The Untold Forest by Elisa Menz (web ebook reader txt) 📗

That I was a magnificent warrior.” She chuckled without humor. “I jumped into a battle I was not prepared for. I ignored all the signs. I left you behind.”

“Aurinko—”

“No, Hakken!” Aurinko fixed him with a scowl. “I’m stuck here because I allowed myself to die a stupid death, and I left you to bear the guilt.”

The young woman held a hand next to his cheek, but she didn’t touch him. She didn’t have to; Hakken could feel the warmth emanating from her, and the love still clear in her eyes. “You need to let me go, Hakken. You need to live without regrets. To be whole if you want to be with her.”

“How can I?” Hakken could barely suppress the tears, and the lump in his throat caused his voice to falter. “I lost you, Auri... now I lost Maeve.”

“You don’t know that yet!”

“I’m dead! I think I can tell when—!”

“Well, they seem to disagree,” she smirked, pointing to the side.

Hakken followed her nod. The others around him began to float against the current, drifting away from them. “Where are they going?”

“Back, I believe. It seems all kinds of marvelous things are happening now.” Aurinko let out a musical laugh when Hakken’s puzzled eyes returned to her. “This our last goodbye, Hakky. I’ll be able to pass into the beyond, and you get a second chance in life.”

The current pulled in the opposite direction, taking him back to where the others headed. He wasn’t sure about his destination, but he couldn’t leave her again without saying goodbye.

“Auri!” He reached and took her hand. He wanted to say something, but ‘I’m sorry’ didn’t sound right anymore. Neither of them needed more apologies. “Auri. Be at peace.”

“Goodbye, Hakken. Hug my father for me.”

The current surged around her, rapidly guiding her deeper into the quiet darkness, and his own body drifted into a blinding light. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. I’m going home.

 

The first thing attacking his senses was the blinding light. He squinted, shielding his eyes from the sun. Then, warm drops fell on his face, tickling on his skin. The third marvelous thing he sensed was her voice.

“Hakken...”

His eyes shot open, and he saw the face of the human girl who gave him a second chance in life, the one who rekindled his will to live. She smiled at him as some strands of her golden hair came loose from her braid, fluttering around her like a halo. She was so beautiful it almost hurt to watch.

But her gorgeous face was now partly hidden behind her hands, shakily clutching her mouth, trying to hold the sobs taking over her body. Her tears made him frown. He had to stop them.

“Maeve.” Hakken sat in one swift movement. The pain and exhaustion from before disappeared, and even the drowsiness from his awakening faded. “Maeve!” There was no need to overthink things. He loved her. He had been dead, out of this world. He came back to life, and he had no reason to keep away from her for a moment longer. Pulling her into a needy embrace, Hakken let out a sigh, rejoicing in the sensation of her arms around him. Her dainty figure molded against his body, while her sweet voice muttered incoherences between sobs. It was all too perfect.

A broad smile spread on his face. He came back to her.

“Hakken! Hakken!”

A loud call shook him from his bliss. He lifted his head to find Kniv and Regn running to them. Still holding Maeve, he pulled them to their feet, swaying her from side to side. “Don’t cry, my love. I’m all right. Everything is all right.”

“Hakken...” Maeve gazed up at him. The tears subsided, but she remained shaken. Her lips parted, words failing to come out.

“Oh, boy!” Kniv stopped right in front of them, and Maeve moved aside to let him pass. Hakken was happy to greet his friend, but he didn’t want to let go of her yet. Before he could take Maeve back into his arms, Kniv grabbed his waist and lifted him off the ground. “You fucking idiot, I told you not to die!”

Hakken burst into laughter. So like Kniv to hide his happiness behind shouting and mild violence. As soon as he put him back on the ground, he gave Kniv a reassuring hug. “I’m all right, old man. I’m here now.”

He thought about telling him of Aurinko, but there was no reason to let him know his daughter had been roaming the darkness without being able to pass for all these years. She was finally free, and he would be here to take care of her father—his best friend.

“Let him go, old man. You are going to squeeze the life out of him all over again.” Regn stood on the side, awkwardly shifting his weight from one foot to the other and trying to dry his tears without anyone noticing. The bashful smile on Regn’s face reminded Hakken of the persistent child he once was, following him everywhere while seeking to patch up a family of all the broken pieces they had become.

He shouldn’t have pushed him away. But then again, at the time he was too damaged to be a good influence. Too many years had passed, and perhaps Regn didn’t want to have anything to do with him anymore, but Hakken wanted to try. He walked to the young nomad, grabbed his head with one hand, and pressed his forehead into his. “How are you, little brother?”

Taken aback, Regn’s eyes shot open, and a grateful smile quickly replaced his shock. “Shouldn’t be me asking you that?”

“You’re too slow,” Hakken grinned.

Regn pulled him into another hug. They both needed those.

A loud yelp cut their reunion short. It seemed everyone wanted to shout at him today. “Bless the petrified balls of Khaos The Immortal! My brother-in-law is alive!” Both Warlocks ran to join their meeting, Finn almost jumping out of his skin. “I’ve never been so glad to see a smelly half-breed so peppy and energetic!”

Hakken rose to his full