Page 132 of War and his Queen

My fingers flex in the palm of my hand, and I swing around when boots crunch against the wood.

My shoulders relax when I see it’s Bishop. The Fathers have been training us since we started to walk. It’s what we were born into, but since we all hit thirteen, everything has kicked up a notch.

I took my first life today. I don’t know how I feel about it. Am I sullen like Vaden, or am I void like Priest? Somehow, I don’t see how either of them are better than the other.

“Son…”

My thumb brushes over my knuckle. “I thought we had to all be packed by tomorrow? I’ve seen Madison’s bags when we go away, Bishop. You guys won’t be ready in time.”

He laughs, shoving his hands into his pockets. I’ve seen photos of our parents growing up. I wonder when they moved to the suits.

Silence stretches between us before he clears his throat. I already know what he’s going to say.

“You thought much into what I asked you?”

I follow the hard lines between my knuckles. “About Halen?” Bishop doesn’t answer. “What makes you think that’s going to work? With any of them?”

He doesn't bother to offer me any animation to his answer. “Because when you’re around, she doesn’t see anyone or anything else but you. It’s temporary and the other two will follow her lead. We can only draw out the ritual until you’re in your early twenties, so if we don’t find an answer by then, it will just need to go ahead.”

I straighten. “I can’t do anything to distract her.”

“You being around is enough, but we will do what we need to on our end as well. Madison is adamant on what she wants.” His brows pull together.

“And you?” The question is an obvious one.

He doesn’t hesitate, as if he’d recited his answer over and over again. “She may be my princess, but her crown is one of a King. She will deal with it.Wewill deal with it when the time comes.”

I’m not sure I will if it’s her.

Present

Satin sheets fall from my body as my legs swing over the bed. Fuck. I came in here last night with the full intention of fucking her to death, but I think it ended up being the other way around.

I drag my hand down the side of my cheek, turning over my shoulder to check on Halen. The spot where she was sprawled out on last night is empty.

I’m off the bed in an instant, adrenaline swallowing my fatigue. I check the bathroom.

Empty.

Closet, empty.

Shoving on my sweatpants and leaving everything but my phone behind, I make my way out the door and down the wing of their level, just as Priest is closing his bedroom.

“Where’s Halen?” The pounding of my heart doesn’t let up. I’d never felt panic to the full extent, and if it’s anything like the insistent tempo thrashing against my rib cage, I’m out.

He scans me up and down. “It appears I should be asking you that?”

“She wasn’t there when I woke.” Her door clicks shut.

After a minute of what I’m sure is him counting down from ten to not kill me, we both make our way down the stairs in silence. There’s an echoing void in my chest that makes me want to shove my fist inside and tear out.

“Nah, something’s wrong.” Even though the absence of her twists in my gut, I still search through every room she’d usually be in, settling on the family room where Stella’s laying out across the sofa.

Her face pales when her eyes land on me. “What’s wrong?” The spoon she’s fisting drops to her bowl.

“Halen wasn’t in bed when he woke up this morning and now he’s freaking out.” Priest’s tone may as well had come from a fucking corpse.

Color pumps back into her face. “We chilled at Evie’s last night. After you told River and I to leave you both alone, we crashed in the playroom.” She rolls her eyes. “So long as you didn’t say anything dumb like usual, she’ll be fine.”

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