Page 68 of Wrathful King

Our gazes held and so did our breaths.

Except, I wasn’t ready to let go of my demons. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

25

AMON

Reina stared at all of us like a deer in headlights.

A month had gone by since the rescue. It had been a constant up-and-down battle. She still refused to talk to anyone about what happened. She still refused to let me in.

Her hair was still wet from the shower and she was dressed in black yoga pants and an oversized white T-shirt. I missed seeing her in pink. She belonged in bright, happy colors.

Her gaze flitted to the ocean, across the horizon, seeing who knew what, then returned to the three of us.

My yacht was docked and waiting for us on the other side of the property. The four of us crowded in the bedroom, the one I hadn’t slept in since I brought her here. Every door and window was open despite the rain outside.

Ever since the rescue, Reina couldn’t stand enclosed spaces. It would become a problem once we moved back to Europe.

She hadn’t even left the compound yet and I could see her becoming overwhelmed. It was in the tremor of her fingers. In her dilated pupils as they responded to the adrenaline flooding her body—which was normal, according to the doctor.

I just had to convince my wife to get on the yacht, and once we sailed away, we could work on rebuilding our life together. I could throw her over my shoulder, but I wanted her to take the first step.

“Just the two of us.” Her voice was raspy and she twisted the necklace around her neck, the diamond on her wedding ring catching the light with her every move.

“I don’t want to go.” She jutted her chin stubbornly, her gaze locked on her papà and grandmother.

Unbeknownst to her, I had already spoken to Romero and got him to agree on the best path forward for Reina. I’d take her on a honeymoon. A week or two exploring the world and just enjoying the little things. And if she needed the therapist, I’d fly Dr. Freud out to us.

“Reina, it’s for the best,” her father reasoned. “He loves you; he will keep you safe.”

“Since when do you approve of him,” she grumbled while pleading with her eyes at her grandma to intervene. I kept my face impassive, but my eyes betrayed me.

“No, baby. You’re just confused. Go on this trip and—”

“Please, I can’t—” Her voice broke, and the terror on her face felt like a stab to my heart.

Reina was my wife, in sickness and health until death do us part. But fuck if I’d sit back and let her perish in front of my eyes while she fought her demons.

“Maybe she just needs a divorce. She has the right to her independence.” Of course the woman who’d been married multiple times would be okay with the divorce.

I could feel the tension boiling inside me, strung so tight that I worried it would explode.

I was fucking annoyed that the dragon would encourage her to up and quit on us.In her fucking dreams.

“Reina’s my wife,” I gritted. “We’re going to work this out, not give up on each other.” Her grandmother stood there in some sheer golden gown, looking like she was ready to strut down the runway, not hang around the house. “Speaking of, don’t you have your own husband to get back to?”

Something flickered in Diana’s eyes, and suddenly I knew. Judging by Reina’s and Romero’s gasps, they’d also picked up on it.

“No, Grandma,” she muttered. “Not again.”

She simply waved her hand like she was a pageant contestant.

“It was time to move on,” she announced. “Grandpa Glasgow is just getting too old to keep up with me.”

“Like you’re getting any younger,” Romero muttered under his breath, only to pale when he realized he’d spoken out loud. Ah, the old man just became my favorite.

Reina’s grandmother shot him a glare. “I’m in my prime.”