of information in my mind, but so much of it makes no sense.”
Dro Tar joined Saebin at the table and explained in between bites of pot roast. “Let’s just start at the beginning and catch you up to date. Ontariese has been matriarchal for longer than anyone can remember.”
“Matriarchal?”
“Ownership, titles, important distinctions are passed from mother to daughter. When couples become life mates, the man takes on the woman’s family name.”
“Why is this important?”
Dro Tar paused with her spoon halfway to her mouth. “Damn good question. The Traditionalist Sect will tell you females give birth, and females are often able to discern what Mystic gifts their life mate will possess, so they —”
“What if the male you favor possesses no Mystic gifts at all?”
“You’ll have to have a sit down with Tal. He’s Trey’s brother and one scary son of a bitch when he chooses to be, but he understands the history of the Great Conflict better than anyone I know.”
“I’ve distracted you from your explanation.” Saebin pushed her plate aside. “What caused the Great Conflict?”
“The Traditionalist Sect believed that Ontariese should remain true to its customs and traditions, to value the greater good above all things. The Reformation Sect wanted to shake things up.”
“Do you agree with the Reformation Sect?”
“The Reformation Sect — like the NRS — had some valid points. They just did horrible things to demonstrate their ideas.” Dro Tar fidgeted in her chair. Saebin wasn’t sure if the topic made her uncomfortable, or if she simply hated inactivity. “E’Lanna dar Aune, your grandmother, chose Frim dar Joon as her life mate. Frim bonded with her, but refused to take on her name or follow the traditions she held sacred.”
Not wanting to draw Dro Tar off course again, Saebin waited to see if the rest of the story answered her questions.
“E’Lanna tried everything to make their joining work, but Frim had no intention of playing by the rules. Shortly after their twins were born, she set him aside. He formed the Reformation Sect and founded the House of Joon. For a while the conflict centered on their differing ideals, but Frim became progressively more abusive. He knew his empire couldn’t flourish if women remained in power, so he launched his campaign to wipe out the Traditionalist Sect.” Her voice grew hushed, and she glanced away from Saebin’s face.
“What happened?”
“Frim captured E’Lanna’s eldest daughter.”
“Captured? Wasn’t she his child, too?”
Dro Tar nodded. “Her father ordered her execution. The Mystics hid their middle daughter, but E’lanna refused to take chances with the twins. She opened an interdimensional portal and sent them to separate destinations. She sent your Aunt Charlotte to Earth early in the twenty-first century. Your mother, Krystabel, she also sent to Earth, but two hundred years later.”
“Krystabel was not my mother.” Tension gripped her abdomen and scooted her chair back from the table. “Joleen was my mother.”
“Joleen carried you in her body, but your biological parents were Krystabel and Gath.”
Pushing back from the table, Saebin stood and moved out of the eating area. Dro Tar had no reason to lie — did she? Saebin had told no one about hearing Krystabel’s voice when she awakened from stasis. Had that been more than a dream? Pain erupted in her temples, and she pressed the heel of her hands against the spot.
Dro Tar reached for her shoulder. Saebin twisted away.
“Don’t touch me! Don’t speak.” She had to process the information. She was on the brink of overload.
An image formed within her mind. Twin faces, young, innocent, identical in every way except the color of their eyes. Krysta and Belle. They were the daughters of Krystabel and Gath. Her mother was Joleen.
A chime sounded, and Dro Tar called out something Saebin didn’t recognize. Saebin stumbled blindly toward the nearest
Dro Tar joined Saebin at the table and explained in between bites of pot roast. “Let’s just start at the beginning and catch you up to date. Ontariese has been matriarchal for longer than anyone can remember.”
“Matriarchal?”
“Ownership, titles, important distinctions are passed from mother to daughter. When couples become life mates, the man takes on the woman’s family name.”
“Why is this important?”
Dro Tar paused with her spoon halfway to her mouth. “Damn good question. The Traditionalist Sect will tell you females give birth, and females are often able to discern what Mystic gifts their life mate will possess, so they —”
“What if the male you favor possesses no Mystic gifts at all?”
“You’ll have to have a sit down with Tal. He’s Trey’s brother and one scary son of a bitch when he chooses to be, but he understands the history of the Great Conflict better than anyone I know.”
“I’ve distracted you from your explanation.” Saebin pushed her plate aside. “What caused the Great Conflict?”
“The Traditionalist Sect believed that Ontariese should remain true to its customs and traditions, to value the greater good above all things. The Reformation Sect wanted to shake things up.”
“Do you agree with the Reformation Sect?”
“The Reformation Sect — like the NRS — had some valid points. They just did horrible things to demonstrate their ideas.” Dro Tar fidgeted in her chair. Saebin wasn’t sure if the topic made her uncomfortable, or if she simply hated inactivity. “E’Lanna dar Aune, your grandmother, chose Frim dar Joon as her life mate. Frim bonded with her, but refused to take on her name or follow the traditions she held sacred.”
Not wanting to draw Dro Tar off course again, Saebin waited to see if the rest of the story answered her questions.
“E’Lanna tried everything to make their joining work, but Frim had no intention of playing by the rules. Shortly after their twins were born, she set him aside. He formed the Reformation Sect and founded the House of Joon. For a while the conflict centered on their differing ideals, but Frim became progressively more abusive. He knew his empire couldn’t flourish if women remained in power, so he launched his campaign to wipe out the Traditionalist Sect.” Her voice grew hushed, and she glanced away from Saebin’s face.
“What happened?”
“Frim captured E’Lanna’s eldest daughter.”
“Captured? Wasn’t she his child, too?”
Dro Tar nodded. “Her father ordered her execution. The Mystics hid their middle daughter, but E’lanna refused to take chances with the twins. She opened an interdimensional portal and sent them to separate destinations. She sent your Aunt Charlotte to Earth early in the twenty-first century. Your mother, Krystabel, she also sent to Earth, but two hundred years later.”
“Krystabel was not my mother.” Tension gripped her abdomen and scooted her chair back from the table. “Joleen was my mother.”
“Joleen carried you in her body, but your biological parents were Krystabel and Gath.”
Pushing back from the table, Saebin stood and moved out of the eating area. Dro Tar had no reason to lie — did she? Saebin had told no one about hearing Krystabel’s voice when she awakened from stasis. Had that been more than a dream? Pain erupted in her temples, and she pressed the heel of her hands against the spot.
Dro Tar reached for her shoulder. Saebin twisted away.
“Don’t touch me! Don’t speak.” She had to process the information. She was on the brink of overload.
An image formed within her mind. Twin faces, young, innocent, identical in every way except the color of their eyes. Krysta and Belle. They were the daughters of Krystabel and Gath. Her mother was Joleen.
A chime sounded, and Dro Tar called out something Saebin didn’t recognize. Saebin stumbled blindly toward the nearest
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