Twisted Bonds

by Brandy L Rivers

  “Saressa was wrong. She threw away everything your parents fought for. That’s not your fault. But you can’t control Isadora. She’s strong, good, and will fight for what she believes in. If you push her too hard, she will shut you down.”

  Reance nodded.

  “Sometimes, emotions can alter your perception of the future. Remember that.”

  He nodded.

  Kellan cleared his throat. “Are we staying here? It seems Isa and Toryn left the building.”

  He took a look around. There was no one there Aeryana would prohibit from the kingdom. “Scotty, would you call Isa or Toryn and tell them to meet us at the castle?”

  Scotty pulled out a phone. “All of us?”

  “Yes, I think that’s the best.”

  Scotty placed the call, and Kellan opened the portal.

  He found Aeryana standing near the window of the same balcony they’d left from. Reance moved to her, feeling beaten.

  She turned toward him. “Is Toryn all right?”

  “He is now.” The words left him on a breath. “I’m not sure she’ll forgive me.”

  Aeryana closed the distance and placed her hands on his face. “Perhaps you should apologize to her and place your faith in her.”

  His eyes closed as he dipped his head. She was right. “If she’ll listen.”

  “She will, if you start on the right foot.” She pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’m sure she’ll come back tonight.”

  Scotty chuckled. “I imagine they went to clean up before coming back here.”

  Aeryana smiled, though concern was clear in her diamond eyes. “How bad were his injuries?”

  Marielle met the queen’s gaze. “The last of his life was draining from Toryn as Isa started to heal the damage. She had seconds left before he would have crossed the threshold to death.”

  Reance looked out across the scenery. He’d been wrong.

  Aeryana grabbed his chin and yanked his attention to her. “You will apologize to your daughter. You made a mistake. Mistakes happen.”

  “I’ll find a way to make up for my hesitancy,” he promised.

  Light danced through her eyes. “I’ll help.”

  Aeryana turned to everyone. “Come, let’s find somewhere for you to clean up while I find appropriate clothing for the celebration.”

  “What celebration?” Marielle asked.

  Aeryana smiled at Reance. “Before Saressa attempted to ruin the party, we were celebrating Toryn and Isadora’s union, as well as our own.”

  “I had wondered if the two of you would ever have that joy,” Marielle replied. “Congratulations.”

  Scotty turned to Marielle and Miles. “Once you two are dressed, you should come with me.”

  Reance perked up. “Take them to the room next to yours. It’s already prepared.”

  “Jacqueline?” Marielle asked.

  “And Eddie,” Scotty answered. “They are bound together.”

  Marielle’s eyes sparkled. “I hope she can accept me.”

  “She will. Come.” Scotty led the way, and Jayde clung to his side.

  Several attendants entered the room. Aeryana gave them directions before pulling Reance into her arms. “Let’s head back to our chambers until she joins us again.”

  “How can you be sure she’ll come today?”

  “Somewhere in her heart she knows you mean well. But she came close to losing the man who got her through the most difficult things in her life. So come and let me help you prepare for your apology.”

  * * * *

  Xander caught Reance’s arm and looked Aeryana in the eye. “Wait. We should talk.” As uncomfortable as he was about his doubts, he needed to voice them to both the Queen of Air and her new husband.

  His opinion was likely to lose him ground, but he needed to speak his mind.

  Reance turned to Xander. “Alone?”

  He glanced around the hall and nodded. Too many of these people would only see a savior. He wasn’t so convinced. “Best that way.”

  Reance led him to the tower Aeryana claimed as her living quarters. Aeryana shared a look with Reance but held her tongue until they were out of earshot of everyone else.

  Xander took the walk to sort out his thoughts. He wanted to be heard, not overlooked.

  Finally, they came to a stop and Reance erected a spell in a sitting room to seal in the sound. “What troubles you, Xander?”

  He flexed his hands and released them. “I have reason to be concerned about your daughter. I knew Isadora would be powerful, but she did things no being should be able to do.”

  He’d watched her touch stone walls ten feet thick and create tunnels with nothing more than a thought. She’d barely glanced at sirens in her way and they’d disintegrated. And yes, she’d freed two dozen people trapped in cells, but she’d taken an entire castle down in her wrath. One that had stood for thousands of years.

  “Such as?” Aeryana asked, her voice too calm.

  As he feared, they could disregard his worry. “I realize I don’t know her well, but she has the power to take whatever she wants. If she chooses to take the realms, she could easily do it and no army could stand in her way.”

  “She’s not interested in leading,” Reance stated.

  “And if that changes?” he countered.

  “It won’t.”

  “You’ve already admitted you don’t know everything that’s coming. That your visions have changed or are changing. You no longer know the shape of our future. I’m not telling you to send her away forever, only watch her. Make sure that if she does change her mind, you can at least consider the possibility that she could be far worse than Saressa ever was. She has the power to do what Saressa couldn’t.”

  Aeryana walked toward him with a sad smile. “You’ve never shared a mate bond, Xander. I will take your warning into consideration, but I beg you to see the other side as well as you can. Her other half was in grave danger. She has the strength to fight through the abyss and back to ensure his safety. One day, I believe you’ll find the woman you would do the same for. Until she gives you a reason to believe she wants power, don’t assume the worse. Be prepared, as you always are, but keep in mind that Isadora is my daughter and will be respected.”

  Xander closed his eyes and dipped his head.

  Reance added, “I was concerned she might turn down a dark path before she saved Toryn. Now that his future is safe, I am no longer concerned. I’ve seen much. Isadora does not crave a crown. If that changes, you will be the first I warn.”

  “Very well. I’ve said what I needed.” He turned and left, hoping they were right. But what he’d witnessed left room for doubt.

  * * * *

  Isa pushed Toryn into the shower and followed. Determination had taken root and there was no desire in her stare as she ran her hands over every inch of his body.

  “Haven’t I proved I’m whole?” Toryn asked as her hand skated up his inner thigh. “Fuck, Isa, if you keep that up, I’m taking you against the wall again.”

  Her lips quirked, but she kept up the examination. “Turn.”

  Sighing, he did.

  He jumped when her finger ran over his asshole. “They didn’t go there, Isa.”

  “The blood, your legs, your hips. What the hell did they do besides the stone shards and silk?”

  “Damha crushed my pelvis. Bone tore through flesh.” The memory cut through him and he dropped his head to the wall. “Don’t want to think about it.”

  “Neither of them raped you?”

  He turned, caught her face, and looked into her eyes. “You were with me, in my head. How can you even ask that?”

  “I was out for some time. I don’t know how long.”

  “What happened?”

  “Tower collapsed on me.”

  He pushed her hands away and started going over every inch of her body. She leaned back, her lips pulling into a smile.

  “Who healed
you?” His eyes locked on hers.

  “Amethyst Lakes. Paavo’s little sister.”

  He let out a sigh of relief. “I knew her grandmother. I understand Amethyst has more talent than even Sapphire did. She didn’t have to get you off.”

  “Would you have cared if she did?”

  “To heal you? No. I might be disappointed if I didn’t get to watch, but I’d be happy you were whole.”

  “Exactly why I didn’t mind Marielle doing whatever she needed to in order to fix what I couldn’t.”

  He glided his hand up her thigh, to her slick folds. “My warrior princess,” he murmured, slipping two digits into her tight channel.

  “Then fuck me already,” she purred.

  “Need the blood gone first.”

  She grabbed the body wash and the loofah and went to work. She gripped his cock, working his hard length with the soap.

  “Isa, please,” he warned. “Want to be clean before I worship you some more. We already did this covered in my blood.”

  She lifted her hands. “I can’t behave with you wet and naked in front of me. I almost lost you. And if my father hadn’t finally shut up, I would have.”

  “What happened?”

  She rinsed off and stepped out of the shower. Once she was dry and wrapped in a towel, she told him everything that had happened from the moment she’d woken up, until she’d found him while he dried off.

  He pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry. I should have known better. I should have suspected Scotty was bitten when he was on the tower.”

  “Shut up, Toryn. You’re fine, I’m fine, and I have a feeling Saressa is scared out of her mind.”

  “You shouldn’t have had to save me. I should have listened to both you and Scotty. He knew something bad was coming.”

  She gripped his face and shook her head. “Don’t. If my father had let me leave sooner, you wouldn’t have been so damaged. That bastard had his dick out.”

  One corner of his mouth turned up. “Yeah, I saw you feed him his cock. Thought it was a dream.”

  “I thought he’d—”

  “No. Think he fucked Saressa against me, but neither of them went there with me, or Scotty as far as I know. And she’s pregnant.”

  Her eyes widened. “Saressa is pregnant? With what? More Arachnians?”

  He nodded. “If withdrawal from his venom doesn’t kill her, those spiderlings will when they eat their way out.”

  A shudder rocked through her. “Except she’ll come back. I need to find her first so I can kill her before she respawns somewhere, sans the venom in her system. Shit, she’s got to die.”

  “Hadn’t thought of that.”

  “How do we find her?”

  He shook his head. “That I don’t know. But I know someone who might. We need to go back to the castle. Scotty already told us everyone would be there.”

  “Make love to me first.” She dropped the towel.

  He scooped her off her feet and took her to their bed. “Your wish is my command.”

  Chapter 19

  Jackie moved to the window with a sigh. “Why didn’t Lonny let us go with Isa?”

  Eddie came up behind her. “Because neither of us has the kind of training that any of them have had. A general of the Earth Realm, Jayde who can do just about anything, Kellan who was trained by Saressa, Zoe who—well, I doubt she would have let Kellan go alone. Preston’s the lieutenant of the Silver Council Enforcers. I don’t know. Maybe they kept us behind because I wouldn’t have done much good in a fight and they didn’t want you to go without me?”

  She spun around with a glare. “You can handle yourself fine in a fight. And you’ve been practicing with the guys. No, they didn’t want me to go for some reason.”

  “Lonny didn’t go to the Water Castle either. A lot of people didn’t go. Just the few who were there when Isadora stormed off.”

  “Why did we agree to stay in Faery?”

  He delved his fingers into her hair. “So you could learn about your other half.”

  “Why does it even matter? I have the only man I’ll ever want. My mother was an assassin. My father part of the Council.”

  “And the only reason Robert and Preston haven’t asked you to join them is because of the siren blood. They aren’t sure how well that would go over, and it’s why they’re keeping the secret you are both.”

  She sank onto the window seat. “Want to take my mind off all the crazy?”

  “Hmm.” He sat down beside her, slipping his hand under her gown, caressing up her thigh. “I can do that.”

  The knock at the door made her groan as she stood and crossed the room. Scotty stood there with a smile. “It’s my pleasure to reintroduce you to a couple of people.” He stepped aside.

  Jackie’s eyes latched onto her twin. At first, she thought of Eloise, until she saw the green hue of her eyes and realized she was staring at her mother.

  Her dead mother.

  Scotty smiled. “Jackie, your mother, Marielle. Marielle, Jacqueline Oceans. And your father, Miles.”

  Jackie glanced behind her mother and blinked. Her father looked thinner than the last she’d seen him, but it was the same man from her childhood.

  She couldn’t catch her breath.

  “I’ve missed you so,” Marielle stated.

  Her father said, “You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman.”

  Blinking, Jackie shook her head. Her mother, she got that. Saressa took her from them. Her father had died. She remembered his corpse.

  Lies, all of it lies.

  She slammed the door and walked to the window.

  “I hope Isa gets here soon,” Jackie squeaked. “Shit, I want to go home.”

  Eddie spun toward her, his eyes wide. “Aren’t you happy they’re alive?”

  She shook her head. “Should I be? My father was murdered. I saw it, Eddie. I saw it. But what I saw wasn’t even real.”

  “I’m sure there’s a reason for that. And you know I would be thrilled if my parents were somehow still alive.”

  “If he’s alive and went after my mother, he left me when I was just a kid. I was six, Eddie. He abandoned me. He didn’t even tell me he was going to find my mother. He left.”

  “Shit.” He rubbed his face and turned back to the door.

  “Don’t you dare let them in here!” Jackie screeched, unsure what to think or do.

  “I’m not,” he promised. Then he opened the door and looked into Miles’ eyes. Then he looked at Scotty. “Jackie needs a little time. She’s not ready to hear whatever they have to say. This is a bit of a shock.” He looked back at Miles. “I don’t envy you right now. You made us all believe you were murdered. You abandoned her.” He shook his head. “I hope you have a damned good reason, because she’s always had an issue with her mother leaving her because she didn’t understand. But she saw you die, Miles.” Shaking his head, he moved to shut the door.

  Miles pushed it open. “Eddie, I’m glad to see you with my daughter.”

  Jackie stormed back over. “Oh, don’t you dare try to win him over. You abandoned me.” She glared at her mother. “I don’t even know if you left me or were abducted, but with him standing there…” Her eyes closed. “I can’t.” She shut the door and fused the knob.

  Eddie spun her around and pulled her into his arms. “Jackie, maybe they have a good reason.”

  “And what if it’s all lies?”

  “Won’t know until you talk to them.”

  She pressed her hand to her chest. “Why? They abandoned me. They left me with someone else and disappeared off my damned planet.”

  “Hey, I’m glad they left you with us. I’m glad you grew up in my home.”

  “Maybe if I hadn’t I would have been in your bed a hell of a lot sooner. I wouldn’t have felt like I was part of your family, and it was somehow hinky to want to be with you.”

  “Hey, Jackie, we can’t change the past. And do you
really regret where we are right now?”

  She shook her head, tears filling her eyes.

  He brushed away the stray tear. “I love you, Jackie. We’ll figure this out, whatever you decide.”

  “I want to get out of here. I don’t want to stay.” Her chest rose and fell. “I want to go home.”

  “As soon as we see someone who can make that happen, we will.”

  “But all hell broke loose. What if we’re stuck here?”

  “Then we’ll find a way home.”

  There was another knock at the door.

  Jackie dropped her head to Eddie’s chest.

  Scotty called out, “I sent them away. Can I talk to you?”

  Sighing, Jackie crossed the room, fixed the knob, and opened the door, looking up at the big nymph with an even bigger heart.

  Scotty offered a sheepish smile. “I know you’re upset, and maybe I should have thought that through, but you would do anything to save Eddie, right?”

  She nodded.

  “Your father did the same for Marielle. He made sure you were with people who already thought of you as part of the family. You found your other half that way. He saw no other choice than to go get Marielle, and he knew Saressa would try to use you if they found you. He protected you.”

  Her head dipped in a slight nod, then she glanced at the floor.

  “He’s right,” Eddie murmured from behind her. “I would do the same if I were in his position and it was you.”

  She spun. Her heart thundered in her chest and she whispered, “You’d leave our child with someone else?”

  “Knowing they could have a life, even if I didn’t make it back, yeah. At least I’d be giving us a chance. He knew you’d survive. He made sure of it. Then he went after your mother.”

  Scotty’s hand closed over her shoulder. “Either choice would hurt someone. He did the best he could.”

  Maybe they were right, but it still felt like being stabbed in the chest. “Fine, later tonight I can talk to them. I’m just—just...” She turned back to Eddie and fell into his arms, unsure what to think or do.