Elyons regret, p.33
Elyon's Regret,
p.33
Ty pulled Sábria’s hand into her lap and covered it with both of her own. She leaned in and whispered, “They raped you? My…father raped you?”
There was no holding back the tears now. Sábria’s face crumpled, and with an identical soul-rending moan to the one that had come from Ty when she’d realized Sábria was her mother, Sábria bent forward and put her forehead onto her knees. Gut-wrenching sobs wracked her body, and she couldn’t have stopped them if she tried.
Ty immediately pulled her into her arms and rocked her gently, whispering soft terms of endearment that Isobel didn’t need to translate.
Isobel moved to the sofa, slid her arm around Sábria’s waist, and leaned into the arm Ty had wrapped around Sábria’s shoulders. They enveloped her in a loving, protective cocoon where she felt safe enough to finally release the agony and grief she’d bottled up so many turns before. She was the fourteen-turn child who’d awoken a pregnant orphan in the Temple’s healer hall. She was the fifteen-turn mother who’d turned away when the healer had tried to hand her the baby she’d just pushed from her body, and finally, she was a mother being held and forgiven by that same baby, impossibly grown into a beautiful, caring young woman.
With that thought came the realization that her tears were no longer filled with grief or unbearable pain, but they’d become tears of joy. Laughter bubbled to the surface, and she placed her hands on either side of Ty’s face, kissing her cheeks and forehead while repeating over and over what she’d believed she’d never have the chance to say. “I love you, kulah sa. I love you so very, very much.”
EPILOGUE
A fortnight later found Isobel leading Trax and a pack mule into the inner courtyard. Sábria and Ty were waiting by the fountain to say their goodbyes.
Ailith stood next to Ty. As Isobel approached, Ailith went to meet her and walk by her side. “Do ya have to go, Milady? Can’t ya stay longer? I…” she shoved her hands in her pockets and looked at her former master out of the corner of her eye. “I miss ya when yer gone. You and Duke Ravenkind, yer me family.”
Isobel stopped and pulled her into a hug. “Oh, Chele Laghei.” She put her hands on her shoulders and held her at arm’s length so she could look into her eyes. “I’ll be back, I promise. But you know the Blades are your family, too. Sábria loves you just as much as I do. I think we’re two fortunate women to have her in our lives, don’t you?”
Ailith grinned, “Aye, Milady. As long as ya come back, I’ll have somethin’ to look forward to. And, well, Jenx and everybody’s helpin’ me learn to read and write, so maybe ye’ll be gettin’ a letter from me sometime, eh?”
“I’d better.” She squeezed Ailith’s shoulders and walked to where Sábria and Ty waited. She lowered herself into a formal bow before holding her forearm out for Sábria to clasp. When she did, Isobel said, “If everything goes well, I should be back for a visit at the start of yellowmeere.”
She and Sábria had already said their goodbyes the night before, so Sábria merely smiled and squeezed Isobel’s forearm. “Go with the Goddess, Isobel. And thank you for bringing Ty back into my life.” She threw an arm around Ailith’s shoulders. “Now, if you could only teach this one to stop being so independent all the time.…”
Shouts went up from some Blades sitting at the outdoor tables, and when Ailith looked to where they were pointing, a huge grin lit her face. “Jenx!” She ran to her handler, who was walking through the gates with her pack slung across her shoulders.
Jenx had to drop her pack when an over-enthusiastic Ailith leapt into her arms and wrapped her legs around her waist. The Blade laughed, spun Ailith in a circle, and set her down when the two were surrounded by a large group of Blades eager to welcome her back.
Isobel watched a moment and then turned to Ty. She studied her a moment, and when Ty finally met her gaze, Isobel nodded once.
Ty looked at her for the briefest of moments before looking down. Changing her mind, she raised her gaze again and looked directly into Isobel’s eyes. “Thank you. For everything, My Lady.”
Isobel’s cool grey eyes never wavered as she dipped her chin again, acknowledging her former slave’s words. Turning back to Sábria, Isobel once again bowed low. “My Lady.” With that, Lady Knight Isobel of Drethemere mounted Trax and rode through the gates to begin her long journey home.
A SMALL FAVOR
Reviews are really important to independent authors. Please consider leaving a review if you enjoyed the book. Just a line or two, and it would mean a lot to me.
Thanks a bunch,
Alison
GET A FREE COPY OF CREDO’S REVENGE
ALSO BY ALISON NAOMI HOLT
Sapphic Romance
The Inheritance
Mystery
Credo’s Hope - Alex Wolfe Mysteries Book 1
Credo’s Legacy – Alex Wolfe Mysteries Book 2
Credo’s Fire – Alex Wolfe Mysteries Book 3
Credo’s Bones - Alex Wolfe Mysteries Book 4
Credo’s Betrayal - Alex Wolfe Mysteries Book 5
Credo’s Honor - Alex Wolfe Mysteries Book 6
Credo’s Bandidos - Alex Wolfe Mysteries Book 7
Credo’s Run - Alex Wolfe Mysteries Book 8
Fantasy Fiction
The Seven Realms of Ar’rothi
The Spirit Child–The Seven Realms of Ar’rothi 1
Duchess Rising–The Seven Realms of Ar’rothi 2
Duchess Rampant-The Seven Realms of Ar’rothi 3
Spyder’s Web-The Seven Realms of Ar’rothi 4
Spyder’s Kiss-The Seven Realms of Ar’rothi 5
Aidrafiri: Aevala’s Own - The 7 Realms of Ar’rothi 6
Bardic Tales From Ar’rothi - A collection of short stories set in Anacafria
Daughters of Elyon
Elyon’s Blades - Book 1
Elyon’s Ghost - Book 2
Elyon’s Vengeance - Book 3
Elyon’s Regret Book 4
Mage of Merigor
Psychological Thriller
The Door at the Top of the Stairs
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“They whispered to her, you can’t withstand the storm. She whispered back, I am the storm.” ~ Unknown
I grew up listening to my parents reading me the most wonderful books full of adventure, heroes, ducks, and curly-tailed pigs. I promote reading wherever I go and believe literacy is the key to changing the world for the better.
Along those lines—the changing the world for the better part—I have always believed that there is a strong, capable warrior inside each and every girl and every woman in the world. I try to use my platform as an author to empower all womenkind by creating strong women warriors whose lives aren’t perfect but who stand up for themselves and for their sisters, no matter what difficult challenges life throws their way.
Together, women can change the world for the better. Whether the world we change is no bigger than the block we live on or the children we raise or whether we change entire communities, women can and do make a difference. Believe in yourself. I do.
If you want to know a little about me personally, my previous life as a cop gave me a bizarre sense of humor, a realistic look at life, and an insatiable desire to live life to the fullest. I love all horses & hounds and some humans…
For more information:
https://alisonholtbooks.com
COPYRIGHT
Elyon’s Regret
Written by Alison Naomi Holt
Published by Alison Naomi Holt and Denabi Publishing
Copyright © 2024 Alison Naomi Holt
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
The psychological methodologies used in this book are purely fictional and are not intended to be used in any way in the mental health field. The symptoms of mental illness, psychological stress, and/or PTSD exhibited by the characters in this book are fictional and are not intended in any way by the author to represent actual symptoms of mental illness.
For more information about the author and her other books, visit http://www.Alisonholtbooks.com
Alison Naomi Holt, Elyon's Regret
