Saved By The King’s Gamma novel Chapter 19

The sound of boots being pulled on jolts me awake. Blinking a few times, I try to shake off the haze of sleep, the warmth of the blanket wrapped around me making it hard to summon the energy to move. I rub my eyes, glancing toward the door where Gannon is crouched, tightening the laces of his boots.

“Get dressed, love,” he says without looking up, his voice low but carrying that firm, steady tone I’ve come to associate with him. “I want to take you somewhere.”

I sit up slowly, still half-asleep and unsure of what he means. “Where are we going?” My voice is hoarse, and I clear my throat.

“You’ll see. Just get dressed. It’s worth the hike, I promise,” he says with a small smile, finally lifting his gaze to meet mine.

I hesitate for a moment, still trying to process the fact that it’s morning and he’s already up and ready to go. But something in his expression—something warm and reassuring—makes me nod. I slip out of bed, the cold floor beneath my feet making me shiver, and quickly pull on a pair of thick pants, a sweater, and my boots. By the time I’m dressed, Gannon is already in the kitchen, cooking something.

“Come sit,” he says, motioning toward the table as he flips something in a pan. The smell of eggs and toast fills the air, and my stomach rumbles in response.

He places a plate in front of me, and I silently eat wondering where he wants to go so early in the morning. Gannon watches me for a moment, a faint smile playing on his lips as he sips his coffee.

“You’re eating better,” he notes after a moment. I glance up at him, unsure how to respond, but he doesn’t press further. Instead, he stands, rinses his mug in the sink, and grabs his jacket.

“Ready?” he asks, his eyes gleaming with something I can’t quite place—anticipation, maybe?

I nod, swallowing the last bite of toast and wiping my hands on a napkin. He hands me my jacket, and once I have it on, we step out into the crisp morning air. The sky is a pale gray, and the scent of damp earth fills my lungs as we walk into the woods.

Water laps gently around us, steam rising in soft tendrils into the crisp morning air. Gannon holds me close, his strong arms cradling my body like I’m something fragile, something precious. I try not to think about how good it feels to be in his arms, how comforting it is to rest against his chest and hear the steady beat of his heart. He’s so steady, so solid — everything I’m not.

For a while, neither of us speak. The quiet between us feels heavy, but not uncomfortable. It’s like he knows I need this silence, like he knows words won’t fix the storm raging inside me. Yet, even without words, his presence somehow makes the chaos feel less overwhelming.

I glance up at him, noticing how the morning light makes the water shimmer against his skin. Droplets cling to his dark hair, and his gaze is fixed on the horizon, thoughtful, calm. He looks so at ease, so sure of himself, and I can’t help but wonder how he does it—how he carries so much without breaking.

“Have you been here before?” I ask softly, breaking the silence. He chuckles.

“Of course, I wouldn’t know it was here otherwise,” he laughs. He watches me for a second but then seems to get what I mean.

“You’re wondering if I’ve come here with anyone else?”

I nod, feeling like an idiot for asking. He sighs heavily. “Would you be upset if I had?” he asks, and I shrug. But he still answers the question.

“Did you bring girls to magical hot springs?”

He chuckles, the deep sound vibrating through his chest, and it makes me smile despite myself. “No, unless you count Liam,” he says, glancing down at me with a teasing grin. “I’ve never brought girls here. Just you. You’re special.”

I roll my eyes, but there’s no real annoyance behind it. “You’re terrible at lying.”

“I’m not lying,” he murmurs, his voice growing softer, more serious. “You are special, Abbie. You just don’t see it yet.”

I want to tell him he’s wrong, that I’m not special, that I’m nothing more than a shattered mess barely holding myself together. But something about the way he looks at me makes the words die on my tongue. He looks at me like he means it, like he truly believes every word he’s saying.

A strange warmth blooms in my chest. I drop my gaze, suddenly feeling self-conscious under the intensity of his stare.

“You really believe that?” I whisper, my fingers playing with the edge of his shoulder where the water meets his skin.

“More than my life,” he answers quietly, and there’s no hesitation in his voice. No doubt. Just pure, unwavering certainty.

“I—I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I can’t⁠—”

Gannon doesn’t say anything, just gives me a small, understanding nod. He doesn’t try to pull me back or ask for more, and I’m both grateful and guilty for it. Grateful that he doesn’t push, guilty because I know he deserves more than someone as damaged as me.

“You don’t have to apologize,” he says softly. “As I said, you don’t owe me anything, Abbie. I told you, I’ll wait.”

I nod, but the guilt doesn’t go away. I hate that I want more but can’t give it to him. I hate that I’m still so afraid, still so stuck in the past.

But Gannon doesn’t seem disappointed. If anything, he looks… relieved. Like he’s just glad I didn’t run away completely.

He drags me closer to the edge overlooking the forest below and I rest my chin on his shoulder taking it in, his hand moves soothingly up my back, never wandering and I relax against him.

“How long can we stay out here?” I ask.

“As long as you want, if you’re too tired to walk back I can carry you,” he says and I turn my head to look at him, he presses his lips to my forehead.

“Do you want to stay longer?”

I sigh, turning my gaze back to the view. “Yes,” I murmur. “It’s beautiful here.”

“Just like you.” He presses his face into my neck. He inhales deeply before pulling away and resting his head back on the rocks with his eyes closed and I watch his face. He has long lashes that brush his high cheekbones, making me jealous. He has a straight nose and nice full lips making me wonder why he even bothers wasting his time with me when he could have any girl he wanted. After a few minutes his lips quirk in the corners.

“Are you going to look at the view or watch me the entire time?” he chuckles, opening his eyes and my face heats. An embarrassing squeak leaves me, and I avert my gaze. He chuckles again, tucking me closer but closes his eyes once more.