Page 39 of Royal Beast (Royals of the Underworld #1)

DARCY

T he sound of the door opening makes me sit up straighter, and Rose’s giggles follow soon after. She barrels into the room, her energy a welcome contrast to the weight I’ve been carrying.

“Mama!” she squeals, throwing her arms around me. I catch her, pulling her close.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I say, smoothing her hair. “Did you have fun with Auntie Clary?”

She starts babbling about their day at the park while Clary’s eyes meet mine, her brows drawn with concern. “You okay?” she asks quietly.

“I’m fine,” I reassure her, managing a small smile. “Thanks for everything.”

She studies me for a moment before nodding. “Okay. Call me if you need anything.” After giving Rose a quick hug, she slips out.

Kellan crouches in front of us, his expression soft but serious. “Rosie Posie, we need to talk to you for a second, okay? Just something important.”

Rose’s face shifts, her smile fading. “Am I in trouble?”

“No, baby,” I say, squeezing her hand. “We just want to tell you what happened when I got home.”

Kellan takes over, his voice steady. “Mama had something scary happen to her, but I found her and brought her home. She’s safe now.”

Rose looks up at me, her lip wobbling slightly. “Really?”

“Really,” I say, kissing her forehead. “I’m here to stay.”

Kellan’s tone turns gentle but firm. “We also want to show you what to do if something scary ever happens to you. Just a few things to remember, okay?”

Rose nods, her little face serious.

“If someone tries to grab you,” Kellan says, “we want you to yell as loud as you can for Mama or me.”

“And if they try to tie your hands, you can try to pull them apart really hard, like this.” I demonstrate quickly, and Rose mimics the movement.

“And you keep wiggling if someone grabs you,” Kellan adds. “Like a little worm.”

Rose’s face lights up briefly. “A wiggle worm?”

“Exactly,” I say with a small smile. “You’re so smart.”

We hug her tightly, and for now, things don’t feel so crazy.

The next morning, the sunlight streams through the curtains, painting the kitchen in soft golds, but the warmth it brings feels hollow. My mind is a storm of anger and resentment, every thought circling back to the same man.

Max.

My father.

The man who should’ve protected me but left me exposed, vulnerable, a pawn in Guy’s sick game.

Kellan moves around the kitchen, pouring coffee into mugs and plating toast. He’s trying to keep things normal for Rose, but I can feel his eyes on me, watchful, waiting. He knows I’m not the type to let this simmer.

I stare into the coffee he places in front of me, the dark liquid rippling as I tap my finger on the table. “I need to see him.”

Kellan stops mid-motion, his back to me as he leans on the counter. “Darcy…”

“I have to,” I press, my voice sharper than I mean it to be. I soften my tone, but the steel remains. “I need to look him in the eye and make him understand what he’s done. He put me—and Rose—in danger. He needs to know that I’m not letting this go.”

Kellan turns slowly, his brow furrowed. “You think he doesn’t already know?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I think he’s sitting there in that hospital bed feeling sorry for himself, like he’s the victim. And I won’t let him get away with that.”

His lips press into a thin line, and for a long moment, he doesn’t respond. When he does, it’s measured, calm. “You’re not going alone.”

I groan, leaning back in my chair. “Kellan, I don’t need a babysitter.”

“This isn’t about your needing a babysitter,” he says firmly, crossing the room to stand in front of me. “It’s about making sure Max doesn’t try to pull some kind of stunt again.”

My first instinct is to protest, to throw his overprotectiveness in his face, but I realize he’s the way he is for a reason . Being overly cautious in our world sometimes means the difference between life and death.

“I’ll bring Rose,” I say. “He won’t try anything with her there.”

“Take Liam too, and Clary. She can watch Rose. I’d feel better if you took them.”

I glance over to the living room, where Rose is perched on the edge of the couch, giggling as Clary plays a clapping game with her. The sight tugs at my heart, and for a moment, my resolve wavers.

“I’m not going there to make nice,” I warn. “I’m going to tell him exactly what I think.”

Kellan’s lips twitch, the ghost of a smile breaking through the tension. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

His confidence in me settles something inside, the storm easing just slightly. I glance up at him, his strong, steady presence grounding me in a way I desperately need.

I sigh, standing from the table. “Fine. But if Liam so much as tries to interfere…”

“He won’t,” Kellan assures me, stepping closer. His hands rest lightly on my shoulders, his thumbs brushing against my collarbone. “He knows better than to get in your way when you’ve got your mind set on something.”

I lean into him for a moment, just long enough to take a breath. “Thank you,” I murmur.

“You don’t need to thank me, Darce. Just… come back to me in one piece, okay?”

I nod, pulling away reluctantly. It’s time for my father to face the consequences of his actions for once. I’m done trying to shield him from it.

We reach the hospital, and I hold Rose’s hand tightly as we walk through the blindingly bright corridors, the sound of her sneakers squeaking faintly against the polished floor. Clary and Liam flank us, their presence steady, anchors keeping me grounded.

When we reach Max’s room, I pause at the door, taking a moment to compose myself. My chest feels tight, anger coiling like a spring ready to snap.

Clary squeezes my shoulder. “You’ve got this.”

I nod, handing Rose’s hand to her. “Stay out here with her. I’ll keep this short.”

Clary hesitates, but Liam gives her a nod, stepping closer to the door in case Max tries something stupid. Reassured, I push the door open and step inside.

Max is propped up in the hospital bed, his face pale but his eyes sharp as they flicker to me. For a moment, he looks genuinely pleased to see me, but that melts away the second he catches the fire in my gaze.

“Darcy,” he starts, his voice rasping. “I?—”

“No,” I cut him off, crossing my arms as I stop at the foot of his bed. “You don’t get to start this. I do.”

His mouth closes, but the flash of irritation in his eyes doesn’t go unnoticed. I take a deep breath, keeping my voice low and measured.

“You put me in danger,” I say, each word deliberate. “You tried to control my life, to protect me in some backward way, but all you did was hurt me. You messed up, Dad. And I’m not going to be the one to fix it this time.”

“I was trying to keep you safe,” he protests, his voice rising.

I step closer, shaking my head. “Safe? You think I was safe? Guy kidnapped me, Dad. He tied me up and shoved me in his fucking trunk ! Who knows what he might have done to me!”

He opens his mouth to argue, but before I can press further, the door bursts open. Rose barrels into the room, her face lit with determination, Clary right on her heels.

“Rose!” I exclaim, startled. “You were supposed to stay outside.”

Rose plants herself at my side, glaring up at me with the stubbornness only a child can muster. “I wanted to see Grandpa Max.” Her gaze flicks between us, her brows knitting together. “Why are you fighting?”

The tension in the room shifts immediately. Max stares at her, his tough exterior cracking as guilt washes over his features.

“We’re not fighting, sweetheart,” I say quickly, crouching to her level.

She crosses her arms. “It sounded like fighting.”

Before I can say anything else, she turns to Max. “Don’t worry about me and Mama, Grandpa. Kellan is my daddy and he’s always there to protect me and Mama.”

Her voice is so earnest, so filled with confidence in Kellan, that it takes me a moment to gather myself. I glance at Max, and his expression is unreadable—torn between something close to shame and something like longing.

Max clears his throat, his voice softer now.

“I didn’t mean for things to go this far, Darcy,” he says, his gaze dropping to his hands.

“I… I just wanted Guy to take you for a ride, to talk some sense into you. I never thought—” He stops, coughing hard, his frailty suddenly stark against the backdrop of the machines keeping him stable.

I want to stay angry. I want to keep throwing words like daggers, to make him feel even an ounce of what I’ve been carrying. But the sound of his coughing is a brutal reminder of why he’s here in the first place. My chest tightens.

“I didn’t know,” he says finally, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t know he’d take things so far. I swear.”

I glance at Clary, who is hovering by the door, her expression torn. She looks at Rose, then back at Max, before letting out a long breath.

“Is Kellan treating you right?” Max asks suddenly, his eyes locking onto mine. “You and Rose?”

“Kellan adores us,” I say, the conviction in my voice leaving no room for doubt. “He would never let anything happen to us. He’s done more for me and Rose than you ever have.”

Max winces but nods, a small flicker of acceptance in his eyes.

I crouch down to Rose’s level again, brushing her hair back from her face. “Go with Aunt Clary, okay? I’ll be home soon.”

Rose hesitates but nods, giving Max a quick hug before she lets Clary lead her out of the room. Liam lingers in the doorway, giving me a slight nod before positioning himself just outside, a silent promise to keep watch.

I turn back to Max, pulling the chair closer to his bedside. “You’ve got a lot to answer for, Dad,” I say, my voice quieter now. “But I’m here. For now.”

His eyes flicker up to meet mine, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavily between us.

The room grows quieter as Max’s eyes drift closed, his breathing evening out. I stay seated at his side, watching the rise and fall of his chest. Seeing him like this makes me realize that despite everything he’s done, my father has always tried to protect me the best he can.

I adjust the blanket over him, my movements careful not to wake him.

The anger that had been burning so hot inside me has cooled, leaving behind a strange emptiness.

Part of me feels lighter, finally having said what needed to be said.

But another part, the one that still remembers being his little girl, feels heavier.

The hospital monitor beeps steadily, filling the silence. I lean back in my chair, trying to shake the unease crawling up my spine. Maybe it’s the exhaustion. Maybe it’s the residual adrenaline. Either way, it’s hard to sit still.

Something feels off.

It starts as a prickle in the back of my mind, a nagging sense that I’ve forgotten something, that I’ve overlooked something important. I glance at the doorway, half-expecting to see Liam pop his head in to check on me, but it remains empty.

The unease tightens its grip on me, coiling in my stomach. My hand moves on its own, reaching into my bag for my phone. The screen lights up, Kellan’s contact staring back at me.

I hit the call button before I can second-guess myself, my heart racing as the dial tone fills my ear.

The line connects, and I let out a shaky breath.