“I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I do know I don’t want my father to allow Eldon to invade and take over Axian.”

“What about your father giving Axian to Eldon?”

Dexter regarded her coolly. “How would you feel if your father handed Ellington over to the king?”

“I wouldn’t stand for it.” Granted, she didn’t know what—if anything—she could do to stop him, but she wouldn’t sit idly by and allow the king to destroy everything her father had worked so hard for.

“Even though Eldon is the king?” He climbed over a fallen tree.

“But he’s not.” Reid clambered up behind him, scraping her hands as she did so.

“He was crowned king.”

“That’s my point—Eldon can’t succeed King Hudson since he’s not Hudson’s son. The throne should belong to Prince Gordon or it should revert to Prince Henrick.” She slid off the tree, resuming her place behind Dexter.

“My father has no desire to sit on the throne. Since he’s declared Eldon as his heir, Eldon ends up the king regardless.”

Reid noticed Dexter hadn’t acknowledged the possibility of Gordon ascending to the throne. “What if your father chose someone else as his heir? Typically, it’s the eldest son, but there is nothing in the law that prevents your father from declaring you or Colbert.” Granted, that didn’t solve anything at the moment since Henrick didn’t want to be king.

Reid’s boots sank into the muddy ground, squishing as she walked. Dexter’s pace slowed.

“If we want to reveal Eldon is not Hudson’s son, those letters would be proof, correct?” Dexter asked.

“Yes.”

“And you believe Prince Ackley has those letters?”

“I do.”

“Whose side do you think Prince Ackley is on?”

A good question. Originally, she’d believed Ackley was solely dedicated to the Knights. Now, she wasn’t so sure. He’d told Gordon and Idina about the Knights, which he wasn’t supposed to do. He’d also stolen the letters with Leigh’s help. While Reid had thought Ackley loved and supported his brother Eldon, she couldn’t be certain. Especially considering the fact Eldon was trying to kill his siblings and Ackley seemed to be working in direct opposition to him.

“I don’t know,” she answered. Ackley kept his secrets closely guarded.

Dexter swayed.

“Are you okay?” Reid lunged forward, wrapping her arm around his waist to steady him.

“I’m beginning to fear the arrow was tipped with poison.”

“You lost a lot of blood when I removed the arrow,” she said. “Maybe you’re just weak from blood loss?”