Page 58 of Fate and Flame
“When my parents died, I only had the chance to say goodbye to my mother, and she wouldn’t let me. She was too busy shoving me toward you. If I could go back and do it again, I would stop her and tell her how much I loved her. How much she meant to me and how desperately I wished I could have changed so many things. Take the opportunity you’re given and say goodbye to him, Fenlas.” Tears filled my eyes, and I squeezed his hand as he forced a breath.
“Come with me?”
“Always.”
He opened the door and we found Inok, sleeping, hunched over the king’s bed, holding his hand. Tolero groaned and shifted. “He hasn’t left my side,” the king whispered.
Fen crossed the room and shook him by the shoulders. He jerked awake and jumped to his feet. “Take a break, Inok. Go see Loti in the kitchens. She’s a mess.”
He cleared his throat and looked to the king, who nodded softly. “I’ll see you again, brother,” he promised.
My heart wrenched at the weakness of his voice. I could barely swallow as I watched Inok leave the room. The king began to cough until he could scarcely drag a ragged breath into his wounded lungs.
Fen sat next to him on the bed, helping him sit up.
“Hurts,” he rasped.
“We’re going to find a way to beat this. We’ll find the antidote, Father.”
I could feel the guilt within his lie down the bond, and I could do nothing but stand and wait beside him, exuding calmness that I did not feel as I watched the kindest soul suffer.
You have to tell him goodbye, Fen. You have to say the words or you will regret it.
Time slowed as my chest tightened and my eyelids burned.I know.
“There’s something I want to say to you,” he began. His father reached for his shaking hand. “I’m sorry I never went to visit Mother. I’m sorry you’ve had to go alone for all these years, wearing the burden of the crown and the loss of your mate alone.”
“You lost your mother, Fenlas.” He coughed, covering his mouth with a handkerchief. “I’ll never fault you for how you chose to deal with that.”
“You’ve always taught me . . .” Fen cleared his throat, trying to hold back the tears. “You’ve always taught me to be better, to do better. I promise I’ll always keep those lessons with me. I won’t leave this world as damaged as I found it, Father. You’ve raised me better than that, and I want to thank you for it.”
He burst into tears, and the king pulled him into his arms. I stood and watched the male who held himself a thousand feet tall transform into a child seeking comfort in his dying father’s arms. Tears tracked down my face as I witnessed the devastation and wished more than anything that I could save them both.
The king began to cough until he was retching up blood. Tremors wracked his body, and Fenlas pulled away to hand him a fresh handkerchief.
“Ara,” he wheezed, reaching for me. “Give us a moment, son.”
Fen looked at me, still crying, and I audibly swallowed as I nodded to him. He silently stepped out as I moved to sit beside King Tolero on the bed.
“Come closer, my dear,” he whispered.
I tried not to jostle the bed as I scooted in.
He took my hand and placed it into his lap.“When I go, you must take care of my boy.”
I nodded, biting my lip and holding my breath so I wouldn’t cry.
“I will join my Efi soon, and I don’t want you to be sad about that. She’s waiting for me. Make sure he knows.”
Again, I nodded, sniffling and clenching my teeth to hold back the wail.
“Soon, the pain will be so severe, I will suffer greatly, just as she did. I’m already feeling the poison working through my body. You’re the only one,” he coughed. “You’re the only one who can end the suffering. No one else is strong enough.”
“I don’t understand.” I broke, tears racing down my cheeks.
“You do. You must put me out of my misery. Send me to be with my mate.”
I shook my head and stood from the bed. I took several steps back, trying desperately to fill my lungs. I couldn’t do what he was asking of me. I wouldn’t. “He would never forgive me.”
