Page 24 of Royal Beast (Royals of the Underworld #1)

KELLAN

T he shower steams up around me as I stand under the water, trying to wash away the exhaustion that’s been clinging to me for weeks. I run a hand through my hair, the weight of everything pressing down. My mind keeps drifting back to Darcy and Rose.

I didn’t expect to care this much, especially not about someone else’s kid.

But Rose, she’s smart, sharp, and full of fire, a tiny force of nature who knows how to keep up with every conversation.

I didn’t expect to feel like this about her, like she’s not just some kid I’ve been forced to tolerate for the sake of appearances.

I genuinely miss her. I miss the way she’d talk to me like she was trying to figure me out—like I was a puzzle she was determined to solve.

And Darcy… well, shit. I didn’t expect to miss her, either.

But I do. The way she looks when she smiles, when she laughs, the way she gets that spark in her eyes when she’s fired up about something.

She’s tough as hell, but there’s this softness underneath that I can’t stop thinking about.

It eats at me, knowing that I’ve distanced myself from them both, that I’ve built this wall between us.

I tell myself it’s for the best. If I keep them at arm's length, they’ll be safer. I don’t want them involved in my world, especially not now when everything’s in turmoil. The fewer people who get caught in the crossfire, the better. But damn, it still hurts.

I finish rinsing off and step out of the shower, staring at my reflection. The man I see in the mirror looks nothing like the one I’ve been pretending to be. I’m not the cold, detached guy I’ve been telling myself to be. Not really.

I get dressed in silence, the weight of my decision hanging heavily in the air. It doesn’t get any easier. It just feels more like a lie with each passing day.

As I button up my shirt, my phone buzzes on the counter. I glance at the screen—Rory.

I swipe to answer. “What’s up?”

“Got the meeting sorted.” Rory’s voice is low, businesslike. “Anatoly agreed to meet. We’re set for a diner on the outskirts of town. Neutral ground, just like we discussed. No eyes, no ears.”

I exhale, a quiet tension in my chest. Anatoly Volkov is dangerous. Not just in the sense of business competition, but he’s got the kind of power that makes people disappear without a second thought. A meeting with him is a necessary risk.

“You’re sure he’s not going to pull something, right? No funny business?”

Rory chuckles, though there’s a hard edge to it. “Volkov knows how to play the game. He’s not gonna do anything to jeopardize the deal. He’s got his own shit to protect. But we need to be prepared. We don’t go in there all friendly—keep it cool.”

“Always do,” I mutter, pacing the small space of my bedroom. I grab my jacket off the chair. “Anything else I need to know?”

“Just be ready for anything. Anatoly’s a business man, but he’s also got a reputation for being ruthless. We’ll need to play our cards right. Don’t let your guard down.”

“Got it.” I pause for a moment, thinking about the stakes of this meeting. Anatoly Volkov isn’t just a businessman. He’s a threat. And we’re walking into his territory.

“Alright, I’ll meet you there,” I add, already thinking about the next steps. “We’ll talk details then.”

“Good. See you soon.”

I hang up, my mind already shifting gears. This meeting will be crucial.

I drive straight to the office, Rory’s texts popping up with updates. He’s already there, waiting for me. The urgency in his messages is clear—this isn’t just another meeting. This could change everything.

When I pull up, Rory’s black SUV is already parked, engine off. He’s standing outside, hands shoved deep in his pockets, his posture tense. As I get out of my car, he jerks his head. “Let’s go.”

We don’t speak much during the drive, trying to prepare for the meeting in silence. But the silence is loaded. We both know what’s going to happen today.

As we pull into the parking lot of the diner, I immediately notice the extra vehicles scattered around. Anatoly’s men are already here, just as Rory said. There’s a strange feeling in the air, a tension that cuts through the cool morning.

I park, shutting off the engine, and we get out, walking toward the entrance.

A few of our men and Anatoly’s men are already gathered at the front, standing in a tight circle.

The air feels thick, like a storm is brewing.

Our men are eyeing Anatoly’s with suspicion, and vice versa, each side making sure the other’s weapons are checked and accounted for.

No one trusts anyone in this game, and it’s clear this isn’t just a meeting—it’s a showdown.

I meet Rory’s eyes for a brief moment, his expression unreadable as we step through the door. Our men follow behind, but everyone falls back as we approach the table where Anatoly is already seated, his back straight, his eyes cool but calculating.

The diner is eerily quiet, the hum of the refrigerator and the clink of silverware the only sounds breaking the stillness. The staff are there, but it’s obvious that they’ve been told to stay out of the way.

Anatoly stands when we approach, his demeanor as calm as ever. His tailored suit looks expensive, his salt-and-pepper hair meticulously styled, and he exudes an air of confidence that matches the icy undertone of his reputation.

“Gentlemen,” he says, his voice smooth, almost too polite. “Please, take a seat.”

Rory and I sit down, keeping our distance from the table but still within reach. Anatoly’s gaze flickers between us, but he’s careful, as though waiting for us to speak first.

“Anatoly,” I begin, my tone measured. “I don’t understand the sudden hostility. We’ve worked together before. All of this seems like overkill.”

Rory leans forward slightly, his voice edged with frustration. “We don’t want this to go too far. There’s too much at stake for both sides. We need to settle things, and we need to settle them now. Before someone goes too far, gets too close to an edge we can’t back away from.”

I shift in my seat, my jaw clenching. “Maybe we can resolve this without it getting out of hand, but to do that, we need to be on the same page. What is it that you want? What do we need to do to stop this?"

Anatoly takes a slow sip from his glass of soda, his gaze fixed on us as though weighing our words carefully.

His eyes narrow slightly, but his face remains calm, impassive.

He doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he sits back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping against the glass as if considering the best way to address us.

The silence stretches on, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Neither Rory nor I speak again, waiting for Anatoly’s response. His calm demeanor only makes the moment feel like he’s biding his time, weighing our every word.

“Gentlemen,” he says, tone cool. “I’ve decided that this alliance no longer interests me.

There comes a time when every man must do what’s best for himself.

Sometimes, it's just better to let go. To move on, to cut the ties that bind.” He leans backward slightly, a small, almost imperceptible smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Rory and I exchange glances. What do we even say to that? Anger bubbles up inside me but Rory, ever the leader, simply nods before reaching into his coat pocket and grabbing his wallet, producing a few bills and tossing them on the table.

“Thank you for your time. It’s been a pleasure, Anatoly,” he says, his tone polite but not a smidge of warmth in his eyes. I stand up, following him outside.

The two of us step out into the cold air, the door swinging shut behind us. Neither of us says anything for a moment, the weight of the meeting hanging over us.

Rory exhales sharply. “That’s not how this ends. We can’t let them think they can steamroll us like this. A few retaliatory moves won’t be enough. If we want peace, we have to cut off the monster’s head. We go after Anatoly and take him down.”

His words hit hard, a new fire igniting in my chest. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Just as Rory and I are heading toward the car, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, expecting another business call, but when I see it’s Darcy, a wave of unease washes over me.

“Darcy?” I answer immediately, my voice tight. “What’s wrong?”

“Kellan, it’s Rose,” she says, her voice shaking. “She’s in the hospital. There’s been an accident. Please, get there as soon as you can.”

My heart drops to my stomach, and before she can say anything more, I’m already moving. I hang up, barely registering Rory’s confused look before I’m in the car, speeding toward the hospital.

By the time I get there, Darcy’s just pulling up. She’s frantic, her eyes wide and her movements rushed. I fall into step with her as we rush through the emergency entrance, my mind racing.

We find Rose in a room, her arm in a bright blue cast, her little face scrunched up with pain but otherwise okay. The relief hits me like a physical blow, and I swallow hard.

Doreen rushes up to us, apologizing profusely. “We were playing at the park and she fell off the jungle gym and broke her arm. I’m so sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Brannagan!”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “It’s just a broken arm,” I reassure her.

Darcy is already sitting beside Rose so I circle around to her other side and lean against the bed, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“Hey, kiddo,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “How’re you doing?”

Rose gives me a small, pained smile. “I’m okay, Kellan. It hurts, but I’ll be fine.”

“You’ll be just fine,” I say, my voice soft. “And when you get home, you can have all the ice cream you want. And you can lie in the living room and watch Disney movies until you’re better.”

Her smile widens a bit, and Darcy looks at me with a grateful expression, her eyes softening.

I feel the knot in my chest loosen, but a slow realization burns inside.

The minute I heard about Rose, I dropped everything and ran to be by her side.

What does this mean? Am I already starting to think of her as my child?

I glance at Darcy, and for a moment, it’s as if everything falls into place. The weight of the day lifts, and I realize that no matter the mess between us, there’s one thing that’s never going to change—this little girl and the family I never knew I wanted.

Maybe it’s time to make things more permanent.

I study Rose as she vividly recounts the story to us, her little arms waving in the air, the solemn expression as she describes the “monster” that was chasing her, and I realize that no matter what is going on between me and Darcy, I need to step up and be here for this little girl.

She needs someone in her life who can protect her from the real big, bad monsters out there.

Chancing another glance at Darcy, I take in the wistful expression on her face as she holds Rose’s other hand.

A thought flashes through my mind, one I’d never fully considered before.

What if I formally adopted Rose? That way, if something ever happened to me, I could ensure she’d always be protected.

The idea lingers in my mind, but I don’t say anything. As I watch Darcy comfort Rose, I can’t shake the feeling that it might be exactly what I want.