94. Mornings & Responsibilities

                                    

                                          
 "Alert the Guard. Kiera's gone."  
                          


                          
Justin's POV
                          
Waking up suddenly, I instantly knew something was different, something wasn't right.
                          
"Kiera? Baby?" I mumble, curling my arm around what should have been her body, but instead coming up with an empty, cold space.
                          
"Kiera?" I say louder, attempting not to panic. I mean she could be in our bathroom taking a shower right? She wouldn't just leave me like this right?
                          
"Kiera?" I call again getting more frantic as I stumble out of bed and clumsily throwing my boxers on before flashing through our entire suit.
                          
Officially beginning to panic, I rush out of our room, noticing her new Guard members were also absent. Kiera. Where was Kiera? Where was my mate? What if she was hurt? Or- or worse what if she decided to leave me after all? What would I do without her? How would I survive? I wouldn't. I needed her. She was my everything.
                          
"Ryan! Chaz! Christian! Get up lazy asses!" I scream, a bit irrationally angry as I see them sleeping peacefully. How could they sleep at a time like this?
                          
"Ugh. Justin! What the hell!?" Ryan grunts annoyed, picking himself up from the ground where I had shoved him out of bed.
                          
"Alert the Guard. Kiera's gone." I growl out, pacing their room anxiously.
                          
"What!? What do you mean gone!?" They scream, instantly all awake.
                          
"I- I don't know. I just woke up- and- and she was gone." I whimper, wringing my hands together. My mind was literally on full out panic mode.
                          
"Shit. Uh, okay, okay. Umm- well how about we split up?" Chaz suggests, the guys throwing a shirt and shorts on.
                          
"Check the cells downstairs. If- if my father-" I start, suddenly clenching my hands into fists at the thought of my father hurtingKiera or getting anywhere near her.
                          
"Just check the cells. And double the Guard on both Erin and my father's cell." I growl, turning to storm out.
                          
"I can do that." Ryan volunteers quickly.
                          
"I'll take the servant's quarters, Chaz you can take the High Council's wing, Ryan can finish checking the Guard while her orders the double watch. Justin you take your father's personal wing." Chris orders.
                          
"Done." I say nodding in agreement.
                          
"You might want to put clothes on however." Chris says dryly, making me realize I was still in my boxers.
                          
Growling in annoyance I flash back to Kiera and I's room to change. This was taking up precious moments that I could be focusing on searching for my mate.
                          
Flashing through Kiera and I's personal quarters double checking she wasn't here, through I doubt it because I would have felt her presence close by, I make my way to my father's quarters.
                          
Peeking in on Jazzy and Jaxton, both were still asleep, innocent and unaware. I wish I could protect them from what was to come. But I couldn't. My father was selfish. How could he do this to them? Or to me? Did he seriously think he wouldn't be caught? We might just be collateral damage in his mind, but he wasn't the one that had to pick up the pieces in the end. I was. I could only hope that I could be the big brother and King I needed to be. And I hoped desperately that Jazzy and Jaxton didn't hate me.
                          
Shaking out of my thoughts I finish searching, coming up empty.
                          
"Chaz!" I bark out, seeing him walk out of the High Council's wing.
                          
"Nothing." He says, shaking his head, worry and exhaustion clear on his face.
                          
"Fuck." I mutter under my breath. Where the hell was she?
                          
"Sire." A Guard member says.
                          
"What!?" I snap, rubbing my forehead stressed and exhausted.
                          
"Your mate Sire. We found her. She's on her way with her Guard members." He replies, cringing from me.
                          
"Recall the Guard. Tell Commander Butler and Commander Beadles to meet us here." I order immediately.
                          
"Yes Sire." The member replies, bowing lightly before doing my bidding.
                          
Pacing the hall anxiously, minutes later Kiera finally appears.
                          
"Baby!" I cheer, relief and happiness flooding my body at the sight of my beautiful mate.
                          
"Oh Jay." She says, her expression soft as she catches sight of my disheveled, stressed appearance.
                          
"You're safe. You didn't leave." I say a bit insecurely, latching onto her.
                          
"Shhh... Of course not. I woke up early. You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you. I just took Koda out to play and read my book, that's all." She sooths, rubbing my chest calmingly.
                          
"It scared me. I woke up and you were gone." I state, nuzzling my face into her neck, enjoying smelling my scent all over her. Mine.
                          
"Oh Jay! You woke up the guys too!" She scolds suddenly, noticing them behind me.
                          
"Yeah because-" I begin to protest.
                          
"Geesh Justin. I just put them to bed! They've been up all night following your orders." She scolds lightly, putting an arm around Ryan and Chris, letting them lean on her.
                          
"Sorry baby. I was worried." I say weakly in defense.
                          
"It's okay. Help me get them back to their room. They're practically falling asleep standing." She exclaims, cooing over them.
                          
"Then cuddles?" I ask hopefully.
                          
"Yes, then we can cuddle." She agrees, smiling lightly and rolling her eyes playfully at my child like behavior.
                          
"Okay." I say satisfied.
                          
Helping Kiera with the guys, I leave her to tuck them in, heading back to our room to wait for her.
                          
"Oh Josh, Elliot, Conner." I say, pausing at the doorway to look at them.
                          
"Yes Sire?" Conner says, all of them looking nervous, probably expecting me to snap at them.
                          
"The Commanders and I agree that you have shown your worthiness and we have decided to give you the last three spots in the Primes. I trust that you know what this means and won't treat it lightly." I say, giving them a nod of respect before walking into Kiera and I's room.
                          
Hearing them mumble a quick "thank you" and "yes Sire", I smile satisfied with myself. Kiera would be happy. She adored her new Guard members and didn't like how hard the guys and I were on them.
                          
"Oh Jay." Kiera sighs, walking into our room moments later.
                          
"What am I going to do with you?" She teases, crawling up on the bed next to me.
                          
"Keep me?" I say hopefully, giving her a cheesy smile.
                          
"I guess so!" She sighs dramatically, cuddling close and giggling lightly.
                          
Smiling widely, I nuzzle my face into her neck, keeping her captured in my arms and sigh contently.
                          
A few hours later I reluctantly pull myself together to get ready to speak to the High Council. Oh joy, back to my responsibilities. Why did my father have to do this? My life was stressful enough the way it was before. Why couldn't he be the rational, responsible one like he was supposed to be? But no, he goes and does this. Now instead of enjoying years with Kiera, lavishing her with my attention, love and gifts and pretty much doing whatever the hell I wanted to, because I could, I had to be in charge of a kingdom. Screw him.