Ryder’s POV
I walked through the corridors and came across Abbie. She had been close to Eliza, and I decided to ask her questions thoroughly. I noticed that she seemed nervous in my presence. I smirked at the sight of her, my eyes taking in every inch of her body. For an omega, she looked pretty good. Her curvy figure turned me on, the things I could do with her. She could be my play toy. Eliza was stunning, but she wasn't anything special. She was boring underneath all that royalness.
Abbie fidgeted under my gaze, her hair cascading over one shoulder as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“Ryder, I—I don’t know where they went,” she stammered, her confidence dissolving like sugar in hot water. “Please, you have to understand. They’ve been through so much lately. They needed some space.”
I chuckled, leaning closer to her. “Space? In a palace filled with guards and watchful eyes? That doesn’t sound very smart, does it?” I caught her gaze, and the fear and intrigue in her eyes fueled the darkness within me. “You see, Abbie, I think you know where they are. And I think you’re hiding something from me.” I moved closer until she was backed up to the wall.
“Please, I promise I’m not!” she pleaded, her eyes widening. “I’m just an omega. I’m not involved in the royal drama. I—”
“Cut the act,” I interrupted, my voice low and dangerous. “You’re not as innocent as you want people to believe. I see how you look at Eliza. You want to protect her; I can appreciate that. But understand this—you do not want to oppose me. It would be foolish.” I stepped back, eyeing her from head to toe, letting my lingering gaze spark her uncertainty.
“I’m not trying to oppose you!” she whimpered, trembling slightly. “I just want to help Eliza. She deserves happiness; she’s been through so much.”
I leaned in again. “And who do you think stands in the way of that happiness? I can be a tool for her happiness or demise; it’s entirely up to you and your little friends. If you cooperate, my interest will remain on your terms.”
“You don’t understand; Eliza is dealing with some serious threats,” Abbie insisted, her voice steadier now as if she had found a strand of courage. “Morgan is not just a name. He’s a monster, and he wants her.”
"Is that what she believes?" I sneered. "Monsters? I think you all overestimate him. He's just a puppet, clinging to the remnants of power he once had." My gaze narrowed. "But let’s not fool ourselves here—my interests don’t lie with Eliza. Not anymore. Instead, it’s the throne that holds my attention. And I will do what it takes to have it."
Abbie visibly flinched, her resolve faltering. “You're making a mistake, Ryder. Eliza is the future. You could have so much more—”
“But she’s boring.” I interrupted, smirking again. “She’s all about etiquette and royal duties. And you…you’re the wild card, aren’t you? The fire burned underneath the surface. We could have some fun together, you know. Just imagine what my influence could do to elevate someone like you.”
She stared at me, her eyes widening with fear and intrigue, her internal struggle clear on her face. I could sense her hesitance, which made me want to break her resolve even more.
“I’m not interested in your games,” she finally declared, but I noted the tremor in her voice. The hesitation held promise, and I could exploit it if I tried hard enough.
“Are you sure about that, Abbie?” I challenged, stepping closer again, imposing in stature and presence. “You might find it simply thrilling to embrace the chaos. You could be more than an omega—take charge of your fate, seize the power that has been denied to you all this time.”
But before I could further trigger her curiosity, the footsteps echoed in the corridor. My senses sharpened, and I instinctively straightened up and moved away from Abbie.
“Ah, Ryder. Good to see you.” the king boomed happily when he spotted me. I bowed and greeted him. Abbie looked at me in disgust, but I ignored her. The king was chatting about how grateful he was that I had brought Dr Adams along to help him and how much better he was feeling. I wanted to ring his neck and shut the old man up for good, but something made me look up, and there standing in the doorway was Morgan.
I hadn't expected to see him so soon, but that could only mean one thing. Eliza had escaped or was already dead. I growled as Abbie started to scream to the king to be careful.
“What are you talking about?” the king frowned. Then, as he turned around in surprise, he was shocked to see Morgan, and with that, he fell to the ground after one swift punch to the face.
“Morgan,” I growled. “This wasn't part of our plan. What are you doing? You were supposed to hide Eliza away.” I shouted angrily.
Morgan’s grim smile widened as he stepped further into the room, his dark energy coiling around him like a stormcloud ready to unleash its fury. “Plans change, Ryder. I grew tired of waiting in the shadows while you played your games. Those sneaky sons of mine are going to pay along with that snotty brother of hers and that bitch Lara and her precious Theron.” He turned his gaze to the fallen king, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Abbie’s scream echoed in the cold stone corridor; her face paled as she crouched over the king. “No! What have you done?!” Panic twisted her voice as she glanced from Morgan to me.
“And you let her go?” I snapped, wanting to know what he had done and why.
Morgan’s expression shifted, eyes growing darker. “Do not underestimate me, Ryder. I will not back down from what is mine—by blood or by conquest. You may have underestimated the depths of my cunning, but you will soon understand.”