Page 18 of Onyx Queen
He sat on the edge of the bed, tangling his fingers in her hair, “The explosion was in the village where Queen Stephanie had been staying. You know she and Sarifena weren’t speaking. She’d only moved there a few weeks ago to stay with an old friend.”
“Oh no… please,” Onika sucked in a strangled cry, “don’t tell me… is she…is she dead?”
“Yes. Both Queen Stephanie and her guard are gone. Heath asked you to come to the castle. He feels she needs her sisters – even if the relationship is new.”
“Of course,” Onika rushed out of the bed, “Let me change. Then we can go.”
Luca watched as she threw on some clothes. They hurried to clean up in the bathroom and rushed downstairs. Constable Peters was waiting for them.
“I will send several men to the site of the explosion. This is a tragedy. Please give the Queen my condolences.”
Nodding, Onika let Luca ease her into the car. Her mind was a mess of thoughts. Poor Sarifena, how would she cope with this loss.
The car had barely stopped and Onika was out of her seat. Luca took her hand and escorted her inside. She could hear Emersyn talking as the approached the living room. Her breath caught when she saw Sarifena.
“Where is Onika?” Sarifena managed to ask through the tears.
“I’m here!” Onika ran into the room, “Sorry… I wasn’t here sooner.”
Squeezing in beside Sarifena and Emersyn, she wrapped her arms around her.
“What do you need?” she brushed Sarifena’s hair from her face.
“Nothing… everything,” she sighed, “Hell, I don’t know.”
Just as Sarifena rested her head on Onika’s shoulder, the sound of a toddler crying filled the room. Onika watched as Sarifena moved abruptly, taking a small boy from Heath’s arms.
“It’s ok, I got you.” Sarifena whispered against the child’s ear.
The boy immediately calmed down and relaxed against Sarifena. He scanned the room, his eyes wide with apprehension and curiosity, Sarifena bounced him.
“Sarifena?” Onika glanced at Emersyn, then to Heath, “Why do you have a toddler in your arms?”
“His parents were killed today. He wouldn’t let anyone else help him but me. I couldn’t just let him go.” Sarifena nuzzled his hair, smiling at Onika whose mouth hung open in shock.
“You’re good with him. It’s like he belongs in your arms.” Emersyn smiled, slowly walking toward her and Alex. “Can I hold him?”
Onika watched as Emersyn held her arms out.
“It’s ok. She’s my sister, Alex.”
Sarifena tried to coax him into letting her hold him. Alex glanced between the women, before finally reaching out towards Emersyn. Emersyn slipped her arms around him and braced him on her hip.
“How old is he?” Onika probed, shock still filling her veins.
“He’s two.” Heath smiled from his position against the wall.
“Sarifena,” Onika stood, “What can I do to help you? I know you don’t want to hear this, but your mother will receive a Queen’s burial. You know as well as I do that means it will be overwhelmingly large.”
Sarifena shrugged, “I haven’t given it much thought.”
“How about you let me handle the details.” Onika offered, trying to take some of the burden off of Sarifena.
Alex whined, reaching out toward Sarifena. Onika watched as she opened her arms and take him as though it was a natural thing to her.
“Besides…” Onika grinned, “It looks like you're going to have your hands full getting him set up here in the castle.”
They spent the next little bit discussing what to do and what Sarifena needed for the child she now held in her arms. Onika couldn’t help but hide her envy, she longed for a child of her own one day. But first she needed to get her magic under control. The last thing she needed was to harm a baby because she lost control.
