BLOODHOUNDS #1: THE ABDICATED PRINCE

Chapter 44 - PRESENT

Ares Young

One thing that I've learned after living 31 years in this world is that don't even think about making Asher Serano mad. Asher told us that Clyde successfully hid in a hollow space in the back of the plane, but he was heavily beaten.

Mason went to the hospital with Clyde, and I followed Asher to the warehouse where Christina was being held.

As soon as Asher saw her, he slapped her so hard that she screamed in pain. Asher squatted down and grabbed her by the hair, pulling her up.

"You have a death wish, huh?" he asked her, taking a knife from his pocket. She opened his mouth to say something, but he slit her throat mercilessly.

She held her throat with both hands, trying to say something, but Asher turned around.

"Send her back to the palace. Make sure she won't able to talk." Asher put his knife back in his pocket and left the warehouse.

I kept my eyes on Christina, two doctors came to treat her, and I decided to leave. Asher was waiting for the helicopter for him, and he turned to me, signing me to join him. I shook my head and walked towards my car.

"Bring Clyde back to Seattle, Young," He said through the earpiece.

"You got it."

Clyde Nielsen

I woke up because my head hurt so much. I opened my eyes and turned to see Luna crying beside my bed. She still hasn't realized that I'm already awake.

"Butterfly," I called, and she looked up at me. She cried even more and hugged me. "I need to call the doctor!" she announced, and she quickly ran out.

The doctor came in with Kayden and Luna, and they checked on my vitals to ensure I was okay. The doctor told me to rest for two days because I had been badly beaten.

"What happened exactly?" Luna asked as she sat beside my bed, holding my hand as if her life depended on me.

"Christina has been eyeing me for a while. She wanted me dead after what happened to Christopher," I said as I tried to sit up. Kayden helped me by adjusting the bed.

"What happened to her?" I turned my attention to Kayden, and he turned to Luna, not wanting to say it before her. I don't blame him. He knew about the case.

"She won't be able to talk again," Kayden said, and Luna ignored his statement, but her focus was on me. She looked stressed, and her eyes were puffy from crying.

"I'll leave you two, and Happy Birthday, Nielsen." He excused himself, and Luna cried again, "I'm sorry! It's my fault! I should not have let you go alone!" She hugged me, and I chuckled.

"I'm fine, Butterfly. Don't blame yourself. It's something out of our control." I said as I caressed her head.

"I'm sorry." She kept apologizing, and it hurt me to see she kept blaming herself for something she didn't do.

"It's okay."

"Today is your birthday, and you're spending it here." She wiped her tears and got out of her seat to grab something.

I'm currently being hospitalized in the health care section of the headquarters. We have all the doctors and the machines that you need here. Asher ensured to have it all because he has trust issues with the general hospital.

"It's okay."

"But this is your first time spending it with me." She brought a cake out, and I chuckled.

"We have forever for that, Butterfly," I assured her.

For the next two days, I stayed in the health care until they allowed me to leave. When I got into Luna's apartment, everyone was already there except Asher.

As usual, he's not around a lot.

We celebrated my birthday with alcohol and food, and Luna was having fun. I kept her beside me constantly, and Ares has been an asshole for telling her to draw him. I was ready to throw him out of the window.

"Let's be real, Luna. I think I'm far more good-looking than Clyde." Ares said proudly, and Luna chuckled.

"Sorry, Ares. I prefer Clyde," she said as she leaned to me, and I smirked in victory, looking at Ares, who rolled his eyes.

"Listen, Luna. It's not too late to pick me up. Clyde is a certified asshole. He only cares about himself." Kayden and Mason laughed hearing it.

In the end, I kicked everyone out because I wanted to spend my birthday with Luna. She forced me to close my eyes because she had a surprise for me.

"Am I going to get lucky tonight?" I asked her, and she ignored my statement.

"Don't open your eyes yet!" She warned because I put my hand down from covering my eyes.

"I have it close, Butterfly." I could feel her standing in front of me.

"Open up." I opened my eyes slowly, and she gave me a painting, but this time, it was bigger-another abstract painting with black, white, grey, light red, and light blue paint. It's beautiful, and I started to scan the painting for a small hidden message.

I looked up at Luna, who was waiting for me to find it.

I kept scanning the painting, and I saw it. On the corner right of the painting, she hid it so well between those black and white strokes.

I LOVE YOU CLYDE

I looked at it again to make sure that I read it right.

"Did you find it?" she asked, and I looked up, smiling and nodding.

"What does it say?"

"How about you say it out loud for me? I want to hear it from you." I put the painting on the table behind her and held both of her hands.

"I love you, Clyde. I love you with my heart and soul," she said, looking straight into my eyes. I smiled and pulled her into a hug.

"I want to be with you forever, Clyde." She added.

"I love you too, Butterfly."