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

by Cassandra Gannon

  “Oh, yes.” Ty’s body glided in a sensual wave. Turquoise eyes had gone bright with feminine triumph. She liked this. She really liked this. Thank God, he hadn’t screwed it up for her.

  Yet.

  “Gion?” Ty hesitated, even as she gave a seductive hum of pleasure. “Are you okay?”

  His fingers tightened on her hip. “Yeah.” Just saying the word was agony.

  “Your energy’s getting really tight. You can let it go, you know.”

  “I’m fine. Take your time.”

  “You’re so noble.” The woman actually grinned and then released the Water powers completely. The energy fell over Gion like a tidal wave of fireworks and heat and life. It filled him, driving his arousal higher than it had ever been, drowning him in the purity of her powers.

  Oh, shit.

  The Air energy slipped, almost escaping his control. “Ty. Fuck.” The reality of her was better than any fantasy could ever be. Clean and bright and healing. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for this woman. Nothing, at all. But, he was going to snap, if she kept this up. “You’re torturing me, now. It’s cruel.”

  “I love you, too.” She adjusted herself, gliding upward and sinking back down, again. “My God. I soooo would have let you do this when I was eighty-four.”

  “I can’t hold on much longer.”

  “So let go.” Her tongue traced along the edge of his jaw. “I’ll catch you.”

  Gion wanted to be gentle, but it was almost beyond him, now. “Tell me if I scare you.”

  Ty was experimenting like a good little scientist; learning by doing. She leaned back a bit and hit some magic spot that caused Gion to see stars. “You won’t…” Her words stopped with a gasp as Gion took control.

  He flipped her around so Ty was flat on the bed. Pillows went flying and Gion didn’t care. He pushed into her fully, the oxygen leaving his lungs in a rush. Catching Ty’s leg, he pressed it up, so he was locked inside of her as deep as he could go. His other hand was planted by her head, trapping her beneath him. It was instinctive. Territorial. She wasn’t going anywhere.

  Not that she was trying.

  Ty’s eyes widened at the predatory move. “Wow.” She breathed. Her body arched and she made a whimpering sound. “Oh, wow.”

  If Gion hadn’t been so far gone, he might have been amused by that. As it was, all he could process was the Air energy roaring for release and his frantic desire for her.

  “Hold on.” Gion braced himself and released the Air energy. All of it. This was the part where he was really afraid that Ty would balk. Gion had so much power. It was going to frighten her when it combined with her own.

  He knew it.

  And then Gion couldn’t think of anything else, because the Phazing wiped away every thought in his head. Everything but Ty vanished in the incredible rush of power. Water and Air energies combining, building and building to form a new whole. Something better and stronger was created.

  Whole and welcoming.

  Gion had always believed in Gaia and now he knew that he’d been correct. Nothing else could explain the sense of reverence he felt. Of completion. Of absolute faith in something greater than himself. His energy connected with Ty’s, fitting with hers so there was no beginning and no end, and he wasn’t alone, anymore. He wasn’t worried about being good enough, or screwing up, or being the perfect Air Phase.

  All that mattered was his Match

  His vision.

  His wife.

  Ty.

  “Oh God, oh God, oh God!” Ty’s heels dug into the mattress. “Gion, please.”

  He moved inside of her, giving her everything that he had, body, heart and soul.

  Ty screamed, convulsing around him and dragging him over the edge. Gion didn’t want it to end, even as he surrendered to the pleasure beckoning him. “Ty!” He came with a brilliant pulse of color and power, reaching a place he’d never even dreamed existed.

  Tritone, of the Water House really was a miracle.

  His own private angel.

  With the mind of a scholar and soul of a seductress.

  “Shit.” He collapsed, supporting his weight with his elbows so he didn’t crush her.

  Gion had no idea how such a small woman could wring him so totally dry and make him so utterly content. His forehead dropped down to hers, not wanting to break contact even as he tried to remember how to breathe.

  Glazed, wicked eyes met his. “Good news, dear. The block is definitely gone.”

  “Definitely.” Ty’s energy touched every piece of him, connecting them. Gion felt a ridiculous smile on his face. Even in his most outrageous, four in the morning, desperate longings, he’d never thought he’d ever be here like this with Ty. It was magical. “I can’t feel my arms and legs, though, so working tomorrow might be a problem. And I do need to start replacing the windows… Again.”

  “Luckily kings are self-employed. So much easier to clock in late.”

  “And I have a beautiful queen in my bed every night. And the same beautiful queen to keep me on my toes every day. And a new Home Depot credit card to retrofit our palace. It’s a dream job, really.”

  “You’re so cute.” She somehow snuggled even closer to him and Gion swallowed down emotion. No one but Ty would ever cuddle in his arms. It was intimate. Sweet. Only she saw him that way. Granted, Gion wouldn’t allow anyone but Ty to even touch him in a sweet, intimate way.

  Or call him cute.

  Hell no.

  Still, he was absolutely charmed by her. Ty remained pinned beneath him, but Gion was the one captivated. And he’d never willingly go free. There was nowhere else in the universe he’d rather be.

  Gion lifted his head to kiss Ty’s temple. “I really don’t intimidate you, anymore, do I?”

  “Nope.” She stretched against him in a smug, feline way. “The next time you start being grouchy, I can literally picture you naked. Think about that. Cuts way down on your menace.”

  “Good. Imagine me naked all you can. I insist.” And still he had to ask. “I didn’t scare you with my energy? It wasn’t too much?”

  “I told you before, I like your energy, Gion. It’s so big and warm.” Ty gave a satisfied sigh. “Phazing is nice. You did very well for a novice. A solid ‘A’ for effort.”

  “I tried my best.” He started moving down her body, his lips skimming across her skin. “Clearly, I can only improve with time.”

  “I promise to help you practice.” Ty agreed generously. “I think that the obvious needs to be stated here, though. You completely didn’t screw-up or scare me. I don’t feel weak or second guess-y. Together, our insecurities are… fine. You and I were made for each other.”

  His mouth curved. “I know.” Gion’s tongue touched the base of her throat. She even tasted like strawberries. He wondered if he ever had to leave this bed.

  “Gion?” She said, after a long moment.

  “Yes?” His teeth grazed her shoulder.

  “Don’t you have something else to say to me?”

  “Yeah. The fantasy was wrong.” Gion infused his voice with clinical certainty. “There’s no way we could have done this outside on the music hall balcony. You’re way too loud.”

  Ty whacked his arm. “I meant, I want some compliments, you jerk! Or you don’t get to hear anymore fantasies, at all.”

  “Alright. Alright.” Gion explored the valley between her breasts. “I’m glad that you’re my Match.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Is that it?” Ty prompted when he didn’t continue. She moved so he could find her nipple, pressing it to his mouth.

  “That’s it.” Gion obediently kissed the pink peak and then met her gaze. “Without you, I’d be lost. There’d be no moon or sun or stars in the sky. You’re my vision, Ty.” He touched her hair. “You saved me. You gave me a home, and a purpose, and a family. You’re my heart and soul. My hopes and dreams. The love of my life. So, I’m very glad that you’re my Match. Th
at’s it. Simple truth.”

  “How can you say that you’re not a poet?” She beamed at him, her eyes growing moist. “You are such a good man. I’m glad that you’re my Match, too. And even if you weren’t, I would still be right here and still completely in love with you. For me, there is only you, Gion.”

  He grinned at her, feeling young for the first time in his life. “You inspire me, angel. When I’m with you, I know myself and I’m happy.”

  Epilogue

  The more you study our history, the more you see the thousands of little cat shit choices that had to be made for the Elementals to reach the Dark War. All the roads not taken and all the choices unmade. All the guys who could’ve helped changed our path, but they were left sitting on the sidelines, just waiting for someone to tag them into the match. It wasn’t “destiny” that brought us to this point… it was morons.

  Daphne, of the Time House- “After the Fall: A History of the Dark War”

  Kingu had been trapped in the Air Kingdom for twelve hundred, sixty-four years, and nine days when the barriers finally fell.

  Whether physical or mental, the boundaries of his existence had always been defined by others. Kingu had never been free. He survived in a day-to-day monotony of servitude. He no longer really remembered life beyond the invisible walls that Tessie erected to keep Kingu and his mother contained, but he knew that it hadn’t been much better. No matter where he went, it was all the same.

  Kingu had always been a slave.

  Doing what Kay told him. Never having a thought for himself or a plan of his own. At least, none that he’d dared to share. He just… existed. Then, Tessie put Kay into that coma and Kingu suddenly had to start making decisions by himself.

  Only, he didn’t know how to start.

  Kingu stared at his sleeping mother. Thanks to the Health Tablet, the all-powerful primordial Khaos was trapped in her own body. Kay slept on, comatose, while her long held dream of freedom finally came true for Kingu. It should have pleased him more than it did. He’d always dreamed of seeing Kay defeated and he’d always wanted to escape. Nothing could stop Kingu from traveling anywhere he wanted, now. Every realm was wide open to him…

  Only, he had no idea where to go.

  He sat on the floor of Kay’s bedroom with his back against the wall, careful not to look at the manacles that she’d once chained him in, sometimes for years at a time. Kingu spent every day like that, now. Just… waiting for the end.

  And, since he was immortal, he would have a very long wait.

  When the Elemental jumped into Kay’s room, Kingu didn’t bother to stand up. He wasn’t worried. Why would he be? The Phases were insects and he was a god. Forsaken and nearly powerless, but a god none the less. He had nothing anyone could steal and it would take something greater than some pitiful Phase to kill him.

  Kingu had no respect for the Elementals. He’d watched his mother manipulate Parald for far too long to view any of them as a threat. He’d helped Parald with the Love Tablet earlier, manufacturing the Match between Gion and Randa, but Kingu certainly didn’t give a shit about their little plots and schemes.

  Maybe the stranger was there to try and kill Kay. His mother’s death would end the world, but so what? Hell, Kingu had considered killing her himself, except he didn’t want the universe to blink out of existence. Not while some part of him still stubbornly clung to… hope.

  If he could’ve, Kingu would’ve cut out that tainted part of himself like a cancer. It poisoned him. Hope told him not to destroy the universe. Hope whispered that something special was out there, beyond the Air Kingdom, waiting for him. Hope poisoned him with the promise of…

  Her.

  Some nameless, faceless woman who didn’t even exist outside the most secret recesses of his mind. He’d never believed Kay when she’d said that Divine beings were above mates. Even the highest gods must long for someone to share eternity with. Even so, Kingu knew that no one would ever send him a woman. As his mother had delighted in telling him, Kingu was created, not born. He had no soul and was therefore outside the dominion of Gaia. Unnatural monsters weren’t given treasures from the gods.

  He knew that.

  And still he dreamed of that woman. The hopeless hope wore Kingu down like Chinese water torture. Nothing would ever change for him and he hated that an endless lifetime of misery still hadn’t taught him that. That he still hung on, because he longed for some female who didn’t even exist.

  Gods, how he longed for her.

  Kingu was too tired to even care when the Smoke Phase stood over Kay’s still form.

  The man looked like one of the vacuous male models in Kay’s fashion magazines, except his dark hair was haphazardly falling into his eyes and it appeared that he’d gotten dressed in the dark. A cigarette dangled from his mouth and various piercings studded his eyebrows, completing the “broke art major who sits in coffee houses and complains that no one else is smart enough to really get his self-important poetry” aesthetic.

  Kingu rolled his eyes.

  Just when he thought his life couldn’t become any more wretched, this jackass shows up. Leave it to the Elementals to always find new depths of annoying.

  “Are you the one who collapsed the barriers?” Kingu asked. If this idiot was behind it, then he must have had help. The boy obviously wasn’t capable of working the Liberty box by himself and nothing else could have destroyed all those fences.

  “Let’s just say, I knew it would happen.” The Smoke Phase smiled like a TV infomercial host. “I’m more of a… facilitator. I’m here because I have an exciting plan that I know you’ll want to be a part of.”

  Oh, that was all Kingu needed. To be dragged into another tedious Elemental “plan.” Their endless bickering and infighting gave him a headache. It was like listening to chimps chattering in their trees.

  “I’m busy.” He said flatly. “Very, very busy for the next few millennia.”

  “Oh obviously.” The Smoke Phase made of show of looking around the stagnant room and at the comatose woman on the bed. “You’re really living the high life, big guy.” He held up his palms when Kingu’s eyes narrowed. “Hey, hey! Don’t shoot the messenger, now. I’m here to make your life better. You and me can make a deal.”

  “A deal?” Kingu had the mental image of being offered some stunning bananas as payment. “You and I?”

  “Yep. In fact, I think we have a lot in common, Kingu.”

  Okay, now that assertion was just insulting.

  The Smoke Phase moved closer to him and extended a hand. “I’m Zakkery, by the way.”

  The back of his palm was marked with a Banishment symbol. When a Phase was expelled from his or her House, they were usually seared with that mark so everyone would know to stay away from them. Even his own people didn’t want this guy around.

  What a fucking surprise.

  “I don’t care who you are, Elemental,” Kingu slowly explained, “because I am not one of you termites. I am a god. Shaking hands with you would be like shaking hands with a grub that just squirmed out of the soil.”

  “Riiiight.” Zakkery dropped his palm and arched a brow. “But no offense, right?”

  “On the contrary, feel free to take a great deal of offense. I insist.”

  Zakkery snorted. “Look, we don’t have to like each other. All we have to do is work together on this deal. At least, hear me out, grub to god.”

  Was Kingu really so desperate and bored and that he’d waste precious seconds of his eternity listening to this creature?

  Yes, apparently, he was.

  “Alright.” He sighed out despite his better judgment. “Amuse me with your pointless idea.”

  A surprising amount of intelligence glinted in Zakkery’s smile. “Well, I’m working on this tiny little project. And, in order to iron out some of the kinks, I need to borrow your mom’s necklace. I’ll totally bring it back when I’m done. I swear. But, since you’re the only one who can actually take the pendant off her,”
he made a back and forth rocking motion with his head, “well, you see why I need you for a partner.”

  Kingu arched a brow. His mother’s pendant held nearly unlimited power. Giving it to a Phase would be like entrusting a fighter jet to an otter. Sure they’d have a deadly weapon, but what could they actually do with it?

  “Gods don’t have partners.” He told Zakkery. “Gods have worshippers. What could someone like you possibly offer me, besides fearful prayers?”

  “Well, I don’t know.” He crouched down beside Kingu, who was still sitting on the floor with his back to the wall. “What is it you want?”

  Kingu frowned. “What do I want?” He repeated blankly. No one had ever asked him that before. Not ever. Even the words sounded foreign to him. Slaves didn’t get to think about what they wanted. They just… existed. “I don’t want anything.”

  “Nothing? Not money? Power? A really fast car?” Zakkery tilted his head. “A woman?”

  Kingu’s gaze jumped to his, that fucking spark of hope lighting up.

  The Smoke Phase suddenly had Kingu’s full attention and they both knew it.

  Zakkery smirked, sensing an opening. “Because, I have a real talent for matchmaking.”

  Was Zakkery mocking him? “No woman will give herself to a monster.” Kingu knew what he was. He saw his red eyes and dragon-like features every time he looked in a mirror. In order to have a woman touch him, Kingu would have to force her. “If I intended to rape some poor girl, I’d hardly need your help.” He snapped.

  “If you had to rape her, she wouldn’t be yours.” Zakkery retorted. “I’m not talking about a victim. I’m talking about your woman.”

  Kingu hesitated, the words sinking in. “My woman?”

  It was impossible. He knew that.

  If Kingu was smart, he’d ignore that gods awful spark and, sooner or later, it would fade away and leave him in peace. He should just kill this irritating Phase and go back to sitting quietly in the dark. The hope was a lie.

  …Except, he longed for that woman.

  If Kingu had had a soul, he would’ve sworn his need for her went straight down to the core of it.