“Long enough. Now hop out, we are leaving,” he says but I don’t move.

“I told you I am not going.”

“You are. You can’t stay in here, love. So please,” Gannon begs, crouching down in front of us when he opens the door. I shrink under his gaze trying to cover my nudity.

“Can you get out, please?” I whisper, my knees tucked close to my chest as I try to hide from his gaze.

“I have already seen you naked, Abbie,” Gannon states and my face flames with heat and my lips quiver. Why won’t he just leave? Why does he have to stare, I know what he sees and still he torments me knowing I can’t hide from him.

“I can’t go out there,” I whisper. Gannon sighs but gets to his feet and walks out, he looks angry, but I don’t want people to stare, they always stare they can’t help it.

“It’s just skin, Abbie,” Azzy whispers. Yet to me, they are memories of what they did to me.

“He mutilated me. It is one thing that everyone here knows, another having the world see,” I manage to choke out, unable to meet her gaze any longer.

I stare at the wall hoping she leaves too but when she doesn’t I know I have to hop out.

It’s inappropriate for her to be stuck in the shower with me and the last thing I need is for the king to rouse at her.

Only when I look at Azalea her eyes are glazed over—a look I’ve seen on Gannon countless times so I know she is mindlinking someone.

I touch her arm and stand, the action making Azalea jump. I reach around her and grab a towel when Azalea suddenly starts stripping her clothes off. She drops them in a heap on the floor while I wonder what she is doing.

“I will get you some spare clothes,” I tell her, knowing we are the same size and will easily fit into some of my clothes.

“Don’t bother,” she tells me, and I glance at her wondering what she means.

Azalea grabs a towel and dries herself, and I rush back into the room and grab the first things in my drawers for her.

Only when I return and try to pass her the cami and shorts, she doesn’t take them.

I set them on the basin and start getting dressed in my turtleneck and long pants.

Once done, I try to give her the clothes again.

“Here,” I whisper, but she shakes her head. Is she really going to walk back to her room in just a towel? She drops the towel.

“Az?” I ask when she moves to step past me. Is she insane? I quickly block her path.

“Gannon is out there,” I remind her, gripping her arm when he suddenly opens the door standing completely naked. I have no idea where to look, neither does Azalea as she stares at the ceiling, and so does he. What is going on? Why is everyone suddenly getting naked?

“Gannon she is naked. Out,” I tell him but he doesn’t budge, and I glance at Azalea whose eyes glaze over again in the mindlink. “Hello, what is going on?” I demand when Azalea grabs my hand.

“Are we doing this?” Gannon asks Azalea while I am trying to figure out what is happening right now.

“Doing what?” I squeak looking between them.

“Oh good, I am not late,” Liam says, busting into the bathroom with only a floral apron on.

“Oh la la, My Queen! Lovely birthday suit,” he says, not even being subtle as he stares at Azalea.

Liam reaches past Gannon, grabbing Azalea’s wrist, jerking her to him, and loops his arm through hers while I stand stunned. Azalea quickly grabs my arm as Liam tugs her toward the door.

“What are you doing?” I gasp in horror trying to stop her as she heads for the bedroom door.

“We are showing you. You aren’t the only one a little broken,” Gannon says, offering his arm to me. And I stare at him.

“Man, the king doesn’t shut up. Bit bossy if you ask me. How do you put up with him?” Liam says. Azalea doesn’t answer and my face heats as he stalks forward toward the door and I catch sight of his white ass.

“Well, now this is definitely an adventure, so I guess we are off,” Liam says, opening the door and bowing. I giggle, and Azalea glances over her at me when Gannon suddenly covers my eyes as Liam shakes his bare ass at us.

Yet when Gannon removes his hands, I see outside into the corridor and gasp. All the guards are still stationed where they were, their clothes at their feet in a heap, their eyes straight ahead and hands over their privates. My face flames and I suddenly want to slam the door shut.

“Ready, My Queen?” Liam laughs, looping his arm back through Azalea’s.

She nods, and steps out with him, and my heart breaks into a million pieces knowing this is her doing.

Her way of showing me I don’t need to be ashamed.

Azalea and Liam lead the way as Gannon and I follow them back toward the king’s quarters.

Every staff member lines the halls naked, eyes straight ahead.

My chest tightens, seeing how everyone would do this for her.

As we walk the halls, I feel a strange weight lift from my chest. If they are willing to stand naked with no shame, I can surely leave our room.

Each person we pass bows or nods, and I let go of Gannon and loop my arm through Azalea’s.

As we climb the last set of stairs to find Clarice and Dustin standing up top naked.

“I knew you were a fine lady, Clarice, but damn!” Liam says, giving a whistle.

“Liam, you are not too big for me to spank or wash your mouth out with soap!” she scolds and I chuckle. That man has no shame.

“Lucky me! Which knee would you like me over?” he laughs, and she folds her arms across her chest and her eyes narrow on him.

“My Queen,” she says and nods. Dustin walks over and opens the door for Azalea.

“Abbie?” she whispers.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I tell her, yet the tension in my body has left.

“Yes I did, you needed to see,” she looks out at all the naked guards and staff and so do I.

“Did you have to make them do it, too?” I whisper to her.

“No one made them do it, love,” Gannon leans down and whispers, and everyone in the hall bows or tips their heads to me, and my cheeks flush pink.

“So, can I take you somewhere now and can I put some pants on, it is a little chilly?” Gannon asks, and Azalea gives me a nudge with her elbow.

“Go, no one cares what you look like,” she tells me, and tears brim in my eyes. My heart swells at the fact that I am lucky enough to have her as my friend, my sister. I wrap my arms around her.

“More than my life,” I whisper.

“More than my life,” she replies.

“More than my life,” all the guards and staff murmur in unison, making my heart skip a beat. Turning they all bow to me and my lip quivers.

“Come on, love,” Gannon says, and I nod. Unable to fathom why they would do this for me.