The Lost Queen

Chapter Fifteen

Daya's P.O.V.

I am a murderer.

The thought consumed me as I lay in Kaden's bed alone, staring at the ceiling, my mind a storm of guilt and grief. How could I have killed dozens of people with just a wave of my hands? What kind of monster does that? First, I find out I'm a Royal, and now I have powers I can't even begin to understand. It's too much. It's all too much.

Then it hit me.

Emma is dead.

And it's all my fault.

Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes, soaking into the pillow beneath me. A broken sob tore from my throat, and I covered my mouth to stifle the sound. But the moment one sob escaped, the rest followed, an uncontrollable flood of anguish.

I rolled onto my stomach, burying my face into the sheets, trying to smother my cries.

People risked their lives because of me. Emma is dead because of me. If I had just given Ryan what he wanted—if I had sacrificed myself—none of this would have happened. I curled into myself, wrapping my arms around my body, trying to hold myself together, but I was falling apart.

Kaden had been so patient, so kind—he had helped me wash, dressed me in his clothes, and stayed with me until I fell asleep. And yet, after all of that, after everything he lost, he still chose to stand by me.

I didn't deserve it.

I didn't deserve any of it.

I don't belong here.

I don't belong anywhere.

The bedroom door creaked open, but I didn't move. I knew it was Kaden. The bed dipped under his weight, and warmth enveloped me as he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into his chest. He didn't speak at first—he just held me. Then, ever so gently, he turned me over so I was facing him.

"What's wrong, love?" he murmured, brushing a strand of my newly dyed hair behind my ear.

His voice was so soft, so full of concern, that my fragile composure shattered. My vision blurred with fresh tears as I choked out, "I-I killed E-Emma." My voice was barely a whisper, strangled by my own grief. My fingers clenched onto his shirt, my face pressing against his warm skin.

His grip on me tightened. "Daya," he whispered, his voice steady, grounding me like it always does. "Emma is not dead."

I froze.

"What?" I lifted my head, my heart pounding against my ribs.

"She's alive," Kaden assured me. "Bella saved her. I don't know exactly how, but she healed her."

My breath caught.

I had seen her take her last breath. I had heard her final words, her desperate plea for me to tell Liam that she loved him. I had felt the life leave her body.

But she was alive.

Tears spilled down my cheeks again, but this time, they weren't from sorrow. They were from relief. Gratitude. Overwhelming joy.

Kaden sighed, cupping my face in his hands, wiping my tears away with his thumbs. "I hate seeing you cry, Daya."

A small, shaky smile tugged at my lips. Without thinking, I threw my arms around his neck, holding him tightly. He pulled me closer, his warmth chasing away the lingering chill of despair.

"I want to see her," I said suddenly, pulling back.

Kaden smirked, shaking his head. "She's sleeping, love. It's past 12 at night. You can see her in the morning."