The Destined Kingdom - Epilogue

 <-Chapter 23

 

Life settled down again in the month following. Both castles got baby-proofed again for the first time in over two decades, and the weekend get-togethers allowed the new parents an unexpected reprieve as well because there were plenty of aunts and uncles to cuddle and hold and feed and diaper babies as needed.

On one weekend a month after Devin had been born, the gathering happened on Protea. The throne room had become the go-to spot for the sleepovers, and since Shanae and Robert gave all staff the day off, cooking was left to Julianna and Storm—which they did not mind. Terry had become a part of the gatherings as much as Logan had, and both had finally started to get used to it.

From where he had sprawled on the floor with Navidan to play cards, Theo said cheerfully, "Don't worry, guys. Kimber's reprieve is almost up on getting dragged into these things. I told her she had a few months to adjust to the 'oh, damn, I'm dating a prince' thing, and that's just about done. I figure I'll let her seduce me sometime this coming week and then bring her along as my betrothed."

Terry muttered something uncomplimentary, and Robert grinned at him. "Oh, get over it! You moved pretty fast on seducing Beth, so you have no room to complain." He moved a chess piece across the board he was playing against Raine. "At least you're both not dating another set of siblings who are also your best friends and adopted family members. Now that can be awkward."

Sayena stuck her tongue out at him briefly. "At the least," she reminded him politely, "you had warning. We both mutually decided when we were kids that we would marry our Protea counterparts, so you can't say you didn't know I would literally strip naked and climb on Evan's lap once we were old enough."

Reagan almost fell over giggling. "You did not."

"I very did! Which is almost not unlike how things went in our first lives, really. Robert and I figured it out early that we would marry Shanae and Evan, and then we figured out how to make it work. At least I didn't have as much trouble as my brother."

Shanae scowled. "I still have not forgiven any of you for never telling me Robert was my first suitor, or that he was even on my list!" She aimed a finger at the room in general. "There better not be any hidden names on your lists, kids. I know where the lot of you live! If you find your soul mate, just drag their ass to the family party and be done with it. We can sort formalities later."

Beth felt a sharp pain in her heart that was not her own and looked quickly at the windows. Tasia was perched on the seat and staring out across the vast gardens. She had barely spoken a word all day, and the talk of soul mates and betrothals had poured salt into her open wounds. Beth made a quick silencing gesture at the room in whole, and everyone fell silent.

Shanae paused only a moment before getting to her feet and walking over to sit across from Tasia. The two of them had become very close, very fast, with an emotional bond more like sisters than merely best friends. They were closer to one another in some ways than they were to anyone else, except perhaps Sayena. No one knew if it was because of LeAnn, Liena and Jean, Byron, or the fact that they were kindred spirits. There seemed to be something neither of them would tell anyone else, but the others knew them too well to push for answers. When it was important, they would explain.

"Tell me what's wrong," Shanae said softly.

"No."

Arista and Robert shared a wry smile with Evan. Even they hesitated to tell Shanae no to her face. More than power had passed down through Tasia's bloodline, that was for sure.

Emily abruptly shot to her feet. "Call him," she told her leader fiercely. "Call for him. Call him right now! If he doesn't respond, then he doesn't deserve you. You're killing us, Tasi! You've given him months to get his ass in line. Call him immediately! Maybe he's stuck and can't find you! Call him!"

Tasia glanced at her and started to respond, and then suddenly felt a painful wrenching in her soul. She shot to her feet and looked around sharply. When someone started to speak, she held up a hand to silence them. She reached out with her arcanistry and felt the ripple across the Plane that meant transport magic from a long distance was being attempted, but in danger of failing.

Music began to well in the air around her body and sent chills down the backs of the others. It came out of her soul with desperate longing until all couples present were forced to claps hands. As her majik rose within the music, she finally lifted her voice in counterpart, with a force as much a spell as song.

Even though I stand here alone, you are with me

Always

I’ll take us back to the beginning of the dream that we shared

 

I’m carried up in the night sky circling within your arms

Don’t look down, look ahead, and see the sky drawing ever closer

 

I’ll share the songs that break through my soul

I’ll share the dreams that created my love

I can’t be afraid of anything that is beginning

A star in the sky is shining for you

A star in the sky is shining for me

Reflected like the sun in the midnight velvet of your eyes

There was nothing anyone could say. The Resurrection Cultivators were more prepared for it, but even they could say nothing. She was stronger. She had gotten stronger. She sang with unbridled passion and longing, emotions so complex and deep that almost no one there could even comprehend them.

Almost.

Please tell me, can I share your strength when mine fades?

I promise

That I will protect you from anything that wants to hurt you

 

I’m carried up on the night drifting within this dream

I can’t look down, I won’t look back, at the land I’ve left behind forever

 

I’ll share the stars being drawn down

I’ll share the sea as it rolls over to the shore

I won’t let you be swept away from me

This love is the fire of my heart

This love is the power that burns in my soul

An eternal flame for you that cannot be extinguished

Shanae and Sayena shared a long look as they felt their souls resonating in response to the fury of the music. Their sorceress priestess felt and functioned on a level that was on par with their own as Apexes, if not deeper. It might very well have been a product of her arcanistry, which was indeed not dissimilar from their own arcanery. It was . . . curious. Perhaps the meaning behind it, whatever it was, would be the answer to the deliberateness of the creation of the Resurrection Era Lead Defender.

I’ll call down the night that lifts us up

I’ll call down the dream that protects us both

I have majik for you that I am longing to share

This song is the proof of my heart

This song is the promise that I gave you

I promise I won’t stop loving you even if time ends

 

I’ll share the songs that break through my soul

I’ll share the dreams that created my love

I can’t be afraid of anything that is beginning

A star in the sky is shining for you

A star in the sky is shining for me

Reflected like the sun in the midnight velvet of your eyes

 

We’re dancing up on the night

We’re dancing up on the night

I’ll share the majik as it calls my love

The last note hovered in the air far longer than any voice could have dared imagine was possible. As it faded away, there was not a dry eye in the room. There wasn't one in the palace, the city, the world, the galaxy . . . the entire universe vibrated with the emotion of a Mystic's call to her lover.

"Wow," Asheria breathed softly.

Someone knocked lightly on the throne room door, and they all turned. Only the Resurrection Cultivators recognized the handsome man braced there with his black eyes riveted to Tasia. More than one gasped softly. He looked more than a little ragged at the edges, and clearly tired. Far weaker than they remembered him.

"Holy hell!" Raine scrambled to her feet and rushed across the room. She grabbed onto Rodi before he fell, and as soon as she touched him, she realized. He still smelled like black poppies and resonated powerful majik, but he no longer echoed magic. He had Deactivated his Seed. "I've got you. Are you okay?"

"Just tired." His eyes never left Tasia. She looked more beautiful than he remembered, a little haunted, and he could feel the echo of her sleepless nights across nine months. "Transport almost failed. Megan did her best, but I'm still weak. I just . . . couldn't wait any longer." He pulled away from Raine and slowly made his way toward Tasia. He stopped in front of her and cupped her cheek in his hand. The touch of her skin felt like pure joy. "Tasi."

Her eyes closed as tears welled, and joyous music began to ripple into the air around her, echoing into the others' souls before it ever reached their ears. Pain had begun to rush away, the gouges in her soul healing at last. "I felt you trying," she whispered huskily. "I sang. I had to. I knew you needed me." Her lips trembled as she smiled. "You're not a Ruler anymore, but I guess I will still be like a Caretaker to you."

"I can handle that. And I will forever be yours as well." His breath hitched as she threw her arms around his neck and held on tightly. His own arms banded around her waist as he buried his face in her hair. He could still hear the echoes of her song in his ears, feel it burned into his soul. "I'm here," he said fiercely. "I'm never leaving again." His mind brushed against hers, needing that touch as well. Do you suppose you ought to introduce me to these people? Especially that blond at the piano. He's giving me a dirty look.

They can wait. She eased back, framed his face with her hands, and kissed him with all the love in her heart. The entire room, including her father, immediately burst into cheers and applause. When she finally pulled back again, she found herself falling into the depths of his black eyes. The magenta shadows in his gaze reflected the Gray of his soul, and it both protected and soothed her. She would never be alone with the night again.

The moment he had released her, the other Resurrection Cultivators rushed over to hug him tightly, even Emily. He was one of them, and they had missed him too. LeAnn happily hugged him tight around the neck. "I knew you'd make it!" she told him. "I was only giving you another month until I went looking for you though. Because, reasons."

Shanae fought to hold back laughter, and only cleared her throat politely. "I don't suppose we might get an introduction, hmm? Not that we haven't seen or caused our share of scenes, of course."

Rodi slid his arms around Tasia's waist and kept her tucked close. He couldn't bear to let go just yet. "My name is Rodi Aria," he offered. "I was the True Born Ruler Cultivator of Aria. I chose to Deactivate my Seed to come join Anastasia here where she is needed most. My sister is now Ruler Cultivator of Aria in my stead. So . . . I guess Aria is finally allied with Blossom Field?"

Sayena started giggling. "Of course! If you're the soul mate of our Resurrection Era Lead Defender, then there has to be alliance. It can be considered finalized when you two marry!"

"We need to plan the wedding soon," Yvette announced firmly with a smile of her own. "Tasia is a Crown Princess, and the first of the Resurrection Era to marry. It needs to be big and elaborate." She smiled at Rodi, already sure that she would like him. It took a special individual to be the mate of any Cultivator, let alone a Lead Defender. He and Maxim, and Robert, would no doubt get along quite well.

"Uhm." Reagan winced.

"Heh." Storm rubbed the back of his neck.

Tasia cleared her throat. "Mom . . . Dad . . . everyone . . . ah, if the alliance is considered to be finalized on marriage . . . then it's sort of a done deal. We're kind of already married."

Maxim started laughing. "Oh, this ought to be good. How did you end up married in the middle of whatever you were doing out there?"

After a moment, she decided, "Let's call it involuntary matrimony because we had no idea the conditions for it were present." She side-eyed Rodi who coughed. "And for the record, someone failed as a Caretaker because we were married before we became lovers."

"Shame on you!" Sabin scolded, but on a grin. "Tasi, you couldn't take the duty yourself, since you were his Caretaker for a while?"

"I tried."

Dane started laughing as he looked at Yvette. "She really is a daddy's girl."

"Don't remind me," Yvette groused. "You two will keep me on my toes for all of time." She grinned at Rodi. "Welcome to the family, though."

"Married or not," Sayena decided after a moment, "there should still be a ceremony. Yvette is right. It's the first of the Resurrection Era." She laughed. "Of course, it would be the Lead first!"

 

 

Much to Tasia's fascination and mild horror, there was no getting out of it. Being heir to the throne of Iris meant a lot more trouble than she had imagined, and in far more ways. Try as she might to protest that she didn't want or need a big ceremony, she hit the solid wall of resistance from her mothers, fathers, and even the two High Queens. She was a Crown Princess and that was that. But, in exchange for playing nice, she and Rodi would get to take a long honeymoon at the location of their choice. At least that was something.

Word quickly spread as invitations were sent out. Nearly everyone who had known the Resurrection Cultivators before they Activated had accepted their new positions with a shrug and a smile for the whims of Destiny, and therefore they reacted with genuine happiness at discovering that the first wedding of the new Era was about to take place. Everyone invited accepted the invitation, and the chatter among the streets filled with anticipation and delight. Almost no one had anything negative to say.

Almost.

The day of the wedding dawned beautifully. The ceremony was to be held on Delphinium with the intent for the reception to be on Protea. It was symbolic of the unity of the Resurrection Cultivators, and acknowledgement of the fact that Tasia was still technically of the Light planets though High Priestess of Protea and twin to LeAnn.

The only hitch in that combination came about because Tasia, as High Priestess, was technically the one who was supposed to perform the marriage ceremonies for the Lower Rulers, especially Crown ones. She did not get to marry off the High Princesses because of the potential coronation involved, but she wholly looked forward to getting the rest of her friends. Unfortunately, she couldn't perform her own ceremony either.

After some intense debate, it was finally decided that Shanae would do the honors since Tasia was LeAnn's twin soul and it was the first marriage of the Resurrection Era. The entirety of both kingdoms had been waiting breathlessly for this moment. It was a sign, the real sign, of the start of the new Era.

Though the overall ceremony for a Crown Ruler and a High Ruler was quite similar, there were a few differences. Crown Rulers could select a personal attendant and three companions to accompany them. Tasia chose LeAnn as her attendant, and Raine, Storm, and Beth as her companions. They not only would escort her down the aisle to Rodi—she walked because she now outranked him thanks to his Deactivation—they were also the ones who helped her get ready for the event.

Tasia's wedding dress was handmade by Asheria and Beth, and it looked a brilliant evolution of her Iris Ruler gown. It dripped with the amethysts special only to Iris, had been given a full skirt of multiple tiers, and the finest silks and laces adorned it. It would have normally had white ribbons on it as well, but Tasia instead had gray ones to pay homage to her core and the changing Core of her world. The coronet of amethysts and irises that only a Crown Princess of Iris could wear sat waiting to the side while Beth merrily coiled and curled up the intensely thick locks of the bride's hair. "I really do wish your hair was edible," she said around a mouthful of pins. "If it was actually chocolate, it'd be a twenty-pound candy bar."

Tasia just snorted and kept her eyes closed while Storm deftly applied her makeup. "Lucky for your blood sugar, it isn't."

Beth had finished her hair and was just putting the coronet on top when the door to the room opened to let Yvette, Dane, and Olivia in. All three stopped in utter shock at the sight before them. "Goddess," Olivia breathed. Her lips trembled as tears welled. "Oh, baby, you look so beautiful." She looked every bit the princess her mother had always thought she should be.

Tasia smiled. "I feel beautiful. I try to admit when others are right, so, I have to say that you were right to make us do this. I want this memory for always."

"It'll be a wonderful one." Yvette sat down beside her daughter on one side while Olivia sat on the other. The three parents had become close friends, and the two royals felt humbled to share such an amazing child with the other witch—and Tosh as well. Yvette thought she might finally understand why she had been drawn to Jean Kinsley's side to protect her during the Battle for the Realm, and why Dane's missing abilities had been hiding near her too. There was a reason for everything. "Are we almost ready to go?"

"We are." Storm sat back with a satisfied smile. Not many could wear gray eyeshadow, but Tasia's eyes were the perfect shade of brown, and her mocha skin added the perfect foil. "You're ready, Tasi. Ooh!" He hugged his sister. "Now I'm going to cry. No wonder Raine kicked Dad out earlier."

Maxim knocked lightly on the door. "Time to take our places."

The three parents hugged their daughter tightly and then hurried out to find their places in the audience near Tosh. Though normally Yvette and Dane would stand with Olivia on one side of the altar to represent the bride's family, Tasia had requested that no one stand on her side because Rodi had no one on his. Travel to and from Aria would not be fully feasible for another year or two as the world's transport magic came back up to par and could accept and send ships as well as particularly powerful Ruler direct transports. Truly, only Tasia's song had gotten Rodi through safely.

When Tasia stepped onto the aisle, LeAnn was directly in front of her, Raine behind her, Storm to her left, and Beth to her right. Many eyes fixed to the High Princess as she led her twin down the aisle. She looked barely younger than her friends, and was strikingly gorgeous in her Ruler gown. More than one visiting noble watched her wistfully until they saw the Captain of the Protean Royal Knights glaring at them with deadly blue eyes.

At the end of the aisle, Rodi stepped forward to meet the escort. He wore a far more elaborate version of his Ruler suit, though it would be the last time he did wear it. Not only had the ability to call it faded already, but he would become a part of Iris. He would get a new suit marking him as belonging to that world, though it would pay homage to his birth world; he would also wear a black poppy pinned to his breast. As proof further of the worlds' deep uniting through their Cultivators, Tasia's bouquet held both purple irises and black poppies.

LeAnn stepped aside to let Tasia step forward, and the bride smiled as she accepted her groom's offered hand. They walked together the last few feet to the altar where Shanae stood waiting for them.

The High Queen smiled at them both and then lifted her voice. "It has been five thousand years," she began, "since a Ruler Cultivator of Blossom Field was married. This moment begins the Resurrection Era anew. When the kingdoms of the galaxy are rebuilt, the woman before you will be the queen of Iris. Though not born to the royal blood, she is nonetheless the Daughter of Iris for the planet itself chose her; the streaks in her hair are a mark of her heritage. She has been chosen as both Ruler and Defender for Iris, and even the distant Aria claims as her as Defender as well. She carries the honor of being the Lead Defender of this generation, and you should feel as proud of her as Destiny herself is."

Her eyes swept over the crowd. "We gather here to celebrate this union between two souls. If you feel you have a right to object, speak up now." If you dare. The words hovered unspoken in the air. Because Tasia had not had any names on her suitor list, Shanae was obligated to ask for objections, but that did not mean she believed it had merit.

To the surprise of the entire room, a male voice said from the back, "I object. How do you know she didn't put a spell on him to make him want her? No sane person is going to marry a freaking witch."

A shocked silence descended as everyone turned to see a man standing in the doorway. His face had flushed with anger and hate, and Tasia could only gape for a moment as she recognized him. Shock quickly was replaced by fury, and it rose audibly in the air as a warning pulse of music.

"Prince Rodi," Shanae murmured, though with a bite, "I believe you have right to address that objection."

"I would sooner say," Rodi said icily, "that a sane person would more than willingly accept a sorceress' love. Who are you to dare interfere where you are not welcome? She allowed a single date with you five years ago, and you presume to think you have any right to object? I am terribly sorry to inform you, but she accepted that date purely out of pity. You should be honored she even looked your way when I have been hers since before we were born." His eyes narrowed and gold majik rippled over his body in a way that made people gasp in realization. "There is no spell on me, and if there was, I would not mind at all."

A little smirk touched Shanae's lips as she looked at Sabin and Maxim. "Lead Commander? Commander Maxim? The objection is denied. Remove him."

"With pleasure." The two men walked down the aisle, grabbed the younger man's arms, and hauled him out without breaking stride. They returned mere minutes later and retook their places. "Go ahead," Maxim told Shanae with a satisfied smile.

"Anyone else?" she asked the crowd mildly. "And I warn you now, disparaging comments against the High Priestess of Protea will not be accepted. The next person to speak on such a thing will be hauled out by the dragon and possibly be made into lunch." As a couple eyes shifted warily to Striker sitting on Sayena's shoulder, who bared his teeth, she was appeased. "Good. Now, where was I?"

"Marrying us," Tasia supplied helpfully.

"Right. Well, then." The queen smiled as she picked up ribbons in white, red, and black. She wrapped them around Tasia and Rodi's joined hands. "Bound as one, your paths from this day forward are joined together. Do you walk together willingly?"

"We do," they said softly.

"Then speak your vows before us all."

Because Tasia and Rodi were already married, they did not need to exchange rings. They had already placed rings of their world's stone on each other's pinkies within days of being reunited, to match the clips they wore from Aria. Tasia instead softly touched the clip in Rodi's hair and then brought his hands to her lips to kiss each ring. "I vow on my life to love you until the end of forever. I will protect you and fight for you when you are hurt. I will be the Ice that protectively blankets your soul, and the Shadow that chases you across the night. I will Care for you, and hold you together, when you feel as if you can't stand alone."

He touched the clip in her hair and then brought her ringed fingers to his lips. He then pressed a third kiss to her palm in a way that made more than one person sigh happily, including their friends. "I vow on my life to love you until the end of forever. I will carry and protect you when you are weak, and I will be the Shadow that brings you peaceful sleep when you are tired. I will Care for you, and hold you together, when you feel as if you can't stand alone."

"With these words, you are one, and you walk together." Shanae grinned as she untied their wrists. "All things begin with a kiss, and so should your new life."

"If she insists," Rodi murmured as he pulled Tasia into his arms.

Her lips curved. "I think she does." Joy welled inside her blindingly as her husband kissed her, and she threw her arms around his neck fiercely. The joy pierced her soul, spilled into the air as music, and everyone began to cheer and clap.

As the kiss continued, Emily finally shouted, "Get a room, would you?"

"We intend to," Rodi retorted, and set off another round of laughter.

"Don't make me aim this at you, Em," Tasia warned as she waved her bouquet threateningly. The bouquet existed solely to be tossed at waiting unmarried folks to see who may be next to take the fateful plunge.

Emily promptly hid behind Diego who just grinned. No Cultivator went without a Caretaker forever; Emily would get hers someday. He and Arista alike looked forward to seeing their daughter land her mate. It took certain qualities to be the soul mate of a Hyacinth Cultivator, especially a Dual, so in the tradition of her lineage, Emily would find that one person she could neither intimidate nor run roughshod over—and her parents would enjoy every minute.

With the ceremony done, the party moved to Protea for the reception. The festive mood remained high, and everyone laughed and had a wonderful time. When Tasia finally did throw the bouquet, it landed in Logan's arms, though it had been a close call between him and Raine. They decided to share since they would be marrying each other, which made more than one person laugh.

The first dance of the night belonged to Rodi and Tasia, of course, and even Shanae felt surprised when she watched them move together; Tasia truly was music incarnate, and as brilliant a dancer as she was a warrior. Not a single dry eye was left as the couple flowed in the romantic notes while Theo's beautiful voice sang of happily ever after in accompaniment to Dane's piano and Asheria's flute.

The Resurrection Era was off a good start, Shanae thought as she smiled at Sayena. With this unusual and gifted generation of Cultivators as its guardians, it would have a strong and prosperous future.

It was about bloody damned time.

 

©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.

Bonus - Glossary->

The Destined Kingdom - Chapter 23

 <-Chapter 22

It took a month before life settled into its new rhythms. The Elder Defenders had been prepared to train their charges, but discovered shortly that they needed no help whatsoever. As had been seen before, and expected, theirs was one of those generations that hit the ground running and had it together out the gate. Rather than be disappointed, the Elder Defenders were more than happy to hand over protecting duties of Reagan and LeAnn to their own Defenders and have one less thing to worry about.

The announcements had to be made, of course, about the finding of the Resurrection Era Defenders as well as the finding and adoption of the Era's Rulers. The latter would not be so surprising, considering Racine had kicked that off, but Shanae and Sayena ran into the issue of LeAnn and Reagan putting their feet down and wanting to be known as Defenders as well, because Tasia had told them they could fight if needed. The queens finally threw their hands in the air and decided the secret had been one for long enough. If anything, potential risk to the High Queens and Princesses as a whole might go down at knowing all had Masks. Still, since it was Tasia's fault, they made her write the proclamation.

Storm, who had been in public university, was moved instead to the smaller private university on Delphinium that was where LeAnn also took her advanced classes. The private university was specifically for people of upper classes, including many from beyond Blossom Field, so it had a smaller population overall plus more protections. Emily also enrolled, and so did Ryan, and both savored the freedom to learn all they had wanted to learn.

It also took barely a month before it became very obvious that, as thought, the Resurrection Cultivators truly were—in all ways but blood—the children of the Rebirth Cultivators. Love did not have to grow between parent and child, or child and parent. It already existed. Emily and Ryan alike did not wholly know how to handle the sudden having of parents, but it took only a short time before Ryan had become secure enough in his relationship with Delilah and Ulyen that he asked to have a suite in their wing of the castle because he wanted to be with his parents more.

Emily proved to be so very much like Arista that she did not bother with formality. She simply marched into her parents' wing and yelled at her mother for not just having Emily moved into the same area. Arista nearly yelled back before realizing she had in fact been called 'Mother' and then could only sit down hard on a chair and try not to cry. Diego solved the problem by dragging Emily over to Arista and then sitting down and cuddling them both. The next day? Emily's suite got moved, and more than one person smiled at hearing the elder Hyacinth Cultivator going head-to-head with her equally stubborn daughter. Turnabout was fair play!

Interestingly, Tasia herself was left a bit unbalanced as well. She honestly did not know how to handle Dane. Yvette had been easy to love, and she actually bore enough resemblance to Olivia in personality and manner that Tasia shortly forgot she had ever had only one mother. She called them both 'Mom' within days, and bemused many people because they always knew which she referenced even without context.

Dane, however, knocked her off balance because it had been over twenty years since she had had her birth father in her life, and it felt like finding him again—except better. Tosh was also her father, no mistake, and she loved him with a fierce and powerful emotion, but they did not share a great deal of personality; Storm was actually a lot like him, more than even Raine. In Dane, Tasia could literally see the parts of herself she could not see inside Olivia or Yvette, and her eternal memory quite frankly told her she saw more of herself in Dane than her mothers or Arthur Martine. Realizing she was likely a daddy's girl had been a little bit of a mind trip, and considering how much she had already adjusted and adapted to, it bugged her to not be comfortable.

Dane proved patient. He stepped back and let her work through finding her way to her comfort zone without influencing her. She knew, though, that for all his patience, he was deeply and powerfully hurt because he sensed something wrong in his child that he could not fix, and she spied him more than once fighting an urge to hug or hold her absently in passing, the way most fathers did. Even Diego randomly cuddled Emily, and considering that hugging Emily could be not unlike trying to hug a cactus, it annoyed Tasia she could not just accept Dane the way she wanted and frankly needed.

Rather than let it go—because that was not her style—she decided to take matters into her own hands one of the times she visited Delphinium to see Reagan. After giving a brief tutoring lesson in advanced Vericin, she went looking for her father. She found him in the music room at a piano and scowling a pile of sheet music. He would play a chord, mutter, make notes, and then play it again. She wandered over and then hopped up onto the top of the piano. The motion made him glance up in surprise, and he immediately smiled. "Well, hello! What brings you by?"

"I just wanted to talk to you." She swung a foot lightly, entirely unconcerned to be sitting in a castle in faded denims and sneakers. All of the Lower Princesses and Princes, as the Resurrection Cultivators now got called, were allowed to be as casual as they liked as long as they did not actively act for their kingdom or attend a function. They could continue to live their normal lives as they liked, for it would still be many years until their kingdoms restored. Less than originally suspected, though, for having two Dual Cultivators for each world had suddenly seemed to restore more life. Atmospheric exposure had jumped from a max of ten hours to a max of sixteen almost overnight.

When they did wear their Ruler outfits or don polite manners as required, they did not even try to temper their real personalities. All had found themselves receiving suitor lists, of course, as required of being princesses and princes, though Raine's had been made and immediately closed because of already being engaged. The first brave suitor who had dared approach Princess Emily had found himself being told, in no uncertain terms, to 'screw off'. He had run away, actually, with a good deal of haste.

Perhaps funnier lay in no one having the nerve to approach Iris' future queen at all. There had been interest, to be sure, and more than one person had eyed Tasia wistfully, but the fact that she was a Dual Cultivator—the Lead no less—the High Priestess of Protea, and a sorceress had made any potential suitors lose nerve before ever getting close. After all, they needed to ask permission of the Ruler before approaching their parents to be placed on their list of suitors, so Tasia's list remained empty. That for obvious reasons made her life easier—she had yet to tell anyone she was already married—and it honestly did not bother anyone else. As Veronica herself put it, if a suitor could not have the courage to meet a Lead Defender halfway then they did not deserve her!

Thinking about it made Dane smile. "What did you want to talk about?" He rested his arms on the top of the piano and looked up at Tasia curiously. It still struck him over and over again, the punch of love he had for this woman. He had not fallen over time. It had just happened the moment he met her. When he had expressed his confusion to Evan, his best friend had just smiled and said 'that happens to almost every parent when they see their child for the first time.' If Dane held any regret, it was that he had not been there from her childhood as he should have been. That he had not heard her first word and that he had not seen her first steps. At least Olivia had happily shared the stories with him: the first word had been 'majik' and she had skipped crawling to go right into walking at three months. Which really had been no surprise to learn, given that Yvette had skipped the crawling stage in both of her lives as well. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Nope. Just bear with me as I try to get around to something that might take me a while." She smiled. "Did you hear Racine's news?"

He grinned. "I was the one who caught Allister before he passed out. Twins. Unbelievable."

"Here I had thought I would be the one with the symbolic rebooting of the lineages since I'll never have a daughter, and Racine and Allister end up with twins. Though, I guess, since Racine and Claret both descend from a set of twins, I guess it might be full circle. Also, we never count Statice, right?"

"Not usually." He ran his fingers lightly over the keys and then played a soft chord. "I know you're uncomfortable with me." He looked up at her again. "Tell me how to make this better, Anastasia."

She blew out a hard breath. "I'm not sure you can, you know? It's inside me. You know, right, that my birth father walked out when I was kid. Meeting you knocked me over. It wasn't like meeting him again. It felt better. I have things in common from my father, things I hate knowing I got from him, but . . . I see more of me in you than I do in anyone else who can claim to be my parent either via blood or power. It unbalanced me to realize I might be a daddy's girl, and more than I ever imagined."

His heart ached. He got to his feet and moved to stand beside her. "Tasia, I know I can't help you muddle through that, but I can tell you that I saw it too. When I saw you the first time, and I heard you sassing Shanae and Sayena, I wanted to laugh. It did not take long for me to see inside you this . . . fascinating and terrifying blend of Yvette and me alongside what you gained from your lineage. My creativity, her intelligence. Her cool head, my willingness to charge in. A frightening blend of our dedication to protecting the ones we love." He smiled. "Her lack of style, and my inability to care what other people think. And, perhaps most terrifying, my ability to plan. I won't lie. I sort of feel as if I can be blamed for your Pattern Mastery."

She found herself smiling. "We're blaming Uncle Navidan for Storm's dose of it."

He hesitated and then caught her ponytail lightly to tug on it affectionately. "No child born of blood to me and Yvette could be more perfect. I don't know what else to tell you. I just know that when I met you, and you smiled at me, I was helplessly in love."

On a long breath, she felt the unbalance fade. "I think that's what I needed to hear. I have a tendency to retreat when I feel awkward or unsure, so . . ." She trailed off at his wry smile. "Oops. You, too?"

"And your mother."

"Mothers," she corrected. "Damn, I was doomed for that one. And being a smartass. I come by that honestly. I'd feel sorry for my team if they didn't need someone to sass them and make them behave themselves. So . . . can I call you 'Dad'? Or if you're being annoying, the more formal 'Father'?"

Tears burned his eyes. "I would be honored." He hesitated as she hopped down off the piano and then went with his instincts and hugged her tightly the way he had wanted to do from the moment he had seen her. "My baby," he said roughly.

She put her head on his shoulder. "I'm not a baby at creeping on twenty-six."

"You could be twenty-six hundred, and you'd be my baby." He let out a breath. His daughter. His and Yvette's. It had taken a while, but he finally had found her. Yvette would cry, and he would probably tear up as well.

"It's not a moment to cry over," she scolded as she leaned back. His brows went up and she grinned. "By the way, Racine and Allister are not the only telepaths. I try not to peek, but all bets are off if I need to know something to help the people I love."

"Okay, you are definitely a daddy's girl."

"I don't think I mind that so much anymore. Wanna show me what you were muttering at?"

And just like that, they were comfortable together. He consigned it to Destiny and let it lie. "Lyrics, which I'm horrible at. I agreed to do a score for a stage theatrical, and the words are not coming to me." He sat down on the piano bench again. "Want to give it a go? I wouldn't mind seeing what sort of collaboration we could make."

"That might be fun. I love theatricals. Theo made me act in some with him while we were at university. Then again, I come by that honestly from several angles I guess. If I leave with some sheet music today, I can have some starter lyrics by the next get together."

Every Saturday evening, without fail, all ten royal families got together to stay up late, watch film theatricals, eat things they shouldn't, and simply have a fun normal time. Shanae had implemented it as part of what she called Operation: Normalcy and they all wholeheartedly concurred. Having her be her true self had made everyone happy, though they all agreed she and Tasia were far too much alike for anyone's health.

"That works for me." He made a show of going through his papers, but he was watching her out the corner of his eye. "I have to admit that I feel a bit awed to be in your presence. I never imagined I would get to meet a Mystic."

"You had to guess it might happen. Jean and Byron were Virtuosos."

"True." His eyes softened. "But I wouldn't mind taking some of the credit myself. Music has always been a big part of my life as a Shaman." Softer, he added, "In the Royal Era, I was actually very close with Liena. She would sing when I played the piano, and she always . . . just felt like a part of my family. She would joke she ought to adopt me and be done with it, though she was barely old enough to be my mother. It feels full circle to be here with you."

"In more ways than you know," she murmured. Something eternally sad filled her eyes as if from a wound that had not healed. "Many mistakes were made back then that only recently have seen promise of being mended."

Her father studied her intently. Every last member of the older generation had noticed that the new Lead Defender suffered the familiar signs of someone torn against her will from a soul mate. LeAnn was fine and whole, and Tasia and Logan had been inseparable for a few days after reuniting, so only one other thing could be wrong. "Tasia."

She shook her head. "I'm sorry I did not say anything sooner, but it . . . it hurts. I think everyone knows already, but I met my lover soul mate on Aria. He could not come with me when I left, but he is trying. He's looking for a way." She managed to smile. "When he finally makes it here, then we will finally be able to make that alliance formal after . . . how many millennia of trying?"

There had been no keeping it a secret that they had been on Aria, not when Tasia's Defender Mark had the small black poppy on it—a feat that had impressed most everyone. No one had realized more than one world could claim the same Cultivator. Yvette had checked Iris personally and also confirmed the suspicion that the Core might well become as Gray as its newest Dual Cultivator. It seemed a prelude to something more, but not even Claret or Racine knew what yet.

"Well, if you feel a need to put that Mystic skill to the test to help him get here, let me know if I can help. I think I'm a strong enough Shaman to support a Mystic."

She smiled. "Of course you are. You're my father."

"Does that mean I and Yvette can give your soul mate an acid test before you accept him as a suitor?"

She snorted softly. "Trust me, that won't be needed."

 

* * * * *

 

Beth was getting ready to go out for the day. She put on her favorite dress, the earrings Racine had given her, and took the effort to do slightly fancier makeup than usual. It was time to wage a war of love. She was going to stop being too proud as well. She would find the man that was probably her soul mate and lay it on the line.

She opened the front door of her apartment and stopped short in surprise as she discovered Terry standing on the porch with a hand lifted to knock. His red hair was rumpled from the wind, and the jewel tone of his shirt emphasized his striking beauty. The familiar curl of desire took her breath. He was definitely her soul mate. "Er, hi."

"We need to talk. Are you home alone?"

"I am! Stormy came over for a while earlier to hang out, but he left an hour ago." She found a smile though she still could not read his emotions despite her increased gifts. Strangely enough, he had always been the one person she could never read clearly. She could not blame it on his lineage's majik; she sure read Theo just fine. "Convenient! I was actually going to find you to talk to you as well." She stepped back to let him in and shut the door behind him. On a surge of bravery, she flipped the lock. She turned around as casually as possible and started, "Terry, I—"

The words halted as his hands framed her face and he dragged her off her toes to kiss her with a force and fury that spoke of emotions suppressed for far too long. Her hands fell limply back to her sides as she happily drowned in the greedy hunger consuming her heart and soul and body.

He slowly released her and searched her eyes with an intense blue gaze. "Bethany," he said huskily, "I should've said this years ago but was too scared. I love you. I don't know that I deserve a Dual Cultivator, but I want to be your Caretaker. I . . ." He stopped when she pressed trembling fingers to his lips.

"I've loved you for years," she told him thickly. "I realized while I was gone that you are the other half of my soul, and that I can't keep pretending otherwise. I was coming to find you today to tell you." She framed his beloved face in her hands and smiled. The Mallory brothers looked a fair bit alike, but this one was the only one she had ever wanted. Perhaps the reason she saw Theo as being her brother had as much to do with Terry as their being on the same Cultivator team. "I love you. Now give me a good reason why I shouldn't kick your ass for hiding your emotions from me all these years."

His hands slid down to her hips and then around her waist to draw her closer. She felt as perfect as he had known she would. "Perchance because you hid yours as well? That's what happens when empaths love, Bethany. The more powerfully we feel, the deeper we hide it for fear of pain." He pressed his forehead to hers. "If we drop those shields and share our hearts, it might be rather dangerous. What will happen if years of suppressed love and desire come out, I wonder?"

Her grin came slow and wicked and full of promise. "Something that makes me really glad I live alone. But you do realize I'm now a Dual Cultivator, right, and what that entails as far as laws mean, yes?"

"Can I still take my time deciding how to ask you to marry me? We can be betrothed until I find the perfect rings for our thumbs and then we'll be engaged. We have quite a few years until you're going to take the throne anyway."

She thought about that. "Alright. Deal." She rose up on her toes to kiss him lightly, and she stopped hiding the force of her emotions. The powerful flare of answering love in his eyes shook her, and then her knees almost buckled as the searing wave of his emotions swept over her in turn. She was drowning, but it was the most wonderful feeling she had ever experienced. He dragged her closer and the kiss deepened sharply. Without releasing her, he lifted her and carried her down the hall. His duty as her Caretaker was to keep her happy. He was more than willing to comply. At least he had the advantage of knowing what she wanted, and the luck to want the same thing.

 

* * * * *

 

The nice thing about Protea was that the seasons were so mild that people could go ice skating in the summer and sunbathe in the winter. Theo enjoyed the latter more than the former, though he had to slather on sunscreen to keep from getting a sunburn as red as his hair. He was more than willing to take that risk; he had always been drawn to the heat. At least he now knew why.

He had been soaking up the sun for an hour on the back deck of his house before he realized he wanted lemonade. He rolled up to his feet and tugged his sunglasses off. Lemonade and maybe cake. His brother had gone to see Beth, and Theo felt a bit like celebrating. A smidge lonely, perhaps, but celebratory.

"Hey, on shore!" a female voice called.

He turned in surprise and looked at the river rolling past his house. He could see the dock perfectly from his perch on the second-floor deck, and he noticed immediately that a woman had just tied off a small boat. He recognized her, actually. She was new to the city, and he had seen her around town a few times. She was ridiculously beautiful with coal colored skin, honey brown hair, and dark blue eyes. A little taller than Theo, with a gently curved figure and mild muscle tone. He mentally sighed wistfully. Each time he saw her, his pulse merrily entered a rapid nine-note beat. "Ahoy on dock," he called down to her. "You lost?"

"Actually, I need directions. I'm looking for a handsome man." She smiled up at him with her hands tucked in her denims pockets.

Damn it, she wasn't single. That was not fair of Destiny if she was his soul mate. He hated the idea of hexing a perfectly nice boy. He would do it, sure, but he wouldn't like it. "Hmm. That covers a lot of ground in my circle. What's his name?"

"I don't know yet. What's yours?" She grinned when he laughed at her. She had seen him relaxing from her boat, and the temptation to finally speak to him had finally gotten the best of her. She had been watching him from afar for two weeks, and her need to be closer to him had only grown stronger. There was just something about him that tugged at her heart and soul. And body. He seemed to be fire incarnate inside her blood, and she had a feeling she could far too easily love him. "I'm sorry if that was too blatant."

"Don't be. I found it flattering." He smiled. "Come join me for lemonade."

 

* * * * *

 

Time continued to go past. Several months, in fact. In May of Resurrection Year 27, Racine gave birth to fraternal twins. The first to be born proved to be the sister, and she came into life with the familiar, full, Flower Mark of Statice on her tiny chest. Her brother who was born only a few minutes later had the familiar empty outline of a Deactivated Cultivator of Statice. They had a lighter bronze tone than their mother's skin, their father's green eyes, and their mother's mink brown hair. Claret and Sabin got to share the distinction of being the first Cultivator-Caretaker pair in Blossom to ever meet their grandchildren, and all agreed no one deserved it more.

Just a month later, Tasia found herself lying awake one night only to be hit by the feeling of something being off. She had been in residence at the Delphinium Kingdom, and she hastily threw on the first clothes she found before transporting herself directly to the Protea Castle. She ran through the sleeping structure until she reached the wing where the Daffodil Royal Family had their rooms. She did not bother to knock; she walked right in. "Aunt Kacey?"

Kacey looked at her from where she had been sitting in a chair, and she winced. "I don't know what's going on. I've been in labor most of today, very subtly, but there's something . . . off right now. I guess I'm not surprised you noticed. Oh!" She winced again. "Okay, that hurt."

"Where's Uncle Talon?" Tasia moved to her side and spread a hand across her large belly.

"He went to get me some tea." Her entire body relaxed as wonderful majik brought relief. "You . . . fixed something. Whatever was wrong. What was it?"

"Hard to say, but your son likes my majik." She smiled. "Well, no surprise, really. Alright. Let's get you to the hospital. Or do you want home birth? Raine, and I, and Sayena should be able to handle everything."

"Hospital. I am not ashamed to say I prefer the comfort of medical science as much as magic or majik." She smiled as Talon burst in the door. "It's fine. Go wake our daughter and then call Sayena. Tasia can escort me to the hospital."

Talon frowned. "Can't I escort you and she go get our eldest?"

"You don't have majik."

"Okay, fair enough." He dashed out the door.

Solemnly, Kacey told Tasia, "I am praying that we get another like Raine, who is more me than Talon. We won't know what to do with one more like Talon than me!"

"Baby proof everything and pray, mostly."

Sayena and Raine rousted rather quickly under the circumstances, and the doctor took over as primary care for Kacey while Raine and Tasia acted as her nurses and assistants. It was still closer to mid-morning before the baby was finally born, and by then both kingdoms had been alerted as to the happenings. Robert kept Talon company in the hall so he didn't have a nervous meltdown, and Evan and Shanae remained at the castles to hold down things.

Devin Daffodil came into the world kicking, screaming, and extremely unhappy about the entire situation, but as soon as Tasia took him to get him cleaned up, he ceased crying instantly and instead stared at her with rapt attention. He remained contentedly quiet even after being given to Kacey. If anything, he liked that more and snuggled against his mother's heart.

"Interesting how strongly he responds to you, Tasi," Sayena murmured as she tended to Kacey. "Considering."

Devin had never been expected to be an Activated Ruler Cultivator because of Raine being one. They had expected him to be Deactivated, though. Unexpectedly, curiously, he was not that either. The newborn prince did not have a Seed at all—but he did still possess an incredible amount of easily sensed power of some sort. Not even Tasia could quite put her finger on what he had. "He has something special in his destiny, though," she said as she watched. "And he's the first real evidence of the danger of the lineages. Even with Uncle Talon being intergalactic, Devin does not have a Seed at all." She smiled. "He did get to break the tradition of coloring though, since he got Uncle Talon's cornflower hair." He otherwise had Kacey's copper eyes, and a lighter version of her brown skin.

Raine tickled Devin's cheek and then smiled at Kacey. "I like this whole new life of mine. I got myself two more parents and another brother all at the same time."

Kacey smiled as well. "I think we're all enjoying it more than ever before, too."

 

©Stacy J. Garrett. Do not reprint or redistribute without permission.

Epilogue->