New Roots (Fate's Intent Book 8) (13 page)

Chapter 32

Adele

Those two long weeks we had left had finally passed and my hope to see Zayden any day was high. My morning began with the perfect sunrise. An array of pinks, oranges and yellows filled the sky and I woke to the sights while facing the balcony.

I sat up on the edge of the bed then put my hands on my stomach and looked down. Zayden’s been gone for weeks and I was just starting to get a small baby bump that I’ve already been calling Seth.

“I wish you could see this. It’s a beautiful winter morning.” I slowly got to my feet and knew it was time to get ready for the day.

“Good morning, your majesty.”

“Morning, Marie.”

“Shall I draw your bath?”

“Please.”

Marie walked through the room into the bathhouse to start it as I made my way around the bed, following. She was filling the porcelain tub with warm water and fragrant oils that smelt of rose.

“Mmm, I love that scent.”

“It is your favorite, your majesty.”

“Yes, Marie and how many times have I asked you to just call me Adele?”

“One more time as always, your majesty.”

I smiled as I approached the long sinks with the mirror behind it. That smile turned into a sigh when I saw how tired I looked with messy hair. I raised my hands and used my gift to straighten it out to its perfect sleekness and shine. “Much better.”

“Your bath awaits.”

I turned and Marie was patiently waiting by the tub with a smile. I smiled back as I walked over and removed my night shirt completely before Marie held my hand and helped me down into the warm water.

It felt so relaxing and I rested my head on the bath pillow. “This is perfect.”

“You always say that, your majesty.” Marie used the sponge and started to clean me up.

“Because it always is.”

“And just wait and see how more perfect it will be when your Prince returns.”

My happy mood became a bit saddened and I held up a soapy hand. “That’ll do, Marie.”

“Forgive me, your majesty. I know you miss him.”

“Yes. You may go. I’d like to be alone for a while.”

“Of course, your majesty.” Marie got right up from the side of the tub and left the bathhouse. I hoped I didn’t sound too rude but I really did want to be alone.

I sat once in a relaxed oasis but now was thinking about Zayden and became depressed. “It’s been so long.” I looked down to my stomach through the water, talking to my son. “Too many days and they never seem to get any easier. I miss him and I’m sure he misses us.”

I laid my head back and rested while thoughts of Zayden were on my mind. I was trying to image what it would be like to see him again and every outcome brought a smile to my face and a joyous tear in my eye but it wasn’t long before I decided to get out because I was feeling hungry. I liked to think that it was because Seth wanted me to eat whether that was true or not.

“All right. All right. We’re getting out.”

I brought myself to my feet and held on the side as I stepped out onto a towel and grabbed one for myself. I dried off quickly and used my gift to completely dry my hair and anything else the towel missed.

I slipped into a dark blue off-the-shoulder dress that was formfitting to my new curves with long bell sleeves and a flared bottom that went just below my knee.

I walked out into the room and Marie came in through the door with a silver covered tray. “Your breakfast, your majesty. I was hoping you’d be ready.”

“Yes, thank you and right on time.”

Marie smiled and set it down at the desk and uncovered it for me. “Call if you need anything else, your majesty.”

“Thank you, Marie. I will.” I sat down at the desk and looked at the tray of food. The main plate had steaming eggs on it with sausage, bacon and a slice of toast. There was a small fruit bowl beside it as well as a plate of butter for the toast and a glass of juice and a glass of milk.

I took in the smell of it all with one breath and was ready. I was able to finish everything on the tray except for half of the fruit bowl, a link of sausage and some of the juice but it was enough. I was beginning to feel full and didn’t want to overeat.

I pushed the tray away from the edge of the desk and thought to get some rest after eating so much. I thought a walk around the halls would be good and it also was a good way to keep me active but most importantly, I could stay distracted from thinking about Zayden this way. I knew he would be home eventually and I had a strange feeling telling me it was going to be soon.

Chapter 33

Darius

After spending many long weeks away, we were finally returning home. We were welcomed through the gates of the city just as we always were with warmth and cheer. As for me, I’ve waited for nothing else but to lay my eyes on the white granite of this great capitol and ride up through the streets towards the palace. All the cheer and welcome seemed to be holding the least of my attention as I was more focused on seeing my wife.

We handed our horses right off when we entered the palace stables and didn’t bother putting them away ourselves as we always do. We were eager to get inside.

We walked in a very fast pace and were cordially greeted by the King once we stepped into the main hall. “Seni’s finest have finally returned home. Welcome back.”

“Father.” Zayden replied respectfully as they embraced for a mere second.

“It’s good to have you boys back.” Izin smiled, embracing Troy and I as well.

“And we’re overjoyed to be back.” I said.

“I bet you are.”

“Where are they?” Troy asked.

Izin took a breath while he lost his smile and I knew something had to be wrong. “At the moment, Adele and Jaylyn are unavailable for visitors.”

“Unavailable?” Zayden wondered. “Even for us?”

“Yes, even for you. They are right in the middle of their afternoon meditation session and should not be disturbed. It’s preparing them for a stress free delivery.”

“And what of Ruby?” I asked.

He seemed to ignore my question at first and looked at Zayden and Troy. “You may get yourselves settled back in until it’s time to see them. As for you, Darius, I’ll personally take you to Ruby. There’s something we need to discuss.”

I swallowed the deep tense knot in my throat with a light nod. “Okay.”

I was worried as I looked over at Zayden and Troy and Izin started turning away. Zayden nodded to me and I turned to follow the King. I was led to the back stairwell in total silence and taken up to my own room.

“Prepare yourself.”

I nodded but was just getting more worried as Izin opened the door. We both stepped inside and there were a half a dozen maids around the bed.

“Clear the room please.” Izin said.

Everyone looked up and immediately left the room with only but a head bow.

I looked towards the bed and saw Ruby in the center of it. She was just as pale as the snow as she laid there with her eyes shut sleeping. They were dark and sunken in and her lips shown no color to them.

I stepped closer to her with Izin and I started getting a little emotional just from the sight. It was obvious what was wrong. “She’s sick.”

“Yes. Very much so I’m afraid. Just over this last month too. She was doing well up till then.”

I was just looking down at her and touched her head. “What’s wrong with her?”

“This is all your son’s doing I dread to admit.” I looked down to her stomach and put my hand on the large round mound while Izin stood on the other side of the bed. “He’s growing stronger by the day but as he does, he’s draining her strength. She doesn’t have much left.”

“What does this mean?”

His words were still for all of a second and the answer nearly killed me. “She’s dying, Darius.”

“No.”

“She doesn’t have the strength she’d need to give birth but your son can still be saved.”

“No.” I said again in denial. “She’ll be fine.”

“I’m sorry, my son. There’s nothing more we could do. We’ve been waiting for you. Just say the word when you’re ready and she’ll be released from this pain. You’ll have your son.”

“No.”

“Remember that the longer you wait, the more suffering she goes through. You’re her husband so this decision is yours.”

My breaths were shuttered and even my eyes were watering as I tried keeping them focused down on Ruby. “Leave me.”

“Darius, this isn’t the time to be―”

“Leave!”

He took a breath from behind me but backed away. “As you wish.”

The door closed when he left but I haven’t turned my eyes from Ruby. Thoughts of what was happening went through my mind and I regretted ever leaving her. My hands were shaking as I leaned down, putting them on her face and kissed her a few times. “I won’t let you die. You hear me? I have enough strength for both of us. You’ll make it through this. You have to.”

I settled my head on her chest for a moment and tried pulling in all of my emotions. I wouldn’t let that be the outcome and I didn’t want to express emotions about something that wouldn’t happen. I took relaxing breaths to keep myself strong and collected and moved my hand down to her stomach again.

I looked up when I touched it and rubbed my hand gently across the top. “Why are you doing this to your mother? She’s giving you life. You should give her hers back in return. We both need her.” I felt movement under her tight skin and was amazed by it. It was life. Life that I helped create. “I can tell you are strong. Give her strength to survive this and she’ll be around to love you through anything. You need that. You deserve to know what that feels like. Spare her.”

My head quickly turned up to her and she was slowly starting to open her eyes. “Darius, you’re back?”

Her voice was weak yet happy and I leaned right into her, taking her hands. “Yes, it’s me. I’m right here. Everything’s going to be okay.”

She got a slight smile on her face and gripped my hands as best she could. It wasn’t much. “You must have been told by now that it’s not. It’s okay. I’ve accepted what I have to do.”

“No! Don’t accept it! You accept it and they win. You accept it and I lose you.”

“It’s no longer up to me to make that choice.”

“But what about Jaylyn? Let her heal you.”

She slowly shook her head. “She’s tried already. Anything she can give back to me will just be taken away again in a day by Dirk.”

“Dirk?”

Ruby took my hand and moved it to her stomach. “Our son. It’s what I’ve been calling him and what I would like you to call him after I’m gone.”

“No. You’re not going anywhere. You’re going to stay right here with me and you can call him that when you get to hold him.”

“I wish that were true.”

“Shh—don’t say that. You need to rest. Save your strength. You’ll get through this because I’ll help you.”

“I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you a lot more.”

“Stay with me? I’ve missed having your arms around me.”

“That won’t hurt you?”

She lightly smiled. “No. It’ll comfort me. I could use a little comfort right now.”

I nodded and kicked off my boots, lying next to her. “Okay.” I held her as gently as I could and she held on to my arm. “Rest.”

Her eyes started to close and I laid there with her, thinking how I could change things. I needed to.

Chapter 34

Adele

Jaylyn and I were getting out of our meditation session and ready to wait some more.

“I think that went well.” I said.

“It did. If only Ruby could have been with us.”

I felt the sorrow in her tone and sighed. “I know, Jaylyn but you’ve tried, remember? Several times. We’ve talked about it. I don’t think there’s much else we could do.”

“I never thought I could feel so helpless.”

“It’s best to try not to think about it for now. Something else still may come up.”

“I hope you’re right. Things wouldn’t be the same if we lost Ruby.”

“Well, it’s nearing your afternoon snack, isn’t it?” I smiled to change the sad subject of Ruby’s condition, knowing Jaylyn would be happy to go with it. “Maybe you should go get that. I’m just going to go upstairs and make sure I have all the baby stuff just right.”

Jaylyn laughed. “You have to have everything so perfect.”

“I know but I can’t help it. I’ll see you at dinner.”

Jaylyn nodded as we started to part ways. “Okay.”

I made my way upstairs, shuffling down the long hall to my room at the corner and went inside. I first put my eyes on the white bassinet on my side of the bed and smiled. I was about to go over to it but something else caught my eye. Sitting on a chair just outside of the closet was a familiar pair of black and blue shorts staffs and boots just under it.

“Zayden?” I looked around but didn’t see him anywhere. My heart was pounding in my chest like a heavy drum and I couldn’t seem to do anything but yell for him louder. “Zayden!”

My eyes turned up to the bathhouse entrance when I heard movement. Rift was there and barked to see me then Zayden stepped out with a white towel around his waist and using another one to dry his hair. “There you are.”

His smile made me melt and tears came to my eyes. I couldn’t stay away for another second, pounding feeling in my chest or not. I went right over to him and threw my arms around his neck. “You’re home!”

He tossed the towel in his hand to the side and wrapped his arms around me. “Love! I’ve missed you!”

“I can’t believe it!” I pulled away and had to see his eyes. “When did you get back?”

“Just a bit ago. Father said you were in a meditation session.”

“Oh, I would have skipped that for this.”

Zayden smiled and our lips found each other’s for the first time in weeks. The feeling was so desirable but Zayden pulled away from it and stepped back, looking down. My stomach was visible in this tight dress and he put his hands on it. “You look so beautiful.”

I laughed and wiped my eyes. “Yeah. Of course you’d say that.”

“What? You do! I’ve tried imagining it but I just couldn’t. It would have been nothing like this.” Zayden still had his hand on it, looking down like he was just completely fascinated by it.

I just smiled back when I noticed he couldn’t take his eyes away. “I know I could have missed seeing it.”

“Don’t say that. You’re beautiful. Try telling yourself that sometime.”

“You know that’s hard for me to do.”

“Yes and I don’t understand it. Can you believe that I even missed us arguing?”

I laughed. “That’s hardly what this is, Zayden and I don’t want to. I’m just happy you’re home. I’ve missed you so much.”

“Hey, ah, why wasn’t Ruby with you at the meditation thing? When we got back, father brought Darius right up to see her. Is she okay?”

I sighed and had to turn away. My eyes started watering before I even said anything and I just didn’t want to think about it.

“Love, what’s wrong?”

I sucked it in as best I could and turned back around, my arms hugging my body. “No. She’s not okay.”

Zayden looked worried and led me over to the bed, sitting down with me. “What happened?”

“It’s Dirk, her son.”

“Something wrong with him?”

“No. He’s doing very well. It’s Ruby. She’s not so much. He’s draining her strength and no one thinks she’ll make it.”

I started crying and Zayden took me in his arms. “Oh, Love, hey, it’s going to be okay. No one knows for sure, right?”

“You can tell just by looking at her. She’s whiter than the stones used to build this city and she can’t do anything without help. It’s just been really scary for us. I’ve already heard the nursemaids talking about what they’ll use to ease her passing so they can get the baby out. Zayden, we can’t let that happen!”

“Can they both be saved?”

“I don’t know but just the talk around here is like no one is even going to try. All they seem to care about is the baby and yeah, he’s a big deal but Ruby’s a big deal to us. We can’t lose her. She’s a part of this family.”

“Don’t worry, Love. We’ll think of something. We’ll think of a way. Darius would not allow that to happen.”