Queen Ascending (Ace of Queens #2)

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Exton didn't come back the next day.

Rye sat waiting for him at the breakfast table, but he never showed up.

Xavier held her hand as he sat next to her.

"Baby," he said, moving the hair out of her face. "You have to give him some time."

Rye's shoulders dropped in a deep sight. With clumsy fingers she picked up the fork and poked the eggs on her plate.

"He should be here," she said. Her voice shook and Xavier could tell she was trying not to cry again.

"He needs to be where he can handle himself right now," Xavier explained gently. "This place is filled with her memories. If I were him, I would have gone off the rails by now."

Rye gripped Xavier's hand.

"I'm sorry, love," Xavier kissed her head. "But please, stop beating yourself up."

"I can't stop thinking about him," Rye finally turned to look at her husband.

Xavier gave her a small smile as she pouted in sorrow.

"He'll be back soon," Xavier assured her. "He's going to think up some hellish idea and come looking for Caspian."

"You think?" Rye asked hopefully.

"Yes," Xavier nodded. "He has your psychotic blood and my stubborn genes.... I don't think he's going to give up this easily."

Rye couldn't help but chuckle at his words. She fanned the unshed tears away from her eyes and focused on her eggs again.

"Please eat," Xavier pleaded. "I hate seeing you like this."

Even though she didn't want to, Rye took a bite of her eggs to please Xavier.

"Happy?" She asked as she chewed.

"Happy," Xavier smiled at her.

Rye set the fork down and sighed once again.

"Oh come on," Xavier teased. "We were doing so well."

Rye shook her head. "Xavier, what's going to happen to Mavi?"

Xavier's mood fell. He was doing well hiding his stress and worries from Rye but he couldn't keep up the facade when she talked about Mavi.

Rye watched as her mate rubbed his forehead and then his chin.

"I don't know," he said defeated. "Tobias can't tell what kind of effect the dagger's wound might have on her."

"It's not healing," Rye pointed out quietly. "Her wolf DNA should have healed her by now."

"I know, I know," Xavier hung his head.

Neither of them spoke for the remainder of breakfast. Xavier watched Rye toss around her eggs as her mind wandered. After the staff cleared the table, he pulled her out of her chair and tried to make her laugh by twirling her.

Rye chuckled for his sake and gave him a tired smile. Xavier pulled her into his arms as she wrapped her arms around his midsection.

"Let's go wake up the princess," Xavier said kissing the tip of Rye's nose.

Rye nodded. She followed Xavier through the halls and up to Mavi's room. As she turned the doorknob and stepped inside, she wasn't prepared for who she was inside.

Gemma.

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The cold hard ground beneath Gemma's face sent shivers down her spine. She tried to move away but her body ached. With great effort, she peeled her eyes open.