There were two more vampires in the room with her and Ragnar. One of them was somewhat familiar. He was one of the soldiers that invaded her home but the other was a complete stranger. Ragnar called him Gonan. They barged into the bedroom minutes after the attack and they haven't left since.
Neither of them paid her any mind as they conversed with each other in hushed tones. Circe strained her ears to listen in on their conversation from her perch on the chair facing the vanity. She could forgive the fact that they completely disregarded her presence but she hated being oblivious and at that point, there was so much she didn't know. Like the assassin's identity and who hired him? Who was killing off Ragnar's wifes and why?
" I want one of you to have your eyes on him at all times. I'll have a word with him as soon as he wakes." Ragnar said, referring to the still unconscious assassin on the floor by his feet.
" Whoever sent him is only going to keep trying until they succeed." Casilo said and Ragnar nodded.
" I know." Ragnar looked to be deep in thought as he glanced back at where Circe sat blatantly watching them. It was the first time he had looked in her direction since the other men joined them. Anger shone in his eyes, his body was still as rigid and tensed as the moment he found the assassin creeping towards Circe on the bed.
" Whoever sent him had to have attended the wedding. And they might not be the only ones after the princess's life." Casilo continued, his face devoid of emotion. " There are so many people that could pose a threat."
" I think I know who is responsible but I'm afraid of being wrong. I don't want us to waste time chasing a lead that is most likely false." Ragnar said, his tone grave.
Gonan nudged the unconscious assassin with the toe of his boot. " We should slit his throat and dangle his body off the roof of the king's tower. Set an example for the rest. How else are they supposed to learn?"
" He's a child, Gonan." Casilo rebuked.
Gonan shot Casilo a sharp glare. " Then he probably should have thought about that before he tried to harm Ragnar's wife."
" The boy will definitely be dealt with but I need answers first. In the meantime, I need the princess far away from this godforsaken palace. I'm no longer taking any chances. We leave at first light, whether the king approves or not." Ragnar said. His gaze moved from Gonan to Casilo.
" I'm not going anywhere without Rowen." Circe interjected. She was tired of sitting by and watching them talk about her like she wasn't present in the same room with them. She curled her hands into fists as she stood. " I refuse to be separated from my brother."
Her voice was firm. Stern. She would prefer hurling herself off the room's balcony than willingly following them anyway but the choice was no longer hers to make. It didn't matter that people were trying to kill her at the palace, Circe wouldn't follow Ragnar anywhere if he didn't concede to her demands. Her tenacity was evident in each word, in the look in her eyes as she stared at each of them without a sliver of fear.
Gonan and Casilo shared a look, their expressions unreadable.
" Very well. Your brother comes with us then." Ragnar acquiesced. " Do you have any more demands or will that be all, your highness?"
Circe gave him a scathing look which he promptly ignored by turning his back to her.
" Ready the horses for our departure in the morning." Ragnar told Casilo. Then he looked at Gonan. " This stays between us. I don't want anyone knowing about what happened here tonight."
With a nod, Casilo hoisted the unconscious assassin over his shoulders. He walked out of the bedroom with Gonan trailing after him.
Circe's eyes never left Ragnar. She moved closer to where he stood, stopping at the foot of the bed. Memories assaulted her. Memories of Ragnar's hand wrapping around the intruder's throat.
" Are you going to tell me where you're taking me or do I have to sit here and guess?" Circe folded her arms over her chest. The look she gave him perfectly matched the scowl on his face.
" I'm taking you somewhere safe." He said gruffly. He acted like responding to her was a tedious task.
" Safe?" She scoffed. " Safe for who? Nowhere in Lamora is safe for me and Rowen." After what happened there tonight, Circe should have been putting distance between herself and Ragnar. She just watched him almost strangle someone to death, he could do the same to her if he pleased and no one would stop him. No one would care. She should have been afraid and a part of her was but whatever fear she felt in his presence was overshadowed by the immense anger and frustration brewing deep within her soul.
Anger won over self-preservation.
Circe had a sharp tongue, something that had gotten her into trouble one too many times. Her mother used to always berate her for it. When enraged, Circe could barely control the words leaving her lips.
Ragnar purposely ignored her as he bent over to pick up his brother's blade that had slipped out of his hand during the fight.
" We will put that fact to the test tomorrow. Try to get some sleep while you still can. The journey will be long and I don't want to hear you complaining about being too tired to ride."
Circe stared at him slack-jawed. Did he just suggest that she get some sleep, after what happened that night? He was mad for even saying those words, mad just like everyone else in this wretched palace. Her thoughts about the situation were plastered plainly on her face but Ragnar wouldn't know since he still blatantly ignored her.
The sun had just begun to rise when Ragnar led her outside his bedroom and across the courtyard. The dawn sky above them was a canvas streaked with blues, oranges and pinks, illuminated by a retreating moon. He took her to the stables and by its entrance three massive steeds waited.
Circe spotted Rowen standing beside Casillo. Their gazes met and a wide smile broke across his face.
" Circe!" He ran to her. " Circe, did you hear? We're leaving this place."
Circe glanced at Ragnar who simply walked past her to where Casilo stood with his hands crossed over his chest. She returned her attention to Rowen, forcing a smile that mirrored his.
" Yes, I did." She ruffled his hair with her fingers affectionately.
Leaving the palace didn't mean they would be safe from the people that called it home. Circe wanted to explain this to her brother but the smile on his face made her pause. Rowen hadn't smiled this wide in days and she was afraid of doing anything that would taint the joy he felt.
Bits and pieces of Ragnar's conversation with Casilo drifted in her direction.
" The queen won't like this." Circe heard Casilo say.
" She doesn't have to like everything." Ragnar snared. His expression was grim when he finally looked at her.
She knew it right then. Their lives were only going to get harder from there.