The Legends of Regia Box Set: The Complete Series. Books 1-7

by Tenaya Jayne

  She began sobbing again.

  Oh, Mom, it’s so ugly. So wrong what he did to me. X wanted to help, but I can’t tell him. But I have to get it out. But I feel bad asking that of you. It will be hard for you to hear.

  “Tell me, sweetheart. Tell me everything you need to.”

  She did. It was terrible for Forest, but she held it together and listened. Finally, finally, Tesla seemed to be finished telling her awful story, and she collapsed into sleep. Only when she was sure Tesla was deeply asleep did Forest allow herself to cry over what her daughter had suffered. She sat there on the floor, next to her bed, smoothing her hair over and over as she slept, just as she had done when Tesla was a baby.

  Knowing what had happened to Tesla and what would have happened to her, Forest’s gratitude to X grew into love and a hope he would always be in Tesla’s life.

  She stayed with her until she could feel the dawn coming. Forest crept from her room and went to wake Syrus. He groaned and gave her a dirty look as she woke him.

  “I have to go to the Wood. Tesla confided in me last night. She’s taken the barrier down. I don’t want her to wake up alone.”

  His nasty expression vanished and he got up. “Of course. I’ll go sit with her… She told you what happened to her?”

  “Yes,” Forest whispered. “It was ugly, but it could have been worse. She was right to send X away. She needs some time to work through it. But even so, it’s a weight she will carry her whole life. She will move on. I know she will.”

  He sighed and rubbed his face. “I want to know, and I’m terrified to know.”

  “I won’t tell you the details. She was tortured, but she wasn’t raped.”

  Even in the dark, Forest could see the pressure of tears pushing in his temples. He swallowed and nodded his head gravely. “She’ll be okay,” he agreed. “She’s tough like her mother.”

  “Yeah, but she’s tenderhearted like her father.”

  He gave her a look of mock outrage. “Watch your mouth, woman. I am no such thing.”

  She kissed him briefly. “Okay, tough guy. I have to go now.”

  Forest left the house with a heavy spirit, but more than a little curious that the Heart had requested her presence.

  Maggie let go of Merhl’s hand, stepping ahead of him, her eyes beholding Mordian for the first time. They stood on a precipice, looking down on a shimmering, pale gold city. She swallowed, her body waking to her native land. Her power surged through her in a way she had never felt before. This place should have been her home, now it was empty, devoid of life. Her heart filled with bitterness and sorrow. She was the last of her kind. All the witches were dead, and now so were the wizards. She shook her head in disgust. Such a foolish waste. Such poor decisions.

  She turned away from the city and walked past Merhl. “I just need a few minutes.”

  “Take all the time you need. There’s no rush. You could live here, if you wanted.”

  She shook her head firmly. “Alone? No.”

  “Not alone. With me.”

  “No,” she said again.

  Maggie touched the trunk of a tree, a flower, the ground. She breathed deeply, committing all of it to memory. The feel of it, the look, and the smell.

  She turned back to Merhl and reached for his hand. “I’m ready for something new. I’ve been alone so long in a foreign world. I want to be where I’m not afraid. I’m ready to see Regia.”

  He gathered her into his arms. “It makes me happy to hear you say that. I know Forest will grant you citizenship. You won’t have to hide who you are. I know my friends will love you, as I do.”

  She smiled and raised her eyebrows. “As you do?”

  “Well, not quite like I do.” He leaned down and kissed her mouth.

  She sank into him, happy.

  “Do you need to go back to Contarren first? Get your things?” he asked.

  She thought about it for a second then shook her head. “No. I left nothing behind I care about, or that will hurt anyone who might stumble across it… There’s just this.”

  She took off her stone necklace, kissed the smooth surface briefly, and threw it over the edge of the precipice. “I’m ready to go now.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Forest crossed into the wood just as the sun came up. Mist covered the ground, pooled at the roots of the charred trees. The burned ground crunched under her feet. All the shadow sand was gone, burned up with everything else. So much of her life, she had been right where she was now. Her heart broke roughly. She never thought it would die. The wood was a part of her. Shi was a part of her. Forest rubbed her hand over her aching chest. How could those pieces of her be gone? How did she go on without them?

  Her eyes tunneled as she walked. There were no paths to take anymore. She didn’t have to snake around the edges to get to the interior; she walked a straight line through the wood, to the Heart. Why did it want her? She’d never had any connection to it. It had always been too painful for her to get close to.

  The thick growth of the ribcage was burned to nothing. There was nothing left alive. The crystal trees stood the same as always, their leaves chiming the music the Heart bid. She stopped, her breath catching. The flames were white and it didn’t hurt to be so close to the manifestation. The music was hope, no that wasn’t it…she listened closer. It was life. Life beginning.

  The flames sparked around the edges. Forest.

  She gasped again as she heard the voice of the Heart for the first time. It was so beautiful. She knew something was about to happen. Her hair stood on end.

  “Why me?”

  Of course you. And you’re just in time. Do not fear. Stand still where you are. Watch.

  Shimmering white light ran out from the base of the flames in snaking lines, like roots in every direction. The ground broke open, a sapling tree pushed up to her right, stretching toward the sky. Then another one sprouted up to her left. The two trees grew to full maturity in seconds. Their branches filled to bursting with bright green leaves and white flowers. The trees were gorgeous, vibrant, and huge.

  Another wave of light came out from the Heart, wrapping around the new tree’s roots, up their trunks, out through every leaf and flower petal. Iridescent sparkles winked inside and all over the trees. Then light went out from the new trees. It raced along the dead ground, life surging in its wake. Grass, flowers, and vines all broke through the ground.

  The ground opened up and swallowed every dead tree, a new sapling sprouting in every empty place.

  Do you see, Forest? They have been sleeping so long. Dormant, under the poisoned ground. Trapped. Those who died are gone, but their children are not.

  “Seeds?” she whispered.

  Indeed.

  Bittersweet tears filled Forest’s eyes. “All who died?”

  Well…all but two. Turn around.

  Forest turned, her knees going weak. “Oh!”

  Shi caught her as she stumbled. Real arms held her. Forest looked into Shi’s gorgeous face. She was alive! Really alive. No longer twisted with branchy arms and legs. She looked exactly as she had in the memory she’d showed Forest. They clung to one another and cried.

  “Mother.”

  “Daughter,” Shi breathed.

  Forest let go and took a step back. Out of the trunk of the second tree that had first sprung up came Ler. Young, alive, and looking a little confused. He looked at the tree he’d just stepped out of, then over at Shi and Forest. He flexed his hands, and then touched the trunk. He looked back at Shi; amazed joy lit up his smile.

  “I’m a dryad!” he shouted. “I’m alive, and I’m a dryad!”

  “Yes, Ler,” Shi said.

  He ran at her, scooped her up and spun her in a circle. “We got our second chance!”

  “That’s not all,” Forest said. “Look.”

  They looked around, beyond each other. Shi’s eyes rounded, and she looked fearful. “Do I dare hope?”

  Hope. The Heart said. Your race is reborn.<
br />
  “Shea?”

  No. Your sister is gone. But her child now grows in her place. The seed of your nephew’s life survived, deep underground. It is for you to raise him, along with the children you yourselves will have.

  Shi put her hands on her abdomen. “But my womb was removed.”

  You have a new body, Shi. Just as Ler is no longer a vampire. You are fertile, free to have the family you were denied before.

  Shi and Ler clung to each other again, their tears of joy flowing freely.

  Forest cried, too, overwhelmed and sure she must be dreaming.

  She followed Shi as she ran to her sister’s old place. She reached into the trunk of the sapling and pulled out a baby boy.

  “Oh, my,” Shi breathed, looking down at the child in her arms.

  He opened his new eyes and blinked at her before wailing. She laughed and cuddled him close. He quieted as she started rocking him.

  “What will you name him?” Forest asked.

  “Hmm…X, I think.”

  Ler nodded. “Yes. I think so, too.”

  Forest lingered, thrilled, and her heart overflowing that Shi was alive, but she knew it was time for her to leave them alone. She would come back very soon. Before she went home, Forest approached the Heart again.

  “I don’t have the words to properly tell you the depth of my thanks, for allowing me to witness this miracle.”

  I have known you for so long. Since you were a child. I always loved you. I always wanted to talk to you, but you never could come close enough. I long to spend more time with you. Come back often.

  “That will be no hardship.”

  She glanced over at Shi and Ler and the baby X. All around the wood, other young dryads awoke and stepped out of their trunks. Forest went home and told Tesla and Syrus all about the resurrection of the Dryad race. The happy news brightened Tesla up a bit, and she seemed anxious to go there and see for herself, but she was still despondent as the day matured.

  She closed the door to Tesla’s room, leaving her alone when she asked for solitude again.

  “I should go in to Fortress. I’m feeling desperate to track down our family and friends. I hope they all survived.”

  “Sure. I’ll stay here with her. If you talk to Journey, and she’s up for it, you should ask her to come here and help Tesla through this.”

  “I will, if I see her.”

  Forest went to her office. The foyer of Fortress was crowded with people, looking for loved ones, or seeking confirmation that the threat was truly gone. Not wanting to be snagged, she turned invisible and snaked her way through the people to her office. She closed the door and sighed, thinking she would probably be alone in there but she was wrong. Kindel had Ena against the far wall and was kissing her passionately.

  “Well, well,” Forest said loudly, dropping her invisibility. “I think you two are in direct violation of co-worker fraternization rules.”

  Ena’s cheeks turned pink, but she giggled.

  Kindel raised one eyebrow. “What are you going to do? Fire us?”

  Forest walked toward them, smirking. “I’ll let you off with a verbal warning this time.” She embraced both of them and laughed. “How long has this been going on?”

  “A while,” he said. “You’ve been out of the office for a long time. And since you’re here, and everyone’s so happy the wizards are defeated and all, I’m going to ask for some time off. Ena, too. We’d like to travel.”

  Kindel pulled Ena into his side.

  They looked perfect together, Forest thought. “Take your time off. Be gone a long time. Just promise you’ll come back.”

  Ena hugged her tightly. “Of course, we’ll come back. I love my job. I love you, Forest.”

  Forest kissed her cheek, thankful for her friends.

  “Make her happy, Kindel,” she said sternly.

  Before he could respond, Ena said, “Oh, he does.”

  Forest jerked her head toward the door. “Get out of here, lovebirds. Go enjoy each other.”

  The rest of the day, Forest traveled all over Regia, tracking people down. She found them all. Netriet and Merick, Shreve, Sabra and baby Sophie, Redge and Journey, Zeren and Merhl, who introduced her to Maggie.

  Finally, Forest went to Kyhael. Rahaxeris was deep underground in the Rune-dy headquarters. He embraced her as she walked in. He’d always been so stiff when touching her, but now he held tight, and for a long time, he didn’t let go.

  “You didn’t look for me,” she accused.

  “I knew you were safe. You’re my child. I always know. If you hadn’t come here, I was going to come to you tonight.”

  “I smell smoke.”

  “Yeah, it’s controlled. Come see.”

  She followed him down the hall to Menjel’s old operating theater. The whole room was on fire, the flames contained by a clear force field over the doorway. Instruments and books were in the fire as well. She looked at her father quizzically.

  He shrugged. “Thought I’d purge the darkness from this place. The Rune-dy is no more. It’s a good thing. I’m moving on to something else. Not sure what yet. Something… noble, for a change. My granddaughter needs a clean space to work. She’ll have it here, from now on.”

  “I need to go home, now, Dad. Come see us soon. Tesla is fragile right now.”

  “I’ve been hard on her. I won’t be anymore. Or, I’ll try. She exasperates me, but she knows I love her.”

  Forest nodded. “Yeah. She knows.”

  She left and made her way home.

  Regia had suffered heavy casualties, but those she loved most were safe. Many times during the day, she pinched herself, too happy to believe she wasn’t dreaming.

  When she got home, Journey was there. She went into to Tesla’s room and shut the door. The sounds of her Storyteller’s voice drifted faintly under the door. Forest and Syrus waited silently on the couch in the living room.

  After an hour, Journey came out and sat down across from them. She sighed heavily. She looked so tired. “You were right to ask me to come. I’ve healed most of her heartbreak and uncoiled the places in her mind Lachlan twisted. The rest is up to her. But she’s strong, as I’m sure you know. She’ll be fine.”

  “Thank you so much, Journey. You’ve done so much for us. If there is anything we can ever do for you, just ask,” Syrus said.

  She looked pointedly at Forest. “There is something. Perhaps it is not in your job description as Hailemarris, I don’t know. But I’m sure you could pull some strings for me.”

  “What do you want?”

  “There are children orphaned by this war. Redge and I want to adopt. Can you make that happen?”

  Forest smiled warmly. “Of course. That’s perfect.”

  In the days that followed, there was as much celebration as there was mourning. Tesla acted more like herself, but she would leave the house a few times a day and take long walks alone. When she did cry at night, it was only because she missed X.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Contarren wasn’t home anymore. Maggie was gone. Since he’d left Regia, the days grew painfully long. X felt like he was walking through an endless graveyard. He thought about lighting his fire and beginning a forge, but he could think of nothing to make. He could take up his job as an executioner again. When he considered it, it didn’t feel right for him anymore, like wearing someone else’s clothes.

  But all that was external.

  Not for one second could he get his head clear of Tesla. Not going back to Regia, waiting as he said he would, was the hardest thing he’d ever done. He could hardly sleep. He listened all night. Every breath of wind, every creaking tree branch, had his heart racing with hope it was her.

  She was hurting, but she shut him out. She was ashamed of what had happened to her. She wanted to hide it from him. Maybe she was right. His memories of rescuing her plagued him as it was. That metal dress kept creeping into his nightmares when he was able to doze off.

  He paced, not kn
owing how long, thinking about her. Fantasizing about her. Touching her. Imagining her saying things to him he’d kill to really hear her say aloud. Memories of all the details of her soothed him as much as tortured him. She was his, he kept telling himself, attempting to reassure his aching heart.

  How long would it take her to come to him? How long could he hold still and just wait? As long as he had to. His resolve was firm, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t bitter.

  The longer he was alone, the more his old insecurities came back. What if she never came? What if she changed her mind? What if she found her destined life mate right as she was planning to come to him? Why hadn’t he just asked the Heart for what he wanted the moment it offered him a favor?

  Then her voice would come back into his mind. I love you, X. He had to keep trusting her.

  The afternoon was cold, and needing something to do, X picked up his wood axe and decided to chop firewood. He walked away from his house, knowing the exact tree he was going to cut down.

  A breeze, a fragrant, otherworldly breeze slid around him. He turned, his heart in his throat. He threw his axe down and ripped off his gloves as she ran at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. She slammed into him, staggering him back a step.

  X…X…X… She said in his mind. I’m sorry.

  “It’s all right,” he said breathlessly, holding her to him. “I missed you so much.”

  I never want to be a part from you again. Never.

  “That works for me.”

  He strained her against him and kissed her mouth, trying to absorb her. Something had changed between them, grown stronger. He had to ask her something, but he couldn’t stop kissing her yet.

  More, X. More. She demanded.

  He moved his mouth to her ear. “Oh, I’ll give you more. But there’s something else first.”

  She looked up into his eyes, expectant, maybe a little apprehensive.

  “Will you marry me?”

  She gave him a cute little smile and held up one finger, closing her eyes. Then she cleared her throat. “Yes,” her voice was weak. She cleared her throat again. “Yes!” she said loudly. “But you have to let me mark you.”