Bruce got to the palace and wasn’t even sure if he had closed his damn doors before leaving the car.

He had pushed it closed, but he wasn’t certain if it had jammed the lock. He was too tense, too worried—his mind raced too fast for him to even consider going back to check.

All he wanted were answers. To know Meret was indeed here. And safe.

He reached the throne room and realized nobody was there. He frowned, then turned and walked down the corridors to the next room. The council room ...