by Dianna Love
And it had been pure truth.
Seeing her eyes glisten with emotion hit him hard in the gut. He brushed a strand of hair off her face and behind her ear. He’d never tire of touching her.
Running a knuckle down her cheek, he said, “You will always be my Evalle, no matter what powers you have. You will always be the woman who Feenix calls home. You only have to find peace within yourself.”
She didn’t say a word at first, just held his gaze with her bright green eyes. He kissed her lightly, just enough for a taste.
That drew a lusty sigh from her he loved hearing.
After a moment, she gave him a sexy smile. “I have high hopes about going home, too.”
That earned her another kiss.
He had no idea what would happen with her physically once she left the Treoir power base and returned to Atlanta, but Storm was thankful Feenix would be here so she could focus on herself.
Thinking of Feenix reminded him how it seemed she’d shoved her kinetics up to slow Feenix’s fall from the sky, but nothing had happened.
Was she unable to regenerate her Belador power and strength after battling as quickly as she had in the past?
As they reached a round area of marble where hallways met beneath a tall ceiling, Evalle said, “We’re here, Tristan. Where’s the boss?”
“He’ll be here. Better that we’re waiting on him than the other way around.”
In spite of Tristan giving Evalle attitude, Storm picked up guilt still rolling off the gryphon leader when Tristan got around Evalle.
Tristan had linked with her as she died and used the second of his three regenerations to bring her back to life.
No simple feat to perform with any person, but Evalle had been given zero chance of surviving if she teleported out of Abandinu’s realm. She’d been warned the Noirre majik shoved in her body would rip her apart from the inside out.
Daegan had no choice but to teleport her along with the entire team as the realm collapsed around them. He’d even pulled out a dragon he gave his own blood to save. That beast remained contained beneath the castle to keep everyone safe until he remembered how to shift into a human form.
Just as Evalle’s gryphon had been damaged, maybe that dragon would never shift.
When Evalle could no longer shift, Tristan believed he’d failed her.
Storm would never fault her gryphon leader for the gift of bringing her back to life.
Daegan appeared next to Tristan in a rush of energy. The dragon king had the powerful body of a man born in the time when bloody battles were fought with huge swords and other brutal weapons from two thousand years ago. He’d spent the majority of that time cursed into the shape of a dragon throne in the Medb realm. Storm had joined a team of Evalle’s people to free him.
In return, the Beladors now had a powerful leader. Though rough around the edges sometimes, that dragon-shifter had proven himself worthy of following.
Tristan asked Daegan, “Ready for a report?”
Daegan said, “I will be in a moment.”
Evalle appeared immediately interested in Tristan’s mention of reviewing a report.
Before the dragon told her she would not be involved, Storm jumped in first to make it easier for her. “Do you need us in the meeting, Daegan?”
Evalle frowned at Storm. “Of course, he does.”
Daegan shut that down immediately. “On the contrary, I’d rather you not return to duty right away, Evalle.”
Storm sighed. Some things couldn’t be avoided.
“I see,” Evalle said, showing no hurt on her face, but Storm’s empathic senses hadn’t missed it.
In the following silence, Evalle’s gaze shot to Daegan.
Storm took that as Daegan speaking to her privately via telepathy. Tristan appeared to also be waiting to find out what those two discussed.
She lowered her eyes, looking embarrassed, but nodded.
Had the dragon’s abrupt way of dealing with things hurt her?
Evalle put her hand on Storm’s arm. “Don’t be angry. Daegan was only telling me he knew the result of my training exercise with Hoyt.”
The dragon lifted an eyebrow at her.
Storm’s senses pinged that she’d only told a partial truth.
Evalle must’ve caught the subtle expression on Daegan’s face and admitted, “Okay, not training, but a battle test.”
“A battle test?” Storm snapped out before he could stop himself. He would not criticize his mate in front of her leader, but damn. A battle test meant no holds barred.
No wonder she got injured.
He muttered, “What the hell was Hoyt thinking?”
She turned to him with a frown.
Shit. Should have kept that to himself.
Evalle said, “He was thinking to respect my request. I wanted to see if I was ready to do more than lounge around Treoir like a lazy houseguest.” She paused and her gaze swept across everyone.
Storm offered, “I wasn’t criticizing you.”
Evalle held up a hand to take the floor. “Please don’t. I’m not entirely back physically, but I am capable of explaining myself to all of you.” She glanced at Storm, before continuing in a softer tone. “You are all incredible and I appreciate what everyone did to rescue me and since then.” Her gaze shot to Tristan who stared at the floor, but she wasn’t finished. “I won’t break if you piss me off. I can handle your reaction if I piss you off. Just don’t tiptoe around me. It makes me feel like I’m living outside the group.”
Tristan eyebrows shot up. “Can’t blame me with that.”
She laughed, surprising Storm with the sound, and said, “You’re right, Tristan. You have never coddled me, and I thank you for that.”
Her gryphon leader nodded.
Brina, the Belador warrior queen in her twenties, came waddling in with her new husband, Tzader. He held her arm as if she didn’t possess the power to teleport if she stumbled. Wild red hair flowed behind her and a gown of green and gold covered her double baby bump.
She stated, “I’m here.”
Daegan said, “I told you it wasn’t necessary to join us, niece. This is not a meeting. We’ll do that at the round table.”
“Duly noted, uncle,” Brina replied, undeterred.
A few years older with skin the color of dark mahogany covering a stocky body carved with solid muscle, Tzader shook his bald head at Daegan in a silent “let it go” message.
Daegan asked Evalle, “Do you have anything else you’d like to say, before we move on?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. Storm has something to do in Atlanta and I’d like to join him.” She paused to say, “I will honor your order to not return to duty, Daegan.”
When the dragon king dipped his chin in acknowledgment, Evalle added, “Feenix wants to stay and it warms my heart that he’s so happy visiting. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to give him a little more time. I’d appreciate everyone keeping an eye on my gargoyle.”
Tristan said, “Done. He’s welcome any time and he’ll be safe.” He seemed to catch himself and glanced at the dragon king. “Right, boss?”
Daegan smiled at Tristan. “I support your decision and will do my part to watch over the little beast.”
Evalle grinned at Daegan’s teasing tone that made it clear the dragon held affection for Feenix.
Seeing Daegan continue to give Tristan support even over small things continued to turn Tristan into a tremendous Belador asset. Who’d have thought that would ever happen considering how Tristan had been the enemy when Storm first met him on the opposite side of a battle?
Everyone seemed fine until Brina piped up. “No. I want you to stay here and heal, Evalle. You could be attacked in Atlanta.”
“She will not be harmed,” Storm stated, allowing no argument on that point.
Speaking in Daegan’s direction, Tristan offered, “I could have a security patrol keep an eye out in the area of their building.”
“I don’t need any
one watching Evalle when I’m around,” Storm said with enough force to make it clear to all.
Evalle snapped, “Tristan?”
“What?”
“No coddling. Remember?”
“Sorry. My bad.”
All the conflicting comments drew a frown from Daegan.
No one knew better than Storm that Evalle would feel responsible for causing friction among her friends.
Right on cue, Evalle said, “I didn’t mean to—”
Storm debated over jumping in to say more or leave Evalle to fight this on her own after she’d just put her foot down with every one of them.
Tzader interjected, “No one is going to argue that Storm is an unmatched protector, Evalle, but I’m with Brina. We want you here with us a little longer.”
Garwyli came striding in quite fast for an ancient druid. His gray robe swirled around him when he stopped. “What’s all this noise? How’s a bein’ to think with this racket goin’ on?”
The old guy winked at Storm, stalling his next words until he saw what Garwyli had up his sleeve.
Daegan ordered, “Everyone calm down. You’re distressing Brina.”
“They are not, uncle. Don’t be makin’ me sound like a hormonal woman.”
“But you are,” the dragon king argued, clearly confused.
“I didn’t mean to cause problems,” Evalle finally finished saying.
Storm’s heart bottomed out at her capitulation.
Garwyli inquired, “What problem might you be talkin’ on?”
Turning a smile to her favorite druid, Evalle explained, “Storm needs to return to Atlanta, and I thought I’d go with him.”
“How is that a problem?” Garwyli asked, directing his question specifically at Evalle.
She glanced at her friends and shrugged. “I don’t want to upset anyone, especially Brina so close to having the twins.”
“What you do will have no bearin’ on her givin’ birth,” Garwyli said. He turned to Brina. “Am I right?”
Brina had opened her mouth as if to protest but huffed out a breath. “No. I won’t be needin’ her help. But I think—”
The old druid lifted a hand that demanded silence and not even the dragon spoke.
Garwyli brushed his fingers along the long white beard that hung to his waist. “We’ve all been takin’ turns at givin’ aid to Evalle. A body can weary of so much attention. She is a powerful woman on her own. I know ya want to be motherin’ her, Brina, but you will have plenty to mother soon enough. I see no reason to keep Evalle here when she has a life to get on with back in Atlanta. Have none of you considered she may want a wee bit of time alone with her mate?”
Storm stifled a smile at the guilty looks Garwyli drew with that comment.
When no one spoke up, the druid asked, “Now, is there any other problem to be solvin’?”
“No, blast it.” Brina walked to Evalle and hugged her the best she could with her round belly. She warned, “Just you be careful and come back soon or I’ll be sendin’ the dragon to find ya.”
The anxiety that had pulsed from Evalle only moments ago dissipated. She smiled at Brina and told everyone, “Thank you for all you’ve done. Like I said, I’m leaving Feenix, so you know I won’t be gone long. I don’t want him to be any trouble.”
“Of course.” Brina sniffled and stepped back, trying to pretend tears weren’t spilling from her eyes. Tzader hooked his arm around the shoulders of their Belador warrior queen and hugged her.
Daegan declared, “As Tristan said, your gargoyle is welcome and will be safe. If I hear otherwise, someone will lose their head.”
Damn. Coming from Daegan, that was no empty threat.
Storm sent Garwyli a nod, letting him know he appreciated the help. The old guy laughed, clearly enjoying having his way. Storm’s debt to that druid just continued to climb.
The dragon king announced, “If that’s settled, are you two ready to teleport?”
Adrianna came hurrying in. “Wait.”
Evalle turned with shock riding her gaze then relief.
What the hell was that about? Storm couldn’t wait to get home and figure out a few things.
Adrianna slowed her rushed steps. “Me, too. Me, too. I’ve enjoyed the visit and I’ll be back, but I’d like to be dropped at my house.”
Looking around, Evalle said, “Wait. We need to get our clothes and things from our room.”
Brina ordered, “Go on now. I’ll have it all bundled and sent to ya.”
“Is everyone finished filling my day with teleporting duties?” Daegan groused, but Storm caught a twinkle in the dragon king’s eyes that said he didn’t feel the least bit imposed upon.
“We’re ready,” Storm said then stood behind Evalle with his arms around her waist. Finally, they’d have some privacy.
The first thing they had to do was bond.
He suffered a moment of guilt over dangling the return of her gryphon by bonding, because he couldn’t guarantee it. Still, that had to be better than giving up.
Adrianna yawned in Daegan’s direction. “Thought we’d be there by now, dragon.”
Daegan growled, “Irritatin’ witch.”
Treoir blinked out of sight.
CHAPTER 7
Evalle’s eyes adjusted quickly to the low light in the garage on the ground floor of their building. She’d spent so much time without her special sunglasses while in Treoir, she hadn’t thought to ask Daegan for eye cover to wear in the human world. She had another pair upstairs though.
Storm stepped in front of her. “All good?”
She couldn’t live the rest of her life with him worrying constantly that she’d not recover from her ordeal. If she gave him a big smile she didn’t feel, he’d know it, but she could find a halfway point.
“Yessss. Did you forget my speech at Treoir?” she chided, adding a smile to soften the reminder.
“I heard, but this is the first you’ve changed realms.”
“You’ve got a point.” She looked at her body. “Two legs, two feet, two hands ... ”
Storm caught her face with his hands. “One sexy mouth.” He kissed her into silence. He’d always been able to do that.
Standing in their garage and smelling the familiar scents of home, she wanted to joke and return to their easy way of being together. Things had felt off between them these past ten days. Not them, but her.
Storm hadn’t changed.
She’d been the happiest in her life with him, the only man she’d ever love.
She had to find that woman again.
He sighed and leaned down to meet her nose to nose. “Stop thinking so hard. Everything will happen in its own time. Let’s get the elephant out of the room up front. No discussion of bonding tonight. Fair enough?”
Guilt-ridden over having avoided that conversation too long, she said, “I’m sorry, Storm, I—”
“Stop. Please, stop right there, sweetheart.” He sounded frustrated, not angry. “You don’t want me apologizing for not finding you sooner, then please don’t you do it. You did nothing wrong. Nothing is wrong between us. I know you’re hesitating to talk about bonding and maybe some other things. It pains me to watch you stress over us and to avoid me because of all that.”
“No, I’m not.” She wanted to bite her tongue as soon as the words were out.
He didn’t say a word.
She closed her eyes and said, “Okay, big fat lie.” Opening her eyes, she gave him the honesty she’d been holding back. “I love you so much there are no words and I have never doubted ours for each other, but when I was in Abandinu’s realm with no possibility of ever seeing you again, I was actually glad we hadn’t bonded. That sounds bad, but it’s the truth. I can only imagine what would happen if you never found me again and had no way to unbond, if that’s a thing.”
His eyes fired up along with his voice. “Bond or no bond, I will always come for you and I will find you, no matter where you are. This world means nothing to me without y
ou, but for right now I’d like to table the bonding conversation and enjoy being home. Agreed?”
She should’ve known he’d be fine about all of that, but leave it to Storm to state it bluntly and release a ton of pressure she’d been holding in. She could wait until tomorrow to meet up with Adrianna.
Since talking to the witch, Evalle made up her mind she’d tell Storm what she wanted the witch to do and ask him to support her decision.
That sounded pretty simple when in truth she kept imagining her mate stroking out.
Tomorrow. Adrianna hadn’t been home in ten days either.
Tonight belonged to Storm.
Evalle moved her head to the side and leaned against his chest, wrapping her arms around him.
His heart pounded fast beneath her cheek but slowed the longer she stood in his embrace.
As his body formed to hers, he whispered, “You feel so good. I just want to hold you like this forever.”
“Me, too.” For the first time in days they were alone, truly alone. The twin boys Evalle and Storm had given a place to stay in one of the apartments on the second floor were still visiting Kit, a fierce human protector who treated those two male witches as her own.
Their other teen resident, Lanna, had remained in Treoir.
Just Evalle and the man she loved.
She relaxed against Storm’s powerful body. All at once, she stopped fighting to regain who she’d been and to find her place in the Beladors again.
She stopped fighting period.
This moment belonged to the two of them and wouldn’t have happened if she had not survived. She cursed herself for wasting even one second since then.
She had so much to live for, but had been too focused on losing her powers and gryphon to allow any other thoughts in.
Standing in her home with Storm brought things back into perspective. Time had no relevance in Treoir, unlike in the human world where every minute mattered for the people here. She might not be human, but she’d come face to face with her mortality when she’d thought she’d have a lifetime yet to live.
She might ... or might not.
The upcoming week would tell for sure, if not sooner.
In the meantime, she wouldn’t waste one more minute she could spend with Storm.