Normally, I didn’t mind traveling by boat.
But for the first couple of days, every wave turned my stomach and made run straight for the bathroom.
I wasn’t sure if it was because I was pregnant or because I was so sad over losing Jared... again.
The mate bond was gone all over again. I’d had to do it, though. It was the only way to be there for my family and right now, they needed more than Jared did.
The threat to the Dark Realm was nearly gone. Hestia was all that was left, and she was weak.
Lena was in trouble, and so was the White Queen line.
Even though the boat was small, Xander assigned two Royal Guards to . They followed around everywhere I went and were constantly stationed outside my door.
They didn’t talk to much, but I knew they were always there.
I went to the back of the boat and watched the Dark Realm fading into the distance.
The mory of Jared’s pained, broken look as the boat pulled away from the dock swam in my mind.
My stomach clenched and I sniffled.
One of the guards handed a tissue. I nodded and wiped my eyes. That was so real, full-service guard duty....
I headed to Lena’s room and sat next to her bed. There’d been no change since we got on the boat. I hadn’t expected to see any change in her, but it worried about how still she was getting.
She used to jerk when I touched her. Now, the reactions were less and less.
Was her brain shutting down already?
When I left the palace, I hadn’t had a lot of clothes to bring with but I had seen so familiar books on a shelf in my room. I didn’t think Lena would mind borrowing them.
I kept one of the books in her stateroom. It was one of her favorites.
The healers made it seem like since she was asleep, she could still hear us. Xander talked to her a lot but as king, he couldn’t be with Lena all the ti.
I picked up the book and started reading where I’d left off. For so reason, I thought that if I kept reading to her and talking to her, she’d hear and hold on a little longer. She would fight to stay alive.
I read a few ##Chapters and then set the book aside. Taking Lena’s hand, I squeezed her fingers four tis until I got a reaction from her.
“Don’t ever stop doing that, okay?” I asked.
There wasn’t much else I could do except be there for her.
Xander joined . “How is she today?”
“The sa.” I sighed and bowed my head.
“Thank you, Eliza, for reading to her and being with her when I can’t.”
“She’s my cousin. I’m not giving up on her.”
“And I know she will be forever grateful to you for that, as am I, and our children.”
Underneath Xander’s kind words, I could sense that he wanted to be alone with his wife.
“I’ll co back a little later and read to her more.” I gave Lena’s hand one last squeeze and headed back to the deck of the boat.
Every morning, I walked the deck. I knew it like the back of my hand.
My guards trailed behind as I walked the deck again after leaving Lena’s room. Other than reading to her and walking around, there wasn’t much else to do.
When I stayed alone in my room, I just thought of Jared and I got upset. On the deck I got fresh air and exercise. It was better than lying around weepy and mopey.
Automatically, my feet took to the back of the boat. Every ti I walked the deck, I ended up there, even without thinking about it.
We’d been traveling for a few days, and I could still see the border of the Dark Realm.
“Jared,” I whispered to myself.
Even though I had family with , I still felt alone. Why hadn’t Jared asked to co along? If he had... maybe none of this would have happened.
I hadn’t told him he couldn’t co; he’d just assud. Instead of being supportive, he’d dismissed my concerns about my cousin and my desire to help her.
My heart clenched and I covered it with my hands like I could keep it from falling out of my chest.
This was all wrong. He wasn’t supposed to....
The pain from the rejection coursed through again and tears wet my eyes. I sniffled and bowed my head.
One of my guards handed a tissue. I nodded and accepted it. It was the sa guard every ti. The other one didn’t seem to notice.
I watched the Dark Realm fade through blurry eyes and returned to my stateroom.
The mont we crossed into the Light Realm, I knew. The air tasted differently.
A helicopter flew in to et the boat. Xander must have sent word ahead.
The helicopter scooped up Xander and Lena and took them straight to the hospital. I stood on the deck and watched the helicopter disappear; my unruly, curly hair even more tangled from the wind the chopper kicked up.
Xander left his n and guards with on the boat, but a heart-sinking loneliness set in. Everyone I loved was so far away now....
“I did the right thing,” I told myself, pacing back and forth on the deck. “It’s what had to be done.”
Tears stung my eyes again and I stopped pacing, wrapping my arms around myself.
My faithful guard was there again with a tissue.
I took it from him and dabbed at my eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re welco.” He spoke in a strong, deep voice but I could tell he was young, a lot younger than I expected, more like my age.
I smiled a little. “Oh, so you do speak?”
He pulled his helt off and grinned at . His eyes twinkled with kindness, and his smile was so genuine and pure. “Only if you want to.”
I nodded. “I’d like to have soone to talk to, now that my family is gone.”
“I’m happy to oblige. My na is Declan.”
“I’m Eliza.”
I didn’t expect Declan and to beco friends, but it lightened my mood to have soone else to talk to for the rest of the boat ride.
As soon as we docked, I headed to the hospital and t up with Xander and so other family mbers.
“Any news?” I asked.
Xander shrugged. “They’ve run a whole lot of tests. The doctors think that the best course of action is to give her a blood transfusion to get the poison out of her system.”
“That could work.” My heart lightened.
I noticed that Xander still didn’t look happy.
“What’s wrong?”
“A blood transfusion could an that she loses her White Queen powers. Of course, I’d rather have her be alive and without her powers than the alternative... but it would still be a big loss to her.”
I nodded in understanding. Lena was a White Queen. To lose her powers could devastate her, even if it ant saving her life.
The hospital had a room full of cots set up for anyone that wanted to stay close to Lena. The first night I was there, I tossed and turned, thinking of the impossible decision Xander had to make–to save his wife and possibly have her hate him and never overco the loss of her powers, or... watch her wither away.
Sighing, I looked at the ceiling. “Please, Moon Goddess, don’t let your beloved, blessed daughter lose her powers or her life. She doesn’t deserve this. Give her another chance.”
I drifted to sleep and found myself in a strange, lucid dream.
I stood in the hospital room where Lena was sleeping. She was hooked up to beeping monitors.
From a distance, she looked perfectly peaceful and content. She didn’t look like she was sick, poisoned, or dying.
Lena’s cheeks were rosy and full.
It took a mont to realize she wasn’t wearing her hospital gown. She was wearing an elegant, white dress with a silver tiara on her head and fresh flowers in her hair.
This was definitely a dream of so kind.
The air around Lena swam with a glittering mist that clung to her eyelashes, making them sparkle.
She had her hands folded over her chest with a bouquet of white carnations clutched in her fingers.
Then it dawned on ... was she dead!?
I rushed to her side and grabbed her arm, ready to shake her awake. My hands went straight through her arm.
“Right... I’m dreaming....” I shook my head and stepped back.
What was going on?
Suddenly, a bright light flashed in the room and a woman stepped out of the shadows.
She was dressed in a long, flowing white dress with sleeves that floated around her. Her hair was silvery white, fluttering on an invisible wind.
She was absolutely gorgeous, her eyes bright with the full moon reflected in them. She had a pitcher in her hands.
Barefoot, she walked toward Lena, practically floating.
“Moon Goddess,” I gasped. I bowed my head to her. Who else could this be other than the embodint of the Moon Goddess?
My heart hamred in my chest. It was like she’d descended from the sky just to answer my prayer.
She nodded at and tipped the pitcher over above Lena.
Automatically, Lena parted her lips but the rest of her remained perfectly still.
A silver liquid poured from the pitcher right into Lena’s mouth.
Lena gasped and her eyes fluttered open.
I blinked and sat up on the small cot. It had all been a dream....
Or had it?
I grabbed my shoes and ran to Lena’s hospital room. Xander was sitting with her, holding her hand.
“Oh, Eliza, I didn’t know anyone was awake.” He nodded to a nearby chair.
I pulled the chair closer to Lena.
“I was sleeping but I had this... dream. It was strange.” I shrugged and took Lena’s other hand.
“I’m going to approve the blood transfusion. I know she might never forgive and I know... the risks. But I need her and our children need their mother.”
“I understand,” I said.
“Actually, that won’t be necessary.”
Xander and I both tensed and looked at the door, and Great Aunt Rosalie ca in. She walked with strong, elegant strides as she approached the bed.
“Great Aunt Rosalie!” I gasped, bowing my head. I couldn’t help but notice the similarities with my dream.
“May I?” She held her hands out, showing a vial with a potion.
“Yes, please.” Xander stepped aside.
She poured the potion into Lena’s mouth. I held my breath for a mont.
Lena’s eyes fluttered open and she coughed. We all knew then that she was going to be okay....
Xander pulled her in his arms and I began to cry in relief. My great aunt hugged tight and soothed my back.
“There, there. Everything will be alright,” she assured .
But I couldn’t be sure.
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