander’s tough. He’ll be fine."
She didn’t answer. Fine? That was easy for Julian to say. He wasn’t the one watching the man he loved lying helpless on a hospital bed.
Wait. Love?
Samantha stiffened, forcing herself to push the thought aside.
Instead, she focused on the bigger question clawing at her mind. "Who could have done this?" she asked suddenly, narrowing her eyes. "The palace is supposed to be the safest place in the kingdom. For someone to get close enough to shoot Xander, they either got past the guards or..." She trailed off as the answer hit her.
Her hands clenched into fists. "It must have been the royal couple," she said bitterly. "They’re the only ones who would dare."
Julian remained silent, but she could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes.
She exhaled sharply. "They think they can do whatever they want just because they’re on the throne. But they seem to forget that we hold their secrets in our hands." Her voice turned venomous. "They’ll regret this."
Julian ran a hand through his hair. He had his own suspicions, but they didn’t align with Samantha’s. If the king and queen had truly ordered this, they wouldn’t have left Xander alive.