Page 166 of Sire

But now, a mighty voice lures from the pillow beside mine. “You need to tell me what’s going on.” Nash lies next to me in his guest bed. Brushing a curl from my face, he urges, “I never believed for a second he’d leave you.”

Nash is dressed and lying on top of the covers, while I’m buried underneath them with Onyx swatting at my curls. They’re my kitten’s chew toy, and I don’t mind.

I need something to keep me anchored to this world. If not, I’d slip away into my nightmares.

Vale is downstairs, cooking breakfast with Delphine. I can smell the bacon. Grant’s giving us privacy because I’m supposed to trust my second king. I’m supposed to let him protect me.

“I’m pregnant,” I confess.

“Congratulations.” His brown eyes glow, a sexy smile tugging at Nash’s beard. “And that’s another reason why I know he’dneverleave you.”

“He’s helping others.”

“He’s sacrificing himself as usual, and I need to know why and where.”

Nash met Sire first. He became his brother first. They went from juvie to being married kings. He knows him too well.

The ink Nash hides under his starched white button-up peeks through. I spot the tiger, snarling at the lion on his carved chest.

All the kings are marked with lions. All the ways they honor their bond; all the ways they honor their queens; I’m losing track.

I wedge my hands under my cheek. Nash mirrors me, as if he’s trying not to scare me when I know the man has killed with his bare hands. Anyone who lays a finger on Vale has signed their death warrant.

And when he finds out about Axel with Alena?

There will be blood.

Lots of it.

“I’m protecting him,” I answer.

“You are, and you’re making him proud. But something’s happened.” When Nash is serious, he’s threatening, but not to me. “We know you, Wren. You’re our queen, too. We’ve felt you. We know you’re strong, and the only reason you’d collapse is if something is wrong.”

I can’t answer, but I feel our bond, too. All the ways I’m tethered to Nash and the kings.

And something is wrong, but what if I make it worse? What if I start an unnecessary war and get my family killed?

He cups my cheek. “Please. I love him, too.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Let me help you; that’s what you’ll do.”

Sire’s alive. I know. He has a fighting chance. I hope. He holds the only way to make this right, including Axel’s son in his arms, if I trust he’ll be okay. That Sire will come home.

Have faith, Angel. I love you. Always.It’s the last thing he said to me, with his kiss, before he left me in our hotel suite.

Okay.

Faith.

“Can you give me time?”

“I’ll give you my life, Wren. You know that.” Nash confronts my eyes. “Just tell me he’s okay. Tell me he’s alive and I’ll give you time.”

“He’s alive.”

Nash gives me a week,and I barely leave his guest bed.