Page 66 of Her Sweet Surrender
When they entered the room, Brie saw Faelan standing near the window staring down at the courtyard below.
He glanced at them briefly before looking out the window again. His voice sounded hollow when he finally spoke. “I can’t believe it. One moment Kylie and I are celebrating the birth of our child and the next she is gone.” He lowered his head. “But she can’t be gone.”
“Is there anything we can do for you?” Sir asked.
Faelan shrugged, looking out the window again. With a tone of finality, he said, “There is nothing anyone can do.”
Brie felt the immense pain radiating from him and struggled not to break down again. She knew from her own experience that nothing could ease the agony he was suffering right now.
“I don’t want this,” he stated, staring out the window.
Sir looked at him with sympathy. “It’s a reality no one should have to face.”
A lone tear rolled down Faelan’s cheek. “The last thing she said was ‘Help’.” He let out a strangled cry. “I couldn’t do anything but watch her die.”
Brie swallowed hard, trying to keep the painful lump in her throat from choking her as images of Kylie’s last seconds replayed in her mind.
“There was nothing you could do,” Sir assured him.
Faelan turned on Sir, pounding his chest. “It was my job to protect her! She had a bad feeling the entire day, but I assumed she felt that way because it was her first time.”
“We all did,” Brie choked out.
“I didn’t listen to her!” he growled, turning away from them both. “And now she’s dead.”
Brie felt the hairs rise on her neck. Faelan was talking as if he was responsible for her death. “This is a tragedy, Faelan. It’s no one’s fault.”
He turned to face Brie. When he met her gaze, the depth of his pain paralyzed her. “You heard her, Brie. How many times did she tell us she was afraid?”
Brie’s lip trembled when she recalled the fear in Kylie’s voice. Sir put his arms around her in support.
“You did everything you could to comfort your wife,” Sir told him, adding firmly, “You are not at fault.”
Faelan shook his head and turned to stare out the window in silence. They remained that way until there was a knock on the door and Marquis Gray and Celestia walked into the room.
When Marquis entered and saw Faelan, he walked straight over and held out his arms in a fatherly gesture.
Faelan hesitated for a moment before accepting the embrace, muttering, “She’s gone, Asher…”
Brie closed her eyes, trying desperately to keep back the flood of tears. The rawness of watching Kylie die, a young mother with so much to live for, had her heart completely shattered.
“Can I pray for you?” Marquis asked him.
When Faelan nodded, Marquis motioned all of them to join him.
Laying his hand on Faelan’s shoulder, Marquis said in a powerful voice, “Lord, you said those who mourn will be comforted. We ask that you send your comfort now. Wrap Todd in your arms and hold him tight. Be with him in his sorrow, uphold him with your strength and, through the generosity of love shown by others, may he know he is not alone.”
They stood as one, silently grieving Kylie’s death.
The silence was broken when they heard a light rap on the door. One of the neonatal nurses peeked, in holding the baby. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but it’s time to feed her. Would you like—?”
Faelan immediately answered, “No…” He choked on the words when he added, “…not yet.”
She looked at him with compassion and turned to leave.
“Please, bring the child here,” Marquis stated. “I would like to meet her.”
The nurse hesitated until Faelan nodded his approval.
