Page 16

Chapter

Fifteen

A ZALEA

“Who is this little one?” Tandi asks while reaching out and gripping Tyson’s little fingers as Abbie holds him.

I swallow; in their joyful chatter about their little ones, I stand on the outskirts.

Tandi’s grip on Tyson’s tiny fingers feels like a reminder of what I have lost, the little fingers I will never get to touch.

The warmth of Kyson’s chest against my back only amplifies the ache in my heart, his breath on my neck a bittersweet caress.

“One day, my love,” he says, and I nod at his words.

He pulls me closer as if he can shield me from the heartache I feel right now.

Yet as Kyson holds me close, his touch tracing the outline of where my belly used to be round with life, I can’t help but feel the emptiness within me grow.

His arms around me are both comforting and suffocating, my own hands now cradling nothing but a hollow space beneath my clothes.

His arms circle my waist, his hands sliding over the backs of my hands as he laces his fingers through mine.

I let out a breath, looking up at him as he leans down and rests his chin on my shoulder.

He pecks my cheek, and I turn my attention away from them to Damian, who is watching his newfound mate worriedly.

I focus on him, not wanting to see them bond over their babies while my arms lay empty.

While happiness for them brims in my heart, it is overshadowed by the raw grief that engulfs me.

Their world of baby coos and parental bliss feels distant and unreachable as I grapple with the void left by my own loss.

“What’s wrong?” I ask Damian, who snaps himself out of his thoughts, to look at me.

“Gannon, Abbie, take Tandi to my quarters and help her settle in, please. I need a word with the King and Queen,” Damian says, and Tandi’s head whips to the side to stare at me. Her eyes widen when recognition hits her at what Damian called me like it escaped her earlier when I mentioned it.

“Azalea, Queen Azalea Landeena, I knew I heard that name,” she exclaims.

“You have heard of the Landeena’s?” I ask her, shocked, because I know she can’t read like us unless she has since learned.

“Yes, of course,” she says when Kyson huffs behind me.

“Everyone has. It is in every history book, love. You and Abbie were the only ones oblivious to who they were, who you are,” he purrs beside my ear when Tandi speaks up while shaking her head.

“No, I can’t read. No, I heard the name at the brothel when hunters come in sometimes. Amazing the things you hear when you aren’t supposed to be listening,” she says, blowing out a breath.

“Hunters?” Kyson asks her, lifting his head to look at her.

“Yeah, the ones that work for the council, Larkin, introduced me to a couple of them, and they creeped me out,” she says with a shrug.

“You know Larkin?” Kyson asks her.

“Yes, she does, and that is what I need to speak with you both about. Because I just stole his son,” Damian says behind me.

Kyson straightens at his words, and I look at Tandi’s son in her arms, knowing this is going to cause issues, yet I am still stuck on the hunters working with the council, and clearly, that is where Kyson’s thoughts are as well.

“You said the hunters work with the council?” Kyson asks Tandi. She nods her head and shrugs.

“Yeah, I have seen them a few times. Larkin and Crux seem pretty buddy, buddy with them. They hold meetings at the brothel. They all wear patches and call themselves the rebels.” Her brows furrow as if she is thinking hard, trying to remember some detail.

“Mr Crux holds the meetings. He has worked with them for years, and they have meetings yearly for some blood ceremony or some crap. Bloody freaks always drinking each other’s blood from a cup, and they call me diseased since I am rogue, those fuckers sitting around drinking blood as if they think they are bloodsuckers,” she says with a swift shake of her head.

“Did you say blood?” I ask, a little shocked by her words. Why would the hunter be drinking blood?

Tandi nods. “Yep, like clockwork. Every February, the first day of the month is the annual meeting. They talk shit and spout changes within the council. Dawning their stupid insignia about how Crux will take over once the royals are dead,” she says with a shrug as if we should know this already.

Turning my head, I look up at Kyson, confused, but I have a feeling they aren’t drinking each other’s blood, but Kyson’s. By the look on his face, he has drawn the same conclusion.

“Dustin has some documents you will want to see, too. We got Alpha Brock and Dean. They have been trafficking rogues for years,” Damian says before turning to look at Gannon, who walks over to escort Abbie and Tandi inside the castle.

I want to go with them, but now I have more pressing matters that I refuse to be left out of, and for once, Kyson lets me join him, grabbing my hand and leading us back inside toward his office.

Even so, as Damian scrambles up the two measly stairs, he hisses, grasping his side, and Kyson reaches out to steady him as he is clearly in pain.

“I’m fine, bastards shot me. Liam got most out, but I still have a bullet lodged in my shoulder, but fuck, it still kills,” Damian groans.

“Why didn’t you let Liam dig it out?” he asks, and Damian glares at him in response.

“No way is that fool coming near me with a knife while I am awake! It was bad enough he had his knife digging ways with me while I was unconscious. I am not going to watch him get his jollies off while carving me up,” Damian groans again as Liam flies past, gripping his shoulder and causing Damian to growl as his back arches in pain.

“He is just upset I tried out his mate before him, or maybe he is upset he didn’t get a piece of the Liam sausage,” Liam taunts, and my eyes widen. Damian swings at him, Kyson steps in his path and absorbs the brunt of what Damian hurls at him and narrowly misses Liam.

“Liam, go!” Kyson orders, and Liam quickly saunters off, chuckling to himself as he does so.

“Permission to kill the bastard,” Damian growls.

“Permission denied. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up, and I will deal with Liam later,” Kyson says, helping haul Damian toward the office.

“Azzy, are you coming with us, or are you going to see your friend?” Kyson asks over his shoulder. I rush ahead and open the office door.

“I’m coming with you,” I answer, and he nods, assisting Damian inside.