Page 17 of Royal Beast (Royals of the Underworld #1)

DARCY

I wake up to the soft, golden light filtering through the blinds, a smile on my face.

But as I shift, every muscle protests. A dull ache reminds me sharply of the events from last night, of everything I let happen, and for a brief moment, I wish I could just close my eyes and sink back into the comfort and oblivion of sleep.

Then the reality of what today is comes crashing in. It’s my first day back to work after taking last week off. Time to face the real world again.

My body protests as I sit up, and I try to ignore the soreness that lingers, a stark reminder of the intense sex from the night before.

I gave in to him again, allowing myself to be swept up into the idea of being at his mercy. I don’t know why I let that happen. I shouldn’t have given up control so easily. I shouldn’t have allowed him to sway me the way he did.

But it felt good to let go for once. Really good.

I glance at the clock. It’s already late. I need to start getting ready for work.

I drag myself through the morning, my thoughts and energy scattered, and I struggle to focus.

The hum of the office, the ringing phones, the clicking of keyboards…

it all feels too loud, too overwhelming.

It’s hard to keep my head in the game when my body feels like it’s running on empty.

The events of the past week, especially the way I’ve been pulled deeper into Kellan’s world, weigh heavily on me.

Thankfully, Miranda seems to notice the shift. She’s sharp, always has been. When I walk into the break room, she’s standing there, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in her hand, watching me with a concerned look in her eyes.

“Hey, you okay?” she asks, her voice soft but direct. “You look wiped.”

I force a smile and it feels fragile. “Yeah, just not enough coffee this morning.”

Miranda raises a skeptical eyebrow, not buying it for a second. She knows me too well. “You don’t take time off unless something serious is going on. You wanna talk about it?”

I hesitate, glancing around the office to make sure no one is eavesdropping. The walls feel like they’re closing in, but I know I need to talk to someone. Someone who won’t judge me. Someone who knows what it’s like to juggle a thousand things and feel like you’re on the edge of falling apart.

“I… yeah,” I say, the words escaping before I can second-guess them. “Can we go to your office?”

She nods, leading the way, and I follow her into the small haven she’s made of her space. It’s quiet here, away from the chaos of the rest of the office. Miranda pulls a couple of chairs in front of her desk, motioning for me to sit as she grabs us both a bottle of water.

“So, what’s going on? You barely said a word about why you were taking time off,” she asks, settling into her chair, her eyes never leaving me.

I open my mouth but nothing comes out. How do I even begin to explain all of this? I never thought I’d be sitting here, telling anyone about Kellan or my marriage, certainly not the mess I’ve gotten myself into. But Miranda’s my friend. She’s always had my back, even when I didn’t deserve it.

I take a deep breath. “Okay, here it is. I… I married Kellan Brannagan.”

Miranda’s eyes widen. “Wait, you did what ?”

I nod, trying to ignore the way her gaze morphs as if she can see right through me.

“Yeah. It was a hasty decision, to say the least. My father’s debts were piling up, as you know, and Kellan’s family is…

well, they have the money to help. But it wasn’t just about the money.

He offered me a way out. A way to protect Rose. ”

Miranda leans back in her chair, the concern on her face now replaced with something more guarded. “So you married him for Rose’s sake?”

“Partly,” I admit, twisting my hands in my lap. “I thought I could handle it, that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. But moving in with him, it’s been so overwhelming. He’s intense, Miranda. And there’s a lot of tension between us.”

Miranda raises an eyebrow, clearly sensing where I’m going with this. “Tension?”

I grimace, rubbing the back of my neck. “Yeah. There’ve been some intense moments.

Like last night. I was so angry at him, and I don’t know what came over me, but we ended up in bed together.

” I feel the heat creeping up my neck but I push through it.

“I’m not sure how I feel about it. It was amazing, but I’m not sure I can handle what comes next. ”

She doesn’t speak, just watches me, her expression thoughtful.

I bite my lip, not sure what else to say. The truth is, I don’t know what to think. I feel trapped, but I can’t ignore the pull between Kellan and me. Even after everything—after how difficult he’s been, how dangerous his life is—I can’t shake this need for him. And I hate it.

“I don’t know, Miranda,” I admit quietly. “I never wanted any of this. But it’s happening. I agreed to it. And I don’t know if I can just walk away anymore. Especially after the incident at the mall.”

Her eyes widen at the mention of an incident, and she sits up straighter, clearly alarmed but trying to keep it under control. “What happened at the mall?”

I lower my voice. “It’s nothing. Just a little trouble that happened there. But Kellan saved us. That’s all I can say. I don’t want you getting mixed up in any of it.”

Miranda seems to understand, nodding slowly, processing everything I’ve said. “So, what is it that you do want?”

“I don’t know,” I say, looking down at my hands. “I’m all over the place. One minute, Kellan and I can’t stand to be in the same room, and the next, we’re falling into bed together. It’s all so confusing.”

Miranda’s gaze hardens slightly, frustration entering her voice. “You’re making this harder than it has to be. You can handle it. You’re tougher than you give yourself credit for. You just need to find that inner strength again.”

She sits back, crossing her arms. “You’re not the same woman who walked into my office years ago, afraid of her own shadow.

You’ve been through worse, Darcy. You survived things that should’ve broken you.

This is just another challenge you can rise above.

You’ve got the strength in you, I know you do. You just have to dig deep and find it.”

I stare at her, the fire in her words hitting me in a place I’d forgotten about.

There was a time when I would’ve taken on the world with nothing but my will and the belief that I could handle anything.

Somewhere along the way, I’ve let that vivacity slip.

But Miranda’s right. I’ve been through hell, and I can survive this if I allow myself to believe it.

“Thanks, Miranda,” I say quietly, offering her a weak smile. “I needed to hear that.”

She smiles back, her eyes warm with understanding. “Anytime, Darcy. You’re not alone in this.”

And for the first time in a long while, I believe her. Kellan has been pushing me to trust him, to let him help me, and I’ve done nothing but throw that trust back in his face, pouting like a child any time he tries.

I should be giving him more of a chance. I’ve survived on my own long enough, but isn’t that why I went to Kellan in the first place? So I don’t have to constantly carry the weight of responsibility on my shoulders alone?

Miranda and I part ways after I promise to keep my chin up and keep moving forward. The first thing I do when I get back to my office is call the nanny agency that Kellan used and hire another nanny for Rose, using the funds Kellan had set aside for it.

The housekeeper is looking after her today since I’d been so hellbent on finding a daycare for her. But now, the thought of her having access to the same one-on-one care that she had with my dad reminds me that there are benefits to being married to someone like Kellan Brannagan.

After work, I stop to pick up some groceries on the way home. I want to make a nice dinner for us to eat together as a family, to show Kellan that I’m willing to meet him halfway.

Once I’m home, I pull out the ingredients, chopping and sautéing with a rhythm that feels almost meditative. The kitchen smells warm, inviting. Rose is sitting at the counter, coloring in a book, her feet swinging off the stool.

Kellan comes home while I’m cooking, a look of surprise on his face at the sight of me in the kitchen. He leans against the doorframe, watching me quietly.

The meal comes together in silence, the only sounds the soft sizzle from the pan and the occasional clink of utensils. When it’s ready, I set the plates on the table, Rose’s smile lighting up the room as she eagerly digs in.

Kellan eats more slowly, his eyes catching mine every now and then, the tension between us present but not overpowering. It’s a peaceful family evening, the kind I’ve longed for since I was a kid.

“Thank you,” Kellan finally says, breaking the silence. His tone is low and sincere.

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “You're welcome.”

We start chatting about our day, Rose chiming in with her own stories about fighting off a fairy for control of the dollhouse. It’s nice. I’ve never had a family meal like this and I enjoy it immensely.

After dinner, Kellan helps me clean up, keeping Rose distracted as I rinse the plates and stick them in the dishwasher. Once I’m done, I take Rose as he wipes down the table and tidies up the kitchen. We head into the living room, and Kellan puts on a movie for us to watch.

Rose starts to droop about halfway through, so we shut it off and I carry her to her room. Kellan comes with me as I put Rose to bed, silently observing our nighttime routine.

“Are you still doing okay after last night?” he asks as I step into the hallway, the concern in his voice melting my heart.

“Yeah,” I say, smiling up at him. “I know I’ve been a pain in the ass. I’m sorry. I’m going to try, I swear. I don’t want either of us to be miserable in this arrangement.”

“You’re not making me miserable,” Kellan protests. “Being married to you is challenging, but I like a challenge.”

His words give me a burst of confidence and I reach up, pulling him down for a soft kiss. I want to make this work so I need to show him that I can be all in.

The two of us continue kissing, moving from the hallway to the bedroom where we climb into bed together and slowly undress, making unhurried love.

Afterward, as we’re cuddling together, Kellan brushes a strand of hair behind my ear and leans down to kiss my cheek.

“I need you to come with me to an upcoming gala,” he says. “It will be our first debut in society as husband and wife. We’re trying to woo some politicians in attendance, and I need you for this.”

His words are a stark reminder that this whole thing is a business deal, first and foremost. I swallow, pasting on a weak smile. Kellan might have put in the whole marital relations thing in our contract, but he never intended for us to be more than business partners outside of that.

A harsh reality I need to remember.

“Of course, whatever you need.”