Page 51 of Claimed By the King's Gamma

“Speak with her?You say that as if she did something wrong, I have been with her all day.She has done nothing that—” she sighs, and I glance at Liam, who nods, and I know he must have told her to watch what she says because she doesn’t finish.

I tug her closer, and she pushes off my chest with her hands, but I hold her tighter.Not caring that we have witnesses, yet her body pressed against mine calms me as her scent invades my senses.It seems to have the same effect on her because she stops struggling to get out of my grip.

“I promised Damian, and I will handle the king, but for now, you just need to be patient.”

“I want to see her,” she says, and I kiss her forehead.

“Let me speak with her first,” I tell her before letting her go.She chews her lip before realizing we have witnesses, and her cheeks turn red.Liam and Clarice say nothing about it, then Clarice waves her over.

“Come, you can help pick out which cupcake she wants, and we should find her something warm to wear,” Clarice tells her, and tears fill Abbie’s eyes, but she nods, storming off toward the kitchen.I sigh and leave for the door when Liam grabs my arm.

“You should know Trey is down there with Dustin.”I furrow my brows at his words.

“So?”

“He wasn’t here when the pact was made,” Liam says, and I realize that means if the king orders him to kill her, he will.“I’ll handle it,” I tell him.

“Be sure you do, because Dustin is already having issues with him, apparently.Everything was fine until the king kicked her out; I spoke to the driver, who apparently let it slip to Trey what happened.His reaction to the news is somewhat worrisome,” Liam tells me.

“How so?”I ask.

“He was quick to escort her out,” Liam tells me and nods, heading toward the stables.The air is cold, and I will have to send someone to get firewood.I won’t allow my queen to freeze down here.Approaching the stables, I hear Dustin snap at Trey.

“Fuck the king,” Dustin snaps, and I walk in just as Trey moves to challenge him.Dustin sets the bandages down that he was using to try to wrap Ivy’s bloody hand .He moves to stand in front of her, clearly not liking Trey’s presence near her.

“Yes, fuck the king.Remember where your loyalties lie, Trey.”I snarl, and he pauses as Dustin straightens.He was a stupid man challenging Dustin.

I don’t care if he was once part of the Landeena’s Guard when the kingdom existed, Dustin is part of my men, and if push comes to shove, I will back the men of my kingdom before I back another.

I hold no loyalty to him, and if he thinks he can fuck with Dustin and Liam, and not kill him in his sleep, he will be in for a rude shock.We all know Liam and Dustin are close.

“They are with my king,” Trey stupidly says.

“And she is your queen,” I snarl at him, and the man whimpers before his eyes glare at Ivy with hatred I don’t understand.I just know I can’t allow him around her if he has issues with her.

“You haven’t been here as long as the rest of us, but the king swore us all to choose his queen over him,” I tell him.

“If so, why is she down here, then?”Trey demands.

“Because the king is an idiot.Move Dustin.I will wrap her hand.Go fix up the king’s old quarters for me,” I tell Dustin, crouching down in front of her.

“Yes, sir,” Dustin says while Trey growls.I glance over my shoulder at him to see the fury on his face.What has gotten into him?Once this is over, I will have to have a word with the king.I don’t like how he is looking at her.Trey is usually quiet, did his job, which he is good at, and is observant, so it throws me a little that he is acting like this and openly.

“You’re off guard.Get out of my face,” I growl the order at him, and my aura rushes out.Trey doubles over before rushing out when I drop it.

I set to work cleaning her hand and wrapping it with the supplies Dustin had.“It will heal once you shift.Do you think you can hold on for a couple of hours?”

“Can’t you heal it?”she asked.

“I would if I could, but only the king can heal you.My saliva or blood won’t work on you since you aren’t mine,” I tell her, cupping her face with my hand.I wish I could, but even if I could, I wouldn’t.The king would kill me for letting my DNA mingle with his mate’s.

I pull my phone from my pocket, checking the time.“Once the moon is at its highest peak, I will take you outside, so you can shift, My Queen,” I tell her.

“Please don’t call me that,” Ivy murmurs, looking away from me.

“I need to ask you something,” I tell her while unlocking my phone and scrolling through the pictures.I stop before turning my phone in hand to show her the screen.

“Do you know this woman?”I ask, praying she says no.She takes the phone from me.A sob escapes from her lips, and her bottom lip quivers.I know the answer before she says it.She nod, tears trekking down her face.

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