Page 40 of Claimed By the King's Gamma

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THE NEXT DAY

The nauseating tension that has been building since we left the castle doesn’t let up, and I know Kyson feels it, too.He hasn’t stopped glancing out the car window or fidgeting with his cuffs.Leaving Ivy behind has him more on edge than usual, though he tries to mask it.

We’re an hour into the drive now, the road twisting through thick forested terrain.I grip the wheel tightly, focusing on the curves, while the king stares out at the passing scenery.His silence is heavy, filled with thoughts he hasn’t voiced yet, but I know his mind is on Ivy.It always is.

Damian is back at the castle, keeping an eye on her and ensuring her safety while Kyson and I deal with this trip.The meeting with Alpha Dean is important, especially if it sheds light on Ivy’s lineage, but the king’s patience is wearing thin.He’s itching to return to her just as I am itching to return to Abbie.

I glance at him in the mirror.He’s leaning back in his seat, one hand on his temple, the other tapping against his thigh.I know that look.He’s already calculating the fastest way to finish this meeting and get back.

“She’ll be fine, Kyson,” I say, breaking the silence.

He huffs but doesn’t respond, his jaw tightening.

“Damian will keep her safe,” I add.“You know he’d throw himself in front of an army if it meant protecting her.”

Kyson finally speaks, his voice low.“It’s not just her safety.I hate leaving her.”

I nod, understanding better than most what he means.Since finding his mate, the king has been calmer, more focused—when he’s with her, at least.But when she’s out of his sight, that calm shatters, and the predator in him surfaces.

We drive in silence for a while, the rhythmic hum of the tires filling the void.My thoughts wander to the reason for this trip.Alpha Dean claims to have found something about Ivy’s parents—something alarming.I’m not sure what he means, but I don’t like the sound of it.But I also want to learn more about Abbie.Find out where she came from and how she and Ivy ended up together.Their bond is unshakeable.Eerie in a sense I’ve never seen friends form a bond like that but they have; they fret without each other, always worried about the other but never themselves.And then there’s Mrs.Daley, the headmistress from the orphanage.

That woman has been on my radar since the day I learned about the scars on the girls’ backs.Kyson’s, too.He hasn’t said it outright, but I know he’s planning to deal with her personally.Her days of terrorizing innocent children are over.

“Do you know what Alpha Dean wants to see me for?”Kyson asks, breaking my train of thought.

“No idea,” I reply.“I called him this morning, and all he said was that it’s about her parents.He seemed… cagey, though.Whatever it is, he didn’t want to discuss it over the phone.”

Kyson nods, his brow furrowing.“Anything on the children yet?”

I know he’s talking about the other rogues from the orphanage, the ones who vanished without a trace.“Not yet,” I say.“But I think it has something to do with that no-good son of his.”My tone darkens as I think about Alpha Dean’s son.Alpha Brock.Trouble seems to follow that man wherever he goes.

Kyson grunts in acknowledgment but doesn’t press further.Instead, his gaze shifts back out the window, and I know his thoughts are on Ivy again when I feel the mindlink open; he questions Damian about her.

“She’s helping rake leaves in the garden,” Damian’s voice echoes through the mindlink, pulling me back to the present.

I feel Kyson’s energy shift instantly, his protective instincts flaring.He growls softly.“Why is she working?She’s spent her entire life working, and now, when she has the freedom to do as she pleases, she’s still acting like a servant.”

I suppress a smile at his frustration.Ivy’s habit of falling back into work isn’t surprising, but it clearly grates on Kyson’s nerves.

“Make sure she’s in bed by eight,” Kyson orders Damian.“She needs to sleep before tomorrow night.”

Damian’s response is calm, as always.“I was going to tell her to come in soon, anyway.It’s getting overcast.How far out are you now?”

“An hour,” Kyson replies before cutting the link.

I glance at him briefly.“You going to be able to keep it together during this meeting?”I ask, half-teasing.

His lips twitch, but his expression remains serious.“I want answers, Gannon.If Alpha Dean knows something about her parents or her past, I want to know everything.”

I nod, my hands tightening on the wheel.“You’ll get them, Kyson.And after that, we’ll deal with Mrs.Daley.”

A dark smile plays on his lips.“I plan to do more than deal with her.That woman’s back will bear the same scars she gave my mate.If I’m merciful, I might let her live, but I make no promises.”

His tone is calm, but the menace behind his words is unmistakable.I smirk, knowing he means every word.“I called ahead,” I tell him.“Figured you’d want a word with her.The Alpha has her strung up in the town square, waiting for you.”

Kyson’s eyes flicker with satisfaction.“Good.”

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