Onyx Queen Read online

  Onyx Queen

  The Elemental Queen Series

  LC Taylor

  Onyx 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 the previous books in the series… 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 before continuing…

  Trust me… you won’t be disappointed!

  Click here for BOOK ONE

  Click here for BOOK TWO

  Click here for BOOK THREE

  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 31

  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:

  Sarefina Azurite – Queen (Elemental Power – Water)

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

  Spouse: Dr. Heath King

  Onyx Kingdom:

  Onika Nite – Queen (Elemental Power – Darkness)

  Amethyst Kingdom:

  Amalee Perse – Queen (Elemental Power – Lightning)

  Diamond Kingdom:

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

  Chapter 1

  Three days ago…

  Onika sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the words printed on the pages. How was this possible?

  Sarifena was Emersyn’s sister.

  Onika tossed the journal down and paced her room. King Virid had been involved with both Sarifena’s mother and her own. What did this mean?

  Onika called for her commander.

  “Commander Fritz,” Onika greeted him at the doorway, “I would like you to ensure no one disturbs me. I need some time to understand what I am reading and do not want to be bothered.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Onika locked her door, sealing the outside world from her. Crawling into her bed, she pulled the journal into her lap. Opening the book to where she left off, she read it again.

  October 12th

  My past has come back to destroy us. Stephanie informed me that her baby is my child. The news devastated Phillip. He died of a broken heart. I didn’t realize that was a thing until now. Emmalyn tells me it was my past and she doesn’t hold it against me, but I can see the hurt in her eyes. She is round with our own daughter and dealing with the news that I fathered another child.

  Stephanie has agreed this needs to be kept between the three of us. It could destroy the kingdom if it got out. I just don’t know how she will ever look at me the same. How am I to look at Sarifena and never tell her I am her father.

  Onika continued reading, shocked at the lies that had been held close to the chest all these years.

  December 14th

  My past is still haunting me. My philandering ways got me into this mess. Do I even tell Emmalyn or keep this secret? I can’t look at myself anymore. She begged me to stay quiet. Insisting it would destroy her marriage and mine. But it happened in the past… It shouldn’t matter.

  What did he mean? Onika furrowed her brow. She thought Emmalyn knew about Stephanie and the baby. Why would he struggle with whether to tell her?

  Onika flipped the page. Maybe there was something else he had been hiding.

  March 21st

  She is beautiful. My daughter, Emersyn. Her hair is as black as mine and her eyes… they are deep brown like her mothers. When I see her face all I can do is feel happiness. Happiness I do not deserve. How can I hold this tiny bundle in my arms, yet pretend my other daughters do not exist? I am amazed no one has figured it out. Even at their young age, they look alike.

  Emmalyn knows it is killing me. She swears she holds no grudges and thinks I should force the others to allow me a chance at getting to know them. But they refuse. Saying their life will not be ruined to pacify mine. So, I sit here, holding my daughter – wishing she would have the chance to know her sisters.

  Onika pressed the journal to her chest.

  Sisters.

  Emersyn had sisters – not a sister… but siste
rs, plural.

  Onika opened the book once again. She needed to see if there was something that could help her find the other sibling. King Virid had to write it down, he’d written everything else down, why not that.

  The next several entries were about Emersyn. He loved her, there was no doubt in the journal entries. He talked about how much she was growing and changing. About how much he longed for her to know her siblings and how he hated to look at himself for the lies he was carrying around.

  Onika flipped the page.

  March 23rd

  Today Emersyn turned two. We invited the other kingdoms to mend the tension between us. It was the first time I’d been around my other daughters. Seeing the girls all play together made my heart happy and hurt all at the same time.

  Sarifena has the same black hair and brown eyes. She is just as spunky as Emersyn. And even though they are six months apart, I can see the resemblance. I think the Amethyst king, Charles, suspects something. I can see him looking at the girls and at me. It’s hard not to notice they do not look like their fathers – instead, they look like me.

  Everything was going perfect, until it wasn’t.

  Charles pulled me aside and said he wasn’t dumb, but he wouldn’t be the one to spill the secret. He suspected his sister had been involved with two men, he just didn’t expect it to be me.

  It was hard to watch them leave. Emersyn cried. It’s almost as though she knows they’re her sisters.

  Stephanie promised to bring Sarifena around more. She could see the connection the girls had made. Emmalyn and she have become somewhat of friends despite everything. I just wish… one day the three girls will know the truth.

  Secrets have a way of coming out.

  Not even the darkness can hide it forever.

  Onika gasped.

  This couldn’t mean…

  She had to find her mother.

  Onika needed to know if her mother knew who the other sister was. King Virid had made it seem as though the other secret was being kept in the dark. She was the heir to the Onyx Kingdom.

  The kingdom of Darkness.

  Darkness where the secret was surely hidden.

  Chapter 2

  Onika clutched the book to her stomach and rocked back and forth on her bed. Instead of seeking out her parents, she continued to read the pages of King Virid’s journal.

  The pain in her chest burned like a thousand hot coals in a fire pit. Everything she’d ever believed was a lie.

  Her mother – was a liar.

  She didn’t want to see anyone. No, she needed time to come to grips with the truth revealed. Anger seeped out of her pores, spilling into the atmosphere. Onika knew her emotions were tied to her magic, but she didn’t care. Her entire existence was a lie.

  “Onika,” her mother beat against the door, “Please let me in. Let me explain.”

  “Go away. You’re nothing but a liar, Mother.”

  “Onika… you don’t understand. Just open the door so we can talk.”

  “Fuck off, Mother.”

  She heard her footsteps walking away from the heavy wooden door. Onika didn’t care what she had to say. Her entire childhood had been a lie. Everything she believed… bullshit.

  A tap at the door startled Onika.

  “I said leave me the fuck alone, Mom.”

  “It’s Luca, Onika.”

  What the hell? Did this mean Rory was here? She wasn’t ready to face the other queens.

  “Go away, Luca. Tell Rory I do not want to see anyone.”

  “Rory did not come with me, I came alone.”

  “What? Why?”

  “You know why. Now… are we going to talk through the door or are you going to let me in?”

  Onika dragged herself from the bed and shuffled to the door. She pressed her head against the smooth wood grain and sighed. Taking a deep breath, she cracked the door slightly, and stared into the eyes of the Ruby Commander.

  “Why are you here? Did Rory send you?”

  “I came to see why the sky is devoid of light. And yes, Rory sent several guards here to see why the Onxy Kingdom seems to be in shambles. She, however, did not send me. I left the captain in charge until I return.”

  “I don’t want to see anyone right now, Luca. And yes, something is wrong, but I am not ready to discuss it.”

  “Look… you may not want to discuss why darkness has fallen on the Onyx Kingdom. But you won’t be able to hide forever. Emersyn is on her way to see you for herself. She knows that journal holds dark secrets and she is concerned you’ve stumbled upon something nefarious.”

  Onika paused, unsure of herself. Pulling the door open, “I’m not ready to see her.”

  “Why, Onika?” Luca pushed the door closed behind himself, “What did you find inside King Virid’s journal.”

  Onika picked up the leather-bound journal and tossed it to him, “Read for yourself. I don’t think I can say it out loud just yet.”

  Luca thumbed through the pages, pausing and glancing at Onika, “Wait… Sarifena is Emersyn’s sister?”

  “Keep reading. It gets so much better.” Onika sat on her bed, drawing her legs to her chest. She was a queen and yet, she was acting like a petulant child.

  “Holy shit… Onika,” Luca stared wide eyed.

  “Don’t say it, Luca… Please.” She held her hand out for the journal, “It’s all in there. The lies everyone has been living. And for what? To protect themselves?”

  “I don’t know, darling… but this is heavy. Did you talk to your mother?”

  “My mother is full of shit, Luca. She hid this secret from me my entire life. And yes… I talked to her.”

  “Well… what did she say? Onika, this is major. Do you understand what this means?”

  “I am not ready to understand the implication of what I read. Instead, I want to find out what this has to do with Dimitra’s kidnapping.”

  “Are you going to tell them?”

  “Who?”

  “You know who.” Luca tossed the journal onto her desk.

  “No. Not yet. My whole life has been a facade, Luca. It’s not easy to just open my arms and embrace the truth.”

  “Alright… how can I help you, then?”

  “Don’t say anything just yet. Keep it between us for now. In a couple of days, I’ll show Emersyn the journal and go from there. This is going to change things for her – in a major way.”

  “Why would this upset her?”

  “Please… just do this for me?”

  Luca stepped toward her, placing his hands on her shoulders, “Onika… I thought I made it pretty clear that I would give my last breath for you.”

  “Luca…” Onika whispered.

  Luca leaned forward and captured her lips in his. The kiss was demanding, begging for her to feel him. Onika pressed against him, his body fusing with hers as he slipped his hands down around her waist. Onika slipped her arms around his neck, her hands tangling into his hair.

  “Onika,” Luca tore his lips from hers, “You need to tell them. They have a right to know.”

  “I…” she pulled from his arms, “I can’t, Luca. The anger I feel is too much – I’d feel bad if I lashed out at them. Emersyn and Sarifena don’t deserve my anger. I need some time away from everything.”

  Onika walked to her closet and pulled out her bag. She started stuffing clothes into the duffle, “Luca, I can’t explain why I need to do this. I just know, staying here and working through this information won’t happen.”

  “You're the Queen, Onika. You can’t just run away.”

  “I didn’t ask your permission, Luca.”

  “Fine,” Luca sat on the bed and folded his arms across his chest, “Where are we going?”

  Chapter 3

  “We?” Onika cocked an eyebrow and paused, “What do you mean we?”

  “I’m not about to let you run off, Onika. Not alone anyway. If you need to get away to gather your, thoughts,” he waved his arm in the air, “then I’m going
with you. You know as well as I do you shouldn’t be unguarded right now. Whoever is behind this is most likely watching. No way am I letting you go without me.”

  “I’m the Queen of Darkness, Luca. I think I could manage getting away unseen.”

  “That may be true…” Luca stood and ambled his way to her. “But I cannot take that risk.”

  Onika held his gaze, “You’re not going to try and convince me to stay?”

  “No.”

  “Fine… did you bring any clothes with you?”

  “Nope. But I can get a few things once we get where we’re going. Where are we going, Onika?”

  “There’s a cabin on the edge of the Amethyst Kingdom. I used to go there to get away from my parents as a teenager. The only person who knows about it is Amalee.”

  “Won’t she find it odd you’re suddenly at the cabin?”

  “No… I’m not telling her right away.”

  Onika reached for the bag, but Luca grabbed it, “I got this. Now how do you plan to get out of here without drawing suspicion?”

  “That way,” she pointed to the large balcony off her room, “you aren’t afraid of heights, are you?”

  “Wait…” Luca’s face paled, “You want to scale the castle wall?”

  “Don’t be a baby, Luca. I can climb down with my eyes closed.”

  Shaking his head, he followed her outside, “Onika… there has to be a better way.”

  Snatching the duffle, she tossed it over the side.

  “You can whine or come with me. But I am leaving.”

  He watched as she slid her leg over the stone wall, easing herself to a stand on the outside ledge. Taking a deep breath, Luca slid over the bricks and slowly climbed down, reaching the ground where Onika was waiting.

  “Alright,” he smirked, “How do you propose we get past the guards?”

  “Do you trust me?” Onika glanced around the edge of the castle.

  “Yes of course… what does that…”

  Luca was suddenly blinded by darkness. It was as if the sky simply ceased any light, turning everything pitch black.