Exile in the Water Kingdom (The Elemental Phases Book 3)

by Cassandra Gannon

  “Not paranoid enough, obviously.” Gion retorted. “I could be a spy and you gave me access to your entire kingdom. Have you thought about that?”

  “Of course.” She said simply. “But, I think you’re a better man than that, Gion. If I didn’t know that I could trust you, I never would have told you about Nia’s baby. I never would have let you in, at all.” She looked back at the report. “Let’s start at the beginning, okay?”

  Gion stared at her for a long moment, utterly baffled by this woman. Why would she give him any trust? He’d spent years as her enemy. “I won’t betray you.” He vowed softly.

  Ty’s mouth curved. “I know. I thought it all out, so I could convince my cousins of that, actually.” She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “Want to crib from me? Just in case they corner you, too? I’ll let you copy my arguments.”

  “Yes.” Hear what she’d said to Nia and Tharsis about him? Of course, Gion wanted to hear that.

  Ty leaned closer to him. The mischievous sparkle in her face captivated Gion. No one ever looked at Gion with a playful sort of expression. No one cared about him enough to want to include him in anything lighthearted. The fact that Ty would ever, ever, smile at him like that made Gion’s world so much… better.

  She made everything better.

  “Start with the obvious.” She told him conspiratorially. “Where else would you go if you killed me? It’s either here or the Air Kingdom for you and you’re too smart to want to go back there. What with Parald having that price on your head for helping me.”

  Gion hadn’t known that Ty knew about that. She hadn’t last night. Brokk or one of the others must have told her. “You make a good point. I don’t think he’ll let me collect the reward on myself, so what would be the advantage in surrendering?”

  “Right.” She nodded.

  Her shampoo smelled like strawberries.

  Ty didn’t seem to notice his helpless desire for her. “So then, Nia said that maybe there isn’t a price on your head. Maybe you and Parald are just pretending to have a falling out in order to get close to me.”

  Gion probably should have been insulted by that, but he was just pleased that someone else put some thought into Ty’s safety. “Another intelligent observation.”

  “But, logically, what would be the point of all that? I was already in the Air Kingdom and Parald already had me. I was chained to a wall,” her eyes slid over to his, again, “and you let me go.”

  “Yes.” Gion still felt a surge of fear when he thought about how close it had been, though. Parald came within minutes of having Ty.

  “You saved me.” She continued. “I was so relieved to see you when you come into the dungeon and found me. I knew you’d help me, even though you didn’t have to.”

  “I did have to.” That was as essential to Gion as Air itself. “You don’t want Parald, so he will not put his hands on you. Not for even a second. I give you my word.”

  Gion would never forget the day Ty that had been scheduled to stand before the Council and accept Parald as her Match. It had been an incredible mix of emotions for him. Despair and fury…

  And finally hope.

  Gion had thought that he was about to lose Ty forever. He’d been so angry and anguished. So crazily, out of his mind, enraged and desolate. He’d hated Parald more than he’d ever hated anyone. Gion never thought that he’d ever be able to feel anything else, ever again. He’d wanted to die and he probably would have.

  Then, Ty renounced Parald.

  And, Gion’s felt nothing but staggering relief.

  She’d refused the Phase-Match right there in front of the Council. Gion knew, at that moment, that he still had a chance with her.

  Gion could never be Ty’s Match, but he could Bind with her. A Binding was basically a marriage by the Council. Without being a Match, they couldn’t Phaze or share memories or have children, but a Binding was the next best thing. It would allow Gion to have a real claim on Ty. For the past two and a half years, it had been the overriding, albeit desperate, dream of his life.

  Ty met his eyes. “The others don’t understand why I feel… safe with you, now. They think you pressured me into this.” She actually held his gaze for three full heartbeats, which might have been a record.

  Gion still scared Ty. He knew that. Hell, he’d encouraged it for years; trying to hide his feelings for her and protect her. But, he still wished she’d maintain eye contact for more than a second at a time. He wished that she’d just see him.

  No one ever saw Gion. They looked at him, but they never saw him.

  Gion always had the horrible feeling that Ty would be able to read every thought in his head if she looked into his eyes and really saw him. As much as he dreaded that, a bigger part of him wanted it to happen. Even if Ty only saw darkness inside of him, at least she’d know that he really existed.

  “I did pressure you. I forced you to let me into your kingdom, if you recall.”

  “That’s not true.”

  Gion snorted.

  “You were invited here, Gion.” Ty insisted. “My family will accept that. They just need more time. They don’t feel this energy between us like I do.” She bit her bottom lip, which pretty much killed him. “Like we do.”

  Gion heard the question in the slight hitch of her voice. “We both feel the energy, Tritone.” His gaze dropped to the buttons of her sweater. “I’ve felt it for a long time.”

  “Right.” She nervously exhaled. “Anyway, you wouldn’t have helped me if you weren’t a better man than people believe.”

  Gion should let her think that. It worked to his advantage. “I’m not a good man.” He heard himself say, anyway.

  Ty shook her head. “Last night, you could have killed me at the meeting or taken me back to him. Heck, you could kidnap me, right now, if you want to.”

  “Probably.”

  “But, you aren’t. In fact, I can’t think of a single rational explanation for all that, except that you’re genuine about wanting amnesty.” She shrugged. “Neither could Nia and Thar, but they still aren’t happy.” Irate cousins obviously didn’t worry Ty overly much. She was utterly secure in their love and support.

  “I do want amnesty.” Gion said truthfully. “I want to be in the Water Kingdom.” Being here in the Water House with Ty meant everything to him. “That’s not why I won’t betray you, though.” His hand eased closer to Ty’s and his fingers brushed over hers. “And that’s not why I protected you from Parald.”

  Gion expected her to draw back, but she didn’t. Instead, Ty shifted slightly, so his thumb slid under her palm.

  And, just like that, Gion was holding her hand. It was so much different than when he’d gripped her palm as she lay dying in the courtyard during the Fall. This time she was… aware. His heart stopped. It felt better than Phazing with any other woman possibly could have. Happiness filled Gion. It was the first time that Ty didn’t recoil or stiffen when he touched her.

  Fascinated, he measured the difference in their fingers. Her skin was softer than his, her bones much more fragile. Gion’s hand was twice her size. Ty’s thumb was smaller than his pinky. Pink polish decorated her nails.

  Gion found all of it mesmerizing.

  Ty allowed his thumb to caress the inside of her wrist for a long moment. Gion felt her pulse hammering, but Ty still didn’t pull away. The Water energy hit against him. Ty was too young to have his control or maybe just too inexperienced to understand what she was doing.

  Gion tried to hold his powers back from her most of the time. The two of them touching powers was odd enough and he didn’t want to frighten her with the full weight of the Air energy. It got progressively harder to keep control, though. The Air powers fought to get to her. Ty didn’t seem to realize what the Water energy did to him. Did she think he couldn’t feel it or that it was too slight to matter?

  Well, he could feel it and it definitely mattered.

  Her powers weren’t strong, but they flowed over him, soft a
nd warm and perfect. They touched everything. Ty just let the energy go wherever it wanted, so Gion stayed in a constant state of arousal.

  His grip tightened on her hand as the Air energy tugged at the end of its leash. He’d always had too much power. If Ty felt exactly how much, she’d panic. Gion released as much as he dared, more than he’d ever let touch her before.

  Ty’s eyes widened in pleasure and surprise. “Wow.” Her hand squeezed his. Hard. “Gion, how are you…?” She trailed off with a whimper. The Water powers swirled to meet his Air energy. “Oh. Yes.” Her eyes drifted shut.

  Gion’s jaw dropped, his own desire spiking to new heights.

  She’d consented.

  Maybe he scared her and maybe Ty would never feel comfortable around him, but Gion could truly make her want him.

  That was a fucking triumph.

  Emboldened, Gion’s other hand moved to touch Ty’s hair, flicking the barrette free. Silky curls slid through his fingers and Gion actually groaned. He could have come just from the feel of her hair.

  He’d waited so long.

  He wanted her so badly.

  Brilliant red tresses overflowed his palm, tangling around his hand. More Air energy slipped, wrenching free of Gion’s restraints and finding Ty. It was too much. He knew that immediately. Too much power. It scared her.

  Ty gave a gasp and pulled back. Turquoise eyes flashed up to his in shock.

  Gion released his hold on her hand. “I’m sorry.” His fingers reluctantly fell from her hair. “It just got away from me for a second. I wouldn’t have hurt you, though.” He watched her intently. “My energy would never hurt you.” Even if he lost complete control, the Air powers wouldn’t harm Ty. He was sure of that. The energy wanted to get closer to her, not to do any damage.

  “But, how much power do you have?” She asked. “More than even that?”

  He should have lied, except being near Ty gave him a conscious. “Yes.” Telling the truth was damn inconvenient, but Gion didn’t have a choice with her.

  Ty studied him. “I knew you were powerful, but… Gion, you’re very powerful.”

  He was going to lose what little ground he’d gained with her. Ty wouldn’t want him touching her, now. Frustration ate at him.

  “You think I don’t know that? I’ve been different from everyone else from the day I was born.” Gion got to his feet. “I know it’s abnormal.”

  Only Job’s incredible powers exceed Gion’s. The two of them had been the undisputed heavyweights of the Elemental World for centuries. But, Job was Job and Gion was Gion. Job was loved and respected. Looked to for advice and protection.

  Gion was dangerous.

  Gion’s powers made him a commodity. A useful and deadly tool. People always treated him with fear and suspicion. And with good reason. How could you trust someone who could blow you into pieces with an arch of his eyebrow? What if he lost control? Again.

  Murderer.

  The taunt from his boyhood popped into his head and he had the horrible sensation that Ty heard it, too. Feelings of shame and self-disgust filled him. Gion flinched, backing away from her.

  Ty’s head tilted, her hair still mussed from his fingers. “Where are you going?”

  “Somewhere else.” He started for the door, pocketing the daisy barrette; stealing it from her, because he was selfish and wanted something of Ty’s.

  “Gion.”

  As always, the word stopped him cold. Gion loved hearing his name on her lips. He’d waited years for Ty to speak to him directly and the very first word she’d ever said to him was “Gion.”

  He’d never forget that.

  It pulled him back to her like a fish on a line. “Yes?”

  “Next time, don’t keep your energy away from mine.” She shook her head. “I don’t understand what’s happening between us, but it feels wrong for one of us to only participate halfway.”

  Next time.

  Gion felt dizzy with gratitude.

  Unfortunately, Ty kept talking and ruined his relief.

  “Also, I think I should do some research and find out why we feel this way, don’t you? The energy isn’t normal. There must be an explanation.”

  Gion’s eyes narrowed. “You going to --What?-- try and cure us?” That was the last thing he wanted. In fact, his temper ignited at the very idea.

  “No, but…”

  “Do not fuck with our energy.” Gion interrupted harshly. “Don’t do anything to sever this connection we have.”

  If Ty “fixed” whatever this aberration was between them, Gion would be lost. It was all that he had. Unless he could coax her in with his powers, Ty would leave him forever.

  “I just want to do some research.” Ty insisted. Apparently she startled that he wasn’t jumping on board with plan “Destroy Gion’s World.”

  If she set her mind to it, Ty could stop her energy from touching his. She was a genius. A scientist. Ordinarily, Gion loved her complicated, brilliant mind. Now, fear took hold in him. Ty might be able to cut her energy off from his. Gion would never tolerate that. He’d die first.

  He had to stop her.

  Gion stalked back over to the table, automatically falling back on five hundred years of success through intimidation. People rarely crossed you when they thought you might explode their lungs.

  Gion didn’t want to frighten Ty. Not at all. It undermined his entire goal in life. He wanted Ty smiling when she saw him. He wanted her believing that he was a good man. But, at that moment, Gion preferred Ty’s fear over the risk of her going ahead with her research.

  “Leave it alone.” He ordered. “I’m satisfied with our energies touching and I don’t want it changed.”

  Ty’s eyes widened as he loomed over her. “I just want to know why. I have to understand the reasons for it.”

  “You need to pay attention and understand this.” Gion braced his hand on the back of her chair, trapping her with his body. “I’m more powerful than you are. If you try to get rid of me, I will stop you.”

  As he anticipated, Ty shrank back from him. Gion had a Ph.D. in terrifying people shitless and Ty never did well with direct confrontation. She wouldn’t fight with him.

  He wanted that.

  Except, he hated it.

  Ty had to stop her research. There was no choice. Gion needed Ty and he couldn’t let her rip free of his life. But, he still hated it when she shut him out. No more smiling or touching. Ty just stared up with emotionless turquoise eyes and didn’t say a word.

  Gion’s jaw went rigid.

  Ty always did this. She just stopped talking to him and it drove him insane.

  When Gion felt powerless and annoyed, he got sarcastic and cold. When he got sarcastic and cold, Ty got quiet. Then, he’d get more annoyed that she was ignoring him and get more sarcastic and pretty soon Ty wasn’t even in the same room with him. Oh, she still stood there physically, but she withdrew somehow and Gion couldn’t reach her, at all.

  That really bothered him.

  Once, Gion accidently sent Ty into a panic attack, trying to get her to respond. He’d wanted her to remember the mob attacking her, partly to scare some sense into her and partly because he just wanted her to recall his presence. Ty didn’t seem to have any real memories of that night during the Fall. Whatever sensory fragments she did retain obviously still terrified her, though. Gion hadn’t even known that Elementals could have panic attacks, but when Ty crumbled right in front of him, his whole world stopped.

  Gion still hadn’t forgiven himself for that.

  Now, he watched in frustration as Ty pulled back into herself. She just vanished into her mind and he couldn’t read her, at all. Plus, Ty still hadn’t promised him that she’d back off the research. She’d stopped fighting him outright, but Ty hadn’t given in.

  She was so damn stubborn.

  Shit.

  Gion closed his eyes and moved away from her. For a few minutes, she’d trusted him and he’d ruined it. He screwed up everything important.
>
  He always had.

  “Ty.” Gion whispered her nickname without even thinking about it.

  Amazingly, that got her eyes snapping back up to his. Gion realized that he’d never called her “Ty” before. Not to her face. He always stayed safe behind the formality of her full name.

  It got her attention and, once he regained that, Gion couldn’t bear to lose it, again. Even though he knew he should keep pushing her, he found himself softening. “Ty, please.” He crouched down next to her chair and tried a new tactic. “I… like the energy. Don’t take it away.”

  What Gion felt for Ty, kept him alive. Like gravity, it anchored him. Without it, he’d just float off into nothing.

  She chewed on her bottom lip, again. “You like the energy?” She remained distant, but at least they were back to a verbal exchange.

  “Of course, I like it.” Gion scoffed. “God, I certainly don’t blame you for wanting me out of your life, but what I feel between us is real. It’s the only real thing I have.”

  “It feels like Phazing energy.”

  “I know.”

  “That’s not normal. It’s not real.”

  “It’s close enough.”

  “What if you find your actual Match? Wouldn’t you want to know how to stop the energy between us?”

  “No.” The word was unequivocal. “I don’t want a Match.” Gion just wanted Ty.

  Ty frowned. “Everyone wants their Match.”

  “Really?” Gion arched a brow. “Did you?”

  “That was different.” She turned in her chair so she could face him. “Most Matches love each other. What if you love this woman, but you’re still tied to me? Then wouldn’t you want me to fix this connection?”

  “No.” The idea that he’d ever want somebody else struck Gion as ludicrous. No other woman held the slightest interest for him.

  “Well, I guarantee that your Match really won’t like your energy touching another woman’s.”

  “Too bad.”

  “That’s a terrible attitude.”

  Gion barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Why don’t we worry about all the ‘what ifs’ later?” He didn’t see the point in debating his troubled relationship some fictitious Phase-Match. “Will you leave the energy between us alone?” This time he phrased it as a question.