Page 89 of Royal Beast
Kellan catches my wrists, holding them firmly but gently as I fall apart. “Darcy,” he says, his voice low and steady. “I’m going to get her back.”
“You don’t understand!” I sob, shaking my head. “What if we never see her again? What if she’s?—”
“Stop,” he says, cutting me off. His hands move to my shoulders, gripping me tightly enough to ground me but not enough to hurt. “Listen to me. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect Rose.Nothing. Do you hear me? Even if she isn’t my blood, she’s mine. I think of her as mine. Darcy, I willtearthis city apart to bring her home safely.”
His words cut through my panic, anchoring me. The conviction in his voice, the raw emotion in his eyes are undeniable. For the first time, I see how much he truly loves Rose and how fiercely he’s willing to fight for her.
I draw in a shaky breath, his words settling into the cracks of my fear. But they also awaken something else inside me, the truth I’ve been holding back. A truth I’ve been too scared to tell him until now.
“Kellan,” I whisper, my voice trembling.
His brows draw together, concern flickering across his face. “What is it?”
The words are there, teetering on the edge. I should tell him. I need to tell him. But something inside me locks up.
Instead, my breath catches and I blurt out, “Please, just find my baby.”
Kellan’s eyes soften, though the determination remains. His hands stay on mine, keeping me steady as though willing his own strength into me.
“I will,” he promises, his voice low. “I will bring our child back. I swear to you.”
I nod, the lump in my throat making it impossible to say anything more.
“You need to go with Clary to the hospital,” he insists. “You’ll be safer there, and I need to focus on finding Rose without worrying about you.”
“Kellan, I can’t leave,” I plead, clutching his arm like it’s the only thing keeping me upright. “I won’t get in your way! I can help, Ineedto help!”
He grips my shoulders gently but firmly, forcing me to look up at him. His eyes burn with determination, though I see the same fear I’m choking on mirrored in them. “Darcy, listen to me. Trust me. Please. I will find her, but you have to go with Clary. She needs you right now, and I need to know you’re safe so I can focus.”
I want to argue, but the conviction in his voice cuts through my panic. My chest tightens as I glance toward the ambulance where Clary sits, pale and shaking. She doesn’t even look up, her head bowed as though she’s caving in on herself.
“Kellan…” My voice cracks.
He presses his forehead to mine for the briefest moment, his grip still solid on my shoulders. “I promise you, Darcy. I’ll bring Rose back.”
My legs feel like lead as I step back, letting him go, my arms wrapping around myself as though that will stop me from fallingapart. A paramedic helps me into the ambulance, and the doors close behind me with a heavy finality. Through the window, I watch Kellan as he stares after me, his jaw set, his phone already in his hand.
The ambulance lurches into motion, and I force myself to look away, pressing my forehead to the cool metal wall. The seconds stretch endlessly as I try to steady my breathing, though my mind is racing a thousand miles a minute.
Suddenly, Clary gasps beside me, jolting me from my thoughts. Before I can ask what’s wrong, Kellan’s name pops up on my phone’s screen.
My heart leaps into my throat as I answer. “Kellan?”
His voice is clipped, urgent. “It’s Brody. He thinks he might have a lead on where Rose is.”
Everything inside me freezes, my grip tightening on the phone until my knuckles ache. “Where?” I choke out, the single word a prayer.
“I don’t know yet.” His voice is tense, like he’s holding himself together by sheer willpower. “Stay at the hospital, Darcy. I’ll call you as soon as I know more.”
The line disconnects before I can respond, leaving me staring at the phone, trembling.
A lead.
Please, God, let it be true.
42
KELLAN
