Page 101 of Royal Beast
“Darlin’, I think that’s your phone,” I say, my voice husky from sleep.
Darcy blinks, sitting up groggily, and the phone buzzes harshly again as she reaches for it. Her sleepy eyes widen at the sight of the number on the display screen.
47
DARCY
Iblink a few times, trying to focus as I reach for my buzzing phone. The moment I see the number, my stomach tightens. It’s the hospital.
A flicker of dread passes through me as I answer. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Brannagan, it’s Dr. Milton.” The familiar voice comes through the line, calm but grave.
“Dr. Milton,” I say, my voice catching as I sit up straight. Dr. Milton is the person overseeing my father’s care. “What’s wrong?”
There’s a brief pause, and then, “It’s your father. His condition has deteriorated significantly. If you want the chance to say goodbye, I recommend that you come now.”
The words hit me like a physical blow, my breath catching in my throat. “I’ll be right there,” I say, my voice a whisper in the dark.
I lower the phone, staring at the screen in disbelief. Kellan’s hand is already on my arm, his touch grounding me.
“That was Dr. Milton,” I whisper, looking at him. “It’s about Dad. They don’t think he’s going to make it.”
Kellan doesn’t waste a second. “We’ll go,” he says, throwing back the covers.
Moving on autopilot, I get dressed quickly, my hands trembling as I pull on a sweater and jeans. Kellan does the same, grabbing his phone as we move toward Rose’s room.
She’s fast asleep, her tiny form curled under the blankets, clutching her stuffed bunny. Guilt twists in my chest as I gently lift her into my arms, careful not to wake her. Kellan grabs her blanket and drapes it over her before we head out the door.
By the time we’re in the car, Kellan is already making calls. First he calls for Alannah. “Sorry to wake you,” he says, his voice apologetic. “I need you to meet us at the hospital. Rose is with us, but we need someone to stay with her while Darcy says goodbye to Max.”
I can’t hear her response, but he nods sharply. “Thank you. I’ll send Brody or Miles to help you out once we’re there.”
He makes a series of quick calls as we drive, the flurry of activity keeping my mind distracted, but as we pull into the hospital parking lot, reality crashes over me again. My father is dying.
Kellan parks the car, and we walk into the hospital together. Rose stirs in my arms, her little fist clutching the front of my sweater. I kiss the top of her head as we step into the brightly lit lobby, the smell of antiseptic making my stomach churn.
Kellan keeps a steady hand on the small of my back, guiding me toward the waiting room. Rose stirs again, her sleepy murmurs a quiet reminder of everything still worth fighting for.
“You go to him,” Kellan says softly, his voice grounding me. “I’ll wait here for Alannah and the others.”
I nod, though my legs feel like lead as I force myself to keep walking. The hallway to Max’s room feels endless, every step echoing louder than the last. When I finally reach the door, I hesitate, my hand hovering over the handle.
Taking a shaky breath, I push it open.
Inside, the room is quiet except for the faint hum of machines and the raspy sound of Max’s breathing. He looks so small in the bed, so frail, so pale, and nothing like the larger-than-life man who raised me.
His eyes flutter open, and for a moment, he just stares at me as if trying to figure out who I am, but then he cracks a small smile. “Darcy,” he says, his voice weak but sounding happy to see me.
I pull the chair closer to his bedside and sit, swallowing back the lump in my throat. “Hi, Papa.”
He smiles faintly, though it’s tinged with sadness. “You shouldn’t have come, but I’m glad you did.”
“Of course I came,” I whisper, reaching for his hand. His skin is cold and paper-thin, a stark reminder of how little time we have left.
For a moment, we just sit in silence. Then he breaks it with a wheezy chuckle. “You always were stubborn.”
A sad laugh escapes me. “I wonder where I got that from.”
