Child of Hope (Prophecy Series Book 4)

by T. N. Hayden

  “I’m not leaving my mom alone with the Sorceress.” Spencer crossed his arms. “I know she can use her magic now, but I will—”

  “She’ll be fine.” Edwin promised.

  Rose touched her son’s brown hair. “Go ahead.”

  Whitney held her breath as Spencer looked at their mother with an affection she had never imagined could come from another son of Marc Donnie.

  “I’ll be outside.” Spencer’s voice held an edge of warning in it.

  “Kaleb’s outside.” Whitney told him.

  Spencer nodded and left.

  “Your mother doesn’t know.” Edwin stated.

  “How can she not know?” Whitney demanded.

  “Whose mother?” Rose looked at Edwin.

  “I need to tell you the truth about the night you gave birth to your first child.” Edwin took Rose’s hands.

  “I remember that night far too well now.” Rose closed her eyes. “My baby was stillborn.”

  “That was a lie I had to make sure you believed.” Edwin explained. “I knew the woman who was your midwife, since she was loyal to the rebellion. Her name was Faith Kilton.”

  “Your mother?” Rose looked at Whitney.

  Whitney nodded as she sat to hear the story. Anger threatened to overwhelm her. Edwin had known the truth about her, too? Rose didn’t know Whitney was her daughter, but Edwin had lied to her for years.

  “I knew what Marc would do if you birthed a daughter, because we all knew that your magic is passed from mother to daughter. I also knew what Marc would do if you birthed a son. I couldn’t let Jenkin’s child, the kingdom’s only hope, be turned into a monster or murdered at birth. So, I asked Faith to protect your child.” Edwin glanced at Whitney.

  Rose’s sky-blue gaze turned to her daughter. “Whitney?”

  “Whitney here is truly your child, the daughter of Jenkin. She’s more than just the Sorceress of Prophecy. She’s the rightful heir to the throne.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Whitney demanded. “You’ve known me a long time, Ed.”

  “I didn’t want anyone to know.” Edwin explained. “You were at risk enough just by being the Sorceress of Prophecy. I didn’t want to add another layer into revealing you as Jenkin’s heir.”

  “Why did you make us believe Kaleb was Jenkin’s heir?”

  “It was the only way to assure he would reveal Rose’s true memory and want to escape with her.”

  “This is amazing.” Rose touched her daughter’s shoulder. “My sweet Alana, you are everything I knew you would be. You are brave, kind, courageous, and I am so proud. I always hated my magic, but you found a way to use Llempac magic to help others.”

  Edwin gently reached out to Whitney’s locket. “May I?”

  Whitney gently pulled the necklace from around her neck. “You gave me this, didn’t you?” She handed the locket to him.

  “It was from Jenkin and Rose.” He explained. “I stole it and gave it to you when you were born.”

  “I remember that locket.” Rose whispered.

  “I hate to tell you this, but it’s broken. I’ve never been able to open it.” Whitney looked at them.

  “It was sealed by magic.” Rose explained. “Only the correct words can open it, just like the magic of the Colaphizo.”

  “Oh.”

  Rose gently took the locket from Edwin. “Patris affectu.” She put the locket back into Whitney’s palm.

  The locket felt hot, as if someone had just pulled it from a fire.

  Bright light emitted from inside the locket, and it sprang open. Whitney gasped as she saw the two small portraits in the locket. One was clearly Queen Rose, and the man in the other portrait had the same sapphire eyes as Whitney. She knew she was looking at her father, King Jenkin Masen.

  “My dearest Acton or Alana,” the voice was male and deep. “If you are hearing this, then I am dead. I don’t know if you ever knew me, but you must know one thing. I love you so much. Your mother and I were so happy when we found out we were having a little prince or princess. You are precious, and you are beloved. Don’t fear change, and don’t be afraid of what you don’t understand. The truth will always bring freedom to your life, and you don’t need to fear battles, authority, or change. You are brave, and I hope you know how much you are loved.”

  Currents of tears seemed to splash off her chin and run onto her neckline.

  “Your father used magic to leave you a message when Marc attacked the palace. Jenkin’s always been with you, as have I.” Rose whispered. “We never knew it, but you’ve had us with you your whole life.”

  Whitney looked up into Rose’s damp eyes and embraced her, sobbing into her mother’s shoulder.

  ~ Chapter 30 ~

  Spencer sat beside Kaleb as they waited for their mother to finish speaking with the woman who seemed angry.

  “Why does the Sorceress want to talk to Mom?” Spencer finally had the courage to ask his brother.

  Kaleb looked at him, and there was something strange in his emerald eyes. “Her name is Whitney.”

  “Whitney.” Spencer watched the closed door. He noted that Kaleb hadn’t answered his question. “Well I don’t hear anything like battle coming from the room.”

  “There won’t be.” Kaleb assured him. “Whitney and Mom just need to talk.”

  “About what?”

  “You’ll have to ask them.”

  Spencer looked at his older brother and wondered what Kaleb wasn’t telling him. He knew he wouldn’t get any answers if he annoyed his brother, so Spencer shrugged. “Do you think Izik’s looking for us?”

  “Probably not.”

  “You’re a lot nicer than Izik.”

  “Thanks.” Kaleb smirked.

  The door opened, and Rose and Whitney exited the dwelling.

  Spencer jumped to his feet, and he was surprised that Kaleb remained relaxed. There was something Spencer didn’t know.

  “Whitney, I would like to officially introduce you to Spencer Donnie, your younger brother.”

  “Brother?” Spencer’s voice came out in a squeak, and he stared at Whitney. “What?”

  “This is my daughter.” Rose explained. “Whitney’s father was Jenkin, not Marc. My midwife, Faith, raised my daughter as her own.”

  “You’re my half-sister?” Spencer whispered and rushed to embrace her.

  Whitney’s laugh was a nervous chuckle, but Spencer felt her relax. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

  Spencer grinned as he looked at her. “I never thought I would have a sister.”

  “Well I always thought Brent was my only brother.”

  “But now you have two.” Spencer paused. “I’m sorry Izik’s your brother too. He’s not nice.”

  “I’ve never met him.” She answered. “I’m glad you’re my brother though.”

  Spencer looked at his mother, and he couldn’t think of a time she seemed happier.

  Telford embraced his son. “Where’s your sister?”

  “She’s speaking with Queen Rose.” Brent’s voice quivered, and Telford frowned.

  “What is it Son?”

  “Dad, what did Mom tell you about the night we were born?” Brent asked.

  “Everything you know.” Telford replied. “Your mother was called to the royal palace because the queen was in labor, Faith delivered the baby, and on the way back home, your mother went into labor, birthing you and your sister.”

  “She never told you anything else?” Brent pressed. “Something she swore you to keep secret?”

  “Nothing. What is going on Brent?”

  “Whitney is speaking with Queen Rose because Whitney is the child Mom delivered for the queen. We’re not really twins. Whitney is truly the daughter of Queen Rose and King Jenkin Masen.”

  “That’s not possible.” Telford shook his head. “That can’t be possible. Your mother would never keep something like that from me.”

  “Maybe she meant to tell you ‘someday’, and then ‘someday’ turned in
to years and then she was killed.”

  “Whitney’s my daughter.” Telford stated. “She’s your twin.”

  “We went to the Spádómur to get them to reveal Jenkin’s heir, the Marks of royalty, and it wasn’t Kaleb, as we all believed. It was Whitney. She’s the one who has magic no one could explain. She has the same magic as Queen Rose, and she is the true heir to the throne.”

  Telford stepped back, shaking his head violently. “No. This isn’t possible Brent. This cannot…” But he knew it was true. It had to be true. It made sense: all of it. Whitney was powerful, and she had inherited her magic from someone. There had been no magic in Telford’s family, or Faith’s. But there was magic in the queen. “What is the queen going to do? Whitney may not be my flesh and blood, but she is my daughter. She has always been my daughter.”

  “And I always will be your daughter.” Whitney said from behind.

  Telford turned, raced to her, and held her tight as they embraced. “Oh Whitney; I never knew. I promise you, I never knew.”

  “I believe you.” Whitney replied.

  “What did Queen Rose say?” Brent looked at his sister. “Why didn’t she tell you the truth?”

  Rose was nervous as she knocked on the door.

  A man opened it, and he raised a brow. “May I help you?”

  “I’m Rose Masen.”

  He stiffened.

  “You must be Telford Kilton.”

  “I am.”

  “I was hoping I could come in and speak with Whitney.” Rose didn’t know what else to say to the man. I’m sorry your wife lied to you. I didn’t know the truth either. I’m sorry Faith died before she could tell you the truth about my daughter.

  “I suppose.” He opened the door. “Her room is the second on the left.”

  “Thank you.” Rose paused as she stepped inside. “Whitney wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for Edwin and Faith.”

  “My daughter told me.”

  Rose nodded and walked away from the man. She found Whitney in her room, and Rose knocked on the open door.

  Whitney looked back at her, her sapphire eyes ringed in red. “Hi.” She wiped her cheeks.

  “I cannot go into battle with you.” Rose entered her daughter’s room. “I truly wish I could be there, by your side, but I’m afraid I cannot.”

  “Why? Are you alright?”

  “I’m with child.” Rose explained. “Now I have true hope for this child’s future. You may have a sister, or another brother, but it doesn’t matter because this child will live. Marc will not kill her if she’s a girl or raise him to be a barbarian if he’s a boy.”

  “You’re carrying a child?” Whitney whispered as she reached out toward her mother.

  Rose wished Whitney would let her call her Alana already, but she would be patient and let Whitney come to terms on her own time.

  “Yes.” Rose sat on Whitney’s bed. “Kaleb told me that you’re strong enough to use your powers against two people.”

  Whitney nodded. “Henika trained me as much she could in Llempac magic, but she doesn’t know how to use it.”

  “I was trained in Najos by Xavien Broxen, the greatest Sorcerer in this lifetime, until I was about eight. I hated using my magic. I only saw it as harmful. I never understood how it could be used to help others. I was never a fighter, and I just wanted to love my friends and your father. I never wished to be a great Sorceress or warrior.”

  “I had no choice.”

  “Destiny, fate, it chooses those whom it will.” Rose whispered. “And since I will not be in battle with you, I can give you something I hope will be even more valuable.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Training.” Rose smiled. “Llempac magic is not unlimited, but it has a strong threshold. I can train you to use your magic to its full ability. You will be much stronger than Marc has foreseen.”

  “Thank you.” Whitney embraced her, and the last word came out so quietly, Rose wasn’t sure she heard right. “Mother.”

  Rose remembered the day her brother had taken her to Socolla to be trained by Xavien Broxen. He had trained her four years before the death of his wife changed everything. Rose looked at her daughter as Whitney’s right thumb and pointer finger pressed against each other in nerves.

  “Your father used to do that.” Rose whispered.

  Whitney looked up, and Rose saw Jenkin in her eyes.

  “When he was nervous or anxious.” Rose explained.

  “What was he like?” Whitney asked.

  “He was the best friend I ever had, and I loved him very much. He was kind, even to those who didn’t deserve his kindness, like Marc.” Rose paused. “Llempac magic is rare, since it’s only passed to daughters.” Rose’s hand went to her stomach without her thinking about it. She took a deep breath. “My mother would have taught me to use my magic, but she died when I was four. They didn’t know if I would have her powers, and it was their murder that manifested my abilities.”

  “Mine manifested when my mom was killed, and Brent captured.” Whitney stated.

  “It takes a strong emotional response. Some people never manifest their magic if they don’t encounter such horror.”

  “You were trained in Najos?”

  “Yes. I was a child when Xavien trained me, but I will never forget his teaching. I had a book about my magic, but Marc burned it.” She paused as she thought about all the havoc her captor had wrecked. “Marc never understood what my magic was, only that I was afraid of it and it was passed to daughters.”

  “I don’t know if I should be livid with Edwin or just grateful.”

  “I, for one, am thankful. But I understand why you’re angry. I’m glad he didn’t let Jenkin’s child be raised to be a monster. Marc has already made Izik like him, and he wants to make Spencer as well.”

  “Spencer’s a good kid.”

  “He is.” Rose smiled.

  “And your next one will never know his or her father.”

  “Absolutely.” Rose gently touched Whitney’s shoulder. “We shall be a family as we were always meant to be.”

  ~ Chapter 31 ~

  Whitney knocked on Henika’s door. She still couldn’t believe Kaleb was living with Cyril and his mother. Of course, it was only because Nate was also in the cabin that Cyril had entertained the idea that the prince could room with them.

  Henika opened the door. “Oh, hello Whitney.”

  “Hi, can I come in?”

  “Of course.”

  Whitney entered and smiled. “So, how’s it going? Have the men killed each other yet?”

  “Cyril and Kaleb are doing very well tolerating each other.” Henika laughed. “I think they’re secretly starting to like each other, but don’t tell either of them I said that. Nate’s a very good mediator, and I’m glad I don’t have to be the one in between the two men who love you. I hear you made your choice.”

  Whitney nodded. “I love Kaleb.”

  “And he loves you.”

  “Very much.”

  “Well I’m sad it’s not my son, but I’m very glad you found someone who truly loves you as you are. You and Kaleb have gone through a lot to get to where you are now.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “The boys are in their room.” Henika gestured.

  “Thanks.” Whitney walked past her and down the small hallway. She wondered how the three men were doing sharing a room big enough to fit only one comfortably.

  Whitney knocked on the door.

  “We’re fine Mom.” Cyril called.

  Whitney opened the door and peeked her head inside. “I’m not your mom.”

  “Oh, hey.” Cyril smiled.

  “Kaleb, will you join me on a ride?” Whitney blushed. “I thought we could go to the lake.”

  “Which lake?”

  “The lake.” She wanted him to know she trusted him.

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded.

  “Alright.”

  Kaleb followed her out thr
ough the cabin and to the rebel stables. They saddled their horses and rode to the lake with the waterfall. Whitney took a deep breath as she thought about Kaleb’s hands around her throat, her life passing by. She went to the water and kicked her boots off.

  “We’re going in again?”

  “We have a kiss to finish.” She winked and stepped into the water.

  The cold water lapped against her, and she made her way to the waterfall. Kaleb’s warm hands were suddenly touching her shoulders, and he turned her. She looked into his emerald eyes and kissed him. He kissed her back, and they stepped back through the water of the falls. Her heart beat wildly as she tasted the water and him. Her senses went wild, and she wasn’t sure if the moment would ever end.

  He gently released her, and he smiled. “That’s what should have happened last time.”

  “Agreed.” She laughed. “That was a much nicer moment.”

  “I’m glad you stopped me.”

  “I stopped you?” She frowned. “I couldn’t touch you.”

  “Then how are you alive?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Perhaps someone saved you and stopped me. Maybe it was Cyril?”

  “He doesn’t know you nearly drowned me, and I haven’t told him.”

  “Nate and Brent know, and they were both shocked.”

  “Perhaps we’ll have Henika use her magic and see if that brings our memory back.”

  “But either way, I am thrilled I didn’t take your life. You are everything to me now. I don’t even know who I am, but I know who you are, and I’m finding out more and more about you. You are the next part of my life.”

  “And you will be the rest of mine as well Kaleb.”

  The cool water seemed to lick at her feet as she brushed damp hair from his face.

  Rose still didn’t know what to say to the man who had unknowingly raised her daughter and knowingly invited her to share his home with his son and Whitney. Spencer seemed unsure of Telford and Brent, but he wanted to know more about his sister.

  “How was training today?” Telford looked at Whitney as they sat around the large table for dinner.