Queen of the Stars (The Royals of Adriel Book 1)
Page 36
Draco’s high-pitched screams cut through the enormous hissing. Sarra looked back and saw the flashing blue-green waves, the last of his convulsions, and his stillness.
She became aware that she was safe in her husband’s embrace, he as tearful as she while he choked out her name, over and over. He took off his shirt and wrapped it around her nakedness, and she again clung to him.
“Draco’s dead,” a man uttered. “That much current …”
Sarra slumped weakly against the man who had again saved her life—but had deceived her soul.
***
The Chapel was bathed in the slants of golden sunlight that fell through the dome. Sarra knelt at the altar, praying. She couldn’t believe that her father was deathly ill, that Victor Draco had injected him with a tranquilizer laced with poison. She rose and lifted her pleading gaze to the sky.
She sensed a presence near the door and turned. Her husband. Raine? Nicholas? His green eyes were compassionate and warm. When the tears blurred her vision, he came near and drew her close. She swallowed back the tightness of her throat. “Why didn’t you tell me who you are?”
He sighed. “Sarra, love, I wanted to,” he confessed. “But not at first. If the sovereignty knew my identity, they could have held my relatives—Joel and Clara, and others—hostage and forced me to surrender. It’s been done to other dissidents before.”
“You didn’t trust me,” she accused, solemnly. “Even when I tried to help.”
“I do now. With my life.”
She pulled away and gave her back to him. “Say your full name.”
“Nicholas Raine Christian Tyler.”
“Raine—Nicholas. Clever.”
“Raine was my grandfather’s name.”
“The Tyler family,” she said, recalling the story. “Your grandmother was fourth in line to the throne of Earth’s England. She married a man named Tyler and came to Adriel seeking a simpler life. I’ve heard it said that the Tylers can trace a line of royal blood-descent back to ninth century Earth, to the Saxon King Egbert of Wessex, the very first to rule over the English people.”
“Yes, it’s true.”
“You are more regal than I.”
“No, love,” he said, folding his arms around her. “No one could be.”
“Raine … Nicholas … What shall I call you?”
“Call me ‘lover’.”
A wave of unsettling—though not unpleasant—emotion surged through her. She had believed that he was just a simple commoner, but his name had nearly as much esteem as her own. “Your kin. Who were they, exactly?”
“My father, my mother … my older brother Nathan, and Sophie, his wife. Alec, my young nephew, and Celeste, my sister. Aunts, uncles, cousins … other more distant relations.”
“And they all died by the hand of the advisors and Taylor Gray. Death is too simple for what those men have done! They should be banished from Adriel—exiled on the remotest, barren icecap on Kan! There is so much tragedy!”
“Sarra …” he soothed.
She fought to maintain her control, denying what was about to happen, fiercely dreading what the hours ahead would bring. “It is strange, though. Ironic. I never even knew that I had a half-brother. And because of him, I’ve found happiness I never would have known otherwise. Even my wildest dreams … What I thought I could never have … If your ransom scheme had gone as you planned, I wouldn’t have had the chance to know you. I wouldn’t have this baby growing within me. Victor Draco hated me for who I am, but he was the best gift I could have been given. But, why, I wonder. What made him that way?”
“The greed for riches and power … status—it has plagued mankind since the beginning of time. Simple minds become caught in the worldly trap. They can’t see the greatest wealth of all. I am rich, indeed. Truly, Sarra, I love you.”
Sarra felt the warmth spreading out within her breast, the comfort that those precious words gave her. “I love you,” she murmured, knowing that it would always be so.
She turned around to hold him. “Raine—Nicholas—I’m so afraid! He hurt father! The medics said that he’s never been this ill! He just can’t … he can’t …”
“Shhh. There is hope.”
The chapel door opened and Geoffrey, one of the king’s grooms, hurried in. “Princess Sarra. Come quickly. Your father—he’s calling for you.”
Sarra knew from the look on his face. “No!”
A shroud of sadness hung about His Majesty’s rooms, a gloom that penetrated every heart. Anguished moans broke the silence as the elite few who truly knew their king wept, consumed by grief. Sarra’s eyes instantly filled with tears when she saw him lying there, all thin and ashen, looking as ancient as the Heavens. Her aunt was kneeling, sobbing and whimpering at his bedside. The woman glanced up and then rushed near, her face pale and twisted.
“God is calling him home!” Alma whispered brokenly.
Nicholas winced and swallowed.
“Uncle Ellis!” Terrance wailed.
Sarra met Alma’s embrace and they both fell down on their knees to cry.
Nicholas realized that a groom was summoning him to the bedside. He obeyed. He took the monarch’s frail hand and strained to hear his faint voice.
“You’re a good man. Take care of my little princess.”
“I will, Your Majesty. Always.”
Sarra couldn’t believe that this was actually happening. It was as if the walls were closing in all around her. This was a nightmare from which she would never wake. She grasped a medic’s arm. “Do something!” she pleaded.
“We have, Princess Sarra,” he consoled gently. “His heart is failing and he refuses our care. We cannot help him if he has no will to live.”
When she was on her knees beside her father, she vowed that this would not be the last time that she would know his touch. Her tears were strangling her but she wiped her face to see him. His faded, gray eyes tried to smile and comfort her, to make her look beyond his pain.
“My beautiful Sarra,” he rasped. “Love you. Forgive me, child. Forgive your father. So weak … simple I couldn’t see the truth. My life … was a lie. Fooled so easily by friends who were enemies. My sinful youth … a son I never knew I had.”
“No, Father,” she choked. “You’re not simple! You see the world through faithful eyes! You see the good in people! Please stay! We need you!”
“It’s my time, Sarra. Anna—she’s there. You love your good man and my grandchild. Remember your happiness is the most important thing. You’ll … be fine.”
“Father! I love you! Don’t leave!”
“No, Sarra. Smile. Smile.”
She couldn’t. His fingers quaked while he reached up to touch her wet cheek. She took and kissed his cold hand, and laid her brow on his breast.
“See you smile.”
Sarra knew that she must, for his sake. She straightened and let him view her effort, the curving of her lips. He nodded.
“Be happy. You’ll see … me again.”
“Please … Father …”
“Be wise, Daughter. You rule with your head. But after tested by your heart.”
“I will, Father! I will!”
The tears streamed from Sarra’s eyes as she bowed her head to pray for hope … and then an odd silence filled the room. Startled, she glanced around at all of the agony on the faces … and then she looked at his eyes.
The king’s spirit was as free as the wind.
***
Trumpets blared in every province of Adriel, the ritual paying the final respects to a beloved monarch and celebrating the ascension of a new sovereign. Amidst the mourning for King Ellis the Second, the grand tale was already spreading throughout Urania, and the people were eager to hear and add their own judgments to the story that would be famous for generations to come. Adrielians beamed with pride over how their Princess Sarra—so spirited and courageous—had defied death to save her people. With her beauty and grace she had tamed the enemy and had uncovered th
e truth. She married the dangerous and dashing man who had abducted her—who turned out to be a descendent of an Earthian throne—and she was expecting an heir, the future within her womb. Some believed she was a gift from God. Most worshiped her like she had the power to make the stars fall from the sky.
Sarra’s tears of grief were gone, replaced by an inner peace; she knew that her father wanted it this way. This was the moment she had feared and dreaded all of her life. Strange, how she felt no trepidation. As she began her walk into the Throne Room, she bravely lifted her chin, her mind centered on the path before her. Her audience rose and the immense chandeliers turned up to full brilliancy, their prisms sparkling like magic across the white and gold ceiling and crimson-carpeted aisle. The guests bowed and curtsied while she passed by, and she saw respect in every eye.
Sarra couldn’t know that they were awestruck. She was like a goddess graciously taking a worldly rule for the good of the mortals. Her dark-blue eyes shone with an ethereal glow and she held her head high in regal stature. Her sleek, three-tiered coiffure was alight with golden chains set with glittering gems. Her ivory, virginal gown gleamed richly, partially concealed by the crimson ceremonial mantle, the two Honor Guards behind her blessed to carry her train. A vision, she glided with ease, taking the seven steps up to the gilt, red-velvet throne.
Sarra sank into the priceless place. She sought out the faces she longed to see and found them standing down at her right. Alma’s eyes were brimming with tears of pride and joy, and Cronala and Darius stared in admiration. Nicholas’ gaze touched her with a heat that warmed her very soul.
She sat back to the duty of the symbolic rituals, welcoming the Coronation Ring, taking the anointing oil that the clergyman applied to her head, breast, and palms. She pledged her vows. Into her hand she took The Sword—The Royal Sceptre with the Cross—and it felt natural to hold. And when the Imperial Triple-Crown was before her, nestled on a cushion of white, she studied the jeweled orb, assessing its weight.
She met the green eyes and smiled. “Raine,” she whispered. She raised her gaze, feeling the king’s exalted spirit. “For you, Father. For Adriel.”
And on her head was placed the Crown, the crystal gems shimmering like stars.
APPENDIX
I hope that you enjoyed Queen of the Stars, Volume One of The Royals of Adriel series. There’s more…
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QUEEN OF THE STARS
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Lorelei Orion