Page 120 of Cages and Crowns
“No.” It’s silent. It’s too silent. “No, no, no.” I shake my head. “Ni.” I whimper, my eyes too weak to open.
“What is happening, Lenus?” He turns around, a tiny bundle of black goo covered infant wrapped in a blanket in his arms.
“I am very sorry, Your Majesty. It appears your son did not survive.” He says softly.
“No. Don’t.” I cry as he walks over with the too small bundle. He bends down, placing him on my chest. His skin is thin, and I can almost see the veins running below it. The black veins. He has a small sprinkle of black hair on his head, his eyes closed. His tiny nose and tiny lips, this can’t be true.
He can’t be gone.
“I am so sorry, little witch.” Nithe says behind me.
“I am so sorry, little one.” I parrot with a whimper and press a kiss to his forehead. His skin is hot, bloody. The sobs barrel through me and I can feel Nithe’s arms tighten around me. I glance up at him and see the tears lining his eyes. He presses a kiss to my forehead and just holds me as I say goodbye to my child.
The only piece of happiness I had in my life. The only piece of hope.
This baby was supposed to be the thing that brought me back to life.
I don’t know how much time passes, but I stay on the table. Nithe stays behind me, holding me as I cry. Lenus left us at some point, but Erik stays posted at the door, keeping anyone from entering. He refuses to look at me, but I don’t mind. I just want to be alone. Alone with my son. Alone with the last piece of me that was good.
“We need to take him now, Your Grace.” Lenus speaks and I jump.
“Please, I need more time.” I beg, meeting his dark eyes.
“We have to, Your Majesty. I am so sorry.” I press my lips to his forehead, his tiny, tiny forehead. I pull back and he takes the tiny bundle from my arms. As soon as he is lifted off of me, I cry. I cry so hard I can’t breathe through the snot in my nose and my throat.
“Elaenor.” Nithe holds me tightly. Holds me as I cry. As I scream. As I lose my mind. “I am sosorry, Elaenor.”
“How? How did this even happen?” I cry as I dig my nails into his arms. I can’t think. I can’t breathe. All I see are his tiny lips. His tiny hands.
His tiny, dead body.
“I don’t know. I don’t know.”
Chapter Sixty
The Caged
Everyone filters into the council room, taking up what little space there is. And by everyone, I mean everyone. Every single one of my friends, close to twenty guards, and even Mama Collette who winks at me. I’m standing next to Scarlett, her limbs buzzing with nervous energy as she watches Emery talk to a guard I haven’t seen before. I nudge her arm and she looks over at me, offering me a sheepish grin.
It’s been two weeks since we lit the pyre. Two weeks since I said goodbye to my son. Nithe is convinced his father had something to do with it, and I don’t blame him. He was the first person I thought of.
But it’s also a possibility that he just wasn’t healthy. Maybe he wasn’t meant for this world. His blood was black. His veins were black. He was darkness madeinto a person.
But he was also my son. He was my child.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her as she stares at me intently. Concern crosses her face. She’s been treating me like glass, as has everyone, but I have been adamant about moving forward. About moving on.
“I have this weird feeling that this isn’t going to be a pleasant meeting. Why else would everyone be here?” She whispers. I shrug and look around. She’s right. Why else would the entire palace be present. Except for one person. “Where is your father?” I lean to my left, my shoulder brushing Nithe’s ribs. He lifts his hand and squeezes my arm.
“Probably waiting to make a grand entrance.” He snorts, his hand sliding down my arm to thread his fingers through my own. He hasn’t left my side. He’s been a constant, a crutch for me to lean against. And I will always be grateful for it, but the hole that was in my heart when I left Noterra has reappeared. And the numbness I never wanted to feel again is back, making everything feel as if it isn’t important.
Everything except killing Tobias.
“You don’t know what this is about?” Enzo asks from Nithe’s other side. He shakes his head. “Well it has to be something important.”
The doors open and Davenport strolls in, guards following him like he’s afraid for his life. He catches my eyes as he walks to the head of the table, the slight narrowing of his gaze tells me he’s not exactly thrilled.
“It has been brought to our attention that our border has been breached.” Gasps erupt around the room and Nithe pulls me closer to him, but I step out of his grip. “Five hundred men are now camped right past the border wall, readying themselves to strike. A thousand more stationed right against the border on Noterra’s side. As of right now, they have not come closer. They have only breached the wall.” He looks around, his eyes landing on me. “We have a choice to make.” Everyone follows his line of sight, staring at me.
