hurt?”
Ryon laughed. “First time as a wolf and you ran for most of it. It was bound to happen.”
“Love, can you get my bag from that stall?”
“Yeah.” She walked to the stall with his horse in it and brought him the bag he requested. “Does it feel weird to stand like that?”
“A little but I feel shorter now.”
“Can we hurry this along?” Darius asked. “Ruby would probably like to know we’re back.”
“Relax. I’m getting dressed.”
“Looks like you’ve got everything under control.” Ryon said. “I should get back to Trever.”
Jaylyn gasped. “Don’t tell him about any of this!”
“I’m sure it’s too late for that. You saw Kole, didn’t you?”
“How did you know I saw Kole?”
“Good guess with the whole lion thing. I knew you wouldn’t have done it on your own without reassurance that you could.”
“Fine then just tell him that everyone is okay and we’re fine.”
“I will. Call if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” Zayden said, walking out of the stall. “And we will.”
Ryon nodded and disappeared.
“Let’s get inside and get a rest. I know we could all use it.”
We followed after Zayden and headed inside the palace. Rift was all over him the moment he walked in. I hadn’t even realized that he left him behind until now but he was sure glad he was back. Jaylyn was naturally welcomed back with open arms but I did not get the welcome I had hoped for.
“You may get the rest you need, everyone.” Izin said with a stern voice. “I need to speak to Troy in private.”
Everyone looked around at each other and Jaylyn looked a little worried.
“It’s all right.” I assured her. “Go upstairs. I’ll be up as soon as I can.” She nodded back and kissed me quickly before she started to turn away with the others. I watched her for a moment then turned, setting my eyes on Izin.
He led me into the conference room and closed the door. It was silent at first as I followed him to the long table and Izin walked around it to sit in his chair while I sat directly across from him in what was usually Zayden’s chair.
“I’m sure you understand that this isn’t going to be easy for me. I’ve always seen you as my son.”
“I understand, father. Everything that happened was entirely my fault.”
“Oh, I’m aware that it was your fault. You went against your leader’s instruction which distracted you from your duty. You could have put every single one of those men in jeopardy because you just couldn’t stay away and that includes members of the royal family. On top of that, you pushed your brother into that savagery wolf form in what seemed to be much sooner than he wanted so he could find you.”
I lowered my head, ashamed of it. “I’m sorry, father.”
“Yes, well, being sorry isn’t good enough this time, Troy. You must learn from your mistakes and until you do, I’m removing your title as a Great Seni Fighter.”
“Father!”
“It’s what must be done!”
If I were Zayden I would have argued it more but it wasn’t my place to and I lowered my head again. “Yes—your majesty.”
“I hear that your mark has been corrupted. Let me see it.” I slowly opened the front of my ripped shirt as I lifted my head and shown Izin what he wanted to see but I couldn’t look at it. “Very good. It makes part of this not so complicated but there is still work to be done. I will get someone to come by later and assist you after you have gotten cleaned up and have rested.”
“That won’t be necessary, your majesty. I will do it myself.”
We locked eyes for several seconds, me being firm in my chair and my request and Izin agreed with a nod. “Very well. You must know that I didn’t want it to come to this but I cannot overlook what you’ve done and pass it off like nothing was ever wrong. You’ve put us back a year by not being able to complete the visits to the southern colonies before the birth of your heir when I assured you that
Ryon laughed. “First time as a wolf and you ran for most of it. It was bound to happen.”
“Love, can you get my bag from that stall?”
“Yeah.” She walked to the stall with his horse in it and brought him the bag he requested. “Does it feel weird to stand like that?”
“A little but I feel shorter now.”
“Can we hurry this along?” Darius asked. “Ruby would probably like to know we’re back.”
“Relax. I’m getting dressed.”
“Looks like you’ve got everything under control.” Ryon said. “I should get back to Trever.”
Jaylyn gasped. “Don’t tell him about any of this!”
“I’m sure it’s too late for that. You saw Kole, didn’t you?”
“How did you know I saw Kole?”
“Good guess with the whole lion thing. I knew you wouldn’t have done it on your own without reassurance that you could.”
“Fine then just tell him that everyone is okay and we’re fine.”
“I will. Call if you need anything.”
“Thank you.” Zayden said, walking out of the stall. “And we will.”
Ryon nodded and disappeared.
“Let’s get inside and get a rest. I know we could all use it.”
We followed after Zayden and headed inside the palace. Rift was all over him the moment he walked in. I hadn’t even realized that he left him behind until now but he was sure glad he was back. Jaylyn was naturally welcomed back with open arms but I did not get the welcome I had hoped for.
“You may get the rest you need, everyone.” Izin said with a stern voice. “I need to speak to Troy in private.”
Everyone looked around at each other and Jaylyn looked a little worried.
“It’s all right.” I assured her. “Go upstairs. I’ll be up as soon as I can.” She nodded back and kissed me quickly before she started to turn away with the others. I watched her for a moment then turned, setting my eyes on Izin.
He led me into the conference room and closed the door. It was silent at first as I followed him to the long table and Izin walked around it to sit in his chair while I sat directly across from him in what was usually Zayden’s chair.
“I’m sure you understand that this isn’t going to be easy for me. I’ve always seen you as my son.”
“I understand, father. Everything that happened was entirely my fault.”
“Oh, I’m aware that it was your fault. You went against your leader’s instruction which distracted you from your duty. You could have put every single one of those men in jeopardy because you just couldn’t stay away and that includes members of the royal family. On top of that, you pushed your brother into that savagery wolf form in what seemed to be much sooner than he wanted so he could find you.”
I lowered my head, ashamed of it. “I’m sorry, father.”
“Yes, well, being sorry isn’t good enough this time, Troy. You must learn from your mistakes and until you do, I’m removing your title as a Great Seni Fighter.”
“Father!”
“It’s what must be done!”
If I were Zayden I would have argued it more but it wasn’t my place to and I lowered my head again. “Yes—your majesty.”
“I hear that your mark has been corrupted. Let me see it.” I slowly opened the front of my ripped shirt as I lifted my head and shown Izin what he wanted to see but I couldn’t look at it. “Very good. It makes part of this not so complicated but there is still work to be done. I will get someone to come by later and assist you after you have gotten cleaned up and have rested.”
“That won’t be necessary, your majesty. I will do it myself.”
We locked eyes for several seconds, me being firm in my chair and my request and Izin agreed with a nod. “Very well. You must know that I didn’t want it to come to this but I cannot overlook what you’ve done and pass it off like nothing was ever wrong. You’ve put us back a year by not being able to complete the visits to the southern colonies before the birth of your heir when I assured you that
Similar Books
