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

by Cassandra Gannon

  “I know you’re in command of the rebels, Marna, but that has nothing to do with me.” Gion assured her. “I’ve left the Air Kingdom.”

  “But, you have to come back. We need your help. I know that you’re better than the rest of Parald’s men.”

  “Hey!” Isaacs protested.

  “Gion is better than other men.” Ty was pleased that Amarna noticed that. “He’s a hero.”

  Isaacs scoffed.

  So did Gion.

  “Gion saved me during the Fall.” Amarna nodded at Ty. “He was loyal to my uncle, even though Seneca was too stupid to notice. The Air Kingdom can’t afford to lose him.”

  “Well, you can’t have him back.” Ty flashed Gion a worried look. “Do you want to go back to the Air Kingdom?”

  “Hell no.”

  “I’m just going eat.” Cross sat down and started piling spaghetti onto his plate. “I should make the Black Hole taste all this first, just to be safe, but I’m hungry and this is gonna take a while. I can tell.”

  “Stop calling Gion that.” Ty chided.

  Amarna ignored them. “Saxon is strong, but he’s not as strong as you.” She met Gion’s gaze. “You’ve left the Air House and now Isaacs is incapacitated, as well. Parald is vulnerable. Now’s the time to strike.”

  “I’ll be fine. I just need some time to heal without Parald trying to kill me.” Isaacs grabbed the fork out of Ty’s hand and struggled to get the pasta to twirl around the tines.

  He didn’t look fine.

  He was trying to brazen it out, but it he was having trouble finding the food on his plate. Ty watched him worriedly. They needed to call Freya. “Isaacs.” She lowered her voice. “You have to go to a doctor. Come with me and…”

  “After dinner.” His damaged eyes shifted in Gion’s direction and Ty realized that Isaacs didn’t want to show any weakness in front of his former general. For all his snarky-ness, Isaacs wanted Gion’s respect.

  Ty relented with a concerned sigh. She subtly shifted the position of the plate, so his fork found the pasta.

  “Thank you.” The words were almost inaudible.

  “Parald’s weak.” Amarna pressed, not giving up on her “steal Gion from Ty” plan. “Nearly, all of his top soldiers are gone. He’s never been so weak, Gion. This is our chance to free our people from his oppression.”

  Gion shook his head. “Very stirring, but I’m not leaving the Water House and I’m not killing Parald. You’re wasting your time.”

  Cross rolled his eyes. “Why aren’t we killing him?”

  “Because Gion isn’t a soldier, anymore.” Ty beamed proudly. “He’s a musician.”

  Nia and Tharsis exchanged a look.

  “Oh, perfect. Well, I’m not joining his fabulous boy-band.” Isaacs made a face. “I’d rather take my chances in the Air House kitchens.” He chewed morosely on his spaghetti. “Jesus, who made this crap?”

  “You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the wonders of the Air House,” Gion snapped, “because, you’re not staying here.”

  Isaacs’ jaw tightened.

  “No, seriously, why hasn’t Gion killed Parald?” Nia asked. “I don’t care if he’s got a secret identity as Beethoven, I know that Gion’s not a pacifist.”

  “Gion’s afraid that Parald might drag Ty down with him.” Tharsis arched a brow. “They’re a Match. Their energies are connected. And she’s very young.”

  Ty blinked. That was… crazy. Her energy had never connected with anyone but Gion. What she felt with Parald had been wrong. If he died, the biggest risk to her would be a hangover after the not-so-mournful funeral celebration she planned to throw.

  No one else seemed to believe that.

  Cross leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling. “Shit.” He sighed.

  “I hadn’t thought of that.” Nia looked over at Gion in amazement. “You’re right.”

  Gion inclined his head.

  “Parald is dangerous to everyone, as long as he’s alive,” Amarna insisted, “especially to Ty. Gion, you’re an Air Phase. You need to come back to the Air Kingdom and help us stop him.”

  “I don’t give a damn about the Air Kingdom. I won’t let anybody harm Parald, if there’s even a chance that it might endanger Ty.”

  “Gion is a Water Phase, now.” Ty corrected firmly. “Anyway, no one has to worry about Parald’s death killing me.” The very idea was ludicrous. Sweet, but ludicrous. “I don’t feel a connection to Parald. Not at all.”

  “You have to.” Brokk began dumping pasta onto his own plate. The man ate more food than any Phase Ty had ever seen. “You’re a Match.”

  “Well, there’s been a glitch then, because I’ve never felt anything but wrongness around him.” Ty turned to Gion. “This is why you haven’t killed Parald? Because, you were worried about me?”

  “Yes.”

  Ty’s heart melted. His expression didn’t change, but she could feel the underlying frustration in the word. Gion detested Parald, but he’d endured life under the man’s thumb for three years to keep her safe. How could she not love a guy like that?

  Isaacs frowned.

  Ty headed over to stand directly in front of Gion. “Thank you.” She stood on tiptoe to press her lips against his.

  Gion couldn’t believe that she’d do that in front of her family. She saw the surprise on his face as he gently returned the kiss.

  “Did she just kiss him?” Isaacs asked no one in particular. “Figures. I knew that he’d get her, anyway. Perfect fucking Gion.”

  “I don’t think he’s perfect.” Cross and Nia chorused.

  Ty pulled back to smile up at Gion. “You’re such a good man.”

  Isaacs dropped his fork. “Aaaaand there goes my appetite. No matter where I go, it’s –like-- Gion Land. Can someone explain to me why he always gets everything?”

  “He’s a Wood Phase.” Brokk said wisely. “We’re very special people.”

  “He’s a Water Phase.” Ty repeated.

  “He’s an Air Phase!” Amarna waved the others aside. “Gion, the Air House rebels can bring Parald down, with or without you. Job’s already agreed to help us. With you it will be easier and cost fewer lives, but it’ll happen either way.”

  Gion dragged his attention away from Ty. “Marna, if you try and kill Parald, I will stop you.” He stated flatly.

  Amarna’s eyes narrowed.

  A surge of energy charged through the palace.

  Job.

  Only he had that much power.

  Gion’s head snapped towards the door. “Perfect. Now what?” He headed towards the living room.

  Nia, Cross, Ty and Tharsis followed him.

  Job stood next to the French doors, squinting at the one that Gion had replaced. The black plastic looked slightly out of place next to the sunny colors and stained glass. The sight of it made Ty grin, despite herself.

  Her smile faded when she spotted the woman hovering behind Job, though. Dread filled her. Somehow, Ty already knew this would be bad.

  “Job?” Nia blinked. “Hi. What’s going on? You want some dinner?”

  “No, I brought…” He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I brought… uh…”

  “Randa.” The stunning creature from the planet Supermodel batted her eyes at Gion. “I had to come. I had to meet you, Gion.”

  “Really?” He arched a brow, visibly unimpressed. “Why?”

  “Because,” she gave a tremulous smile, “I’m your Match.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The bitterest tragic element in life to be derived from an intellectual source

  is the belief in a brute Fate or Destiny.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson- ‘Natural History of intellect’

  Gion looked the woman up and down. “I beg your pardon?” His voice could’ve flash frozen the Fire Kingdom.

  “I’m your Match.” She gazed at him with liquid brown eyes. “I’m Randa, of the Stone House.”

  Randa was a beautiful. A stunning example of tall an
d slender femininity. Dressed in a gauzy white dress, and with a perceptible aura of power surrounding her, she was exactly the type of woman who Gion belonged with.

  Ty’s heart took a nose dive.

  There was an olive colored streak in Randa’s chocolate tresses, a trembling smile on her glossy red lips. “I’ve searched for you for so long, Gion.”

  “Searched?” Gion arched a sardonic brow. “Because I keep such a low profile that it’s always been impossible to know where I lived, until now, right?” The sarcasm would have felled a lesser target.

  Randa pushed onward. “No, I knew of you. I did, but,” her manicured hand came up and briefly touched her temple, “but it was like Gaia spoke to me today. Like she was telling me that you were about to be lost to me forever and I just somehow suddenly knew that you were my Match. That I had to find you.”

  “How nice for you.” Nia snarked. She moved closer to Ty and glared over at Gion as if this was his fault.

  “Ty honey, don’t freak out.” Tharsis whispered worriedly, taking position on her other side. “No panic attacks. Breathe nice and slow.”

  Ty nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She didn’t feel a rush of anxiety or terror that preceded her panic attacks, though. All she felt a bone deep sense of resignation and misery, which was somehow even worse. She’d known that Gion’s Match could still be out there, able to offer him all the things that Ty couldn’t. Of course, he’d have one. Why wouldn’t he? He deserved all the joy that a Match could bring.

  Ty’s vision filmed over and she clenched her jaw to keep from crying.

  “Randa came to me and asked me to bring her here.” Job said uncomfortably. “She says that she had a very strong feeling come over her, drawing her to Gion, and…uh…” Job looked over at Cross as if expecting some social awkwardness life-line.

  Unfortunately, Cross seemed thrilled by the turn of events. In fact, he and Randa were the only two people in the room who weren’t frowning, scowling, or close to tears. “She’s Gion’s Match! She says she is and you can feel their energies lining up. And, it’s just a great day to be alive, isn’t it?” Cross grinned over at Ty. “Now, he can drag his gloomy ass off to the Stone Kingdom and we’ll never have to see him, again.” He eagerly slapped his hands together. “I’ll help him pack. Does he have luggage or can I just shove everything in some trash bags?”

  Nia gave her Match a kick in the ankle.

  “Ow!”

  Cross was right. Ty might never see Gion, again.

  Her thoughts ran together in a confused mass of heartbreak and self-disgust. Obviously, Randa was better for Gion than Ty. What in the universe could Ty ever offer him? Nothing, besides an almost empty kingdom, a crazy woman struggling to put her life back together, and a mass murderer trying to kill him for just looking at her. Gion would have to be nuts to want that kind of life.

  With Randa, he’d have a beautiful Match and a secure home with all the Stone Phases as his new family. This would probably even take him off Parald’s Most Wanted List, since it would prove that Gion wasn’t interested in Ty. Plus, Randa was older than Ty. More powerful. Not so weak. Randa could Phaze with Gion and give him children. Already, Ty could feel Gion’s energy hitting against Randa’s at some special frequency.

  They were a perfect Match.

  Gaia had selected this woman just for him. Only someone incredibly selfish would begrudge him that miracle. Anyone who loved Gion --really loved him-- would let him go find happiness.

  Ty wanted to throw something, or scream that Gion was hers, or pull the lovely olive streak from Randa’s hair one strand at a time. Instead, she edged backwards towards the door.

  Gion’s eyes snapped over to her at the small retreat. “Ty?”

  She swallowed hard. “Congratulations.” She got out softly and slipped from the room before she started bawling.

  “Ty!”

  She ignored Gion’s shout and headed up the stairs. A real queen would have made a more dignified exit. She would’ve majestically swept from the room after wishing them both a blessed life together and all that other “Happy Phazing Day” garbage. Ty didn’t have it in her to be gracious, though.

  Not about this.

  She marched into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her loud enough to rattle the Plexiglas windows. Wiping at her eyes, she stalked out onto the balcony and braced her hands on the railing. Misery gave way to anger.

  This was her own fault. She’d known that getting so attached to Gion was a mistake.

  And it was Gion’s fault for making her care. He’d gone out of his way to be appealing.

  And it was Randa fault for even existing in the first place. Bitch.

  Ty stared out over her kingdom and had never felt so alone.

  Matches.

  For everyone else, they were a gift. But Matches had been cursed for Ty since the day she met Parald. First, her own Match turned out to be a murdering lunatic and now the man she loved was given to someone else.

  It wasn’t fair.

  The childish thought caused more tears to fall.

  Ty never should have gotten her hopes up about the energy being a potential double-Match and the memory sharing meaning something special. She’d wanted it to be true. Wanted this claim she felt on Gion to be real.

  He was hers.

  It wasn’t fair that Gion didn’t belong to her. It was just… wrong.

  “Ty.” Gion came up beside her although she had no idea how he’d gotten into the room with her hearing him. He certainly hadn’t knocked. Huge surprise there. Maybe his new House could teach him some manners.

  She sent him a glare and sniffed in a not-particularly-queenly fashion. Decorum wasn’t her main focus at the moment. “Your children will be Stone Phases, you know. They can solidify anything they touch. You’ll never be able to keep any pets.”

  “That was my first thought downstairs, as well.” He said gravely. “Being a kids and dogs type of guy, it’s definitely a concern.”

  Ty actually smiled slightly at his tone. Randa had better appreciate his warped sense of humor. Her anger faded as she looked up at him, leaving only an empty spot where her heart had been. Ty didn’t want their last moments together spoiled by crying or arguing.

  “I’m sorry.” She cleared her throat and tried to get a hold of her emotions. “Gion, I want you to be happy. And it’s wonderful that…” Ty trailed off, unable to go on without lying. It wasn’t wonderful that he’d found a Match.

  It was wrong.

  “I want you to be happy.” Ty finally repeated. “You’ll do what you have to do and I understand.”

  “There’s only one decision that would ever make me happy.” He reached out to touch her hair. “Only one decision that I could ever make. You should know that by now, Tritone.”

  “I do. I’ll be alright.” Ty wanted to reassure him, but some definite “I-told-you-so”-ing was in order. “I knew this day would come, though. I did. You wouldn’t listen, but I knew your Match would come for you.”

  “You definitely worried about it.”

  “Of course, I did! I wanted you, and I still do, and now this is woman taking you away.” Ty sounded bitter and she didn’t care. “I always knew that our connection would be a problem for you, but you said, ‘No, no, no.’ It was my own fault for wanting you so much that I let myself hope that you’d like it here and want to…” Ty stopped before she brought up how much she loved him. She wouldn’t put that kind of guilt on Gion. “I’ll just… try to research something that might sever our energy, alright?”

  She sure wouldn’t work real hard on it, though. In fact, it had a permanent last place position on Ty’s to-do list, after alphabetizing the entire Water Palace library and then putting all the thousands of books back into their original order, again.

  Just for fun.

  Gion stood beside her, looking out over the Water Kingdom. “I do like it here, you know.” He murmured. “I love it.” For a second, Ty thought he might be fishing for her t
o ask him to stay, but that didn’t make any sense. Gion knew that she wanted him desperately. She’d stripped naked and told him so. “This is a beautiful land.” He continued. “Even with those empty buildings you’re so fond of.”

  Better focus to on the endless vista rather than the woman downstairs preparing to steal Ty’s whole universe. “It is. But, the Stone Kingdom has…” Ty tried to think of one specific, positive feature of that rocky, mountainous place and came up blank, “many charms. You’ll like it there, too.”

  “I doubt that.”

  Ty disregarded his attitude. “And maybe, you could come back and visit the Water Kingdom…and me. Maybe.” Ty tried to put some polite detachment into the words, even when she was anxious for some assurance that she’d see him, again.

  Gion shook his head. “I don’t think an occasional visit is the best choice for me.”

  No, he was probably right.

  Randa would never let him come back here. Ty wouldn’t, if their situations were reversed. No woman would want the Match near some crazy, lovesick idiot who might try to lure him away. Not that Gion would leave Randa, anyway. Why would he? But still, it hurt. Ty understood, but it hurt like a stake through the heart.

  She glanced up at Gion’s granite profile and blinked back more tears. “I’ll miss you.”

  Gion finally glanced down at her. “Will you?”

  “Of course I will!” Ty wiped at her eyes. “You have no idea how much. I know it’s selfish, but I…” She let out a long breath. “I just wish that Randa hadn’t shown up. I wish you could stay here with me.”

  There. She’d said it.

  Ty waited for Gion to get annoyed about that. Very few Phases would appreciate someone else wishing their Match out of existence.

  Instead, Gion’s mouth curved. He arched a brow. “When I heard you were Matched with Parald, I went crazy. I could have killed him. I wanted to. I knew that the Match was wrong. I knew that you were mine.”

  She met his eyes, again. “I should have been yours and you should have been mine. Destiny made a mistake. We both know that.”

  But, it wasn’t enough.