Realms and Rebels: A Paranormal and Fantasy Reverse Harem Collection

by C. M. Stunich

  “No. She didn’t do this on purpose.” Looking at Gabrielle, the expression on her face confirms everything. “How the hell could you let this happen? And Remliel?”

  She simply nods.

  “How could you let her do this? She’s a child. And Remliel? Why?”

  “It wasn’t up to us, Chayah. This was her decision. His, too. Nova also leads with love. She sacrificed herself for her family.”

  “How? Why? None of this makes any sense.”

  “It will,” Gabrielle says. “Before I explain, I need to know where you stand. Is Humanity still worth saving? Because if not, then it’s best we not discuss this.”

  Inhaling deeply, I hold it in for a moment, then release it slowly. Methodically.

  Is it? Is Humanity worth saving?

  “I don’t know. They killed my daughter. Their dark evil, it forced Nova’s hand. Forced her to sacrifice herself.” I shake my head. “I don’t know if I can forgive them.”

  “You, Seraya, are the Mother’s Firstborn. You’ve always had the capacity for forgiveness,” Micah says. “Leading with love is your legacy. It’s your capacity to love without limits that’s held hope for Humanity all along. And if you’ve lost your ability to love, then Humanity doesn’t stand a chance in hell.”

  “Have you?” Lailah asks. “Have you lost your love for Humanity?”

  My gaze circles the room. I feel like I’m being interrogated.

  “No,” I say plainly. “I’m heartbroken, but no.” I shake my head. “Without love, we’re all lost to the darkness.”

  Gabrielle nods then, a smile curves at her lips. “Thank the Goddess,” she says. “I’ve always had faith in you, sister. In your ability to love. You never disappoint, never waver.”

  “Oh, I waver.” I laugh, a tear falling lose. “But I can’t give up. They’re my children. My sisters. Without family, there is no love. Without family, love cannot exist.”

  Gabrielle smiles. “Welcome back, Chayah.”

  My gaze meets Micah’s and Lailah’s, and they each bow in turn.

  “All right then.” I take a breath, releasing it slowly. “Tell me how to save the realms.”

  “First, there are some truths you must understand. The Eternal War isn’t Luxe versus Tenebrous. You must make allies amongst your enemies, otherwise all factions, good and evil, mortal and Eternal, they’re all at risk of extinction.”

  “Wow. Okay.”

  “This incarnation will be trickier than any other. In order for you to Eternalize, we’ll have to break some rules. Leading with love will never be more crucial than the next twenty-one years. Love is a choice, Chayah. You must always choose love. Do you understand?”

  “Yes. Whatever it takes, I’m in.”

  “Good. Because the only way to win this war is by making a deal with the devil.”

  10

  ~Titus~

  Seraya is dying.

  Our Gemini is dying, and there’s nothing we can do but hold her hand while she struggles to push. To breathe. She gasps for air, focusing every ounce of energy in her failing body to give birth to the Firstborn Daughter – not my child by right or blood – but hers, alone.

  The rebirth of her soul.

  I stand beside her, along with my bond brothers. Helpless. All three of us, agonizing over what lies ahead – twenty-one years without her. My brothers are new to this process, but I’m not. I understand more than anyone the torture of life without Seraya. How will we cope?

  Stop. I must give precedence to the purpose of this sacrifice and our duty as Genesis. We owe this to humanity.

  We owe our Gemini.

  A final push, a final cry, and she releases a thankful breath as the room falls silent. The Firstborn Daughter is here, delivered into the arms of her guardian.

  I gaze into my Gemini’s Amethyst eyes then give pause with bated breath, emotionally preparing for Seraya to take her last.

  “Don’t be afraid, my souls,” she whispers, her gaze wandering between me, Caspien and Zander.

  Poor Zander. This is brand-new to him. The first time he’s been witness to the death of his Gemini. The first time he’ll live a life without her in it. It’s only the second time for Caspien, but he’s more understanding of the symbolism of this moment. His faith guides him. Zander, however, is more like me. Grounded in what he can see.

  “You’ll see me soon, I swear.” Sharing our despair, Seraya takes her final moments of this life and with her last fragment of strength, reaches up to comfort us. “You,” she whispers to Zander. “Lean on your brothers. They’ll keep you strong.” She pulls him toward her, giving him a lingering kiss.

  Zander rises as a tear falls down his cheek.

  Falling down all our cheeks. It’s the one moment we allow ourselves vulnerability.

  She holds his hand, then looks to Caspien. Our brother who is brave beyond words holds in his emotions as his faith in our Gemini’s return guides him.

  “Keep that faith. Keep your brothers’ strong. This will be a difficult journey, they’re going to need you.”

  He nods then leans down and gives her one last kiss as her head falls back to the pillow. She’s losing strength – losing life by the second, and we’re running out of time.

  There’s never enough time when your Gemini is dying.

  She faces me. More tears slide down her paling cheeks. Her eyelids flutter as she struggles to keep focus with my gaze.

  “Titus,” she whispers, so softly, I can hardly hear her. “My first love. Take care of your brothers. Be strong for them, and please remember. You’ve imprinted on my soul.” Her hand holds my cheek, the lightest of touch, and I’m burning the feel into memory. “I will always return to you.”

  I know I must find the strength to let her go.

  “I adore you, Chayah.”

  I run my thumb along her skin, it’s cool and losing color with each passing moment. I wipe away her tears then lay my hand against her cheek. Offering a weak smile, the only thing I have left to give. My body trembles as I whisper my goodbye.

  “We’ll be waiting, my love. For Eternity.”

  Her eyelids fall shut, and her hand drops from my face.

  She’s gone.

  I inhale sharply. Emptiness consumes us. It’s so cold without her presence, an emptiness that could drive a soul mad.

  Zander sucks in a breath and collapses to Seraya’s chest. Sobbing. I’ve never seen him cry before.

  This moment, this rebirth is different.

  I realize now, my place is here with my bond brothers. They need me to be strong for them. Stepping forward, I pull Zander up and hold him in a tight embrace. He’s embarrassed, but there’s no shame in weeping for this devastating loss.

  He starts to pull away, but I hold his shoulder and place my other hand on Caspien’s back.

  “Caspien. Zander. This is going to be incredibly hard. There’s some of her soul in each of us; we’re all tied together. And although we don’t always agree, draw strength and love from me, and I will do the same from you.”

  “Take heart, brothers. Your Gemini has returned.” Gabrielle walks over, holding the newborn in her arms, placing her into mine.

  “Come, Zander.” I gesture. “Hold her, she’s not forgotten us yet.”

  I gaze down at the child who looks like Seraya. A flawless facsimile – ebony curls and olive skin. Pink lips. A breathtaking iridescent glow surrounds her.

  “What is that?” Zander asks, picking himself up from Seraya’s lifeless chest. “The glow surrounding her. The color, it’s so…beautiful.”

  “Her Genesis aura, a color only you and your brothers can see,” Gabrielle says. “It matches your own.”

  “Have you not noticed it before?” I ask.

  Zander shrugs, wiping away his tears. “Guess not.”

  The baby grunts, pulling my attention back to her. Long lashes flutter open, then her Amethyst eyes fix upon my now mesmerized gaze.

  Tears fall instinctively down my face in light
of this moment. Her Eternal Sacrifice of the Gemini Doctrine. “Do you remember me?”

  Though she cannot speak, her expression brings me temporary peace – she knows my thoughts as before. Her wide eyes reflect her sorrow, but a hint of a smile crosses her quivering lips.

  Chayah.

  “It’s you.” I exhale a relieved breath. Though I know the rebirth process was successful, the possibilities still scare me to no end.

  Losing her.

  Zander looks upon her in awe. He knows her, too.

  Lightly brushing my fingertips along her cheek, I leave a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I need you, love. We need you. Please choose love. Don’t forget us.”

  Though I can no longer hear her thoughts, she understands my plea.

  “It’s almost time,” Lailah, the Celestial who hushes memories says, her voice trembling as she steps up beside me.

  “I’m not ready.” Zander pleads. “Can I hold her?”

  I nod as I stand, then gently place her in his arms.

  Zander holds her, eyes wide. “She’s so perfect. She looks just like Seraya.”

  A soft chuckle escapes me. “It is Seraya.”

  “This is so strange.” Zander runs his fingertips across her tiny jaw.

  She closes her eyes and another smile crosses her pink lips.

  I’ve longed to hear her thoughts, to ease her fears. To know what goes through her mind while she waits to forget us, knowing what Lailah’s appearance means.

  “It’s time, brothers,” Lailah says again. “We cannot wait much longer.”

  I want to be selfish, we all do. To keep her near, safe in our arms for Eternity. So innocent and pure, yet so strong and selfless. None of us wants to let her go, but we have no choice.

  “Twenty-one years?” Another tear falls down Zander’s face. “I don’t know how to do this without her.”

  I lay my hand on his shoulder, trying to lighten his fears. “Together. We do it together.”

  Zander nods, eyes fixed to Seraya’s.

  “Please, can I hold her quickly?” Caspien asks.

  Zander fights his urge to say no but understands he can’t be selfish. Seraya’s soul belongs to all of us, just as ours belong to her. He places Seraya in Caspien’s arms then sits on the chair and buries his face in his hands while Caspien and I say goodbye.

  “My beloved. Keep your soul safe. We shall find you again. Always.” His words drip with emotion and promise. With certainty. He hands her to me for one final moment before her mind and her memories are hushed, silenced until they’re awakened by our love.

  I fight my fears, imploring it all proceeds as it’s been planned. That she’ll keep her promise and return to us, just as she always has. This was her intention when she agreed to the Gemini Doctrine.

  Seraya is the Phoenix.

  Love is her legacy.

  She reaches out from her swaddled cocoon, and I see a familiar cluster of freckles on her wrist.

  “The seal of Genesis.” Lailah answers our silent questions. “It’s part of the Doctrine. To signify the bloodline. You’ll all have yours when your family reunites. The stars will connect, marking you as Gemini.”

  I place a kiss on Seraya’s tiny wrist.

  She fidgets and exhales with a soft moan – she feels it too, the impending loss of our connection.

  “It’s time. I’m sorry, brothers. We can’t wait any longer.” Lailah places her forefinger against the divot in Seraya’s upper lip then speaks her incantation in the language of the Celestials.

  Seraya’s eyelids fall shut, and her body relaxes in my arms.

  She’s forgotten me.

  My soul aches for her. For my brothers.

  “Her memories are silent, but they will emerge when it’s time. Keep faith, brothers.” Lailah pats mine and Caspien’s shoulders, then embraces Zander to comfort him.

  “The Eternal Mother will always choose love. Chayah will keep her promise.” Micah steps beside me and reaches down to take Seraya from my arms. “Now you must keep yours.”

  My promise has always been to let her go and keep faith she will return. To help my brothers when the time comes. My promise to her, to the Eternals, and to Humanity – a promise to protect them until my dying breath.

  “I will keep my promise,” I whisper as a final tear falls. “We will always choose love.”

  Micah takes Seraya from my arms, and we watch helplessly as they depart the room, leaving us with nothing but our silent recollections, and Chayah’s lifeless body.

  I stroke her hand, so cold and devoid of the life that once honored our existence. Pausing for a moment, I take a breath and welcome the sacrifice Chayah has made today.

  “What do we do now?” Zander’s voice quivers as he stares at Seraya’s lifeless form.

  “We do what we promised. Honor her sacrifice by keeping Humanity safe until their sovereign returns.”

  “Yes.” Caspien runs his hand along Zander’s shoulder. “It’s what Chayah commands. Honor her by reigning in her stead.”

  These next years are up to the fates now, and all we can do is pray to Gaea that Chayah’s sacrifice will not have been in vain.

  “Thank you,” I whisper, running my finger along her cooling fingers. “For promising this gift, that you shall return to us, and we shall fall in love once more.”

  Even in death, our Gemini is breathtaking. Brushing my hand across her ashen cheek, I lean down, leaving a soft kiss to her flawless, pale skin.

  “See you soon, my love…we’ll be waiting.”

  Turning to my brethren, a little hope returns to my soul.

  “I know what will help. Please, come with me.”

  Concentrating my power, I summon a portal and step through into the room next to Seraya’s bed chamber that’s kept clear for this purpose. Ushering my brothers ahead, I lead them into her sanctuary.

  Zander’s perplexed look is a counterpoint to Caspien’s serene acceptance.

  He remembers why we’ve come.

  “What are we doing?” Zander’s voice sounds lost and shaken. Remembering my first time experiencing this transition softens my heart toward him. I felt much the same then.

  “Giving you back some hope.”

  Odd, after all our bickering, this has brought us closer.

  Opening Seraya’s bedroom doors, I stride through and look to the brazier in the corner where Journey’s ashes once laid.

  A bright flame has begun to burn.

  Smiling over my shoulder, I see Zander’s gaze captured by the scene unfolding ahead.

  The polished metal stand’s basin is now completely ablaze, burning with a bright crimson light, but little heat. This isn’t actual fire, but a form of magic.

  Soft, practically lyrical crooning begins to emanate from the subsiding flames. A few seconds more, and…there.

  The last of the crimson light seems to remain in the center of the pedestal, no longer flickering like fire, but coalescing into a familiar shape.

  Zander gasps. He’s finally realized what we’re watching.

  Just as Seraya’s rebirth happened minutes ago, another soul is reborn before us.

  “Journey.” Zander smiles, another tear slipping down his cheek.

  A small, infinite phoenix flaps her wings, letting out a soft squawk, recognizing she’s back amongst family. Seeing Journey rise from the flames, however, makes me miss my love more.

  “Seraya,” I whisper her name beneath my breath staring at her spirit animal yet wishing she were here. Taking a cleansing breath, I right my thoughts.

  Now is not the time for weakness, but for strength. For the next twenty-one years, our sovereign needs us to keep watch over Genesis and humanity until she’s ready once more to claim her birthright… sovereignty over all human souls.

  Someday, we shall meet again and fall in love. Hopefully, in a world we can still protect from the darkness that threatens us all.

  “I adore you, Chayah.” I watch Journey stand tall, readying herself for bat
tle like the rest of us. “See you soon.”

  The End

  The Beginning…

  Continue the Legacy of the Phoenix Series, coming Summer, 2019

  www.caiadaniels.com

  About the Author(s)

  Caia & Daniel are a blissfully married co-writing team that believes in fairy tales and Happily Ever Afters. Living their very own Second Chance Romance, Caia Daniels leads with love by tag teaming tales of strong leading ladies and the men – and women – who worship them, sometimes, with sprinkles of classy kink. Strong believers of #WhyChoose, Caia Daniels writes traditional & LGBTQ Romance (FM, MM, FF), Polyamory & Ménage, and Reverse Harem in multiple genres including Urban & Contemporary Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, PNR, & Romantic Suspense.

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