Chapter 80
Betrayed by Blood
Queen Ingrid stood before the mirror, slipping on her nightgown for the night. The soft rustle of silk sheets stirred behind her. She could feel the presence of the man before he even spoke. The bed creaked as he got up from it, and soon, she felt his warm breath against the nape of her neck.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. His lips brushed against her bare shoulder, lingering, as he murmured, "Come back to bed. I’ve missed you. Two weeks without a word is cruel."
Ingrid smiled, but it was a smile that held no warmth. She turned, meeting his gaze, and her smile faded. She looked at him, her eyes cold and emotionless. He was tall, tanned, and handsome in a way that made even the most beautiful women envy him; he was everything Alaric wasn’t. But despite the beauty he exuded, Ingrid was unmoved.
Ingrid pressed a finger against his chest, forcing him to step back. "Know your place, Salem," she said, her voice soft but laced with warning. "I’d hate to have to remind you of it."
His jaw tightened, but he bowed his head, concealing the flicker of fear in his eyes. "Of course, Your Majesty."
She didn’t miss the slight quiver in his voice. "Good." Ingrid turned back to the mirror, her fingers brushing through her hair, carefully adjusting a stray strand. She paused for a moment before speaking again, her tone curt. "Now, where are we with the search?"
Salem stood straighter, his posture shifting into something more guarded. His smile faded, and he clasped his hands behind his back, the nervousness in his eyes betraying his calm demeanor. "We’re still searching," he admitted, his voice tight with frustration. "It’s difficult, Your Majesty. There’s no name, no face. We’re only working with the vague information the seer gave us, and it’s not much to go on."
Ingrid’s eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening. She turned to face him fully, stepping closer. "I don’t want excuses," she said, her voice low. "I want results. Or do you need reminding why I chose you for this task?"
"No, Your Majesty," Salem replied quickly, lowering his gaze, but a flicker of doubt lingered in his eyes. He hesitated before speaking again, unable to resist the question that had been gnawing at him ever since. "Your Majesty, forgive my ignorance and insolence, but why are you so intent on this? We’ve been searching for two years and we’ve come up with nothing so far. The King’s offspring, what threat could they pose to you? The child doesn’t even know who they are."