Page 132 of Reborn a Queen

I’d thought long and hard about this. I knew he would ask, and I had a feeling in my gut that Clay didn’t want me to see it and, as much as I knew, I’d be upset I wanted to see them; to see how they looked. Maybe I just wanted to see them one last time.

“I want to see my full memory.”

“Okay, I’m not happy about that Lacey, but you’re an adult and can decide on your own.”

Kane stood up and walked over to me. He placed his arm around me. I put my head on his shoulder. “Are you sure about this?”

“I am,” I said to Kane. “I need to do it.”

“Then I want to be there when you leave the chamber,” he said.

“I’d like that.”

Ryan walked over and knelt between my knees next to Seb. “I’ll be there too.”

“And I’ll be waiting for you too,” Carter said.

“Thank you.”

“I’m going to get going now, Lacey. I’ll call you later to discuss everything again.”

Once Clay departed the house, I rose from my seat and made my escape. “Please excuse me, I need a rest.”

Four faces gazed at me, each not knowing what to say. I didn’t want them to say anything. Nobody could bring Polly back.

I climbed the staircase one shaky, tentative step at a time. Reaching my bedroom, I pushed open the door and my wobbly legs finally gave in as I went to shut it and I fell back against it instead. Sliding down the door, stopped by the thud as I reached the floor.

All my different emotions were on overload. I each one came out as though they rode a fresh wave within my heart.

Anger.

Sorrow.

Love.

Fear.

But most of all right now, hatred burned away in my gut.

I’d find retribution for this. One day, I’d be fighting the Dark King and that day I was going to make him pay.

Because my knights were right, he couldn’t have saved me that day.

The knock at my door startled me.

I glanced at my watch and it was little more than an hour later, I no longer reeled in and out of uncontrolled crying from hearing of Polly’s death. Now I was more composed than I had been and I wiped my fingers over my cheeks and took in some breaths.

“Come in,” I said.

The door slowly opened, happy to see Ryan’s handsome face peeping from behind the door. “I thought I’d check in on you. Would you like company?”

I smiled and tried to hold back my sobs. He sat beside me on the bed, pulled me close and I snuggled into him, sniffling into his shoulder.

“You’re not to blame, you know, and I know you’re hurting. I feel it too.” Ryan shuffled us lower on the bed and gently placed my head on his chest. His fingers ran a soothing calmness over my back.

I wrapped my arm around his waist as I cuddled closer to him. “You really need to get rid of that.”

“I like it. I’m a bit of a weirdo when it comes to stuff,” he said.

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