Chapter 121 A King On The Edge
Adrian’s POV
The phone rang once in my ear. Then twice. Then that cold, robotic bitch clicked in…voicemail.
I stared at the screen like it had personally betrayed me. Thomas. The one guy who was supposed to have answers about that black rose burned into Kira’s arm. Not picking up? Now?
Did anything happen in the palace?
I scrolled through my contacts and dialed another number. Philip.
Same damn thing. What is really going on? Did the priestess arrive already? Are they performing the cleaning ritual?
My wolf slammed against my ribs so hard I had to brace a hand on the wall. Pick up, you bastard. Tell me it’s nothing. Tell me Sebastian’s just blowing smoke and my queen isn’t marked by some Outland trash.
I jabbed the elevator button hard enough to crack the plastic. The doors slid open and I stepped in, hit the lobby, and redialed Thomas’s number before the damn thing even started moving.
Still nothing. Ring. Ring. Ring.
Why the fuck did the Moon Goddess build mindlinking like some cheap walkie-talkie? Limited range. Too far and it’s dead air.
If Thomas was close I’d be screaming inside his skull right now…What the hell is that mark? Why does Sebastian think he owns her?—instead of standing here like a desperate idiot watching numbers drop floor by floor.
The doors opened to the lobby. Cool evening air hit me as I stepped out, phone already ringing for the third time. My men…James, Marco, a couple others that came with us, fell in behind me without a word, boots silent on the marble. They knew that look on my face. They knew better than to speak first.
I thought about her upstairs. That perfect body still warm and soft from the bath I’d given her. The way her skin had felt under my hands…slippery, soft, trembling, trusting. The little gasp she made when my fingers brushed between her thighs. Mine. All of it mine.
I’d burn the entire kingdom to ash before I let another male…especially that Outland filth…lay one finger on her. I’d cut Sebastian’s hands off at the wrists. Slowly. Let him watch. Then I’d feed them to him.
She’d chosen me. The idea that some filthy rose symbol on her arm could pull her away… it twisted something ugly and terrified in my chest. Panic. Real panic. What if she felt it? What if that mark called to her in the dark? I’d destroy everything…including myself…before I let that happen. I am the Alpha King. She is my queen. End of story.
The phone went to voicemail again for the one hundredth time.
I fired off a text, thumbs flying: ‘What the fuck is going on, Thomas? Call me as soon as possible.’
Then I reached for the mindlink and snapped it open to Victoria.
‘Victoria, go to our suite. Now. Watch the princess like she’s the last breath in your lungs. I don’t want to hear stories later. Not one. She is not allowed to step a foot outside that suite until I’m back.’
She answered instantly, voice crisp in my head. ‘On it, your majesty.’
I shoved the phone in my pocket and turned to my men as we pushed through the revolving doors into the parking lot. My jaw was so tight it hurt as I tried to push Sebastian and his baseless claim to my mate aside.
I forced my voice steady as we hit the black SUVs waiting in the shadows. “How are things going with the plan regarding the Summers?”
James didn’t miss a beat. “Going well, Your Majesty. Everything’s in place. We’re just waiting for your word.”
I grunted, eyes scanning the parking lot like I could spot threats that weren’t there. “And the papers? Did they sign it yet?”
James’s mouth twitched…the closest he ever got to a smile. “Yes, your majesty. Signed, sealed, delivered. The greed in their eyes was…repulsive. Humans are very gullible, especially when it comes to what they think they’ll make massive gains from.”
I let out a low, humorless grunt. Let them think they were winning. Let them sign away everything with smiles on their faces. They had no idea what was really coming for them. No idea how thoroughly I was about to erase every trace of the people who’d hurt my princess. Double meanings were beautiful like that…papers could mean contracts…or death warrants. Either way, the Summers were finished. They just didn’t know it yet.
Then the real question clawed its way out. “Did you find the rat that was eavesdropping in the woods earlier?”
James nodded once, but his face looked… off. “Yes, Your Majesty. We got her. It’s a young lady.”
I stopped walking and my men stopped with me. The air felt thicker suddenly, like the night itself was holding its breath.
“And did you handle it?” I asked, already tasting blood in the back of my throat.
James opened his mouth and closed it. Then he swallowed visibly. “We… we wanted to, but… but…”
Fury exploded behind my eyes. My wolf surged so close to the surface my vision sharpened, claws pricking at my fingertips.
“But what?!” I snarled, stepping right into his space. “Spit it the fuck out, James, before I lose what little patience I have left today.”
He exhaled like he was about to jump off a cliff.
“Your Majesty… you just have to see for yourself.”