Page 94 of Royal Beast
Kellan kneels beside us, his hands on Rose’s back, his touch gentle as he strokes her hair. His voice cracks when he speaks. “We’re here now, sweetheart. You’re safe. We’re not going anywhere.”
Rose pulls away slightly, looking up at us with wide eyes. She’s pale, her face flushed from fear, but she’s still here. She’s alive.
“Mommy,” she says again, her voice still small, barely above a whisper. “They told me to stay still or they’d hurt me. They put tape over my mouth. And around my hands.” Her eyes dart down to her wrists where the tape is still stuck, but I can see it’s starting to peel off, the sticky edges barely holding on.
My stomach twists in pain, but I swallow it down. I can’t fall apart now. Not when she needs me.
“I remembered what you said,” Rose continues, her voice trembling as she glances up at us, her eyes still full of fear, but there’s something else there now, a kind of strength that seems oddly familiar. “You said to yell really loud when it was safe, and break the tape like this.” She demonstrates on the torn tape.
Something bubbles up in my chest and I laugh, half-hysterical at how wonderful Rose is, how brave and clever.
“You were so smart, sweetheart,” I whisper, cupping her face in my hands. “I’m so proud of you. You didn’t give up.”
“I was so scared,” she says again, her voice cracking. “I thought you wouldn’t find me.”
“Oh, baby,” I say, choking on the words, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. “I’ll always find you. We’ll always find each other.”
After that, we head straight for the hospital. The doctors immediately rush us through, making sure Rose is checked over as quickly as possible. She’s tired and drained from the ordeal,but the only thing wrong is a little dehydration. I almost collapse from relief when they tell us.
“You’re one tough little girl, Rose,” the doctor says as she checks over Rose one last time. “You’re going to be just fine.”
I’m so overwhelmed, I don’t know whether to cry or laugh. Instead, I just smile at the doctor, nodding in agreement. “She’s my hero,” I whisper.
Kellan’s beside me the whole time, standing just a little too still, his eyes constantly moving between me and Rose. I can tell he’s keeping it together for her, but I can feel the tension in his body, the aftereffects of the fight still coursing through him.
Rose is sitting up on the bed now, finally drinking the water the nurse gave her. She looks a little more like herself with every sip.
When they finally leave us alone for a moment, Kellan takes my hand, squeezing it tightly. His touch feels comforting in the midst of the storm we’ve endured.
I look down at our daughter, marveling at her. She’s so small, so fragile, yet she’s so strong. I can’t believe she remembered the stuff we taught her.
As I watch her, something builds in my chest, a thought that rooted inside me ever since I found Rose. She could have died and Kellan would have never known the truth. I have to tell him.
“Kellan,” I say, my voice low, almost hesitant.
He looks up at me, his eyes searching mine, a question in them.
“I have something to tell you,” I add, a lump in my throat.
44
KELLAN
Darcy’s arms wrap tightly around her middle, her posture stiff as the words hang between us. A cold knot twists in my stomach, the uncertainty in her gaze setting every nerve on edge.
“What is it?” I ask, my brow furrowing as I try to understand.
She shakes her head, stepping closer. “Not here,” she murmurs. “Let’s go out into the hallway.”
Her hand finds my arm, her touch hesitant but firm enough to guide me. We leave Rose in the hospital bed, her attention on the cartoon characters bouncing around the screen.
Darcy leads me into the hallway, the sterile scent of antiseptic sharp in the air. We stand just outside the door, with Darcy looking up and down the corridor as though checking that no one can overhear us. I frown, studying her more closely. There’s a trickle of fear in her eyes.
“It’s something I should have told you a long time ago,” she begins, her voice trembling, “but I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Not until now. Not until I saw how hard you fought to protect that little girl in there.”
The way her voice cracks twists the knot in my stomach tighter.
“Rose…” She swallows hard, bracing herself. “Rose is yours, Kellan. She’s your daughter. Biologically.”
