Page 169 of Sire
It lands on the diamond she gave me—the Monroe piercing above my lip. On the day of our initiation, Nadine gives a diamond to each queen. It’s her vow to us, before the kings forge their bonds with us, too.
“I don’t want to disrespect you,” I press, “but Iwillprotect my husband, my king, the father of my child, and if this means I’ve lost my fam?—”
“Hush.” She could silence a hurricane. “A queen expects; she does not explain.”
I swallow, nodding.
“Iexpect to bring my son home, andyoucan expect to protect his family.”
She offers her hand again, her fingertips always adorned with a flawless French manicure.
Formally, I take it, fearing a distance, a loss, but she tugs, gently pulling me into a hug.
With a choked voice, she whispers proudly in my ear. “Spoken likemydaughter.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
SIRE
The dream is never-ending,sweet, and torturous.
Kids crawl over me in bed. My kids.Our kids. Five kids with Wren’s dark curls and my light eyes.They’re so beautiful.
I can see them, but I can’t move.
I can feel them, but I can’t say,“I love you.”
They poke my cheek. They tug at my hand. One, my daughter, traces the broken heart inked on my cheekbone with her little fingertip. It’s the softest touch I’ve ever felt.
Another, my son, bravely lifts my eyelid. “Is he sleeping?”
From my soul, I scream, “I’m awake!”
But they can’t hear me.
More hands crawl over me with tubes and probes, making my children retreat.
“No!”
I want to scream, but my bones ache like liquid bruises. My muscles are on fire, my heart thundering, trying to feed my dying insides. My brain, I can’t control it.
“Wren! Angel!”
I pray, and she appears in a white silk slip. Her long curls, a heavenly aura.
Through the beeps, bright lights, and barking orders around me, she leans down, warmly smiling. Her beauty, ripping my last breath away, as she vows, “I told you we’d fall in love.”
Lightly, she kisses my lips before I’m swallowed by darkness.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
WREN
For so long,I never understood Dolly’s most famous song. Especially the iconic Whitney Houston version.
Both sing of always loving someone.Thatsomeone. They love him so much, they wish him well … and they let him go?
Why?
