Page 62 of The Stolen Throne

My eyes flick to Dax, and I see tears streaming down his face as he watches me. I realize that my connection with him is the strongest. He can feel everything I’m feeling in this moment. I try to bottle everything up and pack it away.

He grunts as he shakes his head. “Do not hide from me, Little Raven.”

“But…”

His shimmering blue eyes harden as he says, “It is well worth the pain for you to have this moment with your mother. Do not waste it, Little Raven.”

Taking a deep breath, I blurt as much out as I can in the short time we have together. “I was tortured by the king for many years, but it made me strong. These men…” I gesture to the guys around me. “These men saved me from him. The rules of the world have changed, and even though they may be villains… I love them. I love them very much.”

She looks at the men around me with a soft smile. “As long as they love you, Little Snowflake. That is all I wish for you.”

Her image begins to shimmer, and my tears renew. “Is Daddy there?”

She nods. “He is.”

“I died for a moment, but these men brought me back,” I choke out. “I wanted to be with you and Daddy so much, but I couldn’t leave them behind.”

She smiles as her image wavers again. “I’m glad you stayed behind.”

I rub my eyes, trying to wipe away the tears, not wanting to miss a single moment with my mom. “Tell Daddy I love him! Tell him I found seven amazing men who love and take care of me. Tell him that he would approve.”

She shimmers again. “I will baby.”

“I can only hold her here for a few more minutes,” Dax says, grunting with exertion. I look over to find his face soaked with tears as he watches me. He can feel how happy I am to have this moment, but also the heartbreak of losing my mother all over again.

“I miss you!” I sob.

“I miss you, too, baby,” she says as her image wavers again.

“I killed him, Mom. I killed the king, and we took back our kingdom. I’ll make you and Daddy proud! I’ll be the best queen I can be.”

“Oh, my Little Snowflake. Your dad and I have always been proud of you.” Her image wavers again until there’s barely a whisper of her image.

“Mommy!” I sob.

She gives me a wide smile. “We are so proud of you. Always remember that. We love you, Little Snowflake.”

I fall to my knees as her image disappears. I wrap my arms around my middle as I bend over sobbing, my forehead resting against the cool floor. Arms engulf me, and I’m lifted. Dax wraps me in his arms, holding me tight.

“I’ve got you. I’ve got you, Little Raven.” His voice comes out choked as he holds me close.

“Dax,” I whimper.

He gently rocks me, then softly says, “Break if you must. Break but know that I will be right here to pick up every last broken piece of you. Shatter into thousands of shards, it does not matter. I will still be here.”

“We will be here,” Mir says softly, his fingers tangling in my hair.

I can’t hold back my sobs any longer as I cry into Dax’s chest, mourning everything I’ve lost. I never had the luxury of mourning my father when I was still needed to help my mother. I couldn’t mourn my mother or my only friend while under the watchful gaze of the king. Charlotte had been my one and only friend, and I have missed her company. I mourn the loss of myself, and the woman I had to become. Lastly, I mourn the men my guys could have been if the world we lived in was not so cruel.

33

Breakfast is interrupted when Dax marches through the door and announces, “We need to make our way to Arcelia.”

I look around the room to find the others watching me with concern. Brows pinched, I ask, “What?”

Asher is the first to speak up. “Are you well enough to travel?”

I shrug as I continue to eat. “I’m feeling as well as one can after briefly dying.”

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