Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 73

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Jared POV

It’s been three days since I left the note for Simone. I wanted to give her time to adjust to the idea of us having a conversation with me. I didn’t want her to feel threatened, but I wanted her to know that I wasn’t giving up. I’m sure she is still hurt thinking I was going to stand by while she was sent away, but I swear to the goddess I never would have let it happen.

I love my father but for my sister I would have stood against him. I would have taken the crown by force. I had hoped that seeing that pr*ck be exactly what the rumors had said he was would wake him up, and it did, but it was too late. Simone was gone and with her magic buried so deep inside her, I could no longer feel my sister.

Goddess the first year was the worst. I felt so empty. Finding Noreen eased the emptiness, but nothing could feel the void my sister left. She was like my own pup in many ways. My father was absent most of the time. No matter how she tried, he couldn’t get past his own pain. It took me a long time to forgive him for losing her. Now seeing her can’t happen soon enough. I lean back in my chair trying to fight the urge to pop into her apartment.

The door to my office opening is just the distraction I need. I smile when Noreen steps inside until I see her face. Pain ripples through her body, and I’m on my feet running toward her. It feels like slow motion as I watch her legs give out. Thankfully, I reach her before she can hit the floor. “Noreen, sweets, what’s wrong,” I ask as panic rushes through me. Her skin turns pale before it takes on a bluish hue.

I reach through my mind to the healer of the Royal Glimmer. “My king,” he starts to say, but I cut him off. “Get to my f**king office, now.” Seconds later he appear rushes toward us with concern and panic that nearly rivals mine fi the hell is happening to my beloved? “What happened, my king,” he asks as she begins to check her over. Her breathing is erratic, and she has yet to open her eyes.

I reach out to her through our bond, but there is silence. A silence that makes my chest ache. “My king, we need to take her to the infirmary where I can examine her and the baby properly,” he says. I get to my feet with her in my arms. Seconds later, I’m laying her on a bed in the infirmary. A flurry of activity has me being pushed aside. I feel like I can’t breathe as I watch them hook her up to monitors and draw blood.

The moment I see that happening, I know the situation is dire. The healer would normally be able to use his magic to heal her, but he hasn’t even tried. The door to the infirmary bursts open and my father strides inside. “What the hell happened,” he says to no one in particular, but the power of his question is felt by everyone. Despite no longer being king, his power nearly matches mine. “We are trying to figure out what is causing all this, your majesty,” the

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healer says.

He steps closer to the healer, who visibly swallows. “Well, work quicker. If anything happens to my daughter or my grandchild, you are the one that will need healing,” he says. “Father, let them work. You threatening them isn’t helping.” I see the thanks in the healer’s eyes as he returns to Noreen. The steady beep of the monitor is the only thing that is keeping me from completely losing my mind. I say a prayer to the goddess to help the healers and save the love of my life.

Ten minutes later, the machine that was offering me reassurance betrays me. The sound that was steady angrily squeals. I feel the bond between us begin to thin and I scream. When the healer places his hand on Noreen’s chest, I feel like I can’t breathe. I start to lose control. My father, who is barely hanging on himself, starts to push me toward the door. “No, I can’t leave her. I can’t lose her dad.” “I know son, but your aura is suffocating. You were right. We need to let them work,” he says.

For the first time since I was a child, my father pulls me into his arms. I sob fearing that I will lose everything. “Son, I need to go speak to one of the warriors. I need you to be strong. Noreen is fighting for you and for your child. You need to hold it together,” he says. He releases his hold on me and practically jogs down the hallway. I haven’t seen him move that fast in a long time. Just as he turns the corner, one of the healers steps into the hallway.

“Your majesty, the head healer, was able to get the queen’s heart to beat on its own, but he fears that if we don’t determine what is causing her condition we will lose her. We are waiting for the blood work because none of us can detect any cause of what’s happening. We will keep doing our best, my king,” she says before rushing back into the room. I fall to my knees sobbing. I can’t lose her. I’ll never survive it.

I drop my head into my hands. Our bond is still there, which is the

I’m just about to reach for the eggs when Chrissy says my name. The tone and panic in her voice has a feeling of dread settling in my stomach. “What’s wrong, Chrissy?” “Give me your hand, Simone,” she says. I place my hand in hers without hesitation. As soon as my skin touches hers, I feel like the room starts to spin. When it rights itself, I’m no longer in the dining room of Chris and Anya’s home. I’m in a place that is familiar but foreign at the same time. That’s when I see him. My brother is on his knees sobbing a few feet from me.

“What the hell is this? Why is he crying,” I ask, even though I’m alone except for the image. Again, the world shifts and I’m back at the table. “Something is h ning to his one. Someone has tried to hurt her and his child,” Chrissy says. My tried to hurt my brother’s beloved and his child. “Chrissy, will she even have to speak for me to know the answer.

s cold. Someone

ght?” She doesn’t

I get to my feet intending to teleport regardless of the conversation my brother wants to have. I am no longer scared of what they have planned. I have my beloved and my powers. They can’t force me into anything or hurt me. Trevor slips his hand into mine. I look at him, and he presses a kiss on my lips. “Are you ready,” Clarice asks as she rounds the table. “You don’t have to,” I start to say, but Chrissy cuts me off. “Yes, we do. We are your family. We do this together. The six of us can handle this and if we need back up I’ll call dad and mom,” she says.

I wipe a stray tear from my eye before I nod. Everyone joins hands since they have never been to the kingdom. Seconds later, my chest aches as I watch my brother fall apart. Despite how he hurt me, I hate seeing him like this. Once he tells me where his beloved is, I don’t wait to explain why I’m here. I don’t even know if he remembers that I started to exhibit healing powers before ! left.

As soon as I step into the room, whatever is causing my sister–in–law’s illness is calling out to my powers. The people inside look shocked to see me. Some know who I am, and some look worried that I shouldn’t be there. “Step aside,” I say, but no one moves. “I said move, now,” I say the second time using my royal command.

They immediately step away. I move to the bed and bend pressing my forehead against my sister in law’s. The minute my skin touches hers I can feel the poison flowing through her. Someone dared to poison a member of the royal family. Not just any member, but the f**king queen. I push the anger away and focus on gathering the poison to me. Saving the woman that is my brother’s other half and the innocent baby in her belly are what’s important right now.