After everything they’d been through, the “destructive,” “antisocial,” “heartless” cambion considered her a friend. The sentiment touched Ara, and she definitely reciprocated. Bash had grown on her. He was never a monster, not really; just misunderstood.
She pulled him in for another hug.
“You’re not a monster. You’re a great friend. Thank you for everything, Bash. Truly,” she said.
Bash laughed and squeezed her. “Anytime, Majesty. You're a blast. Sign me up for your next mission.”
Apparently, a little violence brought out Bash’s cambion charm...and his good will.
Ara laughed. “Will do.”
She kissed his cheek, then released him.
Phoenix approached with a smile and shook Bash’s hand. “You’re a fantastic honorary knight. Any interest in becoming an actual knight?” he asked.
Bash laughed. “No, thanks. Not really my thing.”
Phoenix clapped Bash on the shoulder and said, “Understood. Honorary knight it is. Offer’s open if you ever want it.”
“Noted,” Bash said.
Phoenix wrapped an arm around Ara. “Let’s get back to the villa,” he said. “Now that we’ve got all the Malaki leaders, we can get to the bottom of this.”
Ara nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
Chapter 23
As it turned out, Rayna hadn’t lied about being life mates with her husband; when Rayna died, so did Kenzo. He’d turned to ash almost instantly inside his holding cell.
Rayna and Kenzo were obviously the reigning council leaders, but even with their demise, the council still held fast to their views: Malaki would someday eliminate all other races and rule the realm; the purest of their blood would transform into the most powerful leaders; and they would do whatever necessary to make that happen.
After kidnapping a sitting queen, orchestrating her impersonation, and enacting a proclamation on her behalf against the greater good of the realm, the captured Malaki obviously needed rehabilitation before they could safely be released into the realm again.
Phoenix and Ara recommended lengthy sentences at Corasintha’s high-security prison for the council members, and lesser sentences for the guards who were just following orders.
Ultimately, final sentencing at Corasintha fell to seer Vivika’s discretion. Vivika--a blind, yet all-seeing, oracle--embodied law, order, and justice. She could clearly sense an individual’s intentions. She was an impartial, fair judge, and rehabilitation under her guidance rarely failed.
Under Vivika’s guidance, the Malaki might someday see the error of their discriminating ways.
The most surprising fact emerged after the Malaki couple’s death. It turns out that Rayna’s shapeshifting ability was not truly from “pure” bloodlines, as she had represented--and possibly believed--her whole life.
As the story spread through the realm, the truth finally came out: Rayna’s mother cheated on her Malaki husband with a shapeshifter, resulting in Rayna. Her mother kept the affair silent so that no one found out; she hadn’t even told the biological father--the shapeshifter.
The aged shapeshifter stepped forward to tell his story and express his remorse for what his biological daughter had done.
After everything, it turned out Rayna was a “lowly” mixed-blood shapeshifter/Malaki mix. Her shifting abilities had nothing to do with the “purity” of her blood. All the drama and hoopla about her abilities--about the power of pure bloodlines--had been over nothing.
Phoenix and Ara hosted a week-long celebration welcoming everyone back to Quarrin with festivities, food, and dancing; on opening day, Phoenix issued his heart-felt apologies and explained the situation. It was well-received by most residents as a misunderstanding.
Additionally, Phoenix and Ara personally visited every home and worked their magic to restore any damage caused when the residents fled in a hurry, including the fox skulk’s home at the forest edge.
The couple met the whole skulk while there; they thanked Chrysantha for her help and sang Lynx’s praises to his family about his bravery. As the youngest in his skulk, he would hold bragging rights on that one for a long time. Phoenix extended an invitation to the family to visit the villa anytime. Lynx took the praise humbly, simply saying it was his duty to help the kingdom. But his face did turn bright red when Ara left with a kiss to his cheek.
Bash returned home to Amonrila, but only after Ara extracted a promise from him to check in periodically. He’d laughed at her, then told her not to worry--she couldn’t get rid of him that easily.
Maddox and Nerina decided to try being exclusive to each other, so Ara expected to see a lot of Nerina in the future. They’d been alternating nights between the villa and at Nerina’s home in Amonrila. Ara was happy to see the couple working out the distance issue.
Ara and Phoenix made a point to visit Valé and thank him for his help. He was tickled to find Ara back to her old self.
While back in Tarakin Forest, Ara returned to the woodland fairy village with Phoenix by her side to thank the shaman and the villagers for taking such good care of her. She knew they would be excited to meet Phoenix due to their love of re-telling stories about him while she was there, so she made a point to personally introduce him to everyone individually.
She returned the Fortuitous Blade to its rightful owner, the shaman.
She tried to return the protective brooch to Grandmother Aspen, who would hear of no such thing, and, instead, scolded Ara like she was a child instead of almost 400 years Grandmother’s senior...then made her keep it. Once her grandmother, always her grandmother, Ara supposed. Ara made sure to thank her for the gift and reassure her it would continue to receive good use.
When Ara hugged her before leaving, Grandmother said, “You’ve got a strong soul within you, my Ela. I expect a visit again soon. From all my grandkids. That includes you, sonny.” Grandmother sent a pointed look at Phoenix, who just smiled at her and nodded.
Ara promised Grandmother that they would return, to Grandmother’s delight. She immediately dashed over to her rocking chair and started throwing stitches for a new project onto her knitting needles, happily chuckling to herself as she did so.
“Is she always like that?” Phoenix asked after they transported home to Ara’s office at the villa.
“Yes,” Ara said with a laugh.
Phoenix wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close to his chest.
He said, “I guess one good result of all this is that we’ve added to the family. Nerina, Bash, the foxes, the woodland fairies. I hate that all this happened, but if it had to, at least some good came from it.”
“Agreed,” Ara said. She snuggled her face into his chest and enjoyed his warmth for a minute.
The door to Ara’s office opened and Maddox popped his head in. “Hey, I’ve been looking for you two.”
He looked around the office cautiously for birds; when he didn’t see them lurking, he came into the room and shut the door.
He kept his eyes on the sky as he crossed the room.
He’d fully crossed the room and stood beside them before he actually looked at them.
His eyes widened when he looked at Ara. “Wow! My queen...your aura is so bright! Brighter than I’ve ever seen it. Are you...” Understanding and a grin crossed his face. “Congratulations, you two.”
“What are you talking about?” Ara asked, confused.
“The baby. Congratulations! I can already tell he or she will have a strong presence because your aura glowing bright, and that doesn’t normally happen until closer to delivery. We’re going to have our hands full raising this one.”
“Wait...” Phoenix said. “Are you saying...?”
“Oh... You didn’t know? Sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin the surprise.” Maddox looked a little sheepish.
“What are you talking about?” Ara asked again.
Maddox had revealed this quirk of his power to Phoenix, but Ara didn’t know this part of it.
“Y
our aura, my queen. I can tell when someone is expecting a child by an increased glow from their aura. Right now, your aura is beaming.” Maddox lost all signs of regret and grinned. “This is going to be an amazing kid. Already strong and showing a presence; I can’t believe it. I can’t wait to meet him. Or her.” He clapped Phoenix on the shoulder. “Gods help you if it’s a girl as strong-willed as her mother.” He laughed.
Phoenix looked at Ara; shock, then surprise, then pure happiness all ran across his face as he processed the news.
He dropped to his knees, raised the hem of her shirt, and feathered tender kisses across her belly.
Maddox chuckled. “I’ll leave you two alone. The news I originally came to tell you can wait. Congrats, again.”
“Thanks, Maddox,” Ara managed, still slightly stunned by the news.
As he turned to leave, the birds divebombed him. He shrieked, ran, and ducked through the door, cursing the birds as he ran.
Ara and Phoenix were lost in their own world and didn’t notice.
“I think Grandmother Aspen sensed it, too. It’s just...crazy. I had no idea yet...” Ara said.
She was silent for a moment.
Then she grinned.
Phoenix’s grin matched her own as he stood and kissed her.
They’d waited for this fantastic news for years. Ara’s heart swelled with excitement and possibility.
Phoenix wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to his chest into his warm embrace. He kissed her temple.
He said, “I know I can’t actually do this, but I wish I could surround you with a protective bubble to keep you both safe. You’re everything to me, love. I will do everything in my power to keep you, and our baby, safe.” He pressed a palm to her belly and affectionately rubbed his nose against hers.
“I know you will, Helios.”
She kissed him softly, then she continued, “You’re not locking me away in a tower, though. I fully intend to stay on top of my queenly duties.”
Phoenix’s eyebrow quirked. “Oh yeah?”
“Yep. Starting with my favorite queenly duty.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him and pulled a travel sphere from her pocket. She grinned, whispered “our bedroom” to it, and pulled Phoenix in for a kiss as she dropped the sphere to the floor.
Malaki Mayhem Page 13
