But my wolf growls inside me, pacing, restless. His voice slices through my thoughts. “No more chasing shadows. No more leaving, mate. We stay close to her.”
I clench my jaw. He’s right. He’s been restless ever since we left her, snapping at my control. I can feel Kali–safe, unhurt–but she’s shutting me out, muting the bond so all I get are faint flickers. It gnaws at me like a blade in my ribs.
By the time I shift back and stride into the palace halls, my decision is already made: I’ll see Kali first. Thankfully, she should still be at the clinic where I left her by Fury’s side–it’s like killing wo birds with one stone.
The clinic doors slam open under my hand. Empty bed. Empty room. Fury’s scent lingers, faint, already fading, the same as Kali’s.
“Kali,” I murmur through the bond, pushing harder. Where are you, love? Answer me.
Nothing. Just silence.
The doctor bustles in, nearly colliding with me. He blinks, startled, then bows. “Alpha King, the warrior you gave your blood to has awakened. He left hours ago–stronger than ever.”
I nod sharply, already moving past him. “And the Princess Kali? She was with him.”
He hesitates, but I don’t wait for his answer. Kali’s scent clings faint and fading along the corridors. Not here. Not in the palace. My wolf claws at me, restless, demanding we go after her.
A voice cuts through my thoughts. “Your Majesty.”
A guard bows low before me. “The Queen requests your presence. She awaits you in her office.”
I grind my teeth, torn between finding Kali and obeying. But when the Queen summons, you don’t delay. Not when she’s both my mate’s mother and the King’s consort.
I follow the guard through the winding halls until I reach her chamber. He opens the door and steps aside.
The sight inside stops me.
Papers litter the floor and desk in a storm of chaos, maps pinned to walls, lines of ink crisscrossing like spiderwebs. At the center stands the Queen, white hair gleaming under the lamplight hand moving swiftly across a board as if she’s piecing together a crime. She looks less like royalty, more like a hunter unraveling her prey.
I clear my throat. “My Queen.”
Her head lifts. For a heartbeat, it’s like looking at Kali’s face in another lifetime–same bone structure, same fierce line of the mouth. The only difference lies in her pale hair and eyes that burn with a different fire.
My lips twitch before I can stop them. A smile. Gods, Kali… when you age, you’ll still be beautiful. Mine. And if I have my way, we’ll fill this palace with children. Lots of them. And even more, I’ll enjoy the process of making them-
“What has you grinning like a fool?” the Queen’s voice cuts through my thoughts, sharp with amusement.
Heat floods my face. I force my mouth into a thin line, teeth grinding. “Nothing,” I mutter.
Her eyes gleam knowingly, but she lets it slide.
I step closer. “I came from the clinic. Fury’s bed was empty. I assume he’s been discharged?”
She nods. “Yes. Your blood helped. Kali escorted him back to reunite with his family.”
I let out a slow breath, relief tempered by unease.
But then her expression hardens. The air shifts.
“That is not why I called you,” she says, her voice low, heavy. “I heard from my husband that you’ve gone in desperate search of your uncle.”
“Yes,” I answer, wary now.
“I need a favor, Alpha King.”
I blink, caught off guard. “A favor?”
Her gaze pins me, sharp as a blade.
“When you find Malik…” her lips curl with venom, “…leave him to me. I must be the one to claw his heart out.”
Her words slam into me. I frown, my wolf bristling inside. Leave him? I’ve dreamed of that kill for years–of ripping my uncle apart with my own hands, of watching his blood soak the ground. that right is mine.
“Why?” I demand, my voice edged with a growl.
And then I see it–the darkness that flickers in her eyes. Not just anger. Pain. Rage that’s old, festering, deeper than mine. It
chills me to the bone.
Her voice drops into something dangerous, almost unrecognizable
“Because Malik was the one responsible for Maya and Tom’s kidnapping all those years ago. He was responsible for my pain.”
