Page 14 of Diamond Queen
Everyone sat around the table in Rory’s massive conference room. Onika and the guards had returned from their search mission. They’d come back with not so great news. They’d found the cave exactly where Luca had suspected, but what they found told them nothing. The cave had been burned, leaving no trace of Jason or Dimitra. Without evidence she’d been there, they weren’t able to confirm if what they’d been sent was her.
Sarifena was quiet at the table. Emersyn gave her a timid smile as she reached across and squeezed her hand. Sarifena’s son, Alex, was propped on her knee. He was busy coloring something on the table, unaware of the conversation happening around them. Sarifena was still in shock about what they’d learned earlier, and having him close seemed to calm her.
“Sari?” Onika glanced at her sister, “You seem off. Are you ok?”
“Aside from more questions than answers, I’m fine.”
“No… that’s not it. What’s wrong?” Onika folded her arms across her chest.
“Go on, tell her.” Emersyn urged.
“Tell me what?” Onika tapped her fingers on the table.
Heath stepped behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder. Sarifena took a deep breath, her stomach was twisted in knots, from both excitement and fear.
“You remember when we told you about Emersyn saving that little boy in the explosion?” She spoke, watching everyone at the table’s expression.
“Yes… you said she accessed her full magic that day. Why… what does that have to do with anything?”
“I was there… holding onto that little boy. I could feel her magic flowing through my body.” Sarifena closed her eyes for a moment before continuing. “I’m pregnant.”
Amalee gasped as Rory clapped her hands and hollered out, “HOLY SHIT.”
“Yeah…” Sarifena swallowed. “Heath seems to think her magic healed me. And, well, now… I’m going to have a baby.”
“This is amazing… why do you seem so upset about it?”
“I’m not upset. I’m scared. What if something happens and I lose it? I’d resigned myself to the fact I would never have my own baby – after adopting this guy, it no longer mattered. But now…” she drifted off, her eyes snapping shut to ward off tears.
“Now, you're afraid you’ll lose the baby,” Amalee whispered into the air.
“Exactly. I know I need to do whatever it takes to stop this monster, but being pregnant has me scared shitless.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t confront him when we find him. You and Rory should stay back.” Onika spoke.
“No. I told you I’m going. Nothing will stop me, but labor. Dimitra deserves us all to end this.” Rory leaned forward, “Plus, I want to watch him burn.”
“Rory,” Emersyn sounded shocked, “I feel the same way, but you have to keep the babies safe.”
“And I will. But you won’t stand in my way for punishing the man who took Dimitra’s life.”
“We still don’t know if it was her.” Amalee shook her head, “It was mutilated. The blonde hair was the only thing that resembled my cousin. With no jaw or teeth to identify her with, it’s still a possibility it was someone else.”
“Onika said there weren’t any remains in the burnt cave. Wouldn’t there be a body?” Sarifena looked at the others before continuing, “I’m scared, but Rory is right. We need to stick together. The more of us he has to face, the less likely he will overthrow our power.”
“We need to keep in mind he has ways to suppress our magic.” Onika stood, “It’s time we devised a way to lure him out.”
“How?” Emersyn scooted her chair closer to the table.
“I have an idea,” Luca, who’d been sitting quietly in the back, stood. “It’s a crazy plan. But it just might work. Emersyn,” he looked at Drake than to Emersyn, “you will need to be the one to pull this off.”
“Wait a fucking minute,” Drake bellowed, “She will not put herself in harm’s way.”
“Drake,” Emersyn tugged his hand into hers, lacing their fingers, “Let’s hear him out. If it’s the only way to end this, I’ll do whatever I need to protect the six kingdoms.”
“Fine. Let’s hear it, Luca. But if I think it’s a suicide mission, you will not be doing it, Emersyn. As your Commander, I must protect you at all costs.”
Emersyn nodded, “I understand. Alright, Luca, let’s hear your idea.”
