Page 39 of Regal Rising

“Well, the ladies who are local are coming in. I always thought we would be the draw, but it’s Kay.”

He chuckled. “For many, but for the dragons, it is both of us. I can’t believe she did all this. I can’t believe she was even born.”

Regis sighed. “She wasn’t. Her dragon pulled her out of my body and flew to the djinn, who were about to leave. They took her to safety, and then they followed her back here when it was time.”

“How do you know that?”

“She told Teyval the whole story, and what the archive knows, I know. Of course, I am not pleased that she faked my diary and bound it in her blood to make it toxic to the Stronghold, but to make it an artifact that only the archive’s mate could read was a stroke of genius. She loves a good story.”

Avor murmured, “How did she know all of it?”

“Oh, honey, she was there.”

“When did you and Tawney become one?”

“When I had Ira. She hadn’t been a mother; I hadn’t been a mother; we learned it together. That was the point we became one.” She looked around. “Where’s Rex and the guys?”

“I believe they have sought some privacy.”

“Oh. Oh.” Regis chuckled. “I guess they are working on the niece or nephew.”

“They have talked of nothing but your sister since we were together.”

She smiled. “Good. Rex has been a little frustrated herself.”

He looked at the bonded groupings and blinked. “What happened there?”

“Oh, that is Myrtle and her pack. The Elite fooled Toros, and they were draining the bond energy out of him using a bait beta. They used illusions to confuse him. So he pulled on Denith’s energy, and both were draining Myrtle. She nearly died before Achilles, Dante, and Keres got Teyval and Byron to step in until they could find Toros.”

“Teyval? Wow.”

“Yup. He’s her primary. They share books together.” Regis smiled.

“Unexpected. I know about the mages and Iris. They have two boys?”

“The boys were adopted by her primary, Brexel. They are dark Elite descendants as well. Their parents passed.”

“Ah. How did everyone get here so fast?”

“They live less than ten minutes away. Well, most of them.” She smiled. “When we started building the new palace, the properties nearby were purchased, and manor houses were built, but only the Elite and their partners stayed. Well, there were a few others.”

Ira was grilling Vaayu if his surprised expression was anything to go by.

Ford was staring at the djinn and eased over to Regis as the less terrifying option. “Reg, can you tell me why me and my siblings suddenly don’t look that out of place?”

“I am guessing that Kay chose to have some pure djinn children. You would be descended from them.”

Avor said idly, “That makes us your great-grandparents, several times removed.”

Regis smiled. “Sorry for missing your milestones. I can offer you two weird aunties at this point, and that is your grandfather, by the way.” She pointed to Vaayu. She spotted Vemel and beckoned to him. “He can make introductions. Vemel is also a djinn omega, and he can introduce you to Vaayu.”

She watched as Vemel approached and grinned at Ford. “Hello, little cousin.”

Ford blinked. “You’re an omega?”

Vemel inclined his head. “And I have my own omega and an alpha to watch my back. It seems to run in the family.”

Ford blinked. “I know your face. You model.”

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