Page 216 of The Throne Seeker

The queen’s eyes fluttered at the sound of her name. “Rose? Is that you?”

She gave the queen a small smile. “Yes, and I’ve brought someone who wants to see you.”

She stepped aside to reveal Xavier.

“Hello, Mum,” Xavier said.

Queen Lenna’s eyes widened. Her soul lit up with pure singing joy—so strong it felt like a hot ray of sunlight beating down on her after a long storm. She savored it, welcoming it amidst the overwhelming sadness.

Xavier knelt on the opposite side of the bed from his father, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips.

“Xavier,” the queen said with happy tears, admiring her firstborn as she cupped his face. “You’re really here.”

His eyes glistened, his voice low and rough. “I’m here.” Xavier glanced briefly at his father.

The king gave him a firm nod. “Thank you for coming.”

Xavier’s voice turned abrasive. “I didn’t do it for you.”

One by one, the family filed in, gathering around their mother’s bedside. Rose shifted, feeling like she was prying on an intimate moment. As much as she loathed to say it, maybe Satin had been right. Perhaps it wasn’t her place to be here.

“Would you like me to step out?” Rose asked the king.

As soon as she said the words, Roman’s face strained.

“Stay,” the king requested, his eyes grazing the queen’s. “Perhaps you could help tend to her? I’ve asked the other healers to give us some time alone.”

Rose nodded at once, glad to be useful. “Of course.”

Satin’s fury was evident, not only in her aura but in her narrowed eyes. She leaned in to whisper something to Tristan, who shot Satin a glare, whispering something sharp back before leaving her to move closer to his mother’s bed.

Whatever he’d said, Satin looked like she had been slapped in the face.

Rose tried not to let her siren be too smug about the fact.

Rose opened the balcony to let the fresh air in, making sure the queen had a view of the sea and gardens. The moons were at their peak in the midnight sky, radiating their bright light alongside the stars. She did her best to make the queen as comfortable as possible—changing rags, adjusting pillows, stoking the fire, and preparing an herbal tea to ease the pain. But as busy as she kept her hands, she felt useless. She desperately wished she could offer something else—anything to heal her.

Staying in that sorrowful room was tormenting. She was ashamed for wanting to escape, if only to take a break from the flurry of emotions that drained her energy. But she couldn’t leave. Not when Roman needed her. Even if she couldn’t comfort him the way she wanted to.

At one point during the long night, the queen placed her hand on Satin’s stomach, peering up with regret, knowing a grandchild was on the way that she’d never meet.

Queen Lenna’s pain was so great that Rose flinched away.

No one left the queen’s side that night. Tristan and Xavier didn’t exchange a single word, but they didn’t fight either, which was in and of itself a miracle. The conversation even allowed fora few good laughs, the beautiful sound filling Rose’s heart with warmth.

With each passing hour, the queen’s breaths grew weaker. Although her spirits were lifted, her fits became less manageable. She coughed more often, wheezing terribly after every fit.

Dawn cast a soft pink glow through the open doors as Rose’s eyes threatened to droop, the lack of sleep and heavy emotions taking their toll on her body. The warmth from the fire she stood by only added to her drowsiness.

“Rose?” the queen’s brittle voice called. Rose lifted her heavy eyes from the fire to the bed. “Come here.” The queen stretched out her hand.

Rose hesitated before obeying, bracing for the inevitable pain that was sure to follow. She made her way past Harriet sitting on a bench at the foot of the bed. The king was still at her bedside, while Roman and Xavier sat in chairs on either side. Tristan and Satin watched her from the daybed against the wall as Rose approached the bed.

She reached for the queen’s hand as a wall of grief slammed into her.

“Rose… you’ve given me… a great many gifts… some I could’ve never dreamed of having without you. Thank you…” The Queen rasped between words. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. And I’m… so… so sorry.” Queen Lenna squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry I couldn’t see that you were… never what kept my family apart… You were what was holding us all together.”

The heartfelt apology poured out of Queen Lenna with genuine regret. Immediate tears filled Rose’s eyes.