Chapter 35

Raylon

I was standing with my brother when I heard the shattering of glass. I turned to find Laylar falling to her knees as Connie tried to catch her.

I dropped my glass and ran toward them, my brother following close behind.

Laylar fell to the floor, and as I dropped to my knees next to her, I noticed how pale her skin looked.

No! Please no!

“I don’t know what happened,” Connie said in a panic. “We were talking, and she just fell.”

“Laylar,” I called to her, but her eyes moved vacantly over the room.

“Get her to the shuttle. She needs to go to the healers!” my brother shouted.

I lifted her into my arms and ran out the door.

As I climbed onto the shuttle, I turned to check if Connie was there, and saw her with Tomlee and Asytar in the back of the shuttle.

We lifted out of the atmosphere and rushed toward the palace.

As the healers took Laylar away on a medical slab, I felt the tears cut my eyes and my chest hurt.

This cannot be. Not her. She cannot go, not so young.

I felt a hand on my arm and turned to look at Connie. Her eyes were wet as she pulled me into a hug.

“I’m so sorry. Will she be okay?”

I let out a long hitching breath and held her to me as I replied, “I fear not.”

“Is this that illness you told me about?”

I pulled away from her, not wanting to say the words out loud for fear of making them come true.

My brother called me over and I took Connie’s hand as I walked to him.

He wiped the tears from his face. “It’s the Original Death,” he said, and the tears fell again.

I let go of Connie and grabbed my brother as he fell to his knees.

His sobs cut through me like a hot knife. “I will lose her. I will lose them all. I can’t…I can’t…”

I had no words for him. Nothing I could say would make this easier or better. All I could do was grieve and cry with him.

The healers returned to us and waited for my brother to compose himself before speaking.

“My King,” one said as he bowed his head. “I wish I could bring you better news.

“Her heart is very weak. It will not last the night. I wish I could do more for her, but all there is left now is to be with her in her final moments.”

The healer bowed again and left. I turned to the window and shut my eyes.

I am nothing without my family. If Laylar has it, then the other children will have it too. I cannot lose them.

I felt Connie come to me and place a hand on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Raylon,” she whispered. “I wish there was some way to help her.”

I turned to her and found a small measure of comfort in her weeping eyes. “There is nothing. She needs a new heart. But even that will only save her for a few years.

“Then it will happen again. All that would save her now is a miracle.”

She stared at me for a moment with wide eyes before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek and running out of the room.

I frowned. As much as I wanted to go after her, I couldn’t leave Layla’s side.

I went to her bed and sat down beside her. “Oh, Laylar, my sweet niece. I would give you my heart if I knew it would save your life.”

She opened her eyes and looked at me.

I took her hand and moved closer as she tried to speak. “Uncle, promise me…. Be happy. Love. Do not let my passing sadden you.

“I lived a life filled with love and joy. It’s your turn now.”

I nodded to her as the tears fell from my eyes. Her hand was cold and frail in mine as I watched her drift in and out of consciousness.

My brother paced the room only a few feet away from her bed, and her sisters sat on the other side with her.

The minutes felt like hours as I sat begging the universe for a miracle that would save her life.

The door opened behind us, and a guard came in. He approached me hesitantly before leaning down to speak to me in private.

“My Lord, please forgive the intrusion, but I have a Fuls’ scholars’ ship requesting to dock at the palace.

“A woman by the name of Connie said she has a miracle. She said you would know what that means.”

I looked up at the guard and frowned.

“Let them in,” I said and stood.

My brother came to me. “Is everything all right?”

“I don’t know. Do you trust me, brother?”

He stared at me for a moment. “Yes, you know I do, with my life.”

“Do you trust me with her life?” I asked, pointing at Laylar.

I saw his eyes fill with tears again before he nodded.

“Then I will ask you to trust me now. Connie is here, with the Fuls’ scholars. I ask you, brother, let them in. Let them in here.”

He shook his head. “No! I will not let our enemy see me or my family so weak!”

I went to him and grabbed him by the arms. “Listen to me! You know I would give my life if it meant Laylar would live. I trust Connie. Now I need you to trust me.

“If there is even the smallest bit of hope to save Laylar, do you not wish to try?”

He glared at me for a moment, then nodded. “Very well. Let them in. But if they hurt her, I will kill them. Then there will be no stopping the devastation I will visit on their race.”