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Chapter

Twenty-Eight

K YSON

We’re planning to meet with Larkin at Landeena castle in a few days, and Cedric is going to try to see if he can find out more about the Eclipsarian.

He’s bringing the records, and we’ll see what we can unearth from our end.

Once everyone departs, I pull Azzy onto my lap as she stares at the illustrations in the books Cedric left her.

“Can you read this to me?” she queries, and I lean over her shoulder, resting my chin on her. She squirms as my stubble tickles her.

“It’s myths and legends about what historians believe the Azure’s and Landeena’s were blessed with,” I explain to her, and she nods in understanding, her fingers tracing over the aged pages.

“When do you want to leave for Landeena?” I question, aware that I need to coordinate everything with my men.

“Cedric said he can leave not tomorrow but the day after. He mentioned if I am returning home, the guards would want to accompany us,” she informs me. My lips tighten into a thin line.

“You don’t seem thrilled about that?” she observes, turning her face towards mine.

“I’m not upset about it; their lack of faith in me protecting my own mate grates on me and feels quite insulting.”

“I think they merely wish to go home,” she suggests.

“This is home. We can’t govern two kingdoms, and there isn’t much left of yours,” I point out bluntly. She swallows hard at this reality check.

“I wouldn’t even know how to rule,” she admits wistfully, gaze fixated on the window across from us.

“In time, you will,” I reassure her. She sighs deeply then attempts to extricate herself from my lap but I hold fast onto her.

“Come on! We have things to sort out and also check if Abbie wants to join us,” she urges.

“Just a little longer,” I plead, reluctant to release her. She exhales, then pivots on my lap, her knees straddling my hips and her hands gliding up my chest.

“You are rather clingy for a King,” she teases.

“Only with you,” I confess, leaning in to plant a soft kiss on her lips. “I don’t enjoy sharing your attention,” I murmur while nipping at her lips. My fingers curl around the back of her neck, drawing her closer still. My mouth descends on hers and I groan at the sweet taste of her on my tongue.

“Kyson!” she squeals into our kiss, and I grin against her lips, deepening the kiss further.

“What if someone comes in?” she protests in between giggles.

“Let them! I want you,” I declare boldly, reaching for the buttons obstructing me from getting to her skin. One by one they pop open under my deft touch revealing the lacy bra beneath.

“Kyson,” she warns me as she pulls away slightly. She glances nervously at the door.

“I’ll lock it,” I growl as I rise to my feet with Azzy’s legs locked around my waist.

Pressing her against the door, I fumble with the lock while peppering kisses along her neck. The heat emanating from her seeps into my shirt as arousal courses through both of us.

She growls in response, tightening her grip around me before pushing my face away from her neck only to attack mine with fervor. Her teeth rake down my skin causing me to gasp and turn towards my desk where she bites down hard enough to break skin just as I swipe everything off its surface.

“Kyson! My books!”

“They’re okay,” I assure her, watching them land on the chair tucked under the desk.

God, I could never grow tired of her. I desire her, yearn to bury myself deep within her.

Yet, as she toys with my pants’ waistband, a knock at the door interrupts us.

A groan escapes me while she snickers, hiding her face in my neck and covering her mouth with her hands to stifle her laughter.

The knock echoes again, eliciting a growl from me as I glare over my shoulder.

‘Trey, who’s the idiot at my door?’ I mindlink.

‘That idiot would be me, my King,’ he responds, amusement evident in his voice.

‘What do you want?’

‘Gannon is asking if the Queen can help him find Abbie.’

‘Tell him we’re busy,’ I snap back.

‘I did tell him that, my King. He said he wouldn’t have asked unless it was necessary - but Abbie left Tyson and disappeared. He can’t find her.’

‘She left Tyson?’ The question slips out before I can stop it.

‘Yes, my King , ’ Trey confirms and adds, ‘Gannon said…’

‘That she would never leave him behind,’ I finish for him and sigh heavily. There’s no way I can keep this from Azalea; she needs to know and undoubtedly will want to join the search for Abbie.

‘We’ll be right there,’ I tell Trey before turning to a confused-looking Azalea.

“What’s wrong?” she asks anxiously.

“Abbie is missing. Gannon wants your help finding her,” I relay the message, earning a gasp from Azalea’s lips. Her legs drop from around my waist as she scrambles to redo the buttons of her dress before flinging open our door and rushing out after Abbie.

Every single time we get some alone time together, it gets interrupted. I sigh and follow after Azalea.

W e end up with every guard on the lookout for Abbie when Gannon announces he’s found her, but she refuses to come out. He claims that she’s hiding in our quarters so we head there to try to coax her out of her hiding spot.

Gannon is beside himself, Tyson crying in his arms, his shirt stained with blood. The sight stops Azalea in her tracks and her shock hits me through our bond.

“What did you do?” she demands.

“I didn’t mean to, but she tried to leave,” Gannon stammers without finishing his sentence. My heart thuds heavily in my chest at seeing him in such a distressed state while Tyson wails loudly.

Azalea rushes over and yanks Tyson from Gannon’s arms who growls at her as he tries to reach for Tyson. But the poor kid is too terrified of whatever he just witnessed and clings tightly onto Azalea.

“Stand down!” Azalea orders Gannon, who freezes just as Damian comes rushing around the corner with Clarice and Liam. Everyone halts, staring at Gannon while Azalea attempts to soothe Tyson.

“Where is she?” she demands again, fury blazing in her eyes.

Gannon’s eyes dart towards our bedroom door which causes me to look behind before turning back towards him. A gasp escapes Azalea as a realization dawns upon her - something terrible must have happened for Abbie to run into our room.

“I didn’t mean it... I would never hurt her... She tried to leave me,” Gannon pleads, clutching his hair desperately.

Azalea’s gaze remains fixed on the door before she finally moves towards it, passing Tyson over to me as she does so.

She pauses next to the door handle before noticing that her hand is covered in blood.

The sight horrifies her and she looks at me before her gaze shifts to Gannon.

She growls, shoving the door open and disappearing into the room.

---

I turn my head back towards Gannon.

“What did you do?” I demand again.

“I tried to change her,” he confesses, dropping to the ground and fisting his hair in despair. My lungs compress in my chest as I take in his confession.

“Gannon!” Clarice whispers, horror-stricken as she realizes exactly what that means. “There is no way Abbie would have been ready for that after everything she has been through!” Clarice scolds him.

“She wouldn’t stop fighting me,” Gannon murmurs defensively.

“Because you tried to bloody kill her!” I yell at him, but his response leaves me speechless.

“No, she was trying to kill herself!” Gannon whispers as he clutches his hair, rocking back and forth on his heels.