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‘Kyson?’I mindlink, not wanting to step out there without letting him know.

“You can come out. He is alone,” he replies, and Dustin and I step outside the doors. Larkin is at the King’s feet. His lip is bleeding, his clothes all wrinkled, and a cut below his left eye is healing, and his face is swollen. In addition, Damian has a split eyebrow, and it can be seen by the marks on his uniform that they had had a scuffle before.

“The only thing I want to do is see my son! You can’t just fucking take him!” Larkin snarls at Damian.

“No! You don’t deserve him. And you aren’t going near my fucking mate,” Damian snaps at him.

“He’s my son! I’m a good father,” Larkin growls, and Damian steps toward him. When Kyson raises his hand, Damian stops, and his fist clenches tight by his sides.

“Stand down. You, shut up,” Kyson snaps at him as Larkin sits up, leaning against his car tire. My brows furrow when Kyson turns to Dustin behind me. “Aren’t you supposed to be getting Cedric?”

“I sent Liam,” he says just as Trey comes out the door and steps in front of me, his shoulder brushing mine.I feel Kyson relax a little more with Trey nearby with Dustin. Though jealousy courses through Kyson as Trey brushes against me.

“Dustin, go get Tandi,” Kyson orders.

“What? No. Definitely not!” Damian snaps.

“Yes, get Tandi. She will tell you I am a good father. I would never hurt my son,” Larkin snarls.

“Damian! I want to sort this out,” Kyson tells Damian before glaring at Larkin, “and you will cooperate. Larkin, Tandi had some fascinating information about the council cooperating with the hunters!” Kyson snaps at him, yet Larkin genuinely looks confused by Kyson’s words.

“Hunters? The council has never worked with the hunters,” Larkin states smugly. “I hate them more than anyone. You should know this, Kyson. They wiped out my home Kingdom!Killed my parents! No way am I working with fucking putrid hunters!” he snarls, the words leaving his lips venomously. He looks outraged by the accusation.

Kyson looks at me, and I watch Larkin for a second, whose gaze settles on me; Larkin bares his neck to me. “Sorry, my Queen. I never wished to disturb you,” he says, dropping his gaze to the ground.

“Which was your home Kingdom?” I ask him, curious and also trying to break the strange tension. I hated the man, but I would not solely base his character on past behaviors. He isn’t the ringleader; that much is obvious. Or maybe I am being naïve and too complacent. Kyson would let me know his thoughts or, no doubt, step in if he believes he needs to refute anything.

Chapter

Twenty-Four

AZALEA

“The Credence Kingdom, my Queen. It was one of the first to fall. I know my brother did some despicable things but had we known who you were, we never would have come here. Landeena’s have immunity. The council knows this, but honestly, we thought besides Elder Crux, none existed. They are the creators of Lycan law. We live by that law,” he says when I hear footsteps coming up behind us.

“Apparently, live by that law. The council has some serious allegations against them, especially how the council could be behind the rogue murders or the murder of Tandi’s daughter,” Damian snarls.

“Rogue murders? And Alpha Brock took his daughter,” Larkin says, “I am not Alpha Brock!” he adds, though it is clear he thinks very little of the Alpha.

“He drowned her when he tossed her off the cliff; Tandi saw him do it. She said she heard the splash, and Crux just stood there and let him,” Damian snarls.

“No, no, the council wouldn’t kill children,” Larkin defends his eyes, going to the doors behind us.

Dustin emerges first through the huge castle doors before Tandi steps out, tears streaking down her face as she clutches her son. Larkin tries to get to his feet in a blur of motion. Defensively, Damian charges at him, only for Larkin to stop just before Tandi. To everyone’s surprise, Larkin doesn’t snatch his son. He merely holds his hands out for him. The toddler babbles, fisting the air.

“You’re not taking him, Larkin. I won’t lose another child,” Tandi snarls, pulling her son away, and for the first time, I witness her step behind her mate, relying on him to protect her. And Damian has no such qualms about doing so.

“You left abruptly. I told you I would never take him from you. I am not that bastard, Alpha,” he pleads, and I truly believe I am seeing a different side of this ruthless man. He makes cooing noises at his son, smiling brightly at him and holding his hands out to him. It’s clear he’s fond of the boy.

Damian shoves him back, and Larkin snarls but stops when his eyes go to his son.

“Tandi, please, tell them. I have been good to you, haven’t I?” Larkin says, staring at her.

“Good to her? She lives in a whore-house!” Damian growls at him.

“I tried to get her out! Crux wouldn’t allow it, said it would taint the fucking council! Do you think I wanted my son there? I couldn’t rip him out of her arms either,” Larkin bellows at him, causing Hunter to start wailing at the sound of the fighting.

“Hey, Bubba boy, Daddy didn’t mean to yell,” Larkin says, and Kyson rubs his temples. Tandi sniffles, her eyes bloodshot from crying, and her nose is red. She clutches her son, but it is clear he wants to go to his father. Reluctantly, she looks at me.