Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
It was always my dream to escape from your rule. I was desperate to be free from your heavy hands and violent words. With your death, I found my freedom. I never wanted Tarian to join the Sovereign, but you were adamant, so I honored your wishes and left him to be raised in Tynewood. I’ll make sure Thane does what’s needed, and after I’m gone, Tarian will know the truth about how you behaved when anger took hold of you. I don’t intend to live this life much longer, but before I go, I’m planning to see our son one final time.
I don’t understand what my mother means. She made me believe she was dead, and when she returned a few months ago with Thane, she didn’t even offer me a second glance. Granted, I didn’t give her much of a chance. I was too angry. But this letter suggests that she cares about me and wants to see me.
I flick through the folders, and there, scanned into the laptop, is my father’s will. The document that was read out after his death. I open the images and scrutinize the words my father had agreed with his solicitor. The signed document confirms what I already know. My father wanted me to become a Crown, and he wanted his brother to raise me in the event my mother passed away.
I wish my mother was here so I could question her, but I know she’s not in this house. If she was, Thane would’ve told her to come to see me. Or he would’ve insisted I go to her.
Next, I click on the letter addressed to Thane. It looks like it was saved only a few months ago, around the time my mother came back to Tynewood and I found out she was still alive. I can’t read my letter yet. I need more time to adjust to the truth about my father.
My dearest Thane,
You’ve given me a life I never thought possible, but my son has always been the one thing that’s missing.
As much as I love you and want to spend eternity with you, by your side, I know it can never be. Our star-crossed love was destined to die.
There have been many times over the years when I’ve done things that I haven’t been proud of, but even when you learned about them, you still loved me. I never deserved you, and I didn’t deserve the beautiful boys I gave birth to.
When you talk to Tarian, tell him I wasn’t worthy of either of them, but I pray he can find it in his heart to forgive you. I know I’ve hurt my son, but please don’t cause him any more pain by telling him the other things I’ve worked so hard to hide. He can never know what I did.
I never expected Tarian to want me in his life, but I need to see him one last time. Once I have, I beg you to end my suffering as I asked you to do on that fateful night I killed your brother. I did it because I knew you never could.
You’ve always been far too soft for this life. You would never have made a Crown, because you have to be ruthless to be one. That’s why I never wanted my son to become part of the Sovereign. I didn’t want him to lose his humanity. However, Theodore was insistent that Tarian should join, and I wanted to abide by his last wishes. My son was always destined to become a Crown, and now he’s an adult, there’s nothing I can do about it.
No parent can stop their children from doing what they want, especially once they are of age.
Before I go, I want to say one last thing. I want you to know I will forever be grateful that you chose me over the family that you could have had. Even though you have a daughter, you gave her up for me. You chose me over a life that would have granted you everything you craved—a wife, a child, and a happy ever after.
When the time comes, I beg of you to grant my final wish. Don’t doubt my choice. It’s what I want.
I know you’ll be able to finish what I started and remember to be there for Tarian. He’ll need you.
All my love,
Your darling
Confusion settles in my gut, and I haven’t even gotten to my letter yet. None of this makes sense, and nothing she’s said in these two letters offers me any answers to the many questions I have.
I stare at the screen for so long my eyes burn, and I have to close them to stop the emotion from welling up and trickling its way down my cheeks. The last time I cried was when I stood and watched my parents’ coffins being lowered into the ground. Well, I watched my father’s body get buried six feet under. The other coffin, which should’ve contained my mother, was empty. I didn’t know it at the time, but now I do, I never want to cry for her again.