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“I feel fine,” I exhale as he cups my cheek with his hand

“You had me so worried when you passed out. Abbie was beside herself. It took all Gannon’s strength to get her to leave.”

“I just can’t believe we missed how depressed she was,” I tell him, feeling terrible that my best friend was suffering in silence, believing wholeheartedly that she had no one to confide in.

“A lot has happened. New things have come to light. Finding out about Gannon’s mate, I think that shoved her over the edge.”

“Gannon had a mate?” I ask.

“Apparently, yes. But more shocking is it was Abbie’s aunty. Gannon and Liam killed her,” Kyson tells me.

“He killed his own mate?” I ask, horrified.

Kyson shrugs. “I don’t know all the details, and we were just as stunned when we found out. He never told me. Although I know Gannon, he would never hurt a woman without good reason. It is also nearly impossible to kill your own mate,” Kyson says, resting his head back on the couch.

“Come, you should get some rest. We have to be up in a few hours,” he tells me.

“I just woke up,” I laugh.

“But I haven’t slept yet, and it is 3am in the morning. I can’t sleep without you, so you need to come too,” he tells me, standing up.

“I’m not tired,” I tell him, peering up at him.

“Good for you, but I am,” he smirks before scooping me off the couch. I scramble to grab hold of him, not wanting to be dropped as he walks toward the bed. He places me on it before stripping his clothes off, remaining only in his boxers. I lick my lips at the sight of him.

“Nope! Sleep. I am old, tired, and grumpy. You can have your way with me tomorrow,” he growls as he climbs over me. But I’m not tired. No, I’m wide awake.

Kyson crawls into bed beside, tugging the blanket up before flicking the lamp off. Only the light from the fireplace illuminated the room, casting shadows on the walls and roof. I stare at the ceiling, wondering how long before he falls asleep so I can sneak off to shower. However, sleep is instantly forgotten when I hear Abbie’s voice flit through the mindlink.

‘Are you awake?’she whispers to me.

‘Yes, are you okay? I wanted to come to see you, but Kyson wanted to sleep,’I tell her.

‘You can see me. I’m outside your door,’she whispers through the link as if she is trying not to wake Kyson. I glance at him fast asleep, snoring, before getting to my feet and making my way to the door.

Opening the door, I find Abbie and Tandi. Tandi peers past me to look at Kyson asleep before reaching in, grabbing my wrist and tugging me out the door and rushing toward the stairs. Abbie giggles, racing to keep up with her as if she is performing some kind of jailbreak. Dustin, who is standing guard with Trey, stumbles after us.

“Ah, you said you needed to speak to her, not kidnap her!” Trey hisses at her.

“Either come with us and shut up, or stay behind. No party poopers allowed,” Abbie states. Trey shoots me an inquisitive look and I shrug.

“Where are we going?” I ask as I nearly stumble down the steps.

“To raid the liquor cabinet and find the deserts,” Tandi tells me. Abbie giggles and shakes her head.

“I heard her giving Damian hell in the halls and went to see what the commotion was and was kidnapped too,” she shrugs.

“Tyson? And Hunter?” I ask the girls, relieved to see a smile on Abbie’s face after yesterday’s events.

“Hogging the bed. Gannon is with him,” Abbie tells me.

“And Damian is playing Daddy daycare,” Tandi says as we reach the bottom of the stairs.

Tandi scouts the hall before jumping in fright when Liam comes around the corner. Liam glances around before ducking behind the corner of the staircase with us. He peers down, then peeks around the corner toward the kitchen.

“Who are we hiding from?” he whispers, and Tandi giggles.

“Idiot, we are raiding the kitchen!” she snaps, pushing past him.