Page 22 of Regal Rising

Rex smiled. “We’ve got this. Elaheh, if you have first shift, we will be good.”

“I will wake you in six hours.”

Regis smiled. “Thanks.”

They slowly gathered together and headed up the stairs.

* * * *

Ela cleaned up andfound another person with her, helping her tidy things. “Kay, right?”

Kay smiled. “Yes. I knew they wanted me gone, so I left and then came back.”

Ela looked at her. “I know you from somewhere, but as soon as I think about it, I forget.”

“Yes, that is an agreement I made a long time ago. I am glad that you are all here and recovering.” Kay smiled as she loaded the dishwasher.

“You are talking like you know us.”

“You and hundreds like you over the years. I can’t stop the trouble from happening, but I can get them out of it if necessary.”

“Wait. You? How?”

“I am older than I look.” Kay smiled, and with a snap of her fingers, the room was clean, and the dishwasher was humming.

She got them each some lemonade, and they settled in the great room.

Elaheh looked at her. “Why couldn’t you save me?”

“I got there as soon as I realized there was an issue. At this point, there are twenty-four thousand of my people around the world, and I spend most of my time trying to keep them alive. You were alive until you were in danger of dying, and that is when your frame broke. You had to make the run for it. Survival instincts are one of the most important things in the world.”

“What are you?”

Kay smiled. “I was a daughter, I was adopted, I was imprisoned, and I took my freedom.”

“When was that?”

“A while ago.” She sipped at her lemonade. “I was bound from stating who and what I was, so I did what I could with those I was protecting.”

“Why?”

“Words have power, and certain words ring through the cosmos. I was allowed to stay and help under specific circumstances, and those were that I not be involved in those I was working to protect.” She smiled. “As long as no one rings that bell, I can stay.”

“I don’t understand.”

“What would you like to happen to your ex-husband?”

Ela sat up. “What?”

“He sold you to the parlour, so he deserves a special reward. What should it be?”

Ela blinked. “Uh, I guess I would like him to feel what I felt while I was there.”

Kay grinned and patted her hand. “Done and done.”

Ela watched a glow fill Kay, then there was a pulse, and it was over.

Ela sat with her lemonade in the quiet house. The folks taken from the Stronghold were safe, and she felt lighter as if a weight had been lifted. She scrolled on her phone with a smile on her lips while she sipped at her drink.

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