He pressed his forehead to hers. “I love you, Aery.”
“As I love you. But she is the reason the right dress didn’t make it to Isadora.”
“What was that?” Isa asked.
Reance turned back to Isa. “One of her siren enthralled Chasun, gave him everything he wanted, and changed the dresses while he was passed out. You received the one not properly enchanted. We found the original.”
Isa gasped. “What happened to him?”
“I let him go. I doubt anyone will hire him again.” Aeryana shrugged. “I’m looking into his replacement, but you were right, there are many talented designers who would be happy to replace him.” She turned to Reance. “Perhaps you and I should go home. Let these two enjoy their honeymoon, while I remind you we’re on ours as well.”
“You want to see Paris. If they don’t mind, perhaps we should do that, and another day, you can teach our daughter a few tricks.”
“Please. Toryn makes a wonderful tour guide,” Isa said.
All Reance saw in her eyes was genuine excitement.
Toryn laughed. “I do know my way around. We’ll make a day of it.”
Chapter 26
The next day, Saressa roamed to the top of the volcano. She’d been exiled to the Water Kingdom for so long that once the spell finally evaporated, she hadn’t thought to cross the barrier.
Now she was high in the Fire Realm, above the fallen Castle of Flames. No one ever went there. Her armies devastated it, freezing the entire castle solid and shattering it. Then her coward brother had gone to Aeryana for sanctuary.
Such a shame she had never actually seen the damage up close and personal. Only through spells. That was back when she still couldn’t cross the line between her land and the next.
When had her curse unraveled?
Didn’t matter, she was in the Fire Realm now, looking over the destruction she’d caused.
Had Ankou lived, had she not been locked behind the edge of her territory, they could have ruled Faery, together.
Gebiet dropped down beside her. “You haven’t betrayed us.”
She smiled sadly. “I had no intention of betraying you. Besides, I’m starting to question everything. The rumors about you don’t appear to be true.”
“Oh, I’ve tortured many, though not for the reasons most believe. With a handful of exceptions. Generally, I was ordered to.”
“And the others?”
“The Hyter Sprites destroyed my home many centuries ago. They rose up and attacked me, after I offered protection. They will all die, one by one until the last is dead and gone.”
“There is only one left.”
“Aye, and he will pay.”
“Even though he wasn’t alive when the offense happened?”
Gebiet looked away. “They’re all the same. Every last one only thinks about themselves.”
Saressa snorted. She didn’t believe that for a second. “Maybe most, but I’ve seen Elondril go to great lengths for his friends.” She looked over. “And I’m beginning to think I need more friends.”
“Didn’t think you had any.”
“Not in centuries.” Her only true friend was Reance, before he betrayed her. If he had helped, they would have stood a chance.
Funny thing was, until Reance had started telling Isa about Ankou, she hadn’t thought of him. Not in ages. The love had faded. Then she found Endiscott. He captured her attention, then the visions of Jayde and him destroying everything she’d built plagued her. And now, she couldn’t destroy the nymph she wronged so greatly.
“Are we friends?” Gebiet asked.
“Depends on Kasai, I suppose. If she hates me, I assume you’ll continue to hate me. In which case, provide me with the means to keep taking the ichor, and I’ll leave you alone until I need your help.”
Kasai joined them. “You earned my trust yesterday. Would you consider me a friend too?”
“Even with what I did to Gebiet?”
“Damha was involved. I know firsthand how cruel he is,” Kasai answered.
“I’ve been more than cruel without good reason.” Saressa looked down at the ruined castle.
“And yet, yesterday you weren’t. That earns you some trust. People can change, even if most don’t.”
“I will still destroy Reance, no matter what it takes.”
“That I believe. And I am fine with this course of action,” Gebiet promised. “Brings me closer to my revenge. There’s another I want to make pay, and he’s tied to Toryn.”
“That would be?”
“Preston Emrys. He had a son with a mage, apparently. His blade left permanent damage.”
Kasai reached over, running her fingers along the scar in his neck. “I’m amazed he didn’t die. It took months to heal.”
“Together, we’ll destroy them all,” Saressa promised. “First, I need to find them, but it seems Reance is only letting through the things that might win back my trust. Only he doesn’t realize it’s far too late.”
* * * *
Isa woke with a start. She sat up and looked around the bedroom. Toryn pulled her down beside him and slid his hand between her thighs, teasing her clit.
“Nightmare?” he whispered against her ear.
A moan escaped her lips as he pinched her pearl. “Don’t know.”
“Want me?” he asked.
“Always.” She rocked her hips, seeking more. His fingers dipped into her and she cried out. “Need you.”
He pushed her to her stomach and moved to straddle her thighs. “Just feel, Princess.” He pulled her hips up and entered her.
So full, so good. Fisting the sheets, she let Toryn take her higher, pushing the pleasure through her body the way he always did.
He bit her shoulder blade gently, and she gasped. Then he sucked and her eyes slammed shut as her body shuddered. He knew how to light up her senses. His lips trailed to the other shoulder and he repeated.
Her walls clenched as she let out a ragged call of his name.
“Isa, fuck, you feel good,” he murmured, pumping into her, pushing her closer to climax.
His grip on her hips tightened as he slammed into her one last time, sending her over the edge as he found his release. He rolled, pulling her back against his chest.
She turned, facing him. He smiled back, pulling her hip closer as his thigh slid between hers, pressing just right against her slick heat.
Tempting as it was, she didn’t beg to stay in bed. There was only one answer. Training. But if she kept her mouth shut, maybe they could stall a little longer.
Concern filled his brilliant blue eyes. “You look worried, Isa. What did you dream?”
“Saressa is going to attempt to rebuild the Castle of Flames.”
“How do you know?”
“Saw Gebiet and Kasai talking to her. They’ve formed an alliance. She’s telling them exactly what they need to hear to do what she wants.”
“Why not command Gebiet?” Toryn asked.
She shook her head. “I can watch her, but I can’t read her mind. Seems like maybe she wants true allies this time around. I don’t know, but I don’t trust her, or the dragons.”
Toryn rubbed at his forehead. “So, she’s in Faery? And not locked in the Water Realm?”
“I was thinking about that. She managed to cross to Earth. Maybe that broke her lockdown. That or when she died.”
Nodding, he continued his train of thought, “Good point. She never wanted to come to Earth. Guess she never had until she was desperate to reach Scotty. But I don’t get it. Why not try sooner?”
Isa agreed, “Either she didn’t know she could go to Earth, or she was waiting for Jayde to come into the picture. She may have loved him in some twisted way, but she didn’t want to love him. In the beginning, she was keeping him from Jayde because they killed her together. Now—I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
“She could have let
Damha hurt Scotty. Could have gotten revenge. She didn’t let Damha do a damned thing to him. She still feels something for him.”
“She hates me,” Toryn answered.
Sighing, Isa explained, “Like my father said, she considers you Reance’s. She can’t have you. You chose against her. So, she hates you, me, anything that Reance claims.”
“I won’t let her harm you,” Toryn promised.
Her eyes closed. “She already hurt you. I’m killing her.” She looked into his eyes. “I will kill her.”
“If she were to go away, stay to herself. Would it be so bad?” Toryn asked.
“She won’t. She had that chance. She didn’t take it.” Isa climbed from the bed. “Training, right?”
He pressed her against the dresser, pulling her hair to the side to kiss her neck. “Isa, it was a question. I had to know.”
“Blood lust?” She turned, and he pressed closer. “Do you really think I’m going to go down that route?”
“No. But I worry about myself.”
Isa threaded her fingers into his hair. “You won’t.”
“You didn’t see what I did with Remus. I could have made it fast. I took pleasure beating his skull in. I would have taken longer if I hadn’t heard Dacia’s cry.”
Isa smiled. “I’d love to torture the bitch for what she did to you, but I’m not taking any chances. I’ll kill her and be done.”
“We have to be careful with that. Don’t want her coming back again.”
She smiled. “While I was in Edenton, I visited the book store. I wanted to know what would kill a phoenix.”
“And?”
“Got to use multiple elements. Stop the process. The blades will help. I need to destroy her completely.”
“Preston killed one. He told me how they did it.”
“They?” Isa asked.
“Elizandra Delacroix, Robert McCallister, and Preston. Between them, they used fire, water, electricity, and completely destroyed him so his cells couldn’t spontaneously replicate themselves.”
“Interesting. Well, we can worry about that while you train me. What do you say?”
“Sounds good. And, Isa, maybe you can help me figure a few things out. I’ve felt licks of other magic drifting through me.”
“Really?”
His head tipped to the side before nodding. “Yeah. Really.”
Chapter 27
Jackie stared down at the lake below. They sat perched on a ledge. It took her a bit to climb, but Eddie was right behind her, making sure she was safe.
As much as she wanted to get to know her parents, she didn’t understand. Neither wanted to go back to Earth, and neither were trying to convince her to stay.
Maybe Eddie had a point. Maybe they knew she’d never agree. She loved her life on Earth, with Eddie. Faery was beautiful, but not her home.
Eddie’s hand rubbed up and down her back. “What’s the matter?”
“Think she’ll become an assassin again?” She referred to her mother. That was what she did for Saressa until meeting her father.
“No. She stopped that for Miles. Doubt she’d start again.”
“Why does she want to stay? I don’t get it.”
“Who knows. But we don’t have to.”
“I wouldn’t want to. It’s not home.”
“Will you visit them?”
“Maybe.” She shrugged, looking back down. “Seems like everything is changing, once again. I don’t know where I fit in, except with you.”
“I fit in quite well with you,” he purred into her ear before glancing down. “Let’s swim.”
She stood. “You going to jump?”
“After you.”
She dove, slicing into the water gracefully. He joined her, feet first, and she followed him down, catching his face in her hands and pressing her lips to his.
Tempting as it was to make love to him, under the water, like they had many times before, her parents were nearby. She gave him another breath before pulling him to the surface where her parents joined them.
Her dad said, “You look even more like your mother this way. Just different shades through your hair.”
She looked at Marielle and sure enough, she did look very similar. “Come, I’ll show you a way to keep Eddie with you underwater, without having to breathe for him.”
Jackie smiled. “You want to explore?”
“I assure you, you will enjoy this trip, Eddie,” Miles promised.
Marielle’s eyes sparkled. “Aye, there’s something I want you to see, but it’s our secret for the time being.”
“Sounds like an adventure,” Eddie stated.
Jackie couldn’t resist his enthusiasm. “Sure, show us the way.”
“Do what I do,” Marielle directed before dipping underwater, pulling Miles with her.
Jackie tugged Eddie down.
Mom blew a bubble and guided it over Miles’ head with a grin.
Jackie managed to do the same for Eddie.
“Perfect. Now follow, but remember to take him with you.”
Doing as told, she brought Eddie down. They traveled through a tunnel, deeper underwater, through to the other side where the current caught them and took them even faster, farther and deeper into what Jackie imagined was the ocean, though how they got there so fast was beyond her.
Eddie’s grip tightened as they wooshed past a giant shark. Jackie stared as the current carried the party deeper, until it slowed, depositing them in front of a castle underwater. A dome rose from the sandy bottom, up and over the building.
Her mother placed a hand on the wall and whispered words before stepping through with Miles. Jackie and Eddie followed.
“Now that Isadora has destroyed the tainted Water Castle, this will be the new home of the Water Realm. Which makes more sense because all water creatures can reach it, with a little knowledge.”
There was a sandy beach from the dome wall, to about thirty yards in where water flowed around the castle.
“It’s part submerged?” Jackie asked.
“Aye. And Saressa doesn’t know the location. When she was given the Water Kingdom, her father refused to share where to find it.”
“Interesting.” Jackie walked forward. “Why do you know where to find it?”
“He once told me I would rule the Water Kingdom once someone ended Saressa’s reign. I didn’t believe it until I watched Isadora destroy the old castle. I know Saressa still lives, but I also know Isadora will find her and end her.”
“How can you be sure?” Jackie asked.
“Grannus was never wrong. He was as gifted in his visions as Reance. More so maybe. At least until a Paineater took his gift of sight.”
Jackie blinked, then sputtered, “You’re to be queen?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Aeryana has insisted we all be there for the Elder Guardians’ announcement. I can only assume that the realms will finally be split into four separate lands again.”
Jackie looked at Eddie, no words on his tongue as he stared in awe.
“You okay, babe?” she whispered.
He nodded and grinned. “Stunning. Do we get to explore?”
Part of her wanted to smack him upside the head for not catching the fact she would then be a princess. But hey, if Isa could manage, why not her?
Her stomach twisted as she fought down a sudden wave of nausea.
Marielle giggled. “I’m the only one to enter in three hundred years.”
Eddie’s eyes went wide. “That long?”
She nodded. “That long. Reance’s father helped me hide it long ago. He worried Saressa would taint it the same way she tainted the other one. Go on,” Marielle said. “We’ll find you two.”
A hint of fear went through Jackie. Why did it matter? Would her mother try to trap her there? Did she want to be stuck in the Water Realm? And Eddie, his family.
Frowning, Jackie turned to Eddie.
&nbs
p; Marielle sighed. “Don’t expect you to choose to move here.” She looked at Eddie. “He would miss his family, but I do hope you will come to visit.”
Jackie nodded. “Yeah, I could do that.”
“It’s easier to get here than you would imagine. There’s a portal in your lake.” Marielle touched her face. “I’ll show you after you two explore. If you want to go back, you can. But I’d like a little longer if you can manage.”
She nodded slowly. “Up to Eddie.”
He smirked. “Anything you want, Jackie.”
“Go. Explore,” Marielle urged.
Eddie pulled her toward the water. “Come on.”
* * * *
Saressa stopped her trek through the broken Castle of Flame. The spiderlings writhed in her gut. She could hear their screams. Her knees gave out and she attempted to draw the fire of the castle into her hands, through her body, washing through her to kill her bastards.
The fire fizzled, not heeding her call. She’d been the last Queen of Fire, ruling from the Water Kingdom. No one had taken her place…unless the Elder Guardians had finally made a choice.
Anger poured through her. She pushed power at the stone and still nothing.
“What is it?” Kasai asked.
“The castle won’t respond to me.”
“It was never officially yours,” Gebiet answered. “Even after Reance left, he was the only one who could call to the magic of the castle. He and Toryn, as his most trusted.”
“The castle responds to an orphan no one ever claimed?”
Kasai laughed long and hard. “Oh, he was claimed all right. Fleming was his father. Morrigan his mother.”
“Explains why his fire is stronger than anything I’ve ever encountered.” She hadn’t been able to counter it. Even more reason to want him as a slave or dead. But with Isadora by his side, she’d settle for both of them dead. There was no controlling the Storm Mistress.
“Is Morrigan still alive?” Saressa asked. Once, long ago, they’d been friends. It was why she knew about Fleming, but never realized Toryn was his, and hers. Fleming had been cruel. He thought he could outsmart one of the oldest creatures left, Morrigan. He’d been wrong.
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