Before Alaric could respond, the telephone on his desk began to ring.

The sound was loud and jarring in the quiet study.

Alaric picked up the receiver, his brow furrowing as he listened.

His face went pale, and he looked up at me with sudden alarm.

“What is it?” I asked, my heart stopping.

Alaric slowly lowered the receiver and looked at us.

“The guards at the main gate,” he whispered. “They just found the royal physician unconscious in the hallway.”

My blood ran cold.

“And your mother,” Alaric added. “She is gone.”

“We have to move,” I said, my hand dropping to my side.

Alexander was already at the door, his hand on the brass knob.

“Wait,” Alaric said, his voice sharp and commanding.

“The palace is on high alert, and the gates are locked. She cannot have gone far.”

“My mother is in danger,” I said, turning to face him. “Rachel will do anything to keep her quiet.”

“We need to understand what she is after first,” Alaric said.

He walked back to the heavy desk and pulled a ring of keys from his pocket.