Page 24 of Sapphire Queen
Chapter 17
Heath stood off in the corner, watching Sarifena. She held onto Alex like a mother would, making him long for things he would never voice out loud. He loved her with all his heart, but his desire for a family with her was intense. Perhaps one day, they could have a family – but first, he needed to convince her to marry him.
“He’s asleep. Haley offered to sit with him while I…” her words blurred as she buried her head against his shirt, the tears no longer holding.
Heath pressed his lips to the top of her head, “I got you, baby. Let’s go do this together. They’ve brought her remains to the medical wing.”
“Ok,” she sucked in a breath, tears flowing freely as he guided her down the hall.
“I need to warn you, she isn’t in good shape, Sarifena. She was buried beneath the rubble, causing severe damage to her body.”
“I still need to see her, Heath.”
Pushing the door open, he led her inside a tiny room off the main medical wing. Pausing at the doorway, he held her against him. Queen Stephanie’s body was laid out on a table, covered with a white sheet. Heath walked her to the side, holding her tightly, worried she’d collapse when she saw how badly her mother looked.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Heath peeled back the sheet, revealing what remained of her mother. Her body was still covered in soot and blood, but that was nothing compared to the swelling and bruising. While it was clear who laid in front of her, her mother’s face was tattered and destroyed. Her blonde hair was stained pink and brown from the blood and dirt caked in the once golden tresses.
Sarifena couldn’t breathe. This woman, lying on the cold metal table, was her mother. She’d never gotten around to telling her she’d forgiven her – that she loved her.
Constable James was right. She would live with this regret for the rest of her life. Reaching out, she touched her mother's beaten flesh with the tip of her finger. She needed to feel her, needed to prove to herself this was real. Her skin was icy beneath the pad of her fingertip. Jerking her hand back, she covered her mouth to silence the sob bubbling up.
Heath pulled her into his arms, a place she frequented often. His shoulders shielded her from the torment lying in front of her.
“Come on, let’s go back to the living room. Alex could be awake and might freak out you’re gone.”
Walking in a trance, she allowed him to guide her down the hall. Pausing at the open doorway, she allowed herself to cry against him.
Haley watched from the chair, her own eyes filling with sadness. “He hasn’t stirred, Your Majesty.”
Sarifena glanced toward her friend, smiling through the swollen eyes she now wore. Heath pulled her into the room, leading her to sit on the couch opposite of the sleeping toddler.
“Thank you, Haley. Will you let me know when the others arrive?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Others?” Sarifena looked toward the door, Haley just exited.
“The other Queens will arrive shortly.”
“I don’t want to see anyone right now.”
“Your sisters will not take kindly to me refusing their entry. As for Amalee and Rory, they are your cousins.”
“Cousins?” Sarifena rubbed her head
“In a roundabout way, yes. You’re Onika’s sister. That makes them your cousins since her mother is related to their fathers.”
“God, this is so confusing.”
“Sarifena, I know you want to be alone in your grief,” Heath sat down beside her, “But there are too many people who love you to allow that to happen.”
Sarifena stayed silent. Heath was right. She had a family now, and forcing them away would be cruel. The truth was she didn’t want to do this alone. She was feeling so much guilt that if she gave in to the darkness threatening to consume her, she’d surely stop existing.
