Page 37 of Emerald Queen
“You didn’t want me to find out at all.”
“Sarifena, there is so much at stake here. Do you understand the turmoil this secret would cause in the kingdom?”
“Would it really matter? King Virid is dead. My fath…” she paused, “the man you said was my father died a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry, Sarifena. I never meant to hurt you. Dax and I were lovers, until he met Emmalyn and I met Phillip.”
“So, you had one more fling before tying the knot? Is that what happened?”
“No… yes… God this is such a mess. When I met Phillip, I wasn’t sure of myself. I continued to see Dax, even after Phillip and I were married. It was stupid but it ended as soon as he met Emmalyn. Sarifena, I never met my compliment.”
“That shouldn’t matter, Mother. Being faithful and loving, that matters. I need to go. Emersyn and I have some things to discuss.” Sarifena disconnected the call and tossed her phone onto the couch.
“Sarifena?” Emersyn gave her a half-hearted smile, “I am sure your mother was doing what she thought was best. I mean,” she ran her fingers through her hair, “Something like that might have destroyed the kingdom. They weren’t as forward thinking as we are now.”
“Fine… but why not tell me once I took the crown. I had a right to know. I had no father growing up – he could have been,” She screamed, “What the fuck am I thinking. He had a family.”
“Oh… stop that. I am just as angry. I grew up lonely and all this time I had a sister.”
Sarifena pulled her into a hug, “What now?”
“I think we only tell our commanders, until we figure out what other secrets my parents were hiding. Like I said,” she pushed open the doors to the garden, “that last entry made no sense. I want to keep reading his journal and see what I can learn.”
“Fine. In the meantime, lets go practice some magic. I need to blow off some steam.”
Chapter 22
Sarifena and Emersyn spent the day toying with their magic. Emersyn had gotten pretty good at controlling the plant life, so much so, when Drake appeared in the garden, she had him wrapped up like a mummy with vines.
“Shit,” she fell into a fit of laughter. “I didn’t see you, Drake. Sorry.”
“Fine,” he huffed out, trying to breathe beneath the plants arms. “Can you get me out – it’s rather tight.”
Sarifena couldn’t contain her giggles, she was bent over, tears streaming down her face as she watched Emersyn try and reverse the magic.
“Fuck,” she waved her hands, “Sari, it’s not working.”
“I,” she gasped for air, “know.” She fanned her face, trying to gain composure of herself. “You have to place your hands on the vines and will them away.”
Emersyn shrugged her shoulders and placed her palm on the vines. Closing her eyes, a soft glow began to fill the space between them. Drake dropped to his knees, inhaling a large breath of air.
“Jesus Christ. Remind me not to piss you off.”
“I’m sorry, baby.” She meshed their lips together and pressed her body flush to his. “Do you forgive me?”
“Yes…” he kissed her again. “You two have been out here for hours. Are you hungry?”
“I’m starved.” Sarifena smiled.
“Good. Dinner is ready, I was sent to fetch you. Shall we head back to the castle?”
“Lead the way, Commander.”
Sarifena and Emmersyn looped their arms and skipped behind Drake. “Damn,” Sarifena whispered, “You got one hell of a man.”
Emersyn smirked, “Stop looking at my man’s ass, Sari.”
“Come on… I know he’s yours, but I can still look.”
