Page 28

When she’s finished eating, I stand to take the dishes to the sink. I glance back at her as I rinse the plate, noting the vacant expression on her face, the way she stares into nothingness like she’s still trapped in her mind.

“I’m going to shower,” she murmurs suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alarm bells go off in my head immediately. I don’t trust her to be alone, not after what just happened. Not after she burned herself earlier. I dry my hands quickly and turn toward her.

“I’ll come with you,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm.

She shakes her head slightly, already heading toward the bathroom. “I’ll be fine.”

I’m about to argue, but before I can, the mindlink opens, and Liam’s voice comes through loud and clear.

“Hey, just checking in. How’s everything going over there?” Liam asks, his usual cheerfulness slightly muted.

I grit my teeth, watching Abbie disappear into the bathroom and hearing the click of the lock as she shuts the door behind her. Shit. I don’t like this.

“Not great,” I answer Liam through the mind-link as I move toward the bathroom door. “ She hurt herself earlier. Burned her hand trying to… I don’t even know what she was thinking .” I bang on the door, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising panic in my chest. “Abbie, unlock the door.”

There’s no response, and I feel Liam is listening in via the mindlink.

“She’s not answering, and I don’t trust her to be alone right now.”

“There should be a master key in the kitchen somewhere from memory. Do you need anything?” Liam asks.

“ No, I’ll be fine with her. I just don’t like that she locked the door.” I stride toward the kitchen, searching through the drawers. My hands are shaking slightly as I rummage through the contents.

“What’s going on back home? Do I need to return?” I ask him.

“The usual, oh, I forgot to tell you.”

“Tell me what?” I say, opening another drawer.

“I’ve got some news. Maybe telling her might help give her something to hold on to, something to be excited about.”

I find the key and grip it tightly in my hand. “What news?” I ask, my voice distracted as I hurry back toward the bathroom.

“Azalea’s pregnant.” Liam’s words hit me like a freight train, momentarily stopping me in my tracks. “We have another royal brat on the way,” he chuckles. “Clarice is so excited. Maybe Abbie hearing that will help her. She loves Azalea—she’ll be happy for her.”

I swallow hard, my mind racing. Maybe he’s right. Maybe this news will give Abbie a reason to keep going, something exciting for her when everything feels hopeless.

“I’ll tell her,” I say quietly before cutting off the mindlink.

Key in hand, I jam it in the lock and unlock the bathroom door, pushing it open.

Steam billows out, and I immediately spot Abbie sitting on the shower floor, her knees pulled tightly to her chest as the hot water cascades over her.

She looks so small, so fragile, and my heart clenches painfully in my chest.

“Abbie,” I say softly, stepping inside. She flinches at the sound of my voice, shrinking back against the wall, but I ignore it. I know it’s an automatic reaction, a reflex born from everything she’s endured. I’m not going to take it personally.

Without a word, I begin stripping off my clothes, leaving only my boxer shorts on. Abbie’s eyes widen in alarm, and she immediately tries to stand, to leave the shower, but I block her path.

“Stay,” I say firmly, but gently.

Her breathing quickens, her eyes darting around the small space as panic sets in. “Gannon, please?—”

“You’ve seen me naked before,” I remind her quietly, keeping my voice calm and steady. “I’m not going to hurt you, Abbie. I would never hurt you.”

She shakes her head, her whole body trembling. “I… I can’t?—”

“Yes, you can.” I cage her in gently, placing my hands on either side of her to prevent her from fleeing. Slowly, carefully, I take her trembling hands in mine and place them on my chest, right over my heart. “Feel that? My heart only beats for you.”

Her hands tremble against my skin, but she doesn’t pull away. I let her feel the steady rhythm of my heartbeat, hoping it will help ground her, help her see I mean her no harm.

Reaching for the soap, I lather it in my hands before gently running them over her arms. She stiffens at first, but gradually, she relaxes under my touch, her breathing evening out as the tension drains from her body.

“Azalea’s pregnant,” I say softly, working the shampoo through her hair. “You’re going to be an aunty.” My lips tug up at the thought. It makes me wonder if Abbie wants kids, though I know that would be far off in the future if ever.

Abbie freezes for a moment, tilting her head back slightly to look at me, her eyes wide as she processes my words.

Slowly, a faint spark of something—hope, maybe—flickers in her eyes.

“She’s… she’s pregnant?” she whispers, and I can tell that, for the first time in a long while, she feels something other than pain.

“She is,” I confirm, rinsing the soap from her hair. “And she’s going to need you. We’re going to need you.” I tell her and she chews her lip, returning her gaze back to the shower wall.

“Abbie?” I ask, rinsing her hair.

“I’m going to be an aunty,” she whispers and I press my lips to her shoulder.

“Yes, you are.”