Caught Red-Handed

Helio’s POV

I’d lost count of how many nights I’d stood watch outside of Asha’s door. Even though Cindra had been told a thousand times not to go in there, I knew she was there now. I could feel her through the oak door, picture her in my mind. With everything going on, she should know better than to be sneaking into her mother’s room. Sure, the whole palace was in disarray, and it was highly unlikely anyone would be paying attention to Asha’s old rooms, but she was taking a risk.

Footsteps sounded behind me I narrowed my eyes to see through the darkness. The form of an older woman, rigid shoulders, nose in the air, came into view down the hallway.

It was Ruth, my mother’s maid. She was a mean old woman who enjoyed being included in my mother’s wicked schemes whenever possible.

What was sh……