She reached out and cupped Desideria’s cheek in her hand. “I’ve done a lot of thinking since you left and I’ve worried about you every step of the way. I wanted to see how you would fare on your own and you more than surpassed my expectations. Never have I been prouder of you.”
Her mother sighed heavily. “All my mother ever gave me was the mantle of responsibility. What I want to give you is the freedom you need to not make my mistakes. You are your father’s daughter. Only he ever stood up to me. And now you.” She dropped her hand. “Go to your prince, daughter. Be with him.”
“She’ll be abdicating her place in our line if she does.”
Her mother curled her lip. “So what if she does? Being queen has never brought me anything except misery.” She turned back to Desideria. “You stood up for him when I tried to stop you a few minutes ago. Never stop doing that.” She stepped away to let her pass. “Consider yourself disinherited.”
Desideria felt the tears start to fall. For the first time in her life, she didn’t try to hide them. “I love you, Mother.” She took her hand and pulled her toward the door.
Her mother frowned. “What are you doing?”
“I have a surprise for you.”
Her mother dragged her feet. “I don’t know if I can take any more surprises today.”
Desideria smiled. “Trust me, you’re going to like this one.” She looked past her mother to Kara. “I trust you can take care of Leran and Karissa’s body?”
“Don’t insult me with such an insipid question.”
Desideria would have answered with an insult of her own, but it wasn’t worth it and she didn’t want to waste another moment when she could be with Caillen.
She took her mother out of the hangar and hailed a transport while she called Caillen’s family and let them know what was happening.
It didn’t take long to reach the hospital. But with the explosion her aunt had caused, it was total chaos. Fain and Hauk were in the bustling waiting room. At least they didn’t appear to be wounded.
The moment they saw her, they got up and allowed her and her mother to have their seats. She skimmed the bloody areas of their clothes, but none of it seemed to be theirs. “Were you hurt?”
Hauk shook his head. “No, we’re fine.”
“So how did you know about Caillen?” She hadn’t had a chance to call them.
They exchanged a confused frown. “What about Caillen?” Fain asked.
“He was seriously wounded. Aren’t you here for him?”
Hacursed. “No. We’re here for Darling. He was wounded protecting her.” He gestured angrily at her mother. “Because she couldn’t listen to anyone.”
Her mother glared at him. “How dare you take that tone with me.”
“Lady, if either of my friends die because of you I’m going to take a lot more to you than my tone. That you can bank on.”
Desideria stepped between them. “Let’s not kill each other right now.”
With a regal lift to her chin, her mother took a seat while she continued to give both Hauks a snarled lip that said she didn’t think much of them.
Before she could say anything else, Chayden came into their area with a drink carrier. Her heart pounded as she feared what reaction he might have.
You should have thought of that before now.
Yeah, she should have.
“They were out of dairy, so you guys’ll have to man-up and drink it…” His voice trailed off as he saw her. A slow smile curled his lips. “Hey, sis. Where’s Dagan?”
Her vocal cords froze as her mind debated what to do. How to tell him.
With no real idea and no better thought, she stepped aside so that he could see their mother. As she did so, Fain took the drink carrier from Chayden’s hands so that he wouldn’t spill the hot drinks on them or himself.
Silence rang out as her mother rose slowly to her feet.
The expression on Chayden’s face said he was torn between wanting to hug her and kill her. Her mother’s face was completely stoic. Desideria had no idea what she was thinking or how she would react.
Until her mother crossed the small distance and drew him into a tight hug.
Chayden stood there with his arms out, still not touching her. His confused gaze went to the Hauks and then to her.
Still their mother held him and rocked slowly back and forth. “You look so much like your father. For a minute, I thought I was seeing him again.”
That was the wrong thing to say. Chayden all but shoved her away from him. “Don’t even come at me with that shit.” He turned his angry glare at Desideria. “You had no right bringing her here without clearing it through me first.”
“I thought you’d be excited.”
“Like having my fingernails peeled back… which I had done a couple of times when I was on Qilla.”
The color drained from her mother’s face. “What?”
“Oh don’t give me that. You didn’t think I left because it was warm and toasty. Surely you’re not that stupid.” He took another step back. “I’m out of here. Hauk, call me later with a report on Darl.” He turned around and headed for the door.
Her mother ran after him.
Desideria started to follow, but Fain caught her by the arm.
“Let them settle this on their own.”