CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

B en wasn’t surprised to see Kurt and Lance outside the door. He knew the prince would bring the big guns despite the P-Muter on his leg.

He’d have done the same thing.

Kurt gave him the universal male ’ sup head jerk, and he returned it.

In a few hours, he was going to get a jump on these guys, and they were going to be pissed. The cat was half out of the bag. If they knew who he was, they wouldn’t be letting him walk uncuffed along the hall.

Not that he had any intention of doing anything except follow them to Anna. In a few minutes, he would have her in his arms. And good luck to anyone trying to stop him.

“Your sister says ‘ fuck you ,’ by the way,” Lance told him as they made their way through the castle. Those around them paid them no more attention than usual, if you ignored the glances from females and the younger officers in awe of the prince and SLCs.

Ben grinned. “I’m sure she didn’t like my decorating skills. Tell her I said to keep her day job. Her sabotage attempts were pitiful.”

Brayden glanced over his shoulder at him, and his brows drew together. Interesting. It appeared that Sofia had acted alone. Why?

“What sabotage?” Kurt asked.

He knew Kurt and Marcus had not been involved. There was loyalty to your king, but inviting someone along for an orgy with two hot females went above and beyond the call of duty.

“He’s talking shit,” Lance replied, not looking at him, but he had a frown of his own.

Looked like Sofia had played them all.

Fury suddenly filled him as he realized the implications of her interference. Ben slowed, and all three powerful males immediately reacted, turning to him.

He clenched his fists.

“You make sure my sister understands if she hadn’t interfered, Anna would have been with me and not in a fucking coma right now,” he growled.

Lance took a step closer. “Sofia cares deeply for Anna. Shut your fucking face.”

Face? Fucking dickhead. Lucky him, getting the idiot brother-in-law.

“Yeah, man. I don’t think she would have intentionally set out to hurt Anna. None of us would.”

“And yet, she did. And has,” he growled.

“Keep moving,” Brayden ordered.

Minutes later, Ben found himself back in the place he had been last night. This time without breaking any rules.

Outside a door, Lance punched in a code and pushed it open. Ben could see a body lying on a bed, and though someone was standing in the way, he knew it was Anna. He knew her body, and it felt like she was calling to him.

Without thought, he pushed past everyone and was on his knees beside the bed in a second.

“Clear out.” He heard Brayden say as all but Anna faded from his awareness.

A flood of emotions filled Ben’s body. Fury at how pale Anna looked. Joy at being near her. Fear at the emptiness he could sense. Frustration at not being able to pick her up and carry her away so he could look after her.

He ran his hand over her face, brushing strands of hair from her forehead.

“What is wrong with her?” he asked, not knowing who was in the room.

That wasn’t entirely true. His senses were still functioning. He knew Brayden was behind him and the others were milling around outside.

“The doctor said something in the bar triggered a memory. Her mind has shut down, unable to deal,” Brayden replied. “It’s likely she will wake, but in the meantime, we have to watch her and feed her.”

“How long?” he asked.

“It is unknow. All of this is unknown.”

Ben placed a palm on her cheek and shook his head at how cool she was.

He turned to Brayden with fury burning in his eyes. “I am going to kill the people responsible for this. Slowly. Painfully. That I promise you, Prince Moretti.”

Brayden held his gaze for a while and nodded. “I’ll give you a few minutes with her. We are hoping your voice may bring her back to consciousness. At least, that’s my unqualified medical assessment.”

His?

“Why would you think that?”

Brayden shrugged, and the corners of his mouth turned up. “Let’s call it a hunch,” he said before walking out.

Ben felt his body relax as he found himself alone with Anna at last. His eyes ran over her body almost as if he was scared to touch her. She was still in the dress she had worn out.

Ben looked around the room and realized this was her bedroom. He wasn’t sure how much time he had, so he quickly prioritized the things he needed to do.

First, see if he could wake her.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Ben murmured, his fingers gently brushing her cheekbones. “Can you hear me, Anna? I need you to wake up and come back to me.”

Nothing.

“We have some dancing to do, you and me. Wake up, sweetheart.”

He stared into Anna’s unresponsive and beautiful face. His heart was throbbing with the inexplicable need for her to open her eyes and smile at him.

“I need you to open your eyes, baby. I promise you are safe. I’m not going to leave you again. Come back to me.”

How could he promise that?

He was leaving. And yet...

Ben shook his head. Time was running out.

“You can kick my ass for this later, Anna,” he said as he began pulling open her drawers. “I’ve seen all your bits, so I’m sure you won’t mind. Much.”

She was totally going to kill him.

Quickly, Ben dressed her in a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a sweater, and pulled the covers back over her.

“Anna,” he whispered, then lowered his mouth to hers, placing a gentle kiss. “I’m here. I’m going to look after you. No one is ever going to hurt you again.”

The door opened behind him.

Ben took one last long look at the beauty lying lifeless on the bed and stood.

“Nothing,” he told the prince. “Looks like your hunch was wrong.”

“We’ll see,” Brayden replied.