Page 47 of Roar Letter Word
“My King,” he said, looking surprised and a little irked. “You are back. How was the concert?”
Mahes spewed the words out at Ruzyll, ignoring his question completely.
“Where is she? Where is Addie? Did she come back here?"
The look on Ruzyll’s face was the only answer the king needed. His heart sank like a stone dropping into a well.
“She hasn’t been back, My King. I assumed she would return to the estate with you."
His hand dropped from Ruzyll's shoulder, and his limbs went numb. His head hung low, and then he trudged down the hallway into his study.
“My King, what is the matter?"
Mahes only had the energy to wave him away, fingering at the stacks of wine in the fridge next to the bar. He gripped the neck of a vintage bottle and pulled it from its cubby. He carried it with him down the hall, his thoughts on pause, merely waiting for the torrid riptide of misery to drown him.
It was nearly midnight when he plopped himself on top of the desk, tearing open the bottle. There was no elegance to it, only a primal need. He needed to be drunk. Tomorrow, he would deal with the consequences of his lost mate.
The king threw the cork of the wine bottle across the room, letting it roll across the luxurious velvet carpet, then tossed his head back. He chugged nearly half the bottle, which wouldn’t have much ill effect on a shifter of his size just yet. He had about two more to go before he’d start to even feel a buzz.
He heard Ruzyll pad after him in the hallway and step into the study with great trepidation. Outside, night crawlers crooned, the fragile spill of the brilliant moon choked between the horizon and dazzling purple forestry.
“Sir, do you think Addie has returned to Earth?"
Mahes nodded, saying nothing at all. Ruzyll had known him for over a decade and was kind when he needed to be respectful, always, but also able to put his foot down when he thought the king wasn’t doing right.
“Did she tell you she was going back?” Ruzyll asked.
Mahes shook his head again, polishing off the end of the bottle. He tossed it to the floor nonchalantly, the smacking of the glass against the hardwood floor abrupt at such a late hour.
“Ruzyll, you’re one of the only two people I fully trust in this kingdom. You’ve been by my side even when I didn’t deserve you …”
“No,” Ruzyll barked. “I will not let you do this.”
Mahes should’ve known his most loyal comrade wouldn’t let him go through with the plan bouncing around in his head. But by the Goddess, Mahes was going to do what he had to. Even if that meant giving up.
“Get me Skoll Givinshon, then,” Mahes demanded, more like his asshole self before his mate came into his life.
Ruzyll did not squirm. He merely blinked, giving his king a look that would get any other person a royal reprimand. Yes, Mahes knew he was being an asshat again, but he couldn’t think through the pain tearing through his soul.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Ruzyll asked. “You won’t be able to come back.” His voice was far from sympathetic. But Mahes didn’t care. He needed to get the practical work out of the way so he could properly grieve his loss. If Ruzyll wouldn’t, then maybe Skoll would.
So he took another step toward his chief of staff and gave him a remarkably intimidating scowl. He gave an insidious snarl as he spoke.
“Please,” he growled, trying to be the man his mate would want him to be at this moment.
Ruzyll didn't say another word. He turned, moved into the hallway, and made the call. Mahes would later regret this, but at the moment, he was stuck in a hurricane of anguish, only thinking of himself and sweet Addie.
Skoll, being a lion shifter himself and one of Mahes’s best friends, came to the estate immediately. Mahes wondered what Ruzyll had said to him to make him arrive so swiftly, but he also didn’t care. He needed to get shit done.
Skoll was as big and intimidating as he was, but because he wasn't a king, he could be far gentler. Mahes felt eyes on him the second the lion arrived in the study.
“What's going on, big guy?" Skoll asked.
Mahes had downed half of another bottle of Sidaii, then cast it aside for the task at hand. He stumbled slightly as he made his way toward the leather couch while Skoll watched him with grave concern.
“Stop looking at me like that,” Mahes snapped. “Sit down and listen to me, will ya?”
Skoll did as Mahes asked without objection. Mahes wondered why he was already feeling the buzz from the wine. Maybe because he had barely eaten anything that day. Maybe because he was lovesick.
