Page 76 of Rising Reign

King simply stayed quiet and waited.

I sighed. “It feels like no matter what I do, it won’t be enough.”

He nodded slowly. “I feel the same. Things have changed since we found Wren. There’s a hell of a lot more at stake than there was a few months ago.”

“It feels like there’s a boulder on my chest, pressing down, making it hard to breathe. I have to force myself to walk away from her at times because I want her to be in my sight twenty-four-seven.”

One corner of Kingston’s mouth pulled up. “I’d like to implant a tracker in her, just in case.”

I winced.

King’s brows flew up. “Tell me you didn’t.”

“No, no. I gave her a necklace.”

“The lock one?”

Of course, Kingston would’ve noticed it.

“Yes. It’s enchanted, so only Wren or one of her mates can remove it, and it has a tracker inside,” I admitted. “I told her it did. It’s not like I’m tracking her without her permission.”

King lifted a hand to still me. “I’m not accusing you. I wish I would’ve thought of it.”

“Sometimes, when we’re apart, I just watch her location. I have the app up while I’m working, just for reassurance.”

Kingston leveled an alpha stare at me. “It’s completely understandable. She’s been taken from us twice.”

Just hearing the words had my fingers twitching to pick up my phone and check the app. “It feels like a compulsion. And the panic…”

“It won’t be like this forever,” King assured me. “It’s a unique circumstance. Once we’ve dealt with the dark mages and Red River, we’ll be able to breathe.”

“Unless the mages told someone about her empath status.” I realized that I’d just given voice to one of my greatest fears. That we’d always be running because Wren’s empath status would be known to the world. Everyone under the sun would want to get their hands on her.

Kingston shook his head. “We can’t lose logic. How would telling anyone benefit them?”

I thought that over for a moment. “It wouldn’t. It would only give them competition.”

“Exactly. We end them. We end the threat.”

Something eased in me for the first time in days. “You’re right.”

King’s lips twitched. “Might want to record that for posterity.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Don’t get used to it.”

“Come on,” he said, pushing to his feet. “Dinner’s ready, and you need to balance out some of that caffeine.”

He wasn’t wrong. As I stood, I could feel the jitteriness in my limbs. Never a good sign. “Maybe some juice with dinner.”

Kingston barked out a laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you have anything but soda or coffee at any meal.”

“There always has to be a first, right?”

He clapped me on the back as we headed down the hall. “Damn straight.”

I looked up at the sound of footsteps. Wren walked down the stairs, her hair still damp from a shower. She wore a flowy dress with delicate straps and flowers cast over the fabric. It reminded me of her scent: wild and free.

“You look beautiful,” I greeted.