Yes, I had my momentary bouts of sadness when I thought of my mom, but the thought of never seeing my dad or sister gave me so much relief.
I pulled behind one of the black SUVs and put the car in park. I couldn’t think about my mom or family. I was here to talk to the king and get back to my mates.
I walked into the Pride house and was quickly greeted by Carl. “Master Talon, welcome.”
“Hi, Carl. How are you doing?”
“Very well. How are your lovely mates? I still can’t believe you have two,” he asked.
I grinned. “They are lovely, aren’t they?” I chuckled. “They’re doing great. I’ll let them know you asked about them.”
I hurried down the huge hall. I hoped I could finish up and get back fast.
Stepping into the common room, I was greeted by the sounds of video game gunfire and the light bickering of Jeremy and Leon.
“How’s mated life?” Jeremy asked, pausing his game to look at me.
“Better than ever, just getting here from the dungeon,” I replied.
“Oh man, you’ve got to take us there. Those guys were so hot the last time we went. And bonus, we don’t have to stay away because the demon is your mate,” Jeremy said with a grin.
Before I could respond, the king’s firm voice cut through the casual atmosphere. “Talon, you’re here,” he stated more than asked, his tone commanding immediate attention.
I nodded respectfully. “Majesty,” I acknowledged, feeling a twinge of unease.
“I’m glad you’re here. I need to speak to you. Come with me,” the king commanded, his voice brooking no argument.
A ripple of unease stirred within me as my lion instinctively sensed the gravity of his tone. I followed King Edward down the hall and into his study, a room filled with the heavy scent of old books and the sharper tang of whiskey.
“Close the door behind you,” he instructed, moving towards the bar. “You’ll want a drink for this.”
I complied, my hands slightly unsteady. The king poured two amber-filled tumblers without asking, handing me one as he gestured towards the sofa. “Sit,” he said firmly.
“Sire, is something wrong?” I asked, taking the seat and placed the drink on the table.
He picked up the glass and handed it back to me. “Drink first,” he suggested. I took a deep gulp, the liquor burning down my throat, setting my senses alight with both warmth and a sting.
“Your father was here today,” King Edward revealed, his tone neutral but his eyes sharp, watching me closely.
The mention of my father sent a chill through me, and I downed the rest of my drink in one harsh swallow, coughing as the alcohol seared. Why is he bothering our king? Couldn’t he leave me alone?
“What did he want?” I managed, my voice rough, my eyes watering, not just from the drink.
“He wanted me to intervene on his behalf and ask you to visit again,” the king said, his voice steady.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, counting to ten. I opened my eyes. “I told you what happened—”
Edward raised his hand. “Yes, you told me about the dinner, and I told your dad I wouldn’t interfere. But then he mentioned something else—something about your mother.”
A cold shiver ran down my spine. “What about her?” I pressed, my throat tightening.
“You know your mother’s human, and she’s not your father’s fated mate.” King Edward paused, his eyes meeting mine with a seriousness that made my heart sink. “This means she can still get human diseases. Your mother isn’t well, Talon. She’s very ill.”
The room seemed to spin slightly as I absorbed his words. “How ill?” I whispered, fearing the answer.
He took a deep breath, his gaze never wavering. “She’s dying, Talon.”
Connection Lost
