Page 86 of Finding Closure

But even that couldn’t lessen the pain, simply my reaction to it.

“Don’t leave them alone,” I choked out as someone tried to move me from my dad after several more minutes.

“We won’t, Your Majesty,” Shael swore.

“Not yet,” I argued, pulling away from whoever was touching me. “I can’t leave him yet. I can’t let him go. None of this is fair.”

“It’s not, but he’s already gone,agra,” Darby rasped. “He’s with your mom.”

“I can’t leave him,” I sobbed.

“You can’t stay with them, baby doll,” Neldor choked out. “Please? Stay with us. I know how much it hurts.I know. I know how hard it’s going to be but please, love us enough to stay with us.”

“We need you, my sweet mate,” Julian added. “You can’t go with them.”

“They wouldn’t want you to,” Lucca whispered as he rubbed my back. “All of this was so you could live and be happy. You promised them you would.”

“I don’t know how without—I don’t know that I can now.” I might have said more, but then I was in Hudson’s arms.

“You will, Tams,” he promised. “Just not today. Today will be the worst pain ever. This week. But each day it will hurt a little less. So for now, we just make it to that day and you let us love you.” He gave me a soft kiss when I went to argue. “River is really worried and scared.”

“So’s Harry,” Lucca rasped.

I nodded, hearing them. “I don’t know what to do now.”

“You let us handle everything,” Lucca said, taking my hand as Hudson carried me along.

And I did. I let them take care of everything.

Take care of me.

If that was even possible when I was in this much pain.

21

Everything hurt and I was numb at the same time.

People talked and I didn’t register it.

Food was put in my hands and I only ate from muscle memory.

The tears fell the whole time and nothing was comforting.

Julian finally reached through my magic and gave me a little shake. I blinked and realized he was in front of me with worry thick in his eyes.

“It’s time. They need you to put the magic on them to preserve them for the viewings and crypt,” he said gently. “Iolas and Taeral took care of your da and Shale and Talila your mum. They’re with them now and won’t leave them alone, okay?”

I nodded but then felt selfish. “They need to sleep and eat too. They can’t live with them until they’re sealed up.”

“We’ll figure it out,agra,” Darby assured me. “I was going to sit with them a bit and my detail will be with me. That’s enough.”

As long as he had my magic on him so no one could do anything to him. I nodded, easily putting every protection possible on him. Actually, I did it to all of them and it was like breathing.

Shit, I really was powerful now.

I went and did what I had to, watching as they moved my parents from the preparation area to the throne room. “Am I a horrible daughter that I’m grieving for him and not her?”

“No,” several people said firmly.

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