Wolf's Claim (The Royal Heir #3) - Jen L. Grey Page 0,5

their own when it comes to disobedience. So we have the stragglers like Richard and Debra down there."

"Besides them, there's only one more prisoner down there, and she's a little off." Mona shook her head.

"That's one way of putting it." Kassie laughed hard. "Or you can just say damn crazy."

"She tried killing your mom after your parents mated." Mona shook her head. "She'd been obsessed with your father and thought she deserved to be Queen."

"Wow, things that I never expected to hear." They'd never mentioned anything like that to me before.

"It hurt your father dearly." Tommy frowned and put the car in PARK. "They grew up together. She was even his high school sweetheart."

"And he had no clue whatsoever that she was insane?" This almost sounded like a movie or something you'd find on Netflix.

"Not a single one." Kassie opened the door and got out.

Within a few minutes, we were heading toward the familiar elevator we'd normally take up to the apartment. We followed Tommy inside, and he badged again, hitting the letter B.

Do not do anything stupid here. Mason wrapped his arms around me, pulling me back so I was leaning against his chest. I almost lost you once. I'm not sure if I could survive a second time.

Even though we hadn't discussed it, through our bond, I felt his guilt. He blamed himself for my near miss with death. I had even tried explaining to him that it wasn't his fault, but he wouldn't let it go. I'll stay right by your side. I had every intention of doing that.

As I stepped out onto the cool, basement floor, it hit me. I hadn't changed out of my stupid dress. This was going to be fun. I could run upstairs and change, but it would only waste more time. I'd just have to suck it up and deal.

The walls in the hallway were white, and the lighting was dim. It was obvious that we were underground. In the front was a younger guard whose mouth opened and closed as he stared at us from behind a large desk with computer monitors all around it. He had to be close to our age.

"Josh." Tommy nodded his head at the young man. "Where is everyone else?"

"They're ..." He cleared his throat and tugged on the neckline of his black shirt. His longish brown hair was plastered to his forehead, and his golden eyes seemed to glow. "In Richard’s and Debra’s rooms, trying to figure out what happened."

"Why aren't you tracing the scent?" Mason stepped forward and glared at the guard. His body was tense, and I placed my hand inside his, squeezing comfortingly.

"It doesn't matter." The last thing we needed to do was berate Josh and make him feel worse than he already did. "Let's get to it."

"You're going to do it?" Josh blinked his eyes at me.

"What the hell does that mean?" Ella pushed through Mason and me to the front. "I bet she could kick your ass." She nudged me on my shoulder. "Go ahead. Do it. Make the little bitch cry."

"No. No." He shook his head from side to side. "I didn't mean it like that." He raised a finger and pointed at me. "It's her dress."

"Don't take offense to her." Louis grabbed Ella’s waist and pulled her back. "Her mouth runs away with her at times."

"Did you really just say that?" Ella's eyes widened, and the green in her hazel eyes was hidden by their darkening color.

"We don't have time for this." Kassie waved her off. "Let's go."

"Yeah, okay." The guy reached over to push a button, and there was a loud buzz. "You're ready to go."

Our group followed Kassie down the hallway and through a large set of steel double-doors.

It was similar in the cement vibe, but there was just a long hallway of steel doors that were all secured, giving it kind of a hospital feel as well. We walked about halfway down when we came to a spot where two doors were opened, side by side.

There was a guard in each of them.

"Any clues yet?" Mona walked into the room where an older woman was searching for a clue or anything that stood out from the norm.

"Not a one." She blew out her breath and placed her hands on her hips. "I don't get it. It's like they just vanished."

"Same over here." The guard from the other room shouted. Frustration was evident in his voice. "I don't know what to do."

I entered the same