The King's True Queen (Completed)

Chapter 12. 1810

Serafina felt as if she was floating. She felt light, peaceful. Her wedding night with Alexander had been one of pure passion love and desire. It was everything she ever dreamed it would be. She was his wife, and he was her husband. Knowing that she needed to come back to reality, she slowly opened her eyes, and immediately noticed that something was wrong.

Alexander was looking at her, his blue eyes glazed with tears. He was dressed in a three-piece black silk suit with black boots. His expression was broken as he stood beside George.

Serafina felt her heart nearly stop at her husbands face. She quickly moved into a sitting position, wrapping the blankets around her before reaching out and taking his hands. "Alexander, what's the matter? What has happened?"

Alexander grabbed her hands, holding them tightly like a vise. His voice trembled as he spoke. "Serafina my love, we must take the throne immediately. The blood drinking and coronation is going to take place in three weeks."

Serafina was confused. "But why my love? Why so sudden?"

Alexander swallowed hard, sinking down onto the bed next to her. He brought her against him, holding her tightly to his chest. "My darling, George has just informed me that my father has died."

Serafina felt her eyes overflow with tears, cascading down her cheeks as she tried to absorb his words. Charles was dead. The king of England was dead. That meant that she and Alexander would become the next king and queen of England. Her voice was very small, but she knew she needed to ask the question. "How did it happen?"

George cleared his throat. "His majesty passed away peacefully in his sleep. No foul play was done, no poisoning of any sort. We know for a fact that his Majesty didn't have any form of a heart condition, nor did he have any ailments. He died of old age, and that is it."

Alexander glanced at him. "Can we have a few minutes alone please?"

George nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Serafina burst into tears as soon as they were alone, her body shaking as images of her own father's death flashed through her mind. Her father, king James of England, had died when she had been only 13 years old, succumbing to a deadly case of smallpox. When she had been told the morning of his death, she was inconsolable. And now, with Charles dead, those memories came back with a painful vengeance.

Alexander was quiet, his own frame shaking with tears as he held his wife close, practically squeezing her. She was squeezing him for all he knew, and he needed that hug, needed her arms and her love around him. He cradled her head against his chest, running his fingers through her soft blonde curls. He brushed his lips against the crown of her head, her forehead. No words needed to be spoken between them.

They held one another for what seemed like ages, and then came away when they heard a knock at the door. It was one of the servants bringing them breakfast, and they Took it from her with gratitude.

Once they finished, Alexander rose from the bed, moving towards his dressing table and taking out a box from one of the top drawers. He turned back to look at Serafina, his eyes red. "I'm so sorry to leave you my sweet, but I must go and speak to the council about funeral arrangements."

Serafina. "Do you want me to go with you darling? I know this must be very difficult for you."

Alexander shook his head. "I won't be long, at least no more than 15 minutes. I just want you to rest."

Feeling her heart squeeze, Serafina climbed out of bed, ignoring the fact that she was naked and he wasn't, and moved swiftly towards him. She brought him against her as he broke down crying once more, holding him tightly and running her fingers through his silky dark brown curls. She didn't say anything, just whisper sweet nothings into his ear, crooning softly to try and make the pain ease. She knew the pain all too well, and didn't want him to experience that pain.

Reluctantly, Alexander came away, taking her face between his hands and kissing her tenderly. "I love you my angel, and I promise I won't be more than 15 minutes."

Serafina returned his kiss. "As I love you my dear."

Exchanging one last kiss, they separated so that Alexander could go and speak to the council in regards to funeral arrangementsExchanging one last kiss, they separated so that Alexander could go and speak to the council in regards to funeral arrangements for Charles. The realization that the two of them would now become the king and queen of England, king Alexander and queen Serafina of the house of Windsor, was becoming much more clear. It was only a matter of time before the blood drinking and the crowning would take place. And once that happened, they would be holding the power.