Chapter 209

Grayson's POV

Kiss

The debt I owed Luther Pierce—a debt I never wanted to acknowledge—was paid. Because of that, he lived to see another day. In a twist of fate I never could have predicted a year ago, he and I were now allies, united against a common enemy: Damien Cross.

I never would have guessed it. If someone had asked me to identify the mastermind behind the chaos, the killings, and the destruction, Damien wouldn't have even been on my list. He'd been insignificant, unnoticed, a shadow lurking in the background. The only reason I'd ever acknowledged his existence was his proximity to Ava. That alone made me hate him, but I hadn't considered him a threat, capable of anything beyond being an annoyance.

But I had to give him credit. He was good—extremely good. He'd played his insignificance perfectly, orchestrating everything without suspicion. He'd taken calculated risks, and Liam—now vanished—was just one of his foot soldiers. Liam was a pawn; Damien was the mastermind.

For the last week, I'd worked tirelessly to reclaim my position and solidify my power. The climb back to the top wasn't as difficult as I'd imagined, but it carried an unfamiliar weight—a touch of vulnerability. The entire realm knew I didn't have my wolf; they knew I wasn't at full strength. But I was still King, and that wasn't going to change. Wolf or not, I would find Damien and make him regret interfering in Ava's life from the moment she was born.

Ava. I didn't think the mere thought of her name would ever cease to affect me. But I also knew no one could be Ava Pierce. And I was right. She hadn't forgiven me, not as I'd expected, even after everything she'd endured to reach me. The moment she regained consciousness after five days unconscious, she was gone. For five nights, I sat by her bedside, watching her sleep, knowing that upon waking, I would lose her again. I knew that when her eyes opened, I would see the truth—the realization that she would never forgive me.

But I hadn't gone after her. I let her deal with whatever she needed. Deep down, I knew that when the time came, I would have to beg—grovel, if necessary—to earn back even a sliver of what I'd lost. For now, I had to focus on fixing my own mess.

"You okay?"

The voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up from the company files scattered across my desk, meeting Elaine's gaze at the doorway. She hesitated, unsure whether to enter.

I forced a small smile. "I'm fine. Just trying to—"

"Flush Liam out?" She sighed, stepping into the office.

I nodded. "Easier said than done."

Things between us had changed. We hadn't spent much time together, but since the vault, something had shifted. She wasn't just Elaine anymore. We'd been trapped together, enduring the same horror. The family bond we'd shared as children had rekindled, though neither of us knew how to navigate it after everything.

My gaze flickered to her hand resting on her stomach—a subconscious act, a mother's instinct to protect her child. A child that never existed.

"I'm really sorry, Elaine." Kings don't apologize, but I'd found myself saying those words more often than I cared to count.

She sank into the chair, her eyes downcast. "I guess I can't really be sad about a child I never had," she murmured. "Besides, after everything he's done, maybe it's better this way. It would have made things so much harder." She shook her head, her expression unreadable. "I still can't believe it."

I said nothing. What could I say? That Liam had been a monster? That I would make him suffer? Because I would. When I found him, our history wouldn't matter; his suffering would be excruciating.

We sat in silence, the weight of everything pressing between us. Finally, she broke it.

"I actually came to ask if it would be okay for me to move back in," she said, her voice quieter. "Monica says I can stay as long as I want, but with her new boyfriend, I feel like I'm intruding."

Monica. Someone I never thought I would owe thanks to, but somehow, I did. She'd played the concerned friend, going to Ava, which led to Isabella selling Kitong, which led to everyone trying to rescue us. So, as much as it pissed me off to admit it, I owed her thanks—and maybe more. (I'd already thanked Rickon, despite initially telling him I didn't appreciate his stunt.)

I focused back on Elaine, nodding. "The apartment is yours. That's never going to change. If you need help moving, I can make a couple of calls."

She stared at me. Then—

"In sixteen years," she murmured, "that's the first time you've actually sounded like you care."

I didn't know what to say. Silence stretched between us. Then—

"Have you heard from Ava?" she asked.

My jaw clenched. "No."

She tilted her head. "And you're not going to look for her?"

"No."

A pause. Her lips curled into something like a smirk.

"Touchy subject, I see."

I didn't respond. We both knew the answer. Silence stretched between us before she spoke again. "I guess I'll leave you to it."

She stood, but as she turned to leave, I spoke. "Elaine, wait."

She stopped, glancing back with curiosity.

"Would you like to do something?"

She arched a brow. "Like what?"

I hesitated. I wasn't sure what I wanted—I just didn't want to sit here drowning in my thoughts.

Then she smiled, a knowing smile. "Well, you do have a theater room. One I don't think you've ever stepped foot in."

She wasn't wrong. I'd had it built unconsciously, or maybe deliberately, knowing how much she loved cartoons.

I glanced at the papers, the weight of responsibility pressing on my chest, but she cleared her throat softly.

"Or," she said, "we could do it another time."

I shook my head. "No. I can get back to this later."

Her smile softened, and she nodded. I stood, Elaine falling into step beside me.

Then my phone beeped. A text from Carter: I think you'd better get your ass to Italy. She's not just in Italy, Grayson. She's with him. A photo followed.

I stared at the screen. Ava. Ricardo. Together.