47

A ring startled me awake. I jolted up. The clock said it was five in the morning. It wasn’t much later than when Bodey and I had fallen asleep.

Samuel? I linked as I reached for my phone. Is everything okay?

Yeah. Did something happen there? he replied instantly.

Her phone is ringing, Bodey replied as an unknown phone number scrolled across my screen.

“Who is it?” Bodey propped himself up, glancing at the phone.

“I don’t know.” I didn’t want to answer it, but who knew what this could be about? “But I’d better answer.”

Bodey nodded, and I swiped the phone and put it to my ear. “Hello?”

“Is this Queen Caroline?” an unfamiliar, deep voice asked.

I winced, not used to that name, and pulled the covers up to my throat. “Uh, yes. Who is this?”

“King Sutton.” He paused. “We need to talk.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Bodey bolted upright in bed, his eyes locked on my face.

My blood rushed through my veins, and I gripped the phone. I’d never expected to hear from Russell again, let alone his king, so t