“Rosalie? Rosalie!” Ethan calling my na brought back around. I was in his arms. He covered with sothing, and it was then that I realized I had shifted back into my human form.
I didn’t even have the strength to keep my wolf any more.
His chest was warm and his scent... soothed even though it was mixed with dirt and blood.
‘Your Majesty!’ Cerina cried in mindlink, ‘Can you hear ? Please say sothing!’
‘I can hear you,’ I managed to respond to Cerina but my eyes were still on Ethan. ‘How’s the battle going?’
‘General Vandough brought reinforcents, and Soren is leading the vanguard.’
‘The citizens?’
‘Luckily, minimum casualty.’
I let out a breath but I didn’t know how much longer I’d be able to hold on to my consciousness as I felt my life force fading away.
“Rosalie!” Ethan’s tone wasn’t as leveled as usual. It sounded to that he was trying to control his emotions. That made wonder... if I die, would he cry for ?
I tried to focus my gaze on him as he said, “Rosalie, let take over!” As if he wasn’t certain I would give him command, he added quickly, “Trust !”
The only move I could make with the strength I had left was to blink my eye lids twice, and I mindlinked Cerina, ‘Alpha Ethan will be in charge...’
Then darkness took over .
***
When I woke up again, my head was heavy and it took a while to get used to the light.
“What can I get you, Your Majesty?” It was Seraphine’s voice.
“Wa...water, please.” I managed.
She poured so water and shouted to soone else in the room, “Tell everyone that Her Majesty is awake,” she said. I heard the scuffle of footsteps behind but didn’t turn my head to see who it was or where they were going.
After taking a sip of the cold liquid, I put down the cup, looked around, and realized that I was back in my room in the palace.
“I’ll get so food for you!”
I nodded and watched her run off.
I rembered our battle and my giant wolf. Then Soren was able to get there in ti and Ethan took over command.
Now that we were back in the palace, I assud everyone was probably okay for now and we had so quiet ti to prepare for their next attack.
Not long after Seraphine left the room, I heard steady and powerful footsteps approaching my room.
It was Ethan.
He had stopped walking toward now, and was just standing in the distance, observing .
Neither of us said anything.
I hadn’t said much of anything to him since he woke up in the temple. Ever since the ritual, he had kept his distance. Did he regret everything that he had said or done to ?
He told I was his mate when he was rogue. At least I rember he seed to want and needed as his mate. But ever since he was back to being himself, it seed to all he did was to keep his distance...
I shook my head. I looked at my long white hair, and couldn’t stop the bitterness from spreading in my heart. What was I expecting from him anyway? I was the one who had cut off the mate bond.
In fact, it was probably better this way.
As I was staring at him, he slowly began to walk over toward .
“Rosalie.” He finally said sothing to break the awkward silence.
I looked up into Ethan’s blue eyes. “Hi,” was all I managed.
He sank down beside , his eyes more focused on my hair than on my face. “How are you?”
“Fine.” That was pretty much all I could say.
He wrapped his arms loosely around and pulled close to his shoulder. “I’m glad to hear that. I was worried.”
As he released , I said, “We need to make sure we are ready for them to co back.”
His eyes widened slightly, as if to say he couldn’t believe I was trying to lead the army at the mont, but then he began to nod. “Yes, of course. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you for your help,” I said politely.
Again, he had a questioning look on his face. “Sure.” Ethan stood and backed away from , and I felt confident that he could handle this situation without my help.
Soone hurried over, “Alpha, Report—!”
Ethan held up a hand and interrupted him. Then he turned toward . “You get so rest, and I’ll be back soon.”
I watched Ethan walking away with the ssenger, I called him without thinking, “Ethan!”
He paused imdiately and stared at . I thought I saw fire in his eyes.
“I...I...” My mouth opened and closed, and finally I said, “Do I have your promise to look after my people?”
I knew it was selfish to ask, but he was our hope.
The fire in his eyes dimd. “Yes, I promise,” he said, and he walked away.
My heart began to sink. Had I blown a chance to say sothing aningful to him? I wondered how many more opportunities I might have.
I gazed at my white hair and I knew what it ant. It was a sign of my life force being drained.
My thoughts went to my mother.
She passed away at such a young age for the sa reason.
Yes, our power was a blessing and a curse – it was unleashed at the price of the White Queen’s life!
Few people knew it, and that was why Cerina had warned over and over again to be cautious whenever I exerted the power in my blood.
It was just that... I couldn’t watch that many people die under my watch. I had no other options!
Ethan didn’t co back any ti soon. I knew he was busy – he took on my responsibilities for .
“Your Majesty, we are in a solid defensive position. Madalynn and Behar’s forces have retreated. But we know they are just going to lick their wounds and then they’ll be back, especially with Kal and Jas backing them up.” Seraphine updated later in the afternoon.
I replied, “I don’t want to stay in bed. I’m well enough to attend the etings too.”
Seraphine disagreed. “Alpha Ethan has been leading the steering committee. His troops also arrived late last night and joined our forces, so there’s nothing Your Majesty needs to worry about. Please take it easy on yourself...”
I had quite a few of visitors since I woke up. People ca to check on whenever they could. They were amazed by my long white hair, but they didn’t know what it ant. I’d told Cerina and Seraphine not to ntion it to anyone else. Not even our pack mbers.
I urged people to focus on their responsibilities and told them to stop worrying about . There was no point in having them know about it. It wouldn’t help anyone.
I spent most of my days with Rowan. Cerina and Seraphine tried their best to act normal around , but I could still see sorrow in their eyes.
I wanted to tell them, “Don’t look at that way. I’m not dead yet!”
But by the end of the second day, I was beginning to feel the changes taking over my body. No matter how hard I forced myself to keep moving... I was fading fast.
That night, I tried to avoid going to bed for fear that I wouldn’t be able to get up again, and when I woke up the morning of the third day after the battle... the worst had happened.
I couldn’t get up.
My eyes were wide open, but my body was so tired, I simply didn’t have the energy to pull myself out from between the sheets.
A dull ache radiated throughout my body. It wasn’t an intense, sharp pain, but it felt as if my limbs weighed a thousand pounds each, and even sucking in a breath was uncomfortable.
My body was giving out on .
“Your Majesty!” Seraphine called as she ca into the room to check on . “What’s wrong?!”
I shook my head slowly. “I... can’t....” was all I managed to get out.
She had tears in her eyes as she looked down at . “What can I do?”
My eyes went to the glass of water on my nightstand. Seraphine lifted it to my lips and helped to take a few sips.
“Ask Georgia and... Vicky to see ... and Rowan...”
That was enough movent for . I was exhausted. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back on my pillow.
The world slipped away again.
I fell into a restless sleep, with my mind arguing with my body that I had to find a way to go on. I thought of my son... and I thought of Ethan.
When I opened my eyes again, the sky outside the window was growing dark. Familiar eyes looked down at .
Vicky, Georgia... and my son. Rowan.
The won had tears glistening in their eyes; I knew Seraphine had told them.
My son was so happy to see . All I wanted to do was reach up and take him.
However, I couldn’t lift my arms.
“Rosalie! Why didn’t you say anything...how could you...” Vicky exclaid before she burst into tears, burying her head on Georgia’s shoulder. Even my strong warrior friend, Georgia, began to cry.
“Don’t...” I tried to tell them. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay,” Vicky disagreed. She pulled her head away from Georgia as my son reached for . “If we had known this earlier... we’ll find a way to save you! There must be a way!”
I managed a small smile. “Vicky...it’s okay, really.”
Was there a way to save ? Maybe. But everything ca with a price, a price that I wouldn’t want anyone to pay.
Thus, my fate was dood.
However, I didn’t regret my choice. In fact, I was appreciative... I was able to save many people, those whom I cared for and I loved.
Georgia took Rowan from Vicky and laid him down against my shoulder. I wanted to lift my hand to stroke his hair, but I couldn’t even do that. He smiled up at , blowing spit bubbles between his thin, pink lips.
“Hello, my baby,” I said to him, knowing he’d have no recollection of any of this in the future, but I had a few words I needed to say to him. Georgia and Vicky stood back, their arms wrapped around one another. I knew they would tell him, soday, how much I loved him.
“You are a dream co true for , my sweet little boy,” I told him, looking into his blue eyes. “I love you with all of my heart. One day... you will be a mighty king. But even when you have so much power and might, rember that it is the people, the ones who need you most, whom you must pay attention to. Be a strong leader, but don’t be proud. Be fair, but also be kind.”
He cooed at , his chubby hand reaching up to stroke my face, and I felt a tear begin to slide from my eye.
“Mama....” Rowan’s sweet baby voice filled my ears, and I was stunned for a second.
It was the first ti I ever heard him call . Tears fell off my cheeks and I could not stop them at all.
I sobbed, “I waited a long ti to et you, and now you’re here, and you are my everything.” I couldn’t imagine spending my life without him, and it broke my heart to know that, despite all of my efforts, he was still destined to live without .
But at least it wouldn’t be with Madalynn as his stepmother, at least he would be with people who would love him and care for him. So everything I had done was worth it.
“Aunt Georgia and Miss Vicky will take care of you, my precious boy,” I told him. I looked at my friends, who were both nodding their heads. I knew I could count on them. He would always be loved, and he would have two amazing won to act as his mother.
It wouldn’t be the sa, I knew that, but it would be the best possible scenario since I was clearly not going to be there for him for much longer.
“You are my heart,” I told him. His hand landed on my lips, and I managed to kiss his palm. I hoped he would always feel that kiss in his heart. “I love you so much.”
Rowan grew restless, and I didn’t have the strength to hold onto his wiggling body to keep him from falling off of the bed, so Georgia lifted him up and held him in her arms near as she whispered, “What about Ethan? Do you have any ssages for him?”
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