“What? No.” Ella’s voice sounded concerned. “I texted him earlier, and he told me to fuck off. I’d threatened to tell Mom that it wasn’t snot she found on his sock a couple of years ago, but he still didn’t respond. I was kind of bummed. Mom said she had already figured that out.”
“Well, then we have a problem.” My stomach roiled, and my breathing increased. “I have no clue where he could be.” Mason. That time it was more of an internal scream than anything.
“Have you tried to mind link him?” Ella’s voice grew a little louder.
“Of course I have.” My eyes scanned the restaurant for any kind of sign. “His stuff is still here. Hell, even his car keys. But I can’t find him, and he’s not responding. He wouldn’t try to pull a joke on me, would he?” I’d have been pissed, but right now, I was sure I’d rather be mad than this terrified.
“No, he would never do something like this. Have you looked outside for his car?”
“Not yet.” I grabbed his car keys and almost ran through the restaurant in my rush to get outside. His car was still where he’d parked it. “It’s still here.” A breeze picked up, causing a piece of white paper to flutter that was held in place by his windshield wiper. “There’s a note.”
“What does it say?” Ella’s door swung open, and her footsteps were loud as she hurried somewhere.
With shaky hands, I took hold of the note and read it out loud.
Elena,
You’ve been a naughty girl. Your uncle has been recently alerted that you are not, in fact, dead. So, we’re here to welcome you back to the royal family. Unfortunately, your mate was a little caught off guard at our arrival. If you want him and your two moms to remain intact, you’d better hurry to your house.
Sincerely,
The Grim Reaper
The royal family is fucking with you? And why did they think you were dead?” Ella seemed to have stopped moving.
“Now isn’t the time.” I yanked the driver’s side door open and jumped into the car. “Get your dad and whomever else we need, and meet me at my house now.” I hung up the phone and threw it in the passenger seat as I slammed the door shut. I turned on the engine, punched the gear shift into REVERSE, and the wheels squealed as I pushed the gas pedal down. I shoved the gear shift into DRIVE and stomped the pedal hard.
I couldn’t believe that the bastard found me. I did everything right. Hell, I had no interest in taking the crown back. I just wanted to live my fucking life with the people I loved. Right now, I couldn’t focus on that. I had to prepare for whatever was ahead of me. Regrets would cloud my judgment.
The normal ten-minute drive had been cut down to five. When I pulled up to the house, it looked on the outside as if nothing was out of place. It gave a false sense of security. They were playing with me.
Taking a deep breath, I tapped into my wolf senses. There was no point in hiding them any longer.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the blinds move ever so slightly.
They know I’m here.
Not wanting to show any sign of weakness, I flipped my hair over my shoulder and forced myself to walk at a normal speed up the stairs. If I was hedging bets, I’d guess that the door wasn’t locked, so I went with my gut. I grabbed the knob and twisted it, opening the door.
A dark chuckle greeted me as I stepped into the house.
Mason lay unconscious on the floor. Blood trickled down the side of his head, running into his ear.
“Elena, go.” Kassie’s stern voice was barely distinguishable since there was some fabric shoved in her mouth and her hands were tied behind her back as she sat at an awkward angle on the couch.
Like hell I would.
Right next to Kassie was Mona. Her blonde hair fell into her eyes, and the black rings around them contrasted starkly against her blue eyes.
These ladies had to have been tortured. “Isn’t it a little pathetic to beat everyone up but me?” My eyes landed on the two tall jackasses who stood in the center of the room.
“Oh, don’t worry.” The taller one who had chuckled stepped in my direction. A cruel smirk spread across his mouth, stretching a scar that slashed across his cheek. I wasn’t quite sure where it started because his long, shaggy hair covered his eyebrows. He was the epitome of a pirate but with the strength of a wolf. “You’ll meet a worse fate than them.”
“Look at that pretty red hair.” The other guy was shorter by an inch but just as intimidating. He had a buzz haircut, and his sharp, angular face reminded me of a vampire. “It reminds me of that former bitch of a queen.”
“She had more class in her pinky toe than you could ever muster your entire life.” No one got to speak ill of my parents. They were strong, good leaders, putting aside their wants and desires for the best of their people.
“You hit a nerve, Bruce.” The taller one laughed. “If she reacted that way about her mom, there’s no telling what we could do by just trashing her dad.”
“Chad, you can’t tell me you want me to speak ill of that spineless, piece-of-shit, King Corey.” Bruce bit his bottom lip as he scanned me from top to bottom.
They were trying to rile me up. Dad’s face flashed in my head, but I had to hold back my rage. “Oh, I thought that would be Darren since he didn’t have the balls to kill my parents himself.”
“You will address him as King.” Chad’s voice was strong and fierce. “Not that you’ll get to talk about him much longer. His orders were clear.”
“Let me guess. You two are supposed to kill me.”
