Page 29 of Amethyst Queen
Chapter 25
The castle was a flurry of activity. Commander Blake’s team had retrieved the children from the location provided by Jason. After getting them to the Emerald Kingdom safely, Emersyn decided it was better to bring them to the Amethyst Kingdom.
From what she told Amalee, the girl, Julie, was nine years old and had witnessed her parents die when their house was robbed. She couldn’t tell anyone much about her captor, other than he was a mean man. She asked about her brother Jason, to which they explained he was the reason she was safe now. Emersyn told Amalee that her son, Baxter, had grown fond of Julie and wouldn’t let anyone but her comfort him. She agreed to have the girl come to the Amethyst Kingdom and stay until they found Dimitra and her brother.
“You’re pacing like a cat on a hot tin roof.” Dante gripped her arm, tugging her against his sturdy frame.
“What if he doesn’t like me? What if he remembers me as the woman who gave him away?”
“Sweetheart,” Dante forced her to look at him, “He is only two… he’s not going to remember any of the past. You’re going to be a stranger to him, as I am, but we will get through this together.”
The distinct sound of car doors closing put Amalee on edge. They were here. She was going to meet her son. Peeking at Dante, she noticed his body was tense with worry. He’d never gotten the chance to see or know about their little boy because she’d hidden him from him.
“I’m sorry, Dante. I know I keep saying that, but I hope you know my greatest regret in life was not fighting for our love and our child.”
“My little gem,” he palmed her cheek, “it is in the past, and I understand why you did it – you were protecting me even though it split your heart in two. None of that matters now… we will be a family as it should have been.” He pressed his lips to hers, stealing a gentle kiss.
“Your Majesty?” the Captain’s voice broke their tender moment, causing her to glance over Dante’s shoulder.
There, in the doorway, was the most beautiful boy she’d ever seen. He was nestled against the tiny frame of a girl. She was clutching him tightly as her eyes shifted throughout the room.
“Dante,” Amalee whispered, urging him to turn around.
“Captain,” Dante greeted the man escorting the children inside, “Hello there.” Dante held fast to Amalee’s hand as they slowly approached them. “My name’s Dante, and this is Amalee.” He squatted in front of the girl, “it’s ok… don’t be scared.”
“You’re the Queen?” Julie’s voice cracked as she held Amalee’s gaze. “And this is your son, right?”
“Yes… I’m the Amethyst Queen, but call me Amalee. And you’re right – he’s my son.”
“Why wasn’t he with you?”
Amalee kneeled down beside Dante, “He didn’t live with me,” she sucked in a breath, “I thought I was protecting him by giving him to someone else. I was wrong.”
Julie turned her body, angling Baxter away from her, “He doesn’t know you. You’ll scare him.”
“Julie,” Captain Gentry growled, “We talked about this on the ride over.”
“No… she’s right.” Amalee gave her a slight smile, “Do you think you could help him not be afraid of me?”
The girl eyed her for a moment, her eyes cutting toward Dante, “What about him… who is he?”
“This is Dante. Baxter’s father.”
Julie seemed to digest the information for a moment, “Why wasn’t he with you?”
“I didn’t know about him,” Dante tilted his head, “you’re protective of him.”
“I’m all he had when that bad man brought him to the place he held me. He cried for two days – asking for his momma. Where is she?”
Amalee covered her mouth, stifling a sob, “The woman he called momma was killed. His father too.”
“Who's gonna keep him now?” Julie bounced him against her hip, trying to settle him as he was becoming restless.
“Julie, you're too young to understand this, but I thought giving him up was the right choice. I was wrong – and now I get a second chance. We will do everything we can to make sure the both of you are safe now, can you trust me?”
Amalee reached out and pressed her hand to Julie’s shoulder. It was taking everything she could, not to grab Baxter from her arms, but she didn’t want to upset either of them.
What seemed to take forever, Julie nodded, “Would you like to hold him?”
“Very much.”
Amalee smiled as she ran her hand down Baxter’s back. He stirred, his cheek pressed firmly against Julie’s opposite side. His head lifted to see who was touching him. “Hi, Baxter.”
“Go on, Baxter, let the nice lady hold you.” Julie peeled him off her side, easing him into the arms of Amalee.
He hesitated at first, going stiff against her. Amalee pressed her head to his, her lips kissing his hair. Her tears ran down her cheeks as she stood, cradling her son. Baxter relaxed as she whispered into his ear and wrapped his tiny arms around her best he could. Finally, Dante gave in and covered them both in his arms. They held each other silently, swaying with the toddler smashed between them. It was a moment neither would forget for a long time.
