Jahrra lifted her own hand, warm and content, the golden rays of the early afternoon sun lighting the world outside and casting a soft glow upon their bedroom.
“And you as well, my dragon king,” she whispered, responding to his earlier claims.
Jaax smiled, that smug, crooked grin she loved so much.
“I never expected Ethoes to bless me with happiness as I fell from that cliff,” he said, his voice going raspy, his eyes darkening to a deeper emerald.
Jahrra continued to stroke his face, her eyes softening. Jaax didn’t often speak of what he had gone through in those final days as a captive of the Crimson King. Neither had she. It had been too hard. But every now and then, the right moment would arise and they would share a bit of their pain with one another, each of them washing some of it away once it was shared.
“When I begged her to grant you a happy life, I never dreamed she’d bestow the same gift upon me.”
Tears filled his eyes, a few escaping and streaming down his face. Jahrra sighed and scooted into a sitting position, pulling Jaax up with her. He went without complaint, allowing her to settle them both against the pillows. She lifted both hands to brush away his tears.
“After losing my parents, and Hroombra, then Kehllor, and,” she said, her voice breaking, “and then when I thought I had lost you, I lived as a shell of someone I didn’t know. I wasn’t alive then, Jaax, in those weeks following the end of the war. My heart beat, my lungs drew in oxygen. I felt the heat of the sun and the bite of the wind, but I was numb inside. And then, when you arrived, not as a dragon, but as the prince Oescienne had yearned for for so long, I started to feel again. But they were the wrong feelings: hatred, anger, resentment.”
Jahrra paused and laughed out loud at that. “I should have known then it was you.”
She bit her lip and ran her fingers through his thick blond hair.
Jaax quirked a dark brow and sat up a little straighter against the pillows. “Oh?”
Jahrra nodded, accepting his invitation when he lifted one arm. After snuggling against his chest, she sighed and continued, “Don’t you remember how much I loathed you when I was younger? Before leaving Oescienne and a good time after that, actually.”
Jaax chuckled, the sound reverberating through her. It was comforting, and so much better than his earlier sadness.
“Oh, yes, I do remember. I even remember Denaeh trying to give me advice on how to relate to you better.” He snorted, then added, “I was too stubborn and resentful to listen, though. At least, at the time.”
Jahrra smiled and took his hand in hers, linking their fingers. He wore the spirit stone ring she had spent her sword fighting money on that year in Lidien, the one he never took off. She held her left hand out in front of her, admiring her own ring. Also a spirit stone, one he had gifted to her on their wedding day, set in augrim in a pattern very similar to his. Jaax had shamelessly used his new title as the King of Oescienne to arrange for the jewelers in Lidien to travel to their realm for a visit. While there, the ring had been made using a drop of her blood and his. Not a scale this time, though Jahrra still wore that particular pendant around her neck. The ring, though, was something special, a beautiful, multifaceted stone of pale blue green, red, and yellow, the heart speck in the center clearly visible for all to see. A symbol of Jaax’s heart, the one she was now entrusted to care for until the end of her days.
Jahrra sighed, comforted by the strong beat of that heart against her ear. If she were being honest with herself, she had known for a very long time what Jaax meant to her. Dragon or no, their souls were too well matched. And, maybe Ethoes had meant for this outcome all along. Perhaps, she had somehow fashioned Jahrra to be Jaax’s savior, more so than the world’s. She very much liked the idea of that, but she wouldn’t share her thoughts with her husband. Maybe someday, but not now.
“So,” Jaax murmured against her hair after several minutes, the hand linked with hers traveling down her torso to come to rest against her lower abdomen. “We’re going to be parents.”
His voice held such joy, she couldn’t help but beam in response. She tilted her head back to gaze up at him, his handsome face setting her heart on fire all over again.
“According to Denaeh. She is pretty good at foreseeing the future, after all. And we do employ the best healer in all of Oescienne.”
“Twins,” he managed, that delight overshadowed only by awe.
Jahrra nodded. “A boy and a girl.”
“Have you thought of any names yet?”
Jahrra hesitated at this. She had. But she wasn’t sure what Jaax would think.
“Nothing set in stone,” she admitted.
Jaax ran his other hand down Jahrra’s face, then past her shoulder, down to her waist to rest beside the fingers already splayed there. There was no evidence yet, showing what nestled within, but it wouldn’t be long before the courtiers and castle denizens began their excited gossip. Jahrra placed her free hand over his and kept it there, the two of them protecting that what was so precious to them both.
“Tell me?” It was a soft plea, not a command in the least.
Jahrra bit her bottom lip. Well, when he asked like that …
“For the boy, I was thinking Kehllor. Or Raulen.” Her voice broke as tears welled in her eyes. “But I only ever knew him as Kehllor. For his sacrifice, both for you those many centuries ago, and for the final one so that we might live.”
When Jaax spoke, his voice had grown gruff as well. “I would want my first born son to have no other name.”
Tears fell freely now from Jahrra’s eyes, but Jaax didn’t brush them away.
“And, for our daughter?” he pressed.
This one was trickier, for Jahrra didn’t know of anyone else who had made the same sacrifice Kehllor had done. But, she did know of someone who had meant a great deal to her husband.
“I thought we could name her after your mother, but you’ve never told me her name.”
Jaax went absolutely still at that, and Jahrra shifted so that she could see him better. A bit of that joy and sadness was gone, replaced by a slight awkwardness that was too obvious to ignore.
“What?” Jahrra pressed, her anxiety growing.
“Well, when the elves of Crie discovered you, they had given you the name ‘Drisihn’. When I arrived, they insisted on gifting you with a human name as well. And, the only human name I could think of was my mother’s.”
Jahrra’s eyes widened, and her jaw dropped slightly.
“You mean to tell me you named me after your mother?”
Jaax’s expression had gone a bit sheepish, but that sharp glint of amusement rose in his eyes, setting them more silver than green.
“Might I remind you that she was a queen? I thought every little girl dreams of becoming a queen someday.”
Jahrra gave him a good-natured smack on the shoulder. “You could have told me sooner!”
He shook his head and wrapped her up in his arms again, in case she tried to escape.
“It might have been her name, but she never went by that title. She preferred her middle name.”
Jahrra sighed and slipped deeper into his embrace, her mild annoyance washed away by his caress. “What is with the royal family of Oescienne and not going by their given names?”
He laughed and flipped them over so that he lay almost on top of her, his weight held carefully above her.
“We were very concerned with our privacy,” he murmured, leaning down to press lingering kisses upon her neck.
Jahrra fought against his attempts at seduction and managed to wriggle free, “So, what was her true name, then?”
“Noiramaebolis,” Jaax replied. “She was named for the great star in the constellation of the blood rose.”
Jahrra arched a brow at him. “That is quite a name. Perhaps, we can call our daughter Noira, or Mae, for short.”
Jaax laughed and continued to kiss her. When he had gotten his fill, he gazed down at her once again, his
elbow propped against the pillows, his head resting upon his hand.
“Prince Kehllor and Princess Noiramaebolis, Noira for short. I do like the sound of that.”
Jahrra sobered, then gave Jaax a long look, one that had him going still again and tucking his humor away for later.
“What is it?” he rasped, turning his head to kiss her palm, for she had reached up to caress his face once more.
Jahrra shrugged, more tears forming in her eyes. “I never dreamed Ethoes would bless me with such happiness. I was entirely content, and grateful beyond reason, when she gave you back to me. I could have lived a long life and died happy and grateful just for that. It was all I ever wanted.”
Jaax huffed softly, then glanced down at where his fingers still rested protectively over her stomach. “Was it truly everything you ever wanted, Jahrra?”
She grinned, biting her bottom lip. “I thought so, but now I realize there was room in my heart for a little more happiness.”
Jaax chuckled and kissed her again. “There is always room for more happiness, Jahrra. Always.”
As the deep, rich light of the setting sun burnished the royal suite in shades of fiery gold and crimson, the King and Queen of Oescienne painted dreams of the future, one bright with joy, celebration, and more happiness than anyone could ever hope for.
Pronunciation Guide
Amonen – a-MOAN-en
Archedenaeh – ark-uh-di-NAY-uh
Batheda – ba-THAY-duh
Boriahs – bor-EYE-iss
Cahrdyarein – CAR-dee-uh-rain
Ciarrohn – CHI-ron
Cierryon – CHAIR-ee-on
Dathian – DA-thee-en
Dervit – DUR-vit
Dhonoara – DEN-or-uh
Dhuruhn – doo-ROON
Eairhýut – AIR-ee-oot
Ellyesce – EL-ee-ess
Ethoes – ETH-oh-es
Felldreim – FELL-dreem
Ghorium – GOR-ee-um
Haedron – HAY-drun
Hrunah – HROO-na
Jahrra – JARE-uh
Kahrparyum – car-PAIR-ee-um
Kehllor – KELL-or
Keiron – KEER-en
Kruelt – KROOLT
Milihn – MEE-leen
Nephaari – NEH-far-ee
Nesnan – NESH-nan
Nimbronia – nim-BRO-nee-uh
Oescienne – AW-see-en
Phaara – FAIR-uh
Phaaron – FAIR-own
Phrym – FRIM
Raejaaxorix – RAY-jax-or-iks
Rael – RAY-ell
Raella – RAY-ell-uh
Resai – RESH-eye
Sapheramin – sa-FARE-ah-min
Semequin – SEM-ek-win
Shiroxx – SHEE-rox
Tanaan – TAN-en
Tollorias – toe-LORE-ee-us
Vandrian – VAN-dree-an
Vruuthun – VROO-thoon
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, I want to say that this book would not have been written if not for my dedicated readers. Without your enthusiasm for the story, your love for the characters, your kind words, encouraging messages, and wonderful reviews, I might not have found the courage, or the patience, to continue on this most noble of endeavors. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for caring about Jahrra and Jaax as much I have over these many years.
Many thanks to my wonderful editor, Monica Castagnasso, for working so diligently on this massive manuscript. I appreciate all the time you take out of your own schedule to help make my books worthy of my readers. And an incredibly big Thank You to Randy Vargas Gómez. It has been such a joy and privilege to work with you and watch you bring my world and characters to life. I could not have asked for a better cover artist.
I would also like to thank my Beta Readers, for your willingness to trip over my typos and iron out my awkward plot wrinkles, especially Jodi Krueger Moore, Melanie Kucharik, and Amber Peterson. I asked a lot of you with this manuscript, and you didn’t let me down. Thank you for helping make my words shine more clearly on the page.
To my family and friends - for putting up with me and all my crazy, wild ideas over the years. These books are for you as much as they are for the world. Thank you for never giving up on me during the good times and the bad.
And finally, to all of you out there who find yourselves facing a world of hardship and darkness - always remember that although you may be human, you possess the heart of a dragon.
May the fire you breathe be meant for warming,
May the beat of your wings lift also your spirits,
May the scales upon your hide not guard you from kindness,
And may the strength of your presence be that of justice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson grew up and still resides on the Central Coast of California, a place she finds as magical and enchanting as the worlds she creates.
Jenna received a BA in Art Practice with a minor in Celtic Studies from the University of California at Berkeley. It was during her time in college that she decided to begin her first novel, The Legend of Oescienne - The Finding. Reading such works as Beowulf, The Mabinogi, and The Second Battle of Maige Tuired in her Scandinavian and Celtic Studies courses finally inspired her to start writing down her own tales of adventure and fantasy.
Jenna also enjoys creating the maps and some of the artwork for her various worlds. Besides writing and drawing, she is often found reading, gardening, camping, hiking, bird watching, and practicing long sword fighting and archery using a long bow. She also loves getting feedback from readers, so feel free to send her a message any time.
Jenna Elizabeth Johnson can be contacted at [email protected]
Other books by this author:
The Legend of Oescienne Series
The Finding (Book One)
The Beginning (Book Two)
The Awakening (Book Three)
The Ascending (Book Four)
The Reckoning (Book Five)
Tales of Oescienne - A Short Story Collection
The Otherworld Series
Meghan’s POV
Faelorehn (Book One)
Dolmarehn (Book Two)
Luathara (Book Three)
Otherworld Trilogy Omnibus (Books One-Three)
Cade’s POV
Ehriad – A Novella of the Otherworld (Book Four)
Ghalien – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Five)
Robyn’s POV
Lorehnin – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Six)
Caelihn – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Seven)
Meghan and Cade’s POV
Faeleahn – A Novella of the Otherworld (Book Eight)
Standalone Novel
Faeborne – A Novel of the Otherworld (Book Nine)
Aiden’s POV
Faebound – A Novella of the Otherworld (Book Ten)
Other tales from the Otherworld …
Faescorned (featured in Once Upon A Curse)
Soot and Stone (featured in Once Upon A Kiss)
Bane and Balm (featured in Once Upon A Quest)
The Draghans of Firiehn Series
Flame and Form (Book One)
Connect with Me Online:
Twitter: @AuthorJEJohnson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjejohnson
My Website: http://www.jennaelizabethjohnson.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorjejohnson/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/authorjejohnson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/authorjejohnson
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The Legend of Oescienne--The Reckoning (Book Five) Page 54