Chapter 63

Abbie

A few days later.

I felt sick knowing Cassandra's life was in my hands. Gannon groans, sitting up on the couch heusually slept on. I tried to take the couch, but he always refused. He stretches, and his back cracksbefore he turns his head, cracking his neck and making my guilt worse. I set his clothes on the bed,having pulled on my uniform already when he noticed me.

“What are you doing?” Gannon growled, seeing the servant's uniform I was wearing. I look down atit, flattening the front. I had pulled a black long sleeve skivvy on underneath it since the blouseopened a little along the neckline, revealing my mauled shoulder.

“I can't sit in this room all day, Gannon. I want to work.” I tell him as he comes over to me. He startstugging at the blouse, but I smack his hands away.

“You want to work? Fine, but not in this uniform. You aren't a servant,” he growls.

"What does it matter if I am a servant or not? Clarice is a servant! Do you think so little of her, too?”I ask him, and he seems taken aback by my words.

"What? Of course not, Abbie. A job is a job, no matter the status. I just don’t want you in that damnuniform!” he snaps, tugging at the buttons and undoing them.

“Gannon, stop it! I am wearing it. Now leave me be!” I snapped at him. He presses his lips in a linebut puts his hands up in surrender.

“You don't have to wear that,”

“I know,” I tell him.

“Do you? You don't have to be a servant, you don't even have to work if you don’t want to,”

"Why are you so against this then?”

“Because I don’t want you to think you are nothing more than a servant. I don't want you servingme like I am one of your chores,”

“I'm not,” I tell him. He points to his bed where I set his clothes out, and bite my lip as he walks overto the bathroom and pushes the door open and growls seeing that I had cleaned the bathroomalready and removed the dirty laundry.

“Really? Then why can I smell bleach?” he demands.

“I want a mate, not a house cleaner,” he says, pinning me with his intense gaze.

"And mates, do that sort of thing. They clean up after each other. Geez, Gannon, my dirty washingwas in there too, and I sure as hell don't want one of the other servants cleaning up after me.” I tellhim and he seems to think for a second.

“You could work in the library or the kitchens, or,” he pauses.

“The stables? Gannon, I want to work as a servant. I know what I am doing. Kitchens are full and thelibrary? What use would I be when I can't read?” I ask him.

“Well, you can come with me.”

“I am not following you around like a lost puppy. I don’t see what the big deal is,” I tell him, walkingover and grabbing my flats and socks. I sit on the edge of the bed, bending down to pull my sockson when Gannon snatches them from my hand kneeling in front of me.

He grabs my ankle placing it on his knee and I sighed, watching as he tugged my socks on

"You know I don’t want a servant either right?” I chuckle.

"Huh?" he says, looking up at me.

I point to him putting my shoes on. “And you are always opening damn doors and running mybaths. I can't read that doesn’t mean I can't dress myself,”

“Is that why you think I do those things?” He chuckles, shaking his head and I shrug.

"Here I thought chivalry wasn't dead. Apparently it is just non-existent,” he laughs, lifting my otherfoot to put the sock on. He kisses my foot.

“I do those things because I like doing them for you,”

"And same with me setting your clothes out and cleaning the room, and making our bed. It's ourroom, I should be able to clean it,” I tell him.

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Chapter 63

"Our bed and our room, huh?” He laughs looking up at me. My face heats at how casually claimedhis room as my own. He places his hands on my thighs running them up to my hips beforewrapping them around my waist.

“If this is our bed, I should be able to sleep in it then, right?” He laughs.

I chew my lip. “I'm playing Abbie,” he says, leaning up and pecking my lips quickly. My face heats upimpossibly more and he stands up. I look at the bed before looking back at him.

“Maybe you could sleep in the bed?” I tell him and he peers down at me.

“I was playing Abbie, I don't mind the couch,” he says, tugging his shirt off and replacing it with theone I set out for him. When he was done he twirled his finger in the air, wanting me to turn aroundand I looked away while he removed his boxer shorts and pulled his jeans on.

Gannon groans annoyed and I glance back at him as he does his zip up.

"What's wrong?”

“The King wants to leave early. He and Azalea had an argument,” he says with a sigh.

He comes over and presses his lips to my forehead before gripping my chin, forcing me to look upat him.

“There is no rush to do anything and if you want to clean the room, fine. I just don't want youthinking you have to, OK?" I nod and he smiles, dipping his face closer to see if I would pull away.When I don't he presses his lips to mine, softly and my lips part invitingly. Gannon groans pullingme closer, his hand going to the back of my head as he tipped my head back, running his tongueacross my bottom lip first before his tongue delved between my lips, brushing mine gently. I kisshim back, wanting to let him have this small victory because right now that is all I could offer him.Gannon is gentle and sweet despite the hard exterior and sharp edges as well as the blistering hotenergy he exuded. Safe is what I felt with him, and I trusted him inexplicably. Trusted him the way Itrusted Azalea. His fingers massage the back of my neck as he deepens the kiss before pulling backslightly. He sucked on my bottom lip, nibbling on it. I chuckle and he smiles against my lips beforepulling away and hugging me. I hug him back enjoying his masculine scent as his arms engulf mytiny frame.

“I will be back in a few hours and- A knock is heard at the door and I look up at Gannon whose eyesare glazed over. He leans down, kissing my nose before stepping away.

“Azalea is at the door,” Gannon murmurs, and my eyes widen. I was excited to see her, but seeingher while she was asleep wasn't the same. I needed to hear her voice and hear her say she wasindeed okay. Ripping the door open, I ran into her. Her arms enveloped me instantly

“More than my life,” she murmured.

“More than my life,” I whispered back.

Hearing those words, to me, was the most soul-soothing thing. Most didn't understand ourlanguage, not like we did. Half the time we didn't need to speak, just the subtle facial movements,the way we moved, it spoke a language only we understood. We read each other's body languageas if it was spoken language. So the crack in her voice told me she needed the hug just as much as Idid.

Pulling back, I noticed the King leaning against the wall behind her, keeping watch and making menervous.

“Ready?” The King asks Gannon, though his eyes never leave Azalea. And the way she sucks in herpursed lip as she tried to stop the action made me realize she was livid about something.

“Yeah, just need to grab my wallet,* Gannon says behind me, I turn toward the doors at the end ofthe corridor. Azalea leans her shoulder against me. Before she even got two meters past Kyson, theharsh intake of breath she let out told me she was trying to keep her emotions in check

“Azalea!” The King snarled. She ignores him and continues walking toward the stairs.

“Where are you going now?" the King asks. She doesn't bother answering and instead kept walking,and I press my lips in a line, a little worried. Azalea wasn't usually defiant, one thing we were veryaware of growing up was orders were to be followed. Only the King was her mate and she lookedlike she was deliberately trying to push his buttons for some reason.

"Where are you working today? I will come work with you,” she says, ignoring her growling matebehind us.

“I'm not sure yet,” I tell her, walking down the steps with her toward the kitchens.

"Azalea, answer me!” The King bellows from the top of the stairs. Dustin, I noticed was waiting onthe stairs for her along with Liam. He smiles softly at us while Dustin raises an eyebrow at Azaleawho continued to ignore Kyson. I could hear him stomping down the steps behind us

The King grips her shoulder, and she stops and growls at him. “I asked you a question?” he said,looking annoyed.

“I asked you one too! I got my answer. Here's yours,” she said, turning back and stomping down thesteps, she shoots him a look when she

Chapter 63

gets to the bottom.

“Trouble in paradise, my King.” Liam taunts. That crazy Lycan. Although, I actually think he may infact be clinically crazy.

“Shut up, Liam.” Kyson snaps, and I was surprised at how angry he was becoming just from Azaleaignoring him. Clearly, he liked being the center of attention with her. Yet Liam was the first to movein front of Kyson though, when he reached his hand out to stop her again.

Kyson growled and it was so strange for me to see them put themselves in front of the King for her.Bound by a pack oath to choose her over him. However, I never realized it extended to hisinteractions with Azalea too.

I would have to ask Gannon why next time I speak to him. Gannon’s hand fell on Kyson's shouldernot even a second later. My breath hitched in my throat when Kyson growled, turning hisintimidating glare on Gannon before he sighed. He looks down at Azalea who just raised aneyebrow at him.

“It was a simple question, Azalea. I just wanted to know where you are going, so I can ensure youhave proper guards,” the king says while pinching the skin between his eyes.

“Can't know all my secrets now, can you?” she growls back before storming off. I hurry after her,wondering if she was talking about what Gannon told me the other day.

“Where are you going?” I ask her.

"Wherever you are going,” she chuckles when I catch up to her and loop my arm through hers. Igiggle, but then again, she never goes anywhere, so I don't understand why he would ask.

“Liam you're with me, and Trey. Gannon is now watching the girls with Dustin,” I heard Kyson say ashe reached the bottom of the steps. The King headed in the other direction. Liam huffs and growls,making both Azalea and I stop to look back at him. Gannon walks toward us with a silly smirk on hisface.

“Great! See what your defiance gets me, my Queen. I have to hang out all day with his grumpy assand ferret face fucker,” Liam taunts. Dustin snorts trying to maintain his expressionless expression.“Liam! Now!” The King roars stalking off.

“I'm coming! Your royal pain in my fanny,” Liam calls while jogging after him. Azalea shakes herhead at Liam, and Dustin moves to her side again while Gannon follows behind us.

"So what's up with you and the King?" I ask as we step into the Kitchens.

“Nothing. I just think he is hiding stuff. No. I know he is hiding stuff. I asked him about the counciland what happened the other day and he never answered,” she says with a shrug.

Oliver and Logan were sitting at the bench, chopping pancakes, and Azalea messed up Oliver's hairbefore eating a berry he holds up for her.

“Clarice is hanging washing,” Logan tells us. I smile down at them, while Gannon went over to helpOliver use a butter knife to cut the pancakes up that he was sawing at. Azalea looks in the fridgebefore pulling out some orange juice. She grabs some glasses when Dustin clears his throat. Shelooks at him over the fridge door.

“Your smoothie,” Dustin says

“I got juice,” she says, holding it up and Dustin points to the blender. Azalea rolls her eyes walkingover to it. She grabs the jug before pouring the contents down the sink.

“My Queen, you know he commanded me to let him know what you are eating,” she pours her juice,uncaringly.

“What he doesn't know won't hurt him. Tell him I am happily eating the lies he feeds me” she saysholding up the juice to him before drinking it. She places some cups on the counter in front of theboys with juice and hands me one. She offers one to Gannon and Dustin but they both shake theirheads when Clarice walks in from out the back.

Gannon looks over at her from feeding Oliver some pancake on his little fork, before straighteningup when she glares at him.

"He needs to learn to hold the fork properly himself, Gannon, Clarice says, she clicks her tonguebefore leaning down and kissing Oliver's little head.

*He was struggling ma, let me feed him,” Gannon says, sending him a wink. Clarice swats Gannon’sass with her tea towel before flicking the kettle on.

“Have you girls had breakfast?” Clarice asks.

“Yep. I had some home truths for breakfast,” Azalea says bitterly and Clarice gives her a look.

"And how did they taste?” she asks.

Chapter 63

"Bitter, like the King,” Azalea mutters, sipping her juice. I snicker, she was indeed in a mood, makingme wonder if it was the pregnancy hormones. You could just make out the slightest bump if youlooked hard enough. Her belly no longer looked sucked in from malnourishment instead her bellywas flat with the slightest hint of a bump. It was trippy to see how fast Lycan baby's grew.

“I heard you and the King had an argument,” Clarice says.

“You did?" she asks skeptical,

“Pretty sure everyone heard you both fighting on the stairs before you went to get Abbie,” Claricechuckles. Azalea cheeks turn slightly pink.

“Well, if everyone stopped keeping things that involve me from me, we wouldn't be arguing,” shesays while looking around at everyone who averts their gaze as she says it.

She bites the corner of her lip. “You all know what he is hiding.” she states.

Clarice busies herself with cleaning the sink. Dustin found a spot on the roof to stare at, and Gannonwas shoveling food in Oliver's mouth so fast the kid looked like a cartoon character, as he chewedfast before swallowing and opening his mouth again.

Azalea growls. “Of course everyone knows but us!” she says, motioning toward me and Gannonlooks at me and gives a soft shake of his head. That movement does not go unnoticed by her eitherwhen her eyes go to mine.

I could never lie to her, and the knowing look on her face that I knew had me blurt it out like wordvomit.

“Mr. Crux is your illegitimate cousin on your father’s side. The council are suspected to be in withthe hunters and your blood is special because you can change humans into Lycans,” i blurted.Gannon drops the fork he was holding and Dustin and Clarice gape at me while Azalea blinks at me,clearly shocked. Gannon growls before pressing his lips in a line. I had never intentionally lied to her,and I wasn't about to start now.

“How hard was that? Geez!" Azalea says, sipping her juice, and I let out a breath.

"Wait! Crux is my cousin?” she asks like that information she found the most shocking.

“Is that why he freaked out when he learned who I was?” she asks me, but I had no idea what shewas talking about this time. I look at Gannon, who grows.

*No. Because of your parents’ gifts, they were probably worried you inherited them,” Gannonanswers and Clarice hangs her head. —

"What sort of gifts?” Azalea asks.

“I am sorry, I can't tell you that. And Abbie wasn't even supposed to tell you what she did,” he says,shooting me a look. Azalea looks at Dustin for an answer, not even he was willing to speak up aboutit. She puts her cup down and shakes her head. Tears burning her eyes. I wished I knew so I couldtell her.”

“I am over this crap! They're supposed to be my family, and no one tells me anything about them.Yet all of you had no issues telling me what a shit mother Marissa was to me!” she says storming offout the back door. Gannon and Dustin go after her, but she spins around with

a furious look on her face.

“Don't follow me! And don't come near me!” she snarled and I nearly staggered back at thecommand and Gannon rocked on his heels. She was gone before she even realized what she haddone. None of us thought we could move an inch to go after her.

“Bloody hell!” Dustin says.

*You bloody mindlink him! Because until she undoes it, neither of us can go bloody near her,”Gannon growls then rubs a hand down his

face.

“Wait! Even me?” I ask, trying to go toward the door she walked out of. However, my feet wouldn'tlet me go in that direction. At that same moment, Trey walks in completely oblivious to all us frozen.He was cupping his nose that was bleeding and walks over to the sink.

“I thought you were with the King?” Dustin asks.

“I was. Until Liam called me a ferret face fucker, so I hit him,” Trey mumbles.

“Idiot. You don't hit crazy.” Gannon says, and Trey glares at him before looking around the roomafter cleaning his bloody face.

"Anyway, I was left behind,” he saysm shaking his head.

“Where is the Queen?” Trey asks glancing around for Azalea. Gannon and Dustin look at each other.“Did you get hold of the King?” Gannon asks. Dustin shakes his head. “He is blocking me out,”Dustin answers.

“Ah, hello? Where is the Queen?” Trey says, waving his hands. Gannon shakes his head.

“She commanded us and none of us can follow her,” Dustin answers.

Chapter 63

“She figured it out?” Trey asks, making me realize Azalea was right, everything about her was keptfrom us.

"Where did she go?” Trey said. Gannon growls and looks at the door. Trey snarls stalking off towardit when Gannon grips his arm.

“You aren't trusted to be around her,” Gannon says.

“I am the last person that would hurt her,” Trey spat back at him.

“Bullshit! You're not under the King's oath,” Gannon snaps.

"Yes, not under oath to the King. But to the Landeena’s I am,” Trey snarls, shoving Gannon

“Bullshit! You were a dick to her when Kyson chucked her to the stables! And always interfering withmy shifts, Dustin exclaims.

“I thought she killed my charge that is why. I didn't know she wasn't Marissa’s daughter. The Kingsaid she was. I believed him. If someone killed the King would you like them or their family?” Treydemands. Dustin looks at Gannon and Gannon tilts his head to the side watching him.

"Whose charge were you?” Gannon asks. —

“Baby Azalea’s. I was the one that reported Marissa. About her getting Azalea to call her mummy.”Trey says.

“Those reports didn’t have your name on them,” Gannon accuses.

“I had to fill out the same paperwork as everyone else did. You all know I come from the LandeenaKingdom! Fuck! I helped search for her for years!” Trey snapped. “I would never fucking hurt her,” hegrowled before stomping off out the door.

"Did you know that?” Gannon asked Clarice who shrugged.

“I knew he was from the Landeena Kingdom, and was in the castle. But I thought he was guard,” sheanswers.

“I'm replaceing his documents. Mind link the King and get him back here,” Gannon growls.

"What? Why?" I asked.

“Because, if Trey is indeed pact oathed to the Landeena’s, that means someone else in the castlewas poisoning her. And we have been looking at the wrong person all this time,” Gannon says,storming out.

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