Chapter 7 - WHERE SOPHIA DIEDThe official story said Princess Sophia died in the Mediterranean.
I learned that later.
At the time, all I knew was that her tracker had disappeared.
Her wedding bracelet contained a Royal Protection beacon.
Bell knew about it.
Of course he did.
The signal died nine minutes after the sedan left the estate.
Alexander paced inside the security command room.
“Why aren't we pursuing?”
“We are,” Vale said.
“Then where are they?”
“Vehicle swapped beneath the interstate overpass.”
“Helicopters?”
“Airspace is being searched.”
“Police?”
“Quietly.”
Alexander slammed his palm onto the table.
“That is my wife.”
The entire room went silent.
He looked at me.
“You are supposed to find people.”
It wasn't an insult.
It was desperation.
“Yes.”
“Then find her.”
I stared at the regional map.
Bell had resources.
Vehicles.
Inside access.
Political support.
But he also had a timetable.
Coups needed momentum.
Especially theatrical ones.
Rachel's kidnapping would become useless if she remained hidden too long.
He needed her visible.
Public.
Symbolic.
“Where would Sophia have been crowned?” I asked.
Adrian looked at me.
“What?”
“If Princess Sophia had succeeded your father, where would the ceremony have occurred?”
“The Cathedral of Saint Aurelia.”
“Here?”
“In Valoria.”
“So not useful.”
I looked at the map.
“Anywhere symbolic in America?”
Adrian thought.
Then Queen Helena spoke.
“The old embassy chapel.”
Everyone turned.
She pointed toward a location near Washington.
“Before the new embassy was built, the Valorían government owned an estate in Middleburg. Sophia lived there during university holidays.”
Vale pulled up the property.
Abandoned embassy residence.
Sold to a private foundation eight years ago.
The foundation's name meant nothing.
The donors did.
Three appeared on Bell's document.
“There.”
We moved in six minutes.
This time no convoy.
Too visible.
Two unmarked SUVs.
A helicopter held ten miles away.
I sat beside Alexander.
He had changed.
Not clothes.
Something deeper.
At the wedding he had looked polished, careful, almost decorative.
Now the future king was gone.
A husband remained.
“You love her,” I said.
He looked at me.
“Is that surprising?”
“I barely know you.”
“She talks about you.”
That surprised me.
“What does she say?”
“That you're impossible.”
“Accurate.”
“That you were the bravest person she knew when you were children.”
I said nothing.
“She told me you used to check underneath her bed for monsters.”
“She was six.”
“She said you did it until she was twelve.”
“There were persistent monsters.”
Alexander smiled despite himself.
Then his eyes filled.
“She regrets what she said.”
My throat tightened.
“She told you?”
“She cried after your phone call.”
That wasn't what I expected.
“Then why didn't she invite me?”
“Because she was afraid.”
“Of me?”
“Of this family.”
I frowned.
Alexander stared through the windshield.
“She spent eighteen months being told everything about her was wrong. Her accent. Her posture. Her friends. The way she laughed. The way she held a teacup. Advisors told her the press would examine every relative.”
“And she listened.”
“Yes.”
He looked ashamed.
“So did I.”
I turned toward him.
“I should have defended her. Instead, I told her it would get easier if she cooperated.”
He swallowed.
“When your name came up, one adviser said your military career could create political complications.”
“Bell?”
Alexander closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
There it was.
Bell had pushed Rachel to exclude me.
He hadn't merely threatened me today.
He had been separating us for months.
“I want him alive,” I said.
Alexander looked over.
“Why?”
“So he can explain every mistake.”
The old embassy estate appeared ahead.
Tall iron gates.
Dark windows.
No obvious guards.
Too quiet.
Vale stopped the vehicles a half mile away.
We continued on foot through woods.
I took point.
The property had once been diplomatic territory.
Stone walls.
An abandoned stable.
A small chapel.
Lights glowed inside.
“Thermal?” I whispered.
Vale checked.
“Approximately twenty people.”
“Rachel?”
“Can't differentiate.”
Alexander started forward.
I grabbed him.
“No.”
“I am going inside.”
“You're staying behind the wall.”
“I am Crown Prince of Valoria.”
“And I'm the person carrying a weapon.”
His expression hardened.
Then Adrian's voice came through his earpiece.
“Alexander.”
The Prince stopped.
His father continued.
“For once in your life, listen to the officer.”
Alexander glared at me.
“I dislike your influence on my family.”
“Get in line.”
Vale nearly smiled.
We approached the chapel.
Through stained glass, I saw figures.
Bell stood near the altar.
Rachel was seated in front.
Her wrists weren't bound.
Interesting.
A dozen people surrounded her.
Politicians.
Two men in military uniforms.
A camera crew.
Bell wasn't hiding anymore.
He was preparing a broadcast.
I moved closer.
His voice carried through an open side window.
“…your birthright was stolen.”
Rachel sat motionless.
“My birthright?”
“You are Sophia's daughter.”
“So I've been told.”
“Your mother's blood gives you legitimacy.”
“My mother was murdered.”
“By Adrian's negligence.”
“And my biological father is apparently a terrorist.”
Bell's mouth tightened.
“You don't need Voss.”
“How convenient.”
“You need the truth.”
Rachel looked around.
“The truth is that you kidnapped me from my wedding.”
“We rescued you.”
“You hit me.”
One man looked uncomfortable.
Bell ignored him.
“In less than one hour, documents will be released proving your identity. Members of Parliament will demand an emergency constitutional session.”
“And then?”
“You will claim your position.”
Rachel laughed.
Actually laughed.
Bell's expression darkened.
“You think this is amusing?”
“I think you're insane.”
“You could be Queen.”
“I became a princess this morning. It was exhausting enough.”
Even from outside, I almost smiled.
That was my sister.
Bell leaned toward her.
“Your children could rule Valoria.”
“My children will choose their own lives.”
“You don't understand history.”
“No, you don't understand Americans.”
That earned several uncomfortable glances.
Rachel continued.
“You think revealing that my mother was a princess means I'll suddenly betray everyone who raised me?”
Bell lowered his voice.
“Adrian stole you.”
“My parents saved me.”
“He lied.”
“So did you.”
Bell's composure cracked.
“You were meant for more than being some soldier's little sister from Virginia.”
Rachel's expression changed.
“Careful.”
Bell didn't notice.
“You were born into greatness.”
“My sister has pulled wounded men out of burning vehicles.”
My chest tightened.
Apparently she'd learned something during the last hour.
“She earned every medal on that uniform while people like you stood around deciding which fork mattered at dinner.”
Bell looked irritated.
Rachel stood.
“And three weeks ago, I called her an embarrassment because I was stupid enough to believe people like you.”
I looked down.
Not now, Ellie.
Focus.
Bell stepped closer.
“You will make the announcement.”
“No.”
His voice turned cold.
“You don't have a choice.”
Outside, Vale raised three fingers.
Teams in position.
Two.
One.
Then Rachel did something none of us expected.
She grabbed the ceremonial microphone.
Bell reached for her.
She twisted away.
The live camera light turned red.
Broadcasting.
Rachel looked directly into it.
“My name is Rachel Carter.”
Bell shouted.
She kept talking.
“I was raised by Thomas and Evelyn Carter. My sister is Major Eleanor Carter of the United States Army.”
Bell lunged.
Rachel stepped onto the altar platform.
“And anyone watching this who thinks they can use my blood to overthrow my husband's family should understand one thing.”
She looked directly toward Bell.
“You picked the wrong sister.”
I kicked open the chapel door.
“Royal Protection! Hands where we can see them!”
Everything erupted.
Bell spun.
Security teams flooded both entrances.
Several conspirators surrendered immediately.
One military officer reached inside his coat.
Alexander tackled him before I could.
Apparently princes ignored orders too.
I crossed the chapel.
Rachel saw me.
Relief broke across her face.
Then Bell grabbed her.
He pulled a pistol from his waistband and pressed it against her ribs.
Everyone froze.
“Back!” he screamed.
I raised my weapon.
“Marcus.”
“You ruined everything.”
“No. You did.”
“I was restoring the monarchy.”
“You kidnapped its newest princess.”
Bell backed toward the rear door.
Rachel met my eyes.
I knew that look.
We had used it as children.
Before jumping from the barn roof.
Before sneaking out.
Before every terrible shared idea.
I gave the smallest nod.
Rachel stomped Bell's foot.
Hard.
He flinched.
She drove her elbow backward.
The gun shifted.
I moved.
One shot.
Bell fell.
His weapon skidded across the floor.
For one terrible second, nobody breathed.
Then he screamed and grabbed his shoulder.
Alive.
Rachel ran to me.
I caught her.
She buried her face against my neck.
“I knew you'd come.”
“Always.”
Behind us, Alexander rushed forward and wrapped both arms around her.
Outside, sirens approached.
The coup had failed.
The conspirators were in custody.
Rachel was alive.
It should have been over.
But Commander Vale's radio crackled.
His expression changed.
“Major.”
“What?”
He handed me the device.
An intelligence officer's voice came through.
“Emil Voss escaped custody eleven minutes ago.”
I stared at Vale.
“How?”
“We don't know.”
Then the officer continued.
“He left a message for Major Carter.”
A recording played.
Voss's voice.
Calm.
Almost amused.
Eleanor, if you're hearing this, Bell has shown his hand. Good. Now you can finally see the real enemy. Meet me where Sophia died. Come alone.
The message ended.
Rachel looked at me.
“Where did my mother die?”
King Adrian's voice answered through the radio.
“In Virginia.”
May you like
A pause.
“Twenty-five miles from where you're standing.”
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