Sapphire Queen Read online

  Sapphire Queen

  The Elemental Queen Series

  LC Taylor

  Sapphire Queen Copyright © 2020 by LC Taylor

  All Rights Reserved.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  Cover designed by Sweet 15 Designs

  Edited by Alice I. Lunsford

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  LC Taylor

  Visit my website at www.AuthorLCTaylor.com

  Printed in the United States of America

  First Printing: July 2020

  LC Taylor Publishings

  More by LC Taylor

  Mystic Valley Shifters

  Woven: Book One

  Wretched: Book Two

  Willing: Book Three

  Whispers: Book Four

  Worthy: Book Five

  Lipstick & Lead

  Callista

  Charlotte

  Military Romance

  The Glass Heart

  Bound

  The Signal Series

  Signal 41: Saving Carson

  Signal 99: Freeing Felicity

  Signal 63: Reviving London

  Signal 69: Holding Jenna

  Signal 33: Finding Zoey

  Stand-Alone Books

  Phoenix Night

  Cracked

  Small Town Romance

  Words from the Heart

  His Imperfect Mistake

  The Elemental Queen Series

  Emerald Queen

  Ruby Queen

  Sapphire Queen

  Onyx Queen

  Amethyst Queen

  Diamond Queen

  The Elemental Queen Series

  Six Queens.

  Each with a common thread.

  But it is not what everyone thinks.

  When an evil force threatens to annihilate all they know, they will be faced with a truth – a truth that could change everything.

  And what happens when an even bigger secret is revealed, fracturing all that they believed?

  Find out in the Elemental Queen Series

  STOP!!!

  If you have not read books one & two yet… you need to put this down and start with book one! This is a series that is interconnected with each book. Reading from here will leave you confused and probably pissed off! PLEASE do me a favor and download BOOK ONE & BOOK TWO before continuing…

  Trust me… you won’t be disappointed!

  Click here for BOOK ONE

  Click here for BOOK TWO

  Contents

  More by LC Taylor

  The Elemental Queen Series

  The Elemental Lineage

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Next up

  About LC

  Up and Coming…

  The Elemental Lineage

  Emerald Kingdom:

  Emersyn Virid – Queen (Elemental Power – Earth)

  Deceased Parents: Emmalyn & Dax

  Spouse: Drake Meyer – Commander of the guard

  Ruby Kingdom:

  Rory Vermilion – Queen (Elemental Power – Fire)

  Parents: Rachel & Dax (Emerald Queen’s father)

  Spouses: Commander Anthony Blake & Christine Fitzgerald

  Sapphire Kingdom:

  Sarifena Azurite – Queen (Elemental Power – Water)

  Amethyst Kingdom:

  Amalee Perse – Queen (Elemental Power – Lightning)

  Onyx Kingdom:

  Onika Nite – Queen (Elemental Power – Darkness)

  Diamond Kingdom:

  Dimitra Glass – Queen (Elemental Power – Air/Light)

  Chapter 1

  Drifting.

  No, that wasn’t right… floating.

  Sarifena felt like she was floating.

  She could hear the distant sound of voices – voices begging her to stay.

  But stay where?

  Where was she going?

  She couldn’t remember anything, yet she felt as though she knew everything. Her head pounded like a beach being assaulted by the ocean. Everything seemed familiar but wrong.

  Closing her eyes to the darkness, she continued to float in the space of nothingness. Something was wrong… something was very, very wrong.

  Chapter 2

  Dr. Heath King paced the massive room. He couldn’t take his eyes off Sarifena, the Sapphire Queen, as she laid still on the bed. It’d been two days since she passed out in his arms.

  Two long days of waiting.

  Checking Sarifena, he sighed, “Her vitals are still normal. I don’t understand it,” Heath turned to the Emerald Queen, Emersyn, who, like him, paced the room.

  “Do we know what caused this?”

  “Her blood work showed traces of something, but what,” he rubbed his head in frustration, “I don’t know. I’ve sent some samples to a friend of mine, Dr. Bright. He’s a toxicologist and might find something I missed.”

  A soft moan from the bed caused Emersyn to gasp. Rushing to Sarifena’s bedside, Emersyn tugged her hand into hers, “Sari? Can you hear me?”

  Heath slid onto the other side of the bed and pressed his stethoscope to her chest. Once he was sure she was breathing, he slipped his phone from his pocket. “Commander, she’s waking up.”

  Sarifena’s hand clenched Emersyn’s, Emersyn leaned closer, “Hey… Can you open your eyes?”

  Sarifena blinked. The bright light burned her eyes as she tried to shake the drowsy feeling from her head. Taking a deep breath, she coughed as she tried to sit up.

  “Whoa,” Heath pressed against her shoulder, “Slow down. Let me help you.” He eased his hand behind her back and helped her to a seated position.

  “Wha… What happened?” She stammered as she glanced at the faces staring back at her. “Where am I?”

  “Oh, God!” Emersyn wrapped her arms around Sarifena, “I thought I almost lost you.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “What do you remember?”

  Heath shined a light in her eyes, causing her to wince and shrink away from him.

  “I,” She closed her eyes, trying to force her brain to work. But it was like darkness filled her mind. “I don’t remember. How did I get here?”

  Heath and Emersyn glanced at each other, worry marring their expressions. “What do you mean? You're in your quarters.”

  “My quarters?” Sarifena glanced around the enormous room. “I don’t understand. Who are you? Why am I here?”

  Emersyn gasped, “You don’t know who I am? S
arifena, it’s me, Emersyn, your sister.”

  “Sister?” She stuttered, panic lacing her words.

  “Yes. And you’re Sarifena Azurite, the Sapphire Queen. Don’t you remember?”

  “No,” Sarifena pressed her hand to her head, “I…” she blinked the water pooling in her eyes, causing a tear to roll down her face, “What’s wrong with me?”

  Heath checked her over, “Someone poisoned you, Sarifena. You’ve been unconscious for two days. Do you remember being at the Ruby Kingdom?”

  Sarifena searched her mind only to find nothing. It was like nothing existed before waking up in this strange bed, surrounded by two people she did not know.

  “No… I don’t remember anything.”

  “Sarifena!” an older woman ran through the doors, “You’re awake, thank god.” The woman wrapped her in a tight embrace.

  “Sorry, Doctor,” Commander Brady stood in the doorway, “She was with me when you called.”

  “Sarifena,” the woman pressed a kiss to her head, “I thought I’d lost you!”

  Sarifena jerked away from the woman, “Who are you?”

  Gasping and clutching her chest, “What? I’m your mother, Sarifena.” Stephanie glanced at Dr. King, “What the hell is going on? Why doesn’t she remember who I am?”

  “We don’t know, Your Majesty. She seems to have no memories before collapsing. I need to make a call.” Heath excused himself and stepped into the hallway.

  “Dr. Bright, please.” Heath ran his fingers through his hair, “Howard, it’s Heath. The Queen is awake, but we have a problem. Have you found anything in the sample I sent you?”

  “Yes,” he paused, “I was just about to call you. It seems she was poisoned with Clirnolaine.”

  “Clirnolaine? What is it?” Heath sighed in frustration.

  “It’s from a rare plant found in the deadlands. Whoever did this, they knew what it would do to her.”

  “Let me guess…” Heath paused, “Memory loss is one of the side effects.”

  “Yes. Memory loss is one of the side effects, but Heath,” Dr. Bright grew silent as if he were choosing his words carefully, “Memory loss is not the concern.”

  “Not the concern? Howard, the Queen, doesn’t remember who she is. How is that not a concern?”

  “Her memory will come back as the poison leaves her system. But not before it does its damage.”

  “Damage?”

  “Look, whoever did this knew what they were doing. Clirnolaine doesn’t just cause temporary memory loss. It can do permanent damage to her organs, specifically her reproductive organs.”

  “Are you saying this will make her infertile?”

  “Possibly. I don’t know the severity of its effects on the human body. Like I said, it’s a rare poison.”

  “Can we stop the damage?”

  “I’m doing some research. If there is an antidote or something to reverse the damage, I’ll notify you immediately.”

  “Ok. Keep me updated.”

  Heath shoved his phone into his pants pocket and leaned against the wall. Telling Sarifena what the poison was doing to her would be difficult, but she deserved to know.

  Taking a deep breath, he shoved off the wall and headed back into her room. Sarifena needed to know everything, including the fact he would stop at nothing to save her.

  Chapter 3

  Sarifena sat dazed as she listened to the doctor tell her what he’d learned. It’s been two days since she’d woken up from her unconscious state.

  The poison she’d been given was wreaking havoc on her insides, and apparently, there was nothing that she could do to stop it. The bright side was her memory was slowly starting to come back.

  She remembered her mother. She remembered her newly found sister, Emersyn. But the memory of the man standing in front of her was still vague – yet, he felt important.

  “Let me get this straight,” she flicked a tiny piece of lint from her pants, “This poison, Clirnolaine, might damage my ability to reproduce. Is that right?”

  “Yes,” Heath stood peering out the window. He couldn’t look at Sarifena, “That’s correct. Whoever did this wanted to prevent you from having an heir to the throne.”

  Sarifena barked out a laugh, “Funny. I am sure I’d need a man to produce an heir. And seeing as I am alone, it’s safe to assume I haven’t got one of those.”

  Heath turned, pinning her with a glare, “You still don’t remember?”

  “Remember what, Dr. King? No. I don’t remember everything. It’s like snippets of my life flash into my head, but that’s all. Nothing more. Is there something more I should remember?”

  Shaking his head, “No…” he stormed passed her, “Dr. Bright said you’d regain your memories in time. That one obviously isn’t important.”

  Sarifena stood, mouth agape, as the doctor bolted from the room.

  “He’s in love with you,” Emersyn broke her trance, smiling as she walked toward her.

  “What?” Sarifena balked, shaking her head, “why do you say that?”

  “Because. I’ve watched him for a while now. He’s in love with you… and I am sure you were in love with him, even if you were fighting it. Why were you fighting it, Sarifena?”

  “I wish I could remember,” Sarifena flopped down on the couch, her eyes glancing at the door one last time, “He feels important, but I don’t know why.”

  “Yes, you do,” Emersyn sat down beside her and placed her hand on her leg, “How are you feeling, Sarifena?”

  “Like I’m broken.”

  “Maybe we should see if you can call your magic. I know it makes me feel better when I am one with the earth. Maybe you need the ocean to heal.”

  “You know what?” Sarifena stood, tugging Emersyn to stand with her, “You’re right. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.”

  “Probably because your memory still sucks,” Emersyn giggled, “Sorry… too soon?”

  Sarifena and Emersyn stepped outside and headed towards the edge of her property. Sarifena’s house was settled along the water’s edge, giving her access to her most treasured item, the ocean.

  “Do you think it’s safe?” Sarifena scanned their surroundings, a little unsure of herself.

  Emersyn peered behind herself, “Yeah… it’s safe.” She thumbed over her shoulder, pointing out the guards standing off to the side. “Drake will not let me go far without him.”

  Sarifena smiled at Emersyn’s husband, who leaned against a tree, “You’re lucky, Emersyn.” Sarifena sighed, a deep longing for love tumbled around in her gut.

  “You are too.” Emersyn pointed toward the shoreline.

  Sarifena followed her finger, only to find the doctor standing with his hands in his pockets, “He isn’t going to let something happen to you.”

  A smile wormed its way out, causing her cheeks to hurt. Blushing, she turned toward the blue water. She could feel it calling to her. A soft hum filtering through the air. The melody wrapped around her, covering her in a warmth she’d been longing to feel.

  Slipping her shoes off, Sarifena stepped into the water. At first, nothing happened. Fearing the poison had somehow damaged her power, she closed her eyes again and silently pleaded with the heavens.

  Her hands tingled with a slight buzzing sensation that grew into an all-out vibration. Cracking her eyes open, she was shocked to see the water swirling around her. Beads of water splashed against her skin as the water tornado grew. Reaching her hand out, she ran her fingers through the swirling mist, relishing in the spectacle before her. Her body thrummed with power. Tilting her head back toward the sun, she peered up the mast of water.

  Her eyes shut as memories assaulted her mind. Everything was coming back to her.

  The journal.

  The lies. Everything.

  Her heart stuttered a beat as the memory of Heath pilfered through her thoughts. Sarifena gasped, the water cyclone crashing down around her as she fell to her knees.

  “Sarifena!” Heat
h rushed to her side, “What happened?”

  “I…,” she placed her hand on his cheek, causing him to jerk in response, “I remember everything.”

  Heath held her gaze, her eyes telling him the unspoken words.

  “Everything?”

  “Yes. Everything.”

  Chapter 4

  Heath looped his arm beneath Sarifena’s knees and lifted her as he stood, “I’m taking you inside. You need to rest.”

  “Heath,” she breathed out his name, “I’m fine.”

  “Maybe your memory is back, but we still don’t know what the poison is doing internally. Please, Sarifena, let me take you inside.”

  Sarifena glanced at Emersyn, who was wrapped in Drakes embrace. Emersyn gave her a tiny nod and smiled, “Sarifena, that was amazing.”

  Sarifena smiled, “It was, wasn’t it. Now, if this big lug would just put me down,” she huffed, folding her arms against her chest.

  “Let him check you out. That display of magic was astronomical, Sarifena. Maybe it changed something inside you. You remember now… so maybe it helped other things.”

  “Fine.” Sarifena relented and relaxed in his arms, her head resting against his chest. Although he was wearing a button-down shirt, Sarifena could feel the taut muscles beneath the fabric. His heart pounded against her ear as she pressed it closer. The walk to the castle’s medical wing seemed like an eternity, but finally, Heath set her down on a table.

  “Now,” he stepped away from her, “Let’s check you out.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  “Your Majesty,” Constable James called out as he stepped into the library, “I'm sorry to bother you, but I’m afraid another letter has arrived for you.”

  Sarifena cringed. Of all the things she wished she’d forgotten, it was the impending unknown threat to the six kingdoms. When her memory came back in full three days ago, she sat down and cried. All the anger she’d held onto about the lies her mother told her came tumbling out.