Chapter Seven

Rehalla was wrapped in comfortable warmth. Her back was against something rigid, and when it moved, she realized it was a person. The arm around her hip and belly was blue. "Aken?"

He kissed her shoulder. "Who are you expecting?"

"The inquisitor, but he doesn't spoon."

"He did this to you?"

"Yeah. It's his job."

"Your mind has scarring."

"Sure. It would. I am the most prolific executioner in the last three hundred years."

"So, each time you go out, you get your mind scrubbed?"

She swallowed, but it was easier to speak with him behind her. "Yeah, I don't like to hear the memory of the screams. They tend to send me after child abusers, but the screams still hurt. They echo."

"You are not meant to cause pain, Rehalla." He paused as if saying something profound.

"I know." She exhaled slowly. "I know, but it's all I am good at."

"The fire doesn't like being used that way."

She twisted, but he held her. "What?"

"The fire is alive, and it does not like being used for nothing but death. It lashes out."

Rehalla was still tired, so she started to cry. "That explains a bit. A lot."

"It has been a rough night for you." He kissed her neck.

"How are your nuts?"

He chuckled. "They recovered."

"Good. I panicked."

He brushed his lips along the side of her neck and grazed his canines across the spot he had identified. "Because of this? How do you know about this?"

"I can read. Missy and I both have bloodlines from the outworlders. I have been looking for books on the subject on every mission." She brought her hands up and summoned the fire. She whispered, "I am sorry."

The flickering flames paused and then stroked her cheek. They disappeared back into her palms a moment later. She felt a light warmth inside her, and the fire felt... happy?

"Why did you apologize to it?"

"It isn't the fire's fault that I have accepted that it only had one purpose." She sighed. "I haven't been able to find books on dark fire." She felt herself drooping.

"We have some here. It is a djinn adaptation. Are you still tired?"

Rehalla nodded. "Just a little bit. The fire is doing something."

"Thank goodness. You have too many scars."

"It's not near my scars." She drooped and slept again.

She heard the sound of water and a woman saying, "Aken, it isn't seemly for you to tend to her."

"I brought her here knowing that she would need time and care. I am willing to cover both, but I need to remain with her. It isn't even a joke, Mother."

Rehalla was picked up and carried through the bedroom and into a room filled with scented steam.

"Aken, we have maids that can help her."

"Yes, and I am here to help her now. If her fire lashes out at you, you are on your own." He chuckled and stepped down a few steps until he began to settle, and warm water gripped her feet, her butt, and then her legs. Her torso followed as Aken settled.

Her fire was currently still doing something in her lower abdomen. It was a slow storm that was roiling around, and she slowly opened her eyes.

She looked down and saw bare skin, his and hers.

"Don't panic. You smelled like sweat and sulphur. What is the fire doing? It should have started working on your scars."

"I don't know what it's doing, but I think it's working on my scars, just not the visible ones."

"You have had internal injuries?"

"Sure. Bunches of times. The executions aren't voluntary. They fight back." She shrugged. He was scooping water over her shoulders and rubbing her back. Reality rushed in. "What are you doing?"

"Bathing you is relaxing and necessary." He smiled. "Your body is very surprising."

"Did it play hide-and-seek? Magic tricks?"

He chuckled and pushed her hair behind her back. "Well, it did make curves appear. Your clothing leaves much to be desired."

"I didn't choose the t-shirt, but the fire burned my clothing, and I had been cut up a bit at the last execution."

"Who was it?"

"Mage Larithen Argutal. Accused and convicted of assaulting twelve students under his control. He ran from the judgment, and I caught up with him to carry out judgment."

Aken sighed. "What kind of injuries?"

"Blunt impact of his fist to my abdomen. He died immediately after."

He put his hand over her belly. "He cursed you."

"Yes. That happens a lot. I am resistant, but it still hurts."

"Is the curse extracted by the inquisitor?"

She grunted. "It is. You are smart for a guy with such pretty eyes."

He chuckled and stroked her belly. "Thank you. My father contributed to them."

"Your parents are still together?"

"Yes. Yours?"

"Uh, yes. I haven't seen them in a while. The last time was over winter holidays, I think."

"Was it a good visit?"

She paused. "It wasn't what I had been hoping for, and then I got an assignment."

He kissed her temple and kept slowly rinsing her. "What happened?"

"You sound like you know. Damn. Missy."

"She is very concerned, and her familiar brought her here to give me a briefing after she saw you."

"How long was I out?"

"Four days. You were desperate for sleep." He smiled. "She is giving the staff instructions on how to best take care of you and her number in case there is an issue."

She started crying and tried to keep her head down. "Most folks wouldn't consider her friend material, but to me, she has been steady since the day we met. If she's giving out her number, she was extremely worried."

He hugged her. "Don't cry, Rehalla. You have more backup than you imagined, but I will ask you to retire from execution."

She looked up at him and blinked. "I have tried. The guild won't let me out of the contract."

He jolted. "You are not joking."

"No. When one of the perverts nearly killed me, I tried to resign and was willing to have Sevval kill my magic just to set me free."

"Oh, honey. I think I am going to kidnap you."

She stared into his violet eyes. "You had better warn Missy."

"Why?"

"She can keep anyone from finding me."

"I will speak with her as soon as we get you relaxed and warm."

She looked into his blue features, and when his lips were an inch from hers, she asked, "How can I have dark fire if it is a djinn thing?"

He grinned and tilted his head to kiss her. He started slowly by licking softly, and heat curled through her when she opened her mouth to his. When their mouths fitted together, she felt something starting, and as his tongue stroked hers, she felt heat. Not just ordinary heat. Dark fire flowed out of him and into her. It joined the fire in her abdomen and turned the storm into a hurricane.

She clutched at him and gripped his hands as the fire overtook her. His fire acted as a catalyst for hers, and soon, the water was churning around them as the flame ran along her limbs.

He stood, shifted, and sat on the tiled edge of the pool they had just been sitting in. He kept his mouth over hers until the world around her was full of black flame, and Aken was making soft sounds with every kiss.

Rehalla gasped when the fire stopped, and he lifted his head.

He smiled down at her.

She looked up at him. "What the fuck was that?"

He laughed. "Mating fire."

"What?"

"That is what the dark fire is for. It is to heal and stimulate your mate."

"But I have been using it to kill."

"And it has made the fire angry. It was never made for that."

"But it tore the targets apart."

He stroked her cheek. "They weren't your mate. The fire got angry."

"Oh. Oh, that's sick."

"Yes. Here is the problem. The mages knew. The guild has all sorts of records of dark fire."

"But when I went looking, they didn't have any information on it."

"That would be because they haven't seen a female with it before. Our women are not generally found in mage families."

"Wait. What? Where are they found?"

"Closer to the djinn. When a seer has decreed it, we use infertile couples to have our children for us. The benefit to the couple is that they are then able to have the families they want. The magic in our children fixes its environment."

"Oh. Wait. So, I am not a member of my own family?"

"You were born to your mother, but genetically, you were not her daughter."

"That explains the DNA." She swallowed. "It said I was part outworlder, just like Missy."

"Not quite like Missy. How close was your ancestor?"

She pressed her knees together and locked her feet together. "Closer than I let Missy know because I didn't want her to get the idea that my mom had cheated on my dad."

He smiled. "Given your colouring, I believe I know the donor couple who started you."

"So, you just send the kids loose into the world? That's fucked up."

"We normally retrieve them, but something happened in your case."

"What?"

"They asked to keep you."

"What?"

"They figured out what you were and asked to keep you, so you remained in place."

She whispered, "Put me down." She felt the blood drained out of her system. They had had the chance to have her raised by people who understood her, and they had kept her, cherishing her until the first of their children had come along when she was six.

"Missy told me. They should have given you up, but they didn't. So, you went to school, met Missy, and helped save her life."

"Yeah. I sent my fire everywhere, looking for her signature. I burned the guards near the torture chamber and then returned home, sending fire directly to her to break the rack they had her on, and she followed the fire home."

"Why did you let her think she escaped on her own?"

"She needed more confidence. She had a lot of power but not a lot of confidence in her own actions."

"So, you gave that to her and then got her help."

"I did. I also posited the idea of a familiar for her, but I wasn't able to qualify."

"Wait, you wanted to be her familiar?"

"Yes. It made sense, but they informed me that my fire wasn't compatible with her, so they would not allow it."

"And they took your friend away."

"Yeah."

"So, you have functionally been alone for... thirteen years?"

"Closer to fifteen."

"Hm. May I hug you?"

She paused and then nodded. He wrapped his arms around her, and she started shivering and crying.

While she let herself go, he got them both back into the tub, washed her body, and washed and rinsed her hair. He had her wrapped and sitting while he had a towel around his hips.

"Wait. Were you naked this whole time?"

He laughed and handed her a brush while he started on the other side of her head.

When her hair was wet and straight, he wove his fingers along her scalp and fire-dried her hair from root to tip.

She looked at him. "You have always wanted to do that."

"I saw my father dry my mother's hair once, and it intrigued me."

"And now you have your own dolly to play with."

"So, you are acknowledging our connection?"

"Well, I swallowed your dark fire in a direct and not euphemistic sense. I know that isn't a common thing."

He kissed that spot on her neck again. He exhaled fire against her skin, and she felt a throb under his mouth. She looked at them in the mirror, and her whole body got hot. "Um, what are you doing?"

"Waking you."

"I am awake."

"Waking your outworlder nature so that we come together on equal footing." His lips grazed her skin again, and she felt a throb again.

He pressed a soft kiss to her neck, and she shivered. "You are coming along fast."

"If you say so."

"Now, when do you think you can pull your glamour?"

She looked at herself in the mirror, and her skin started glowing.

"I have never met someone who could hold a glamour while they slept."

"Is that why your mother was pissed?"

"She was pissed because she has been trying to convince me to settle for a lady of the court." Aken smiled at her in the mirror. "And she never uses the word pissed."

"Ah. I understand." She looked down at her towel. "What was I wearing when I came in?"

"A grey jersey shirt. I have something else for you to wear. Artemis brought it in. It was a gift from Lord Spiralbright. He wishes to invite you to his clan."

"What?" She stood up and clutched the towel to her. "They turned me down."

"Apparently, they reassessed it with the guidance of the archmage. She can be persuasive."

"She probably threatened him with shrubs."

He kept a hand on her back as he supported her out. "Shrubs?"

"It is a running gag. Every time assassins attack her, they end up in different shrubs all over the world."

"Ouch."

"Yeah. It started out as appalling, but now, it is just funny. She doesn't even know she's dispersing them. It simply happens."

He walked her toward a dress that was hovering in mid-air. It was gold and green with burgundy trim, and it was a skirt and top.

"It's broken."

"It's traditional, and it will take care of the dramatic intake of your waist."

"I try to hide it."

"It deserves to be seen. When it's showing, I can't look away." He smiled and handed her the bag that had been near it.

"Underwear. Tylos selected it."

He frowned. "How can you tell?"

"It matches. Missy would have picked my most comfortable set."

She pulled the panties on under the towel, got the bra into position and then wiggled the towel loose while she finalized placement. The towel hit the floor, and she was covered two seconds later.

Aken was watching her closely instead of getting dressed himself, and when she slid her arms into the sleeves of the wrap top and worked out the fastening that kept it tight to her skin, he sighed happily. "That's lovely."

"Weird fetish."

"Absolutely. I will explain in detail why later."

She saw the shoes and stepped into them. She loved wearing flats. They made it so much easier to move.

There was a thumping at the door, and she smiled at the sound. She opened the door and scooped up the kitten that came bounding through the crack. "Hey, Smoog. Has Missy made you legal yet?"

He shook his head and then tucked his tiny head under hers, purring.

She stroked behind his weirdly large ears. "She's been busy."

He was kneading at her hand, and the purr was tremendous.

Aken asked, "He has been around. What is he?"

"He was a kidnapper assigned to capture Missy's sister. He punched Missy into a wall and cracked her skull. This form is his punishment. She's going to take him as a secondary familiar with Tannic being her primary. She knows his actual name but calls him Smoog to protect his family."

Aken tugged his sleeveless shirt straight and smoothed it down. It was a more casual version of the outfit he had worn to the engagement party. It was black and dark pewter.

She looked at him and blinked slowly. He was built. Wide shoulders, thick biceps, forearms wider than her calves. "How did I miss that?"

He grinned and reached out to let Smoog sniff his hand. "The same way I missed you under your glamour. You saw what I wanted you to see."

"Damn. It might have saved you from my knee."

He chuckled. "It was probably for the best. It let us both take a step back."

She grimaced. "I stepped back and fell on my ass."

"And I was rapidly educated as to who and what you are."

She absently stroked Smoog. "Yes, I suppose you did."

"Your friend is waiting with her familiar. Shall we join them?"

"Oh, sure. Smoog, you are walking."

The kitten started to meep in protest.

"Dude, either you walk, or Aken carries you."

Aken held his hand out, palm up.

He cringed back into her grip. She handed him over to Aken. The kitten was sulking.

Aken's hand easily contained and supported the little dude. "Shall we head out?"

She nodded. "I think Missy is going to need a hug, or she's going to fly apart."

"You may be right about that."

The walls were smooth and a soft peach. Tile highlighted every threshold and framed each door. It was soothing, calming, and comfortably cool. As they descended some stairs, there were suddenly people milling around. Very few were blue, but every other skin colour was represented in droves.

Rehalla moved closer to Aken, and he wrapped an arm around her waist. The crowd parted and let them through, but when she heard, "Rehalla!" She stepped forward so she could catch Artemis when she thudded into her arms.

Rehalla held her friend, and Missy leaned back while she held onto her. "You are glowing."

"Haha." She sighed. "I haven't left my glamour down this long in quite a while."

Artemis sighed. "Are you upset that you woke up with Aken?"

"I am just glad to have woken up at all. I had quite a bit of internal bleeding."

Missy's expression hardened. "I am going to kill him all over again."

"No need. I managed it fairly effectively, but I am going to have to find a way to break my contract with the guild. I don't want to do that again, and now that I understand what I was doing, I am sick about it."

"Oh, the dark fire thing."

Rehalla sighed. "You knew?"

"It has been a few days. I learned. I have always been good with books, and Aken's family allowed me at their library." She smiled. "At least we know a bit more about your genetic history. It explains a bit."

"Yeah. I wonder who my originators are. I mean, do they have a registry? And what about my parents? Why did they ask to keep me and then ignore me?"

Missy leaned in and whispered, "Your glamour. They helped you construct it so that you wouldn't attract attention."

Rehalla was shocked as the ramifications set in. "You are kidding me."

"I am afraid not." She shrugged. "I talked to Sevval, and she interviewed her cousins. They both said that when you started using magic, they just lost interest in you."

"I was five!" Rehalla was shocked. "Holy shit! Fucking assholes!"

The room fell silent.

Aken chuckled. "Well, this is one way to create an introduction to our court. Archmage, I would like to have her meet my parents."

"Oops." Rehalla looked around at the shocked expressions. "I suppose I make an impression."

Aken handed Smoog to Missy and said, "You certainly do. Here is your furball."

Missy grinned. "I have your back."

Tannic appeared from the crowd and took Missy's hand.

Aken steered Rehalla toward the thrones at the far side of the room. A blue-skinned couple were sitting in the golden chairs, and the woman looked surprised when she saw Rehalla.

Rehalla did what the guild taught her; she curtsied gracefully. "Your Majesties."

The queen huffed. "You are not to speak unless spoken to."

"You weren't speaking, and it isn't polite to leave someone unacknowledged." She smiled. "I acknowledged you."

The queen snorted. "From what I hear, you have not been acknowledged. What is your name?"

"Rehalla." She felt Aken squeeze her hip. "Master dark fire mage and executioner." She smiled. "Friend to Artemis, Archmage and portal specialist."

Aken chuckled. "And beloved of Aken."

She muttered, "That's a little strong and flowery."

"Four nights with sleeping beauty has turned me into prince charming." He chuckled.

The king leaned forward. "So, Rehalla, beloved of Aken, how have you bewitched my son?"

"We made out at a friend's engagement party." She smiled. "Our fires changed places, and I kneed him in the groin so I could have a moment to think."

Aken sighed and rubbed her hip.

His father looked at him. "Really?"

"Yes. It is very accurate. She neglected to mention that she was at the end of her heat, and I was at the end of my rut. If she hadn't enforced her decision, we might still be locked."

The king grinned. "Well, it is a pity that her cycle has passed, but there will be others."

Rehalla jolted.

Aken shrugged. "When it happens, it happens. We are young enough to have an astonishing amount of time to try and produce an heir. If we are blessed, we are blessed."

A snide voice said, "She was a transplant, so what would she know about carrying?"

Rehalla looked at the woman, stepped forward, and pulled her blades, moving until the woman's head was resting on the deadly energy. It took less than two seconds.

Aken spoke, "Rehalla, that is Lady Avenel."

"She didn't introduce herself and wasn't acknowledged by a royal. So, isn't the sentence death?"

The lady's eyes were huge, and blood began to trickle down her throat.

The queen shrieked. "What are you doing?"

"She is being rude. I am making the point that I do not tolerate rudeness. I don't care whose vagina she crawled out of, manners matter."

There were gasps, and a few of the men in the gathering chuckled. Apparently, the good lady was a bitch to others.

The queen calmly said, "Please sheath your blades. I thought those were just tattoos."

"Oh, I forgot to mention being a blade mage in my description. Oops." She looked at the lady. "No, apologize for the dig about my birth or start doing your hair at arms' length from the table in front of you. I don't hesitate to issue death."

She waited.

"I am sorry, miss. I was rude."

"Yes. You were. Now, say you will not be rude to me again, and I can lower the blades."

"I will not be rude to you again, miss."

Rehalla tilted her head. "Call me Master Mage Rehalla."

Missy snorted.

"Yes, Master Mage Rehalla. I am sorry."

Rehalla pulled her blades back and returned them to her skin. "There. Manners matter."

Aken's arms wrapped around her and pulled her back against him. The queen was staring at her, and the king had an amused twitch on his lips.

She felt something behind her and muttered, "Please tell me that didn't turn you on."

He leaned in and kissed her neck. "I am not going to lie to you."

"Geez." She shivered wildly.

He pulled her tight against him. "So, Rehalla, may I introduce you to my parents, King Akonel and Queen Yasminia."

She tried to curtsy again but was held tight. She inclined her head.

He whispered in her ear. "You didn't kick. Good girl."

She felt the rush of heat rip through her and recognized it for what it was. She reacted to praise because it was so rare. Stupid kink.

He chuckled. "Oh, that is a fun response, precious."

She hissed, "Dude, fifty people are staring, and Missy is laughing her butt off."

"They can stare, and she can laugh." He chuckled. "By the way, your glow has increased."

She groaned. "Good grief."

"It's a good thing. Do you see anyone else here with the same aura?"

She turned her head from left to right. "Uh, no."

"It narrows down your parentage." He nuzzled her ear. "There is only one family here who has this kind of energy signature as part of their line."

"You are kidding."

"No, I am not. They also made arrangements for a changeling just over thirty years ago."

"Wait. Changeling?"

"Yes, that is what it is called when elfborn mix with djinnborn and can't have a child on their own and have a surrogate bear their child."

"So, what happened with me?"

"You will have to ask your parents."

She sighed. "Which set?"

"Perhaps we can speak with both."

Missy murmured from behind them. "You might want to speak with your original parents first and then the surrogates. Just to get things straight. I can referee."

Despite the agony of the situation, Rehalla chuckled. Aken's arms tightened, and masculine heads turned toward her.

"That is a very nice sound, Rehalla."

"Is that why you are squeezing me in the middle like toothpaste?"

His arms relaxed, and his fingers trailed over the tiny bit of exposed skin. "That is a weird way to use toothpaste."

She leaned back against him, and one of his hands wrapped around her throat. She chuckled again. "My knee is getting itchy."

The queen chirped out, "Are you a virgin?"

A wave of shock rippled through the court.

Rehalla looked at her. "Of course not. Don't be stupid. I am over thirty, and I go into heat. How long were you a virgin after your first heat?"

The king leaned back. "Yes, dear. How long were you a virgin after your first heat?"

The queen blushed. "I don't go through that, as you well know."

Rehalla looked at her. "But you know all about it, right? The pain, the desperation, the need to just have someone, anyone inside you, and the agony when it isn't right."

There were a few women in the crowd nodding.

The queen was flustered, but she locked onto part of the statement. "Wait, over thirty? That's too old for you, Aken."

Dread crept through Rehalla, and she slowly looked up at Aken. "Wait, how old are you?"

"Two years younger than you, and I know you are only twenty-seven. You round up?"

"Yeah, it explains my aura. I just look older, so..."

"Hm. You are twenty-seven, and I am twenty-five. Not too far apart."

"You aren't a virgin, are you?"

He smirked. "No, but if you want to roleplay later, I am willing."

She opened her mouth and then closed it with a snap.

The king barked a laugh and said, "On that note, I believe we should seek a more private location to discuss matters."

Missy spoke from behind Rehalla. "May I be included?"

The king nodded. "Please. I believe you have some insight into this, as does your mate."

Missy sighed. "Not a mate. Not yet."

Tannic chuckled. "Events have kept the courtship from progressing."

Rehalla gasped. "Oh, I am so sorry."

Missy shook her head. "Don't be. This is a fraction of the time you spent on me. Plus, Tannic has a ridiculous lifespan, and he can wait a few days."

Tannic snorted. "Yes, dear."

The king snorted. "Come along."

He held a hand out to his queen and kissed her knuckles before leading her away. Aken mimicked his father's formality, let Rehalla go, and offered her his hand. She took it, and they followed. Missy snorted, so Rehalla guessed they were walking in the same manner.

They walked through the building and had guards ahead and behind. The king led them to what seemed to be a large sitting room. The guards took up positions outside, and they all settled on cushioned chairs. Rehalla was settling when Aken scooped her up and pulled her onto his lap to cuddle her.

"This is not appropriate."

"Rehalla, you still smell hot, and I am not putting distance between us until you are not."

His mother asked hesitantly, "Still?"

Akonel nodded. "Still, dear. I am amazed she can function."

Rehalla shrugged. "You get used to it, but I would have normally burned it out of myself by now."

"Burned..." Akonel cleared his throat. "How?"

"I would use the dark fire to clear everything out. It hurt, and I wanted to die, but it worked."

Aken said, "She and her fire have found peace." He kissed her temple, cheekbone, and jaw as if compelled to do it.

Rehalla tried to remain businesslike. "I didn't know I could talk to it. They told me it was just power and showed me how to kill with it."

Akonel sat back. "I have never seen a woman with enough fire to kill. What do you look like when you wear it?"

"Wear it?"

Missy filled in, "On your skin, goober. Wrap yourself in it."

Rehalla shrugged. "Right. Aken is fine, but ya'll might want to back up."

Missy got to her feet and hauled Tannic and Smoog to the wall. She snapped a ward between them.

Missy spoke to the royals. "Your Majesties, she isn't exaggerating."

Yasminia caught on and stood, grabbing her husband's hand and hauling him to the wall.

Rehalla shrugged and spoke to the flame inside, letting it come out. The dark fire roared out through her skin, wrapped around Aken, and then began to fill the room.

Aken murmured around the roar, "You can pull it in now."

She nodded and pulled the dark fire back into her body. Yasminia and Akonel were stunned. Missy was smug. Tannic and Smoog looked horrified but unsurprised.

Rehalla looked at Aken. "I am guessing that yours doesn't look like that."

He smiled. "It does not. It is very impressed and pleased with itself for getting so much power in a mate."

His parents looked slightly grey as they returned to their seats. Missy nearly skipped to hers. "She's magnificent, isn't she?"

Akonel nodded. "Magnificent, terrifying. Rehalla, how did you get so strong?"

"Um, I went looking for something that was lost, but I spent so much time looking that I—uh—sprained my fire, and when I got it back, it was harder to contain." She shrugged. "After I became an executioner, the more I pushed it, the larger it got."

Yasminia asked, "What was lost?"

Missy raised her hand. "Me. I was lost, and the guild search was ineffective. Rehalla was the only one who believed from the moment I disappeared that I had been taken. She got on it, found me, and led me home."

Akonel frowned. "You hunted her with it?"

"Tracked. Yes. It took me five days from the time I found the spell to the moment she was at the healers." Rehalla kicked her feet.

Missy sighed. "It felt like so much longer."

"Sorry. You were in a cavern, under the ocean, next to a live volcano, and the room was covered with containment crystals. That is a tricky find." Rehalla smirked at her friend. "But I found you."

"Yes. They don't make a card for that."

They smiled in unison.

Aken slid a hand into her hair and nudged her head over until she faced him. The kiss was intense and not intended as anything other than the communication of how much a fan of her fire he actually was.

When he lifted his head, she was throbbing all over. She muttered, "Stop doing that in public."

He grinned. "I am showing my appreciation for your ferocity."

"That wasn't ferocity; that was just my fire."

"I know, but you have so much potential for creation or destruction that it gets me all worked up."

"Well, get it down. This is a very odd day."

He grinned and pressed his forehead to hers.

Rehalla swayed a little, and Missy asked, "When did she last eat?"

"Before she slept. Her fire has been running her body and began healing when she woke."

"She needs something to eat or, at least, drink." Missy frowned, opened a portal above her, and plucked a few bottles of juice from inside.

Rehalla smiled and took the opened bottle that Missy brought. Orange and pineapple were Rehalla's favourites. "Thanks, Mom."

Missy laughed. "Finish that one, and I will get you some more."

Rehalla drained the first bottle, handed it off, and took the second and then the third. She felt a little stronger by the time the last one was down.

"That's better. Thank you, Missy."

"No problem. Making out doesn't beat an actual meal." Missy glared at Aken.

Aken sighed. "We were requested."

Akonel shrugged. "They were. Rehalla, when would you like to meet your genetic parents?"

"Uh, I don't know. What is the estimated timeline?"

"What?"

"When can they be here?"

Aken murmured, "They were in the court."

Missy's eyes went wide, and she lifted her hands.

Rehalla stopped her. "No. Don't transport them here."

Yasminia held up a hand and spoke to an attendant that appeared from the shadows. She spoke softly, and the person nodded. Yasminia looked at Rehalla. "They will be here in five minutes, at a nice stately pace. Their names are Irfrenel and Althuria. He is the outworlder, and she is the djinn. They have both been waiting for this day."

Rehalla frowned. "The day I woke up naked with Aken? That is weirdly specific."

Tannic rubbed his eyes with his finger and thumb. "She is literal. Like Artemis."

Aken chuckled. "Wait until you meet Irfrenel."

"You have met him?"

"Of course. He's the chief administrator of the treasury. CFO of the city." Aken smiled. "He is a good and even-tempered man. His wife, however..." He shrugged.

"What?" Rehalla growled.

Yasminia laughed. "You will see."

They waited in silence, and Rehalla's gaze was fixed on the doorway.

The soft knock preceded the entry of two fascinating figures that explained a lot about what Rehalla was made of.

Her family had never doubted her origins as her mother had been obviously pregnant, and her father had been happy when she was born.

The glowing golden elf had brilliant green eyes, and the vibrant blue woman had a heavy cascade of crimson hair carefully contained with pearls and chains. Her dress was black with gold trim, and her husband wore dark blue with silver trim.

They walked into the room and froze when they saw her. Rehalla tried to get up, but Aken was holding her. She slapped his hands, and he chuckled and let her go.

Rehalla walked up to them, took a deep breath, and stuck out her hand. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Rehalla." They stared at her with watery eyes, so she lightened things up by saying, "Uh, it's a girl?"

They smiled, and then she was lost in a hug where traces of both scents combined made hers. She was crushed between them and heard Missy laughing, but she didn't mind. These people liked her.