Page 47

I cut him off, only for the mindlink to open up again, and he forced his way back into my head.

‘Somebody shut off the damn cameras,’ Kyson snarls through the mindlink, broadcasting his message to all the castle staff. Their voices flood my mind, overwhelming me with their presence.

‘Do we have cameras?’ I ask, bewildered by this revelation.

‘Yes, they were installed two days ago. And you are absolutely not doing this,’ Kyson declares adamantly.

‘But I am,’ I insist, my determination unwavering.

‘Why are we shutting off the cameras?’ Gannon’s voice interjects suddenly through the mindlink. The multitude of voices in my head begins to give me a headache, and I struggle to regain control. I struggle, trying to shut them off, only for Kyson to force his way back into my head.

‘Do not let Azalea leave the bathroom,’ Kyson growls at him.

‘Pardon, My King,’ Gannon answers. Abbie touches my arm as she stands, making me jump and pulling me back to focus on the room .

She grabs a towel and wraps it around herself, and I stand, stepping out of the shower. My face is already heating. I start shredding my clothes, dropping them in a wet heap as Abbie sticks her head out the door. Kyson is yelling at me through the mindlink and the guards, and I try my best to ignore him.

“I will get you some spare clothes,” Abbie says.

“Don’t bother,” I tell her, and she glances at me but quickly rushes into the room. Kyson is still talking through the mindlink and arguing with the guards about leaving Gannon’s quarters. While Liam asks a barrage of never-ending and inappropriate questions, I find it hard to keep tabs on how many people’s voices are suddenly flitting through my head.

I grab a towel and dry myself, and Abbie runs back into the room with a cami and shorts, trying to pass them to me while she starts pulling on a turtle neck and long pants.

“Here,” she whispers, but I shake my head. “Az?”

I move to step past her when she stops in front of me.

“Gannon is out there,” she says, gripping my arm when he suddenly opens the door, standing completely naked. I have no idea where to look, so I stare up at the roof, and so does he. Awkward.

‘Hang on, we’re doing this in style,’ Liam says through the mindlink and I look at Gannon, who sends me a wink.

‘I swear, Azalea, when I get home,’ Kyson starts.

‘Well, that sounds like a challenge, My King,’ I tell him.

‘Put some clothes on, and Liam, stay away from my mate,’ he snaps.

‘What? No, I am streaking with her, got my best apron for this, and if Gannon is strutting his stuff, so is me; sometimes you gotta air out the old skinsuit,’ Liam says.

‘I said clear the halls,’ the king commands.

‘Everyone remains at their posts!’ I command back, a little shocked at how easily I did.

The king growls. ‘Azalea!’

‘My King?’ Clarice says through the mindlink.

I can hear Abbie asking what is going on, but I grab her hand almost blindly as everyone’s faces flit through my head along with their voices.

‘I can’t do this with you in my damn head,’ I tell Kyson.

‘Good because you aren’t doing it,’ he growls.

‘What is going on?’ Clarice asks.

‘Azalea is about to streak through the damn halls,’ Kyson tells her.

I focus on the mindlink, trying to get him out of my head. When I manage it, I am still standing in the bathroom, though I can see Gannon now. I make sure to keep my eyes above the waist. I do not want to see more than I need to. However, I am shocked to find his flesh torn apart more than ours.

“Are we doing this?” he asks, staring at me.

“Doing what?” Abbie squeaks, looking between us.

“Oh good, I am not late,” Liam says, busting into the bathroom with only a floral apron on.

“Oh la la, My Queen, lovely birthday suit,” he says, not even being subtle as he peeks at me. I swallow under his leering gaze.

‘Eyes off my mate Liam.’

‘Hitting above your belt there, My King,’ Liam snorts, earning a growl through the mindlink Kyson keeps forcing open. Liam reaches past Gannon, grabs my wrist, jerks me to him, and loops his arm through mine while Abbie stands stunned. She grabs my arm as Liam tugs me toward the door.

“What are you doing?”

“We are showing you. You aren’t the only one a little broken,” Gannon says, offering his arm to her.

“Man, the king doesn’t shut up. Bit bossy, if you ask me. How do you put up with him?” Liam says. As Kyson keeps trying to order his men out, I realize something, his commands on Liam and Gannon are not working. That realization hits me, and at the same time, it hits Kyson, and I know something is amiss.

‘Azalea?’ he asks.

‘I love you, but I am doing this for Abbie,’ I tell him, and he growls.

‘Them cameras better be fucking off!’ he calls through the open mindlink.

‘Already off,’ I hear Dustin call back.

“Well, now this is definitely an adventure, so I guess we are off,” Liam says, opening the door and bowing. Abbie giggles behind me, and I glance over my shoulder to see Gannon put his hands over her eyes when Liam shakes his ass at her. I try not to laugh and close my eyes, willing myself to step out the doors and not run back to the bathroom.

‘You are in so much trouble when I get home,’ Kyson snaps at me.

Anger courses through me, and Abbie gasps. I open my eyes at the sound and gasp myself. All the guards are still stationed at their posts, their clothes at their feet in a heap, their eyes straight ahead, and hands over their privates. I look at Abbie, who is fully clothed, gripping Gannon’s arm tightly, looking like she wants to run back into the room.

“Ready, My Queen?” Liam laughs, looping his arm back through mine.

I nod, my breathing heavy and stare straight ahead before I start walking. I head for the king’s quarters, and I can hear Abbie crying behind me as she follows Gannon. Every staff member lines the halls naked, eyes straight ahead, thankfully. My chest warms, knowing they did this for her. Kyson growls through the bond angrily, and I can almost see the look of anger on his face.

As we stroll through the halls, I feel a strange weight lift from not only Abbie but also me as her crying stops. Each person we pass bows or nods, and she loops her arm through mine. She rests her head on my shoulder as we climb the last set of stairs to find Clarice and Dustin standing up top, also naked.

“I knew you were a fine lady, Clarice, but damn,” Liam says, giving a whistle.

“Liam, you are not too big for me to spank or wash your mouth out with soap,” she scolds .

“Lucky me, which knee would you like me over?” he laughs, and she folds her arms across her chest, and her eyes narrow at the man.

“My Queen,” she says and nods. Dustin walks over and opens the door for me.

“Abbie?” I whisper.

“You didn’t have to do this,” she tells me, yet the tension in her body has left; she looks more relaxed.

“Yes, I did. You needed to see.”

She looks out at all the naked guards and staff. “Did you have to make them do it, too?”

“No one made them do it, love,” Gannon whispers, and everyone in the hall bows or tips their heads to her, and her cheeks flush pink.

“So, can I take you somewhere now and put some pants on? It is a little chilly.” Gannon asks, and I give her a nudge.

“Go, no one cares what you look like,” I tell her, and tears brim in her eyes as she hugs me.

“More than my life,” she whispers.

“More than my life,” I tell her.

“More than my life,” all the guards and staff murmur in unison, making my heart skip a beat.

I look at Dustin, who nods, keeping his eyes on mine. I wait for Abbie to disappear around the corner near the stairs before racing to the cupboard for clothes. Clarice steps into the room as I pull on some pajamas, and I let out a breath.

“You’re a good friend,” Clarice says, wrapping a sheet around herself.

“I can’t believe everyone did it for her,” I chuckle. Clarice also laughs.

“Yes, but also you, you are our queen. Where you go, we follow, even if it is doing something as silly as being naked,” she says when Kyson’s voice booms through the link.

‘For goddess sake, please tell me she has clothes on now,’ he growls.

‘I have clothes on,’ I tell him, and he growls and goes to say something, but I cut him off.

‘I will deal with you when you get home,’ I say .

‘With me? You better run when I get home,’ he snarls.

‘Good, I will do it naked,’ I tell him, and he growls, but I shove him out of my head.

“He is a little angry,” I sigh, turning to Clarice.

“Don’t worry, My Queen, you have an entire castle to back you,” she says, and I furrow my brows, remembering how I was able to override the commands of Kyson.

“How?” I ask her.

“How what?” Clarice asks.

“They all listened, Kyson commanded them, and they listened to me instead.”

“Ah, now that is something you need to ask your king about, My Queen,” she chuckles before strolling out. I sigh and sit on the bed. Now, I have to deal with my king when he comes home.

The day passes by quickly. A doctor comes by to take blood. I work on my reading with Liam and Dustin. At first, I am a little embarrassed by my earlier spectacle, but as I walk the halls, it is like it never happened; everyone is completely normal despite all of us being naked this morning.

After dinner, I go to bed. I can feel Kyson’s burning anger dissipate; he almost seems giddy and excited to get home. I find this odd and wonder what made his mood switch so fast. His anger is still there, but it has dissipated unusually fast, knowing Kyson.

Crawling into the comforting embrace of my den, I meticulously rearrange the edges of my makeshift bedding, twisting and turning them in a futile attempt to find a fragment of comfort. My weary eyes flicker open at the sound of the door creaking open, alerting me to Kyson’s arrival.

I sit up, waiting for his wrath, having decided I am too tired to argue with him, so I will just listen to his ranting if it means I can sleep.

Kyson’s entrance is accompanied by an unusual silence. He strides toward me with purpose, his jacket slipping effortlessly from his broad shoulders and landing nonchalantly at the foot of the bed. His piercing gaze bore into mine, devoid of its usual fiery intensity, as he methodically unfastens his cufflinks and places them delicately on the bedside table. He starts unbuttoning his shirt, one by one, and I stare at his sculpted chest. A heady wave of his intoxicating scent envelops the room, triggering an involuntary purr to escape my lips. Kyson’s smirk deepens as he witnesses my internal struggle against the urge to surrender myself to him completely.

“You are in trouble,” he declares, his voice laced with a mixture of authority and restraint. My heart skips a beat, anticipating the reprimand hanging in the air like an unspoken threat.

“But I think I can forgive you,” he adds.

“You think, or you have?” I ask, forcing myself to remain where I am. I want to bite him, taste his skin and inhale his scent like a damn animal. It infuriates me, yet my mouth waters all the same. Kyson raises an eyebrow at me before taking his shirt off and offering it to me; I reach out for it, wondering what he is playing at. He lets me take it before walking off into the bathroom.

The sound of running water fills the silence, amplifying the weight of his unspoken thoughts. “Kyson?” I call out, my voice tinged with a mixture of confusion and concern.

“My Queen,” he says in return, making me purse my lips at his weird behavior. When he finishes showering, he saunters out and tugs the duvet back I am huddled under.

“You didn’t eat all your dinner,” he growls, reaching for me.

As his touch graces my skin, a delightful tingle courses through me, his warmth seeping into my very core as he cradles me against him.

“I wasn’t hungry,” I tell him, nipping at his chest; he lets me brush his fingers through my hair as the calling slips out of him.

“I thought you were angry?” I ask.

“I am,” he answers, and I sit up, straddling his waist.

“You don’t seem angry?” I tell him.

“Clarice said you didn’t eat your lunch either?” Kyson growls, his fingers tangling in my hair; he tugs me back down and pulls my head back before brushing his lips against mine gently.

“What does it matter whether I eat or not? Did you discover anything about the murdered rogues?” I inquire, my eyes rolling in exasperation as I attempt to push away from his chest. However, Kyson’s firm hold prevents any escape, drawing me back into his embrace. His lips feather across mine with a tenderness that belies the lingering anger between us.

“Because, my love,” he purrs, his voice laced with a mix of possessiveness and concern. “You’re eating for two.” And with those words, his tongue invades my mouth.