Page 16

I rush out of Gannon’s room, carrying his dirty laundry and grabbing Liam’s basket, which is neatly set outside his door. As I rummage through my pockets to slide Liam’s key back under his door, Gannon speaks, startling me.

“He gave it to you, Abbie. That means he doesn’t want it back,” he says.

I pause, staring at the key in my hand. Reluctantly, I nod and pocket it, but before I can move, Gannon holds his hand out.

“Here,” he says.

I open my palm, and he drops a key into it. “My room key,” he adds simply, grabbing the basket beside me.

I try to take it from him, not wanting to get in trouble with Clarice, but he shakes his head and starts walking. I follow him, quickening my pace as he turns toward the kitchens when I see Beta Damian also on the bottom floor talking to Clarice.

“Beta Damian, I’m sure she wouldn’t have gone in his room without permission—” Clarice’s voice cuts off as Gannon bumps into my back, coming up behind me. “Morning Abbie,” she says awkwardly so I know Damian was demanding to know why I was near their doors this morning.

“Gannon, dear,” she says warmly, smiling brightly at him.

“Hey, Ma,” he greets, stepping past me to peck her cheek before heading to the laundry. Clarice watches him go, then turns back to me with a raised eyebrow as Damian stalks off.

“Is everything alright? Damian said you woke Gannon this morning and?—”

“She’s allowed in mine and Liam’s rooms. She has the keys,” Gannon interrupts, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Clarice blinks at him, clearly surprised.

“I can move her to a different floor. I know how you and Liam like your privacy,” she offers cautiously.

“I wouldn’t have given her my key if I was worried about my privacy, Ma, she can come and go as she pleases, she also has Liam’s key,” Gannon replies, throwing me a small smile.

My cheeks heat as Clarice frowns, but she eventually nods, turning to the clipboard hanging on the wall. “Abbie said she has to go in town, I will take her,” Gannon says and Clarice’s lips tug slightly.

“Is that right, son?” She questions and my brows pinch in confusion wondering why she is staring at him like that.

“The king has asked me to go into town to collect some orders. While I grab the garments, you can pick up the supplies from the store with Abbie then,” she says, handing Gannon a list.

Gannon takes the papers, glancing over them before folding them.

“Or I could take Abbie by myself and grab everything for you,” he suggests.

“Gannon, I don’t expect you?—”

He pecks her cheek again, cutting her off.

“I’m taking her. We won’t be long. Come on, Abbie,” he says, grabbing my hand and ignoring Clarice’s protests.

“I don’t think I should… She?—”

“Abbie go, it’s good to see Gannon leave this place besides to go with Liam to slaught… never mind, dear, have fun,” she says quickly. I glance at Gannon who winks at me, his fingers lacing through mine.

“Oh and don’t forget the garments! The king needs them before tomorrow!” she calls after us.

“I know, Ma. I’ll be back soon,” Gannon assures her, leading me to the garage.

At the garage, Gannon retrieves his keys from a locker near the door and points to his car. I hesitate, chewing my lip as I walk over. When I reach for the handle, his hand covers mine, opening the door for me.

With a sigh, I climb in. Gannon strolls around to the driver’s side, hops in, starts the car, and cranks up the music.

The drive to town is filled with loud, upbeat music that seems to match his mood this morning.

I, however, feel slightly uneasy. Surely it’s not normal for him to spend so much time with a servant like me?

“So, what do you need to get in town besides the stuff for Clarice?” I ask as I unclip my seatbelt. But before I can move, Gannon is already at my door, opening it with that lightning-quick Lycan speed.

“Actually,” he admits, scratching the back of his neck, “that was a lie. I don’t need anything from town.”

I stare at him, caught off guard. “Then why would you take me?”

He shrugs, his expression unsure. “I wanted to spend time with you.”

“Why?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

He hesitates, looking almost sheepish. “I don’t know,”

“Hmm. Well, it saved me from walking,” I reply, stepping past him toward the store.

Gannon chuckles and follows me, taking the basket and marking off everything on Clarice’s list. Once we finish, he leads me to a small shop with garment bags hanging in the windows.

The bell above the door jingles as we enter, and moments later, a woman appears from the back.

She greets Gannon warmly, like they’ve known each other for years.

She disappears briefly and returns with a suitcase.

“Pressed and folded, ready for the king’s trip. Measurements should be spot-on—I checked them myself,” she says.

Gannon thanks her, and we leave. As we head toward the car, he tugs me toward a candy shop.

“Liam ate all that licorice already?” I ask.

He laughs. “No,” he says, pulling me inside. He buys a bag of strawberry clouds and chocolate Freddo frogs, handing the bag to me.

“You didn’t have to buy sweets,” I tell him.

“You like them,” he says simply.

“Well… what do you like? Do you like flowers?” I ask, curious about his strange behavior. “Everybody likes flowers,” I add quickly.

“Not everyone. I don’t. Pollen makes my nose itch,” he replies with a grin.

“Then what do you like?”

His expression darkens slightly, and he smirks. “Probably best if you don’t know what I like. It might scare you,” he says.

The way he says it sends a shiver down my spine, and I decide it’s probably best not to push for an answer.

Back at the car, Gannon opens my door again. I climb in, shaking my head at the thought that he might think I don’t know how to open doors myself. Once he’s in the driver’s seat, he glances at me.

“So, what did you and Ivy do for fun at the orphanage?” he asks.

I think for a moment, memories flooding back. It wasn’t always bad. We loved the kids and their paintings. I loved drawing, and Ivy used to sneak me paper whenever she found some the kids hadn’t scribbled on. I also enjoyed baking, though we rarely got to try the treats we made.

“I like drawing and baking,” I say with a shrug. “Mostly, we played with the kids.”

“You like kids?” Gannon asks.

I nod. “Yeah, they were great. When Ty—” I stop, my throat tightening. Just thinking about him makes me want to cry, and I don’t want to risk any lashings for showing tears.

“I like these,” I say quickly, pulling a cloud from the bag to change the subject. He stares at me for a moment, but I focus my gaze out the window.

Gannon touches my hand gently, making me jump. “Are you okay?” he asks softly.

“Yep. We should get back. Clarice is probably wondering what’s taking so long, and I still have linens to hang,” I reply.

He looks like he wants to say more but stops, starting the car and driving us back.

Once we return, I thank him before rushing to the kitchen to put away the groceries. Afterward, I head to the laundry, unloading the washers into my basket and starting another load. When I reach down to grab the basket, it’s gone.

I glance around and spot Gannon standing nearby, holding it. The man moves like a ghost, appearing out of nowhere. I stare at him, then at the floor wondering how I didn’t see him grab it.

“Come on, I’ll help you,” he says, and I chew my lip, glancing toward the kitchens. I wonder if I’ll get in trouble with Clarice for letting him help; he is the king’s guard, not a servant.