The Rebel Queen (Outlaw #1) - Lexi Blake Page 0,157
though Myrddin wanted more space between us. “I have the book. I’ll get the sword. And you have another daughter. Evangeline should work. Good-bye, Queen Zoey. I think it is a good thing you came. Your death and that of the thing you carry inside you will save the planes so much pain.”
The witch turned and walked away, toward the elevator that I assumed would take her to wherever Myrddin wanted to store the book.
The others remained, their blank stares telling me they still had a job to do—to ensure we never left this apartment.
I closed the door, a heavy feeling in my heart as I turned back to my son. I sank to my knees and stroked his hair like I had when he’d been a child.
“Mom, please,” he whispered, all strength gone now. He was left with only the will to plead with me not to do this to him.
But there wasn’t anything else I could do. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t call up Danny and ask him for a save. I was trapped, and all I could do was give this son I loved a fighting chance. “You need to get out of this building as soon as you can. Your dad will feel your turn once you’re out of here and he’ll come for you.”
“Not before I kill you.”
“I love you. It’s okay, baby. I need you to remember that.” I would shove those words into his soul. “It’s okay. Whatever happens, I still love you. I love you so much. I’ve loved this soul of yours from the moment I met you.”
Maybe the very first moment, because there had always been something about Lee, some easy camaraderie between us. We’d fit in that odd way people sometimes do, as though a piece that had been missing had somehow slipped into place.
“It doesn’t hurt now. I think I’m dying.”
I knew he was. Tears slipped from my eyes and I felt my heart breaking because these would be our last moments together, and I wished so very much that I hadn’t wasted the days we’d had on looking for a way back. We only had the now, and I should have spent it with all of them. I should have sat them all down and learned every little detail I could.
“It’s going to be all right. I’m going to be here for you.”
“I’m afraid,” he whispered. “I didn’t think I would be afraid.”
“Don’t be. I’ll be here, and then your dads will take care of you. All you have to do is get out of the building.”
“Don’t…don’t want to hurt…please, Momma.” He begged me.
I simply took his hand in mine and told him I loved him over and over so his last human moments would be surround with love.
I saw him as he’d been, a grumpy wolf who secretly wanted a family. He’d been my protector and one of my truest friends.
Then he’d been my son, a light in my life. Always curious. A force of nature.
I prayed our souls would meet again because I felt the moment he died.
It was time for me to save him. No matter what it cost.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I sat there as the light outside turned to late afternoon and wondered how long it would take. I didn’t move. There wasn’t a reason. I simply sat on the floor and held his hand, my mind going over our lives together.
I wondered if my dad would be waiting for me. I hoped so. I hoped he would be holding open that door he’d spoken of.
I even tried to call Oliver Day to me. I hadn’t seen my so-called guardian angel in a while. I supposed he was out of practice when it came to me. My life had been boring the last several years.
Good. It had been good. I’d gotten to raise my babies for eleven years, and now I was so grateful for every single one of them. For every day. For every stinky diaper and mess I’d cleaned up. For every breakfast we’d had and dinner where we’d sat around the table. I was grateful for sleepless nights and soccer games.
I was grateful that they would be okay.
I don’t know how long I sat there. I seemed to float on memory until I finally felt his hand move against mine.
He took his first breath as the day died—as the night began.
My son reborn.
He would be magnificent, and I wished I could see him when his father took him through his turn.