Page 24

Chapter

Twenty-Three

A ZALEA

It takes me only a few minutes to dress before following Kyson out of our bedroom and down the stairs.

Our ears are alerted to the commotion as soon as we enter the corridor on the bottom floor of the castle.

I know what Kyson is going to say before he says it.

I’m prepared for his words as I hear him growl furiously.

A sigh escapes my lips as Kyson stops in front of me.

“You want me to wait here until you see what is going on?” I tell him before I exhale.

I hear a loud bang from the end of the corridor to the main doors as voices from the end of the corridor begin to grow louder.

When Kyson glances over his shoulder, I recognize one of the angry voices instantly as Damian, who can be heard shouting in frustration.

“Just let me go ahead; you can…” he growls before letting out a big sigh.

“You can come with me, but stay back with Dustin until I know it is safe. Please,” he says, almost pleading with me.

It is not until I look past him to the doors that I see guards rushing out of those doors.

When I nod my head, he lets out a sigh and grabs my face in his hands, kissing the top of my head as he lets out a breath.

“I’m trying not to be controlling. I just don’t want to put you in unnecessary danger,” Kyson whispers as he lets me go and turns on his heel, stalking toward the main doors.

He snarls, stalking after the guards rushing out the doors.

As they flatten themselves against the walls to get out of his way, I watch him slip outside, and I turn to Dustin, who twists his arm and extends it to me.

“You did the right thing. I know technically you overrule him, but you have powers that are only just awakening, and you aren’t sure how to use them yet,” Dustin tells me, and I sigh heavily.

“Kyson has been ruling for decades. He is a good King, and you can learn a lot from him, Azzy, if you pay attention. I know you are done being a pushover; that much is apparent, but he is your mate and a King,” Dustin reminds me.

However, I am done arguing with Kyson. We will be fine if he sticks to his word and gives me the same trust I give him.

“I know, and I don’t want to overrule him. I rather have him in charge because I don’t know what I am doing, but I don’t want to be shut out either. I can’t learn if he doesn’t let me,” I tell Dustin.

“He is trying,” Dustin says, and I nod in agreement, and so am I.

“And that is why I agreed. It would be foolish if I ran through those doors and into an ambush,” I tell him, and Dustin smiles. I am so glad to finally have Dustin back by my side. Gosh, how I have missed him.

“I sent Liam to get Cedric for you,” Dustin tells me, and the arguing outside goes quiet when I hear a feral growl tear out of my mate, his aura rippling through the air, almost vibrating with his fury.

‘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 na?ve and too complacent.

Kyson would let me know his thoughts or, no doubt, step in if he believes he needs to refute anything.