chapter 31(2)

Abbie “Anyway, I was left behind,”he says, shaking his head. “Where is the Queen?” he asks, his voice steady but bearing an edge of concern as his gaze darts from one corner of the room to the other, searching for Azalea. Gannon and Dustin exchange a silent communication that speaks volumes, their expressions a mix of resignation and unease. “Did you get hold of the King?” Gannon’s voice cuts through the quiet, tension wrapping around each word like barbed wire. Dustin’s head gives a slow, deliberate shake, his hands clasped together as though in silent prayer or perhaps to stave off the urge to reach out and throttle something—or someone. “He is blocking me out,” he finally admits, the weight of those words settling heavily on his shoulders. The atmosphere thickens with implication, and the unspoken truth lies between them as palpable as the scent of iron and antiseptic still lingering on Trey’s skin. Trey’s hand cuts through the air with an impatient flutter, his eyes seeking answers