Chapter 132 The Reconcile

Evernya averted her gaze from her mate’s enslavement, understanding the feeling. She trotted past Aya’s slave training but saw enough to realize Aya remembered all of it. Tears gathered in her eyes, but she pushed on, reaching the moment they met a few minutes later.

Warmth bubbled in her chest as she felt Aya’s adoration of her, but out of respect, she skipped past their time together. When she reached her kidnapping to the ruins, Evernya froze as within hours of her contacting Aya, the Kitsune matriarch cornered Aya in Druth.

The nine tailed Kitsune wove an illusion just outside Meira’s truck boxing Aya in with two six tailed brown haired Kitsune. Unlike their previous meeting, Aya raised to her full height, tails raised, ears high as she locked eyes with her grandmother. Only to freeze when her grandmother spoke with a mana infused voice.

“As the head of the Royal Ita bloodline, I proclaim you heir.”

An oppressive weight descended on Aya, squashing any resistance and sending her to her knees. Still, despite the pressure, Aya glared up at her grandmother as she struggled. “I refuse!”

Her grandmother smiled down at Aya but said nothing, watching as her bloodline wormed its way back into her granddaughter’s soul.

Aya growled in defiance but a soul deep ripping sensation caused her to collapse on the pavement spent. A moment later, her former bloodline took hold, this time much more potent.

Defiance still flashed in her eyes as she glared up at her grandmother, but she made no attempt to move, knowing it was futile.

With a victorious smirk, her grandmother continued again using her mana infused voice. “As the head of the Ita bloodline, I command you to stay silent during our meeting.” The mana left her grandmother’s voice as she added, “I have high hopes for you, my heir. When I heard the prophecy of your rise in power, I couldn’t believe it, but I’m glad.” Her grandmother stared up at the sky. “History repeats itself, but this time I’ll be the one to take advantage of the mating between our races.”

Tears flowed from Evernya’s eyes as she felt her mate’s rage and helplessness. The following memories were of Aya relentlessly training, trying to banish the revulsion of her forced bloodline to no avail.

Almost as if the matriarch knew exactly when Evernya would return, the matriarch reappeared the day before Evernya left the facility. This time she cornered Aya in her bedroom, driving in the point nowhere was safe.

As usual, her voice sung with mana. “I command you to stay away from Evernya Draor Draxia Draoraxia at all costs. You are to tell no one of our meeting here.”

Against Aya’s will, the command sunk in, bringing tears to her eyes. That day, all she did was lay in bed and cry.

The following day, when Evernya tried to contact her, a stabbing pain rippled through her soul, but she persevered and sent out clipped responses through gritted teeth. When it became too much, she cut the connection and curled into a ball, all nine tails protectively wrapped around her sobbing form.

Evernya’s legs grew weak as her tear-stained face stared at the memory for several minutes, well past its completion and restart.

With lead feet, she pushed herself forward despite knowing what was coming. As she feared after Evernya’s arrest, her grandmother reappeared in front of Aya, who was curled up in an unknown darkroom fighting the command to stay away from her mate but failing.

Her grandmother stared down at Aya with a joyous smile, feeling her revenge near. “I command you to only return to your mate at the time of her execution.”

Something broke inside of Aya as the command took hold, only to roil in her soul, fighting against her soul bond. For the first time, her soul fought back and won, crushing the command.

Her grandmother jerked back from the backlash, but her smile remained as if she expected the outcome. “Oh? You still have some fight left? Maybe you will make a competent heir after all if I decide to keep you.”

Emboldened by her victory, Aya sprang to her feet, fire rippling from her nine tails. Before she could strike back, the oppressive force of her grandmother’s far stronger mana aura crushed her. Her legs buckled, dropping her to her knees, but she refused to break eye contact, retribution promised in her Ruby eyes.

“Hmm, how but I offer you an alternative.” Her grandmother materialized, a ruby encrusted collar in her hand. “I will allow you to save your mate from her execution on the condition you put this on and never see your mate again.”

Despite knowing her grandmother will adjust command her Aya growled, “no.”

“Very well. I’m feeling benevolent.” Yet again her grandmother’s voice rippled with mana. “I command you to visit your mate one last time before locking the collar around your neck.”

Aya’s hands shook as she struggled to keep them away from the collar in her grandmother’s outstretched hands, but it was a losing battle.

Her grandmother disappeared just as quickly as she came, leaving Aya with the collar laying in front of her.

Evernya rushed past the next several memories, mostly of Aya sitting alone in the dark, crying. With each passing memory, Evernya’s desire to comfort her mate rose exponentially, but knowing the only way to help her was to push forward, she persevered.

The moment she reached the memory of Aya locking the collar, a sharp pain speared through her very soul. Like Evernya right after Aya teleported away, appearing in a dark concrete room, she screamed as the backlash hit her. Flames exploded from her body, scorching the empty room while Aya laid spasming on the floor. The memory went black a few seconds later as Aya presumably lost consciousness.

Unfortunately, the next memory didn’t get any better as Aya woke up in a cell. Her sluggish body lifted off the cot to find several envious ruby eyed Kitsune outside her cell.

Unable to watch any longer, Evernya rushed forward, trying to keep her eyes off the ensuing torment as Aya’s family slowly broke her down, erasing all the progress she made with her and Meira. By the last memory before she return to Sespina, Aya couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes as she dragged her nine tails wherever she went.

Rage ignited within Evernya upon finding out the reason for the Kitsune and Sespinian meeting. The matriarch planned to marry Aya off to one of the king’s sons since Aya couldn’t soul bond again.

Evernya’s rage snuffed out a second later as she saw Aya’s suicidal plan. Only for horror to form. If we weren’t there Aya would die. I can’t say I would blame her. I’d probably suicide bomb myself too in her situation. Thankfully, instead of her, the matriarch exploded herself. It was her hatred for my mother so much that she would throw her life away like that? It’s a shame Aya never got her chance for revenge actually, never mind, there’s still the five siblings.

A vicious smile formed as Evernya’s mind worked through what to do with Aya’s siblings.

Shelving her plans for now, Evernya moved on smiling as hope radiated off the following memories only to frown when doubt and self-loathing followed.

The tunnel kept going past the memories deeper into Aya’s mind until she came upon a door. With a flex of her mental muscles, the door opened to reveal a near-perfect replica of her bedroom back at Meira’s. Evernya’s eyes instantly locked on to the curled up form on the bed cocooned in fluffy tails.

On instinct, Evernya dashed forward, wrapping the sobbing form of Aya in a hug, only for her hands to pass through. Unwilling to give up, Evernya crouched down, making eye contact with tear filled Ruby eyes, staring at her in shock.

“Aya, none of this is your fault. Stop blaming yourself.”

Muffled by a tail covering her mouth, Aya muttered, “but Aya hurt Nya. Aya doesn’t deserve forgiveness.”

Evernya’s face hardened as she drilled her gaze into Aya. “I saw all your memories. There is nothing to forgive. You were a victim just as much as I was, if not more. You are so strong to survive through all that.”

Aya’s tails receded slightly, but Aya looked unconvinced. “But Aya hurt Nya.”

Evernya nodded her head. “Yes, you did, and you probably will again, just like I will. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. I forgive you for any mistake you made, just like I hope you will forgive me.”

Unable to resist, Aya’s tails shot out toward Evernya only to pass through, causing Evernya to giggle at Aya’s pout. “If you want some hugging time, you need to leave here.”

With a wink, Evernya disappeared as she withdrew her mind. A moment later, she found herself back in her body, kneeling over Aya on the bed. She hopped off the bed, retreating out of tail range and waited, hoping she did enough.

A few seconds later, the storm within Aya’s mana system calmed as Aya’s mana ceased its resistance, instead opting to assimilate the incoming mana.

Evernya glanced up at the raft to find the duo smiling down at her with relief clearly visible.

Any thoughts of talking to them fell away as Aya’s Ruby eyes fluttered open. They scanned her surroundings in panic until they landed on Evernya. A shy but happy smile formed as Aya sat up, only to whimper.

Evernya dashed forward, hugging Aya as she glared up at the rift, pumping mana into Aya. “What are you doing? You’re hurting her!”

“No, we are not young Draecath. As was prophesied, little Aya is receiving her birthright. She was always our choice as the head of her clan, but her grandmother did all she could to prevent it.”

“So she’s the new Kitsune matriarch?”

“Not quite that title always falls to the oldest Kitsune. However, the matriarch doesn’t have absolute control when we formed our clan. We gave our oldest and youngest children the power to rule the Kitsune. The matriarch was to be the public face and run the day-to-day activities of the clan while the head of the bloodline stayed in the shadows, only stepping in when needed. Her grandmother, in her greed, killed her younger sister and stole her power to be the sole ruler. With little Aya gaining the head of the bloodline, we restore balance once more.”

“Who is the matriarch then? From her memories, none of her family deserves it.”

“Who says it had to be a member of the royal family? We only stipulated the oldest would be the matriarch and her grandmother killed off any royal close to her age.”

Evernya stared down at Aya, trying her best to hide her pain. “Does Aya have to rush back?”

“No, your mother ensured a smooth transition. I’m sure everything will be fine for at least the next century. Take Aya and explore the world both of you could use some vacation time.”

Before Evernya could question further, Aya suddenly relaxed as a wave a power radiated out of her. She glanced up at the rift, only to find it gone. “Aya, how do you feel?”

Aya stared up at Evernya, tears gathering in her eyes. “Aya feels great, thanks to Nya.”

Against her will, a smile spread across her face as her shoulders relaxed. Her smile shifted to a frown as her eyes drifted to the collar still around her mate’s neck.

Following Evernya’s gaze, Aya’s hands reached toward her neck. She touched the collar but didn’t open it, instead looking into her mate’s eyes with a shy, worried expression. “Is Nya sure she wants to be with me for life? When Aya removes this collar, there is no turning back. Our bond will be too strong to block.”

Without a moment of hesitation, Evernya nodded, hands twitching to rip the collar off herself.

Needing no more confirmation, Aya sat up and reach behind her neck. After a pulse of mana, the collar clicked before falling to Aya’s lap. A moment later, the collar Evernya crushed it and teleported away the mangled metal, only leaving the rubies. Evernya gestured to the rubies with a smile. “For you.”

Aya smiled up at her mate but froze as she watched red chains emerge from her chest to meet blue chains from Evernya. Unlike last time, where only one chain each intertwined, dozens wove together, turning purple before fading from sight.

Avonya popped in with a proud smile but a uh oh formed a moment later. “You two better get out of here. Aya is about to ascend.”