Page 8 of Boss Level

“So stubborn,” he snorts, this time tucking the vial into my bra, and I swat his hand, making him lift a brow at me.

“Hey,” I protest, but his stern look makes me pause.

“Just listen, would you?” he grunts, and I sigh. “If I get knocked out, you can still use this to control me. At the very least, you can use it to move my limp body out of the way. To safety,” he adds, and judging by the glint in his eyes, he knows he’s got me with that one.

I glare at him, and he chuckles. “Fine, but that's the only way I’m using this,” I huff. I would never use him to fight. But I suppose if he’s in danger, I could use the blood to move him to a safe location.

“You only need one drop, in either eye,” he adds, and I wrinkle my nose. “It’s no worse than drinking my blood.”

“It’s nothing like drinking blood,” I scoff, and he snorts.

“Fair, I guess.”

“I enjoy drinking your blood. You taste yummy. Pouring blood into my eye is like a sadistic version of eye drops, which I’ve never successfully administered to myself, by the way,” I add.

“Good thing you have so many mates. One can hold your eye open, one can hold you down, and the other can add a little drop…” Odas says in a slightly amused tone, and I grumble.

“Yeah, well, that seems like a waste of a perfectly good opportunity for forced submission and restraint… Just keep your ass out of danger, and I won’t need to use it.”

“Moon.” Odas pauses, giving me a look, before gesturing to our surroundings. “You’re kidding right?”

I cross my arms over my chest. “No. Keep yourself out of immediate danger. Don’t get knocked out. Be safe.” I uncross my arms to prop a hand on my hip and stare up at my Cyclops, daring him to argue.

“Moon–” Odas starts but is cut off by my Orc.

“If we’re attacked, Daire is going to use his speed to get you to safety,” Arlo says from behind me, and I spin to face him, glare deepening. His steps falter as he approaches us. My jaw ticks as I grind my teeth. I take a moment to count to five, so I don’t bite his head off.

“Um no. We fight together. Or have you forgotten what a badass I am?” I ask, and Arlo chuckles. “Oh, I’m serious, Orc boy… Remember the heads I exploded? I’m your best asset. I could take you down with one hand!”

“Wanna bet?” he growls in my ear as he leans into me, and I shiver. I don’t give him time to rethink the bet, I just focus my chaos on him, imagining him lying on his back on the floor. In the blink of an eye, Arlo is flat on his back looking up at me in shock. “Touché,” he says when he shakes off the surprised look in his eyes.

“Stop underestimating me. I fight with you. The days of running away are over. We have no idea what I can do,” I say, flipping my hair over my shoulder and stomping away.

“You get sexier every day,” Cato says, as I walk past him. I ignore the fact that he has somehow just marked me with his scent. It’s cute. I like smelling like my Dragon mate, and I know it helps settle his inner beast.

“Thanks. Now let's go free the King.”

It’s already been twenty minutes and we still haven't found the King. And that's with Daire zooming all over the place. This place is freaking massive. I mean, I could tell from the outside that it would be huge, but walking these endless halls is wild.

The longer we walk, the more my nerves grow. My men must sense that because each one of them presses gentle touches to my skin every few feet. We also pass a few suspicious blood puddles, but no one mentions them. The bodies are nowhere to be found, but we all know who the culprit is.

“This way, Moon,” Daire finally says, a drop of blood rolling down his chin.

“You found him?” I whisper, my heart rate spiking while my anxiety skyrockets. I haven’t really had time to think over the fact that I’m meeting my father for the first time, and he’s mentally not all there. Not only that, but I spent twenty-five years believing another man was my father. A man who is the biological father of my mate…

As we walk into the room, there’s a shift in the air. I can sense power…a familiar thrum of energy.

“He’s in here?” I ask Daire, who nods, his red eyes flashing. “Is it weird that there are no guards?” I ask as I look around, wondering if maybe Daire got rid of them already, but Cato shakes his head.

“She controls him completely,” Cato whispers, “there’s no need for her to have him guarded. Who would dare enter her kingdom to release him? How could he ever leave?” Cato shakes his head. “The magic she uses to keep this castle under her thumb is powerful and terrifying.” My mate's fear of the Queen is unnerving.

“You four wait over here,” I say to all my men as I creep slowly further into the room. I can see the King. Well, the back of his crowned head, anyway. He’s facing a window that's letting in sunlight. Panic sets in…

What if I can’t help him? What do we do then? If the Queen dies, will he remain like this forever?

“King Lark?” I whisper, and when I’m five feet away, I pause. Looking over my shoulder, I see that my men are following close behind me, ignoring my instructions. At least they’re letting me approach him first. “Uh, my name is Moon. I am Shine’s daughter…your daughter…” He doesn’t respond, so I close the gap and step in front of him. He’s so much younger in appearance than I expected. He looks like he’s Kili’s age. Tousled brown hair with vacant blue eyes, his expression is completely blank. It is doubtful he even knows he’s in this room, let alone sees me.

“Shit,” I whisper. I take one finger and poke his cheek. “Psst,” I hiss, but he doesn’t even blink.

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