The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness



49. Madre

~ ENRIQUE ~

I look down at the letter again as I continue reading.

'Now, there is so much I want to say, but I am going to start with the most important. Are you remembering to take care of yourself? To spend time resetting? Not overworking? Remember, you need to take care of yourself because otherwise how will you take care of your mate and pack? Don't overwork because the workload will just continue to grow, so no need to work too hard. Make sure to eat well, and eat plenty. You are a busy man and need to keep your body nourished. Drink a lot of water, mijo, remember, especially when it's hot.

I am not there to welcome my new daughter or pass on the Luna title officially, but I hope you made her welcome extravagant, lavish and breathtaking. Remember, she is the blessing of your home and our pack. Treat her as you would the most delicate of sculptures, with care and love. Because she then, in turn, can be strong and care for your pack and children.

Love isn't always easy, but patience, trust and understanding go a long way. Don't be temperamental. Be patient, because she's trusting in you to protect her. Treat her well. I have addressed a letter to her. Please do give it to her, it's all I can do. Now I have included some pouches. I, of course, don't know how many children you have but-'

My eyebrows shoot up. "Ok, Madre, really?"

'But six is a nice number. I myself would have wanted to give you siblings, but it wasn't meant to be. I've included something I made myself for each of my beautiful grandbabies, give them the gifts I've included and tell them stories of their Abuela! I won't be there to take care of them, but... still. Now there are a few names I like if you consider them: Santiago, Elian, Celestino, Cordero, Carleigha, Alejandro-"

"Really, Madre?" I scoff. Alejandro, over my dead body.

"And Yara, so many beautiful names. Maybe you'll pick one or two I like?'

I laugh softly. Of course, Madre, you always had a way to make me listen.

And although I know it is something your ancestors did not do, please don't forget to include her surname in your children's names because they are not only your children but hers. Respect our culture too, mijo.'

I smile faintly.

Santiago Escarra Rossi... it could be a nice name, I guess.

It is a tradition here to take both our madre's and padre's surnames, but as the alpha family, this was a tradition we did not follow. But madre was traditional and loved our culture.

I love you and because I am not there, please love my daughter and your children for me. So they don't ever feel like their Abuela and Abuelo aren't there. I wish you every happiness and pray that your every tear is one of happiness. I love you so, so much, mijo. These are my final words to you, so I want to make them count. Live every day as if it is your last. Appreciate your every blessing, every breath, every moment, because we do not know when our Goddesswill write our final day.

Lots of love, your Madre.

I close my eyes as the pain of her loss hits me once again. I stare down at the paper in hand, my tears blurring my vision. Why couldn't you be here? Why did I have to lose you too?

I wish I had never taken anything for granted. I see people get angry at their parents or find them to be burdens, but when they are gone, that's when they'll realise they were blessings.

Looking at the letter, I frown slightly. And where is the other letter? Why wouldn't Hugo have given it to me? Unless ...she didn't give it to him.

I drop back onto the bed and close my eyes, wondering what was in that letter. She mentioned the traitor, too. Did she know something?

Who else did Madre trust? Would any of the elders know? I can't remember anyone she was close to. When we moved to England, it was all a blur.

The door opens and I sit up, wiping my eyes. Kataleya's smile vanishes the moment she sees me, worry settling into those beautiful eyes.

"Enrique..."

"I'm good," I say, smiling, even if I'm unable to remove the truth from my eyes. She shuts the door and walks over to me and stands between my legs, cupping my face as she makes me look up at her. Her eyes flicker to the letter in my hand before she hugs me, burying my face in her chest. I inhale her delicious scent, wrapping my arms around her. She instantly brings me calmness.

"You opened your mother's box."

"Hmm... but she said there was a previous letter. I don't know, maybe she gave it to someone else. I just don't remember anyone she may have been close to." I muse as I lean back slightly, looking past her plush cushions and into her face. "She said there was something in it that may help to find the traitor. I just feel like she would have given it to someone she trusted."

"That makes sense... maybe the answer is in the closed off wing. You know, the first time I went there, I saw a glimpse into the past. I saw you, your father and mother... you were little...

My heart skips a beat as she explains what she saw. A memory I don't remember, but one that makes me smile.

"Why are you smiling at me like that?" she asks shyly.

"You got to see my parents, my madre, and my padre before he was consumed by the djinn."

She nods, smiling softly. "They were happy."

"How does it work? Do you think if we went up there now, you'd maybe be able to pull on something?" I ask.novelbin

She shakes her head with a heavy sigh. "I won't be able to. I don't think I'll ever see a vision again... I think I lost what Deimos traits I had when I came into power as the Asheton Queen," she whispers. "There's an ability I had where I could even seek out where someone was. The downside was they could see me too. I tried to locate Hugo like that, but it didn't work. It was a possibility that this could happen, and it did."

She looks disappointed. "It's fine, it doesn't matter, don't worry. I'll ask the elders of the pack in the morning. Someone would have some memory of Madre and who her friends may have been."

She nods. "That's a good idea."

I kiss her chest, enjoying the way her heart races for me. "Madre left you a letter."

Her eyes widen as she pulls away. "Really?"

"You could read it later?" I suggest, running my hand down her arm teasingly.

"It's from your mother, I want to read it," she says softly as she takes a seat on the bed, and I pick up the second letter, passing it to her. There's something inside it too.

As she opens her letter, I decide to look in the small pouches. Opening the first, I take out a necklace that's made for a child, it's on a thin strap with a few beads and a wooden hand-engraved pendant with the Taino coqui symbol on one side and on the other side, the niño symbol. It's painted to match the colour of the beads. I smile down at it fondly.

I used to have a similar one when I was a child. I open the other pouches; they are all similar with only the colours being different.

Thank you, Madre...

I look at the bracelet that Kataleya has on her thigh and cock a brow. It's the Taino symbol of Yúcahu, the god of fertility. Madre sure wants us to have pups fast.

I hear a small sob and look up at Kataleya, who is reading her letter, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Mi Amor..."

"I'm ok," she whispers as fresh tears fall down her cheeks and she moves closer to wrap her arms around my neck. I lift her into my lap, hugging her tightly. Wishing that she really could have met my madre in person, Madre would have loved her.