Power of Rhythms

by Taige Crenshaw

She fell forward, unconscious. Lethra looked at her with regret on his face then determination filled his features. He started to fade. Pandora put up her fist then sent her power to him and gripped him, before yanking him from making the sacrifice.

  “Pandora, why would you interfere?” Lethra asked. “Let me go. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “As if.” Pandora wrapped him in water chains to hold him then made them flow to Sin. “Uh huh. If I won’t let Lethra do it, I won’t let you either, Sin. Savage has his mate, so he isn’t able to do what you two want to.”

  The men floated in the air, the water lifting them.

  “Thank you, Pandora.” Zyric inclined his head. “My brothers mean well but what is to be will be.”

  “It sure will.” Pandora stared at him. “By the oath of a bond mate, you are mine, Zyric Dubhán. You are my bond shadow.”

  The air went still with the words then pulsed as it accepted the rightness of her declaration.

  “I thought you needed to love me first,” Zyric said.

  “To be my mate, yes. For me to save you, I don’t need to care all that much.” Pandora gestured to his brothers. She lowered Lethra and Sin from her hold and released them. “I love them, and for them to not do something stupid or lose you, I will be your bond mate. As far as I am aware, that doesn’t mean crap unless I accept all it entails. We’re a long way from that. I still don’t like you.”

  “At least you don’t hate me, so that’s a start, my bond shadow.” Zyric’s words sounded like a caress.

  “Fuck you.” Pandora flipped him off for good measure.

  “I said the same thing to my bond shadow when we met the first time.” A woman spoke then detached from the shadows. She was followed by a man who looked similar to Lethra. “Thank you for saving my boys.”

  “You were the one who told me what they were going to do.” Pandora took a guess. She stared at Driya and Satadal—Sin, Savage, Lethra and Zyric’s parents.

  “No, that would have been me.” Satadal pulled her into a hug. “Pandora, is it so good to see you. Thanks for saving them. How is your mother?”

  “Let the child go, Satadal.” Driya pulled her from his embrace and hugged her before holding her away. “Your mom and I will need to talk to plan the wedding.”

  “Nice to see you, Driya and Satadal.” Pandora pulled out of her embrace. “There won’t be a wedding. I don’t like your son. I saved him and that is all.”

  “He’ll grow on you.” Driya patted her hand then turned to her sons. “Lethra, for God’s sake, where are you going with that woman?”

  Lethra, holding Sabra in his arms, stopped fading into the shadows looking guilty. “Ummmm…”

  “She’s his mate,” Pandora offered.

  She was throwing Lethra and Sabra into the path of his mom to get the woman off her and Zyric.

  “Oh, how lovely. Both my sons back and now two daughters-in-law.” She glanced at Grayson. “Actually, three that I will get to know better. Savage, why are you not holding her? Lethra, put the woman down so I can meet her. Zyric, do you need your dad to tell you how to seduce a woman? Pandora will be stubborn about loving you. Sin, we need to find your mate.”

  “Mom,” the men all said together.

  “What?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Driya.” Satadal touched her shoulder.

  “No, Satadal.” She pressed against him. “I get to mother my sons—my boys, who I have not seen in centuries. One who I didn’t know if he was dead or alive, and the other I thought was dead.” She lifted up and walked to them. “We will discuss all this hiding and doing things to protect the family without telling us.”

  “Mom—” the men said.

  “I will not have any excuses.” Driya’s hair rose, swirling around her and whipping the air.

  Pandora’s eyes widened then she grinned. Driya in a temper was not someone to be messed with.

  “And I will be talking with Eve about knowing you were not dead, Zyric, and not telling me.”

  “Mom, don’t do something you will regret,” Zyric urged. “She’s one your best friends.”

  “Ex-best friend, because after this, I’m going to kill her.” Driya clenched her fist. “Rip her fucking heart out.”

  “You’re just mad now, Mom,” Zyric said, coming to her. “She did what she did for a reason.”

  “I’ll listen to the reason then tear her heart out.” Driya sounded very reasonable.

  “Mom.” Zyric glanced at Pandora as if for help.

  She shook her head. Hell, she didn’t even know how to deal with her own mother when she was pissed. No way was she getting in the middle of Zyric trying to calm his mom down.

  “Thanks a lot,” Zyric said on their path.

  “Anytime,” she said, heavy on the sarcasm.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m getting away from what is coming. Let them work on his mom.” Pandora glanced at Taye.

  “Exactly my thought. I’m heading back to the office.” Taye faded from view.

  Pandora displaced her body then appeared in her living room. She sat on the couch, staring out at the lake beyond.

  “I’ll be home soon,” Zyric promised.

  Pandora didn’t know what he meant and she didn’t care at this point.

  “I can’t believe I said I was his bond shadow,” she said aloud. The cushions next to her dipped on either side. Her dogs lay beside her, putting their heads on her legs. She patted them then thought of earlier. They hadn’t interfered when Zyric had choked her. She realized the dogs knew she hadn’t been in any real danger.

  “Zyric is going to be a pain in the ass,” she said aloud, letting him hear it through their telepathic connection.

  * * * *

  Zyric grinned when he heard her words. Pandora had deliberately sent it to him. The young lady he had known had become even more sexy—a caramel-skinned woman who set his pulse racing. From his first view of her after she, Wesley and Peyton had taken care of the man who stole their formula, he had known deep within his shadow who she was. He’d deliberately let her see him and exchanged words and that interaction had only solidified what his instincts already knew. She was his and he would have her. But he’d had to wait because he’d needed to find his brother first. He couldn’t make her part of him until he knew his big brother was okay. Zyric glanced at his brother—Lethra was kneeling on the floor with Sabra in his arms. He stroked the side of her face. Sabra gasped and woke staring at him. She narrowed her eyes then Zyric felt the sizzle as she zapped Lethra.

  He jerked then scowled. “What was that for?”

  “Let me think. You were going to sacrifice yourself then you knocked me out with your power. Pick one.” She poked him in the chest as she sat up.

  “Hey—”

  “Shut up.” Sabra glared at him. “If anyone or anything is going to cause your death, it will be me. Because pull something like that again, and I will kill you.”

  “Again, you sound so familiar. Like I did when I met my other mate, Zayal.”

  Zyric turned to his mom. Sadness filled her face and his father’s. They held hands and Zyric remembered the times he’d seen the three of his parents doing the same. The love they’d had was a tangible thing. He’d wanted that for himself and his bond shadow when he found them. Now that he had, he wanted Pandora to love him. He would do anything he had to. His mom and dad came to him, hugging him from either side. Zyric closed his eyes, relaxing into their embrace. He was home and he hadn’t known how much he missed it until this moment.

  “My son,” Driya murmured. “Come to me, my boys.” She held out her hands.

  “My children.” Satadal cleared his throat. “You have turned out to be fine men.”

  His brothers came, surrounding their parents, and they folded them into their embrace. Zyric tried to shut away the emotion that was overwhelming him. He had to be strong, couldn’t let it overcome him.

  “Let it go. I have you.” Pandora power flowed into him.
He blinked then held her energy enjoying, both her caring enough to reach out and being with his family again. They stood together close for a while and Zyric felt the air shift as others detached from the shadows and the rest of his siblings joined them. Their arms came around them too. A while later, they parted then sat on the floor as they did when they were younger, their parents in the center and the kids surrounding them.

  “Join us, Grayson.” His mother frowned. “Where is your sister?”

  Zyric looked to where they had been and realized that the rest of them but Grayson had left.

  “She’s…Sabra,” Grayson replied. She sat beside Savage, leaning against him. He put his arm around her kissing her forehead.

  “Ahhh…she will be a handful.” His father chuckled. “Lethra, you have you work cut out for you.”

  Lethra didn’t reply. The rest of them chuckled then they started to catch up. Zyric listened to the sounds of his family. He still ached for their deceased father, who he looked and sounded like. Zyric could only imagine how his parents must hurt, much less survived without their mate. He wouldn’t be able to. Zyric vowed to not let anything hurt Pandora. Not even the man who, once he sensed Zyric was actually alive, would be coming for Zyric.

  “I’ll be waiting for you.”

  * * * *

  Hours later, Zyric came into form. He glanced at the exquisite woman reclining on the couch surrounded by her dogs. Her dark auburn hair in a high ponytail complemented her skin tone. The finely carved cheeks and full lush lips made him want to ravish her. She lifted her lids, the thick lashes surrounding her pale lavender eyes added an air of mystery. The cold look in them made his cock harden.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Pandora’s tone matched her look.

  “Honey, I’m home,” Zyric said.

  “Excuse me. Wh—?” Pandora’s eyes widened.

  “By your kind, I claim my right as your potential water mate to be given shelter during our courtship.” Zyric grinned. “So, where shall I put my things?” He waved his hand and his bags, along with his pet, appeared.

  Pandora narrowed her eyes.

  Chapter Two

  “First, tell me why you think Blagden will come after you to finish the job of killing you.” Pandora studied him.

  Surprised she had figured it out, Zyric tried to come up with a way to dissuade her. He knew Blagden would come but he didn’t want her in the middle of it.

  “He is afraid I will kill him. It was foreseen a hybrid would kill him.” Zyric frowned. He hadn’t meant to tell her that.

  “See now, that wasn’t so difficult.” Pandora leaned forward. “For this to even have a possibility of working, don’t lie to me.”

  “If I deem it necessary. I will do what I must to keep you out of danger.”

  “Then so be it.”

  Her ready acceptance made him leery. He opened his mouth to question her.

  “You can use the guest room. But I don’t think that having your Bengal in the house will work.” Pandora gestured behind him. “It’s too big and might attack my dogs.”

  Zyric looked down at Ram—his Bengal cat—before glancing at Pandora in disbelief. “She’s not that big, and she’s good with dogs.”

  “Not that one.” She rolled her eyes then glanced beyond him. “Why do you have that as a pet?”

  Zyric blew out a breath and turned. He glared at the Bengal tiger that was reclining behind him. The tiger looked amused then opened his large jaw, showing its teeth as it yawned. The tiger flicked its tail, watching him, unblinking.

  “Are you going to behave?” Zyric demanded.

  The Bengal tiger rolled onto its back and kicked its legs in the air playfully. Pandora laughed.

  “Stop being a pain. Or I’m going to let her put you outside.” Zyric lifted his finger in warning before turning to Pandora. “He’ll behave and wouldn’t attack your dogs. Animals love him.”

  “Okay.” Pandora stared at him then the cats. “They can share the room I have set up for my dogs. But if your tiger tries to act like he is king of the jungle, he is out of here.”

  “He won’t.” Zyric lifted his bags.

  “I’ll show you to the guest room.” Pandora rose and came toward him.

  Ram purred and weaved in and out around Pandora’s legs. She squatted and petted the cat. It pushed into her lap, purring. Zyric looked at his cat in disbelief—it was usually standoffish with anyone but him. Pandora glanced up at him.

  “I told you. Cats love me.” She returned her attention to the cat. “What’s her name?”

  “Ram.”

  “Why would you name a female cat Ram?” Pandora cooed at the cat.

  “You’ll see why soon enough.” Zyric laughed, not wanting to ruin her seeing what his cat did for herself.

  “Wh—?” Pandora paused, glancing at the Bengal tiger that was standing close to her. The tiger let out what sounded like a rough purr.

  “Traitor,” Zyric said to the tiger, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Why is he looking at me like that?” Pandora asked, glaring at the tiger.

  “Probably waiting for you to pet him. He’s a big ole softy. All gooey and stuff.” Zyric coughed to cover his laugh as he said it.

  The tiger looked at him in disbelief then snarled.

  “Now, now, don’t be a grumpy cat.” Zyric tsked.

  The tiger turned on him, roaring. Zyric snickered and pursed his lips, blowing the cat a kiss.

  “Shhh…don’t let your mean owner get you riled up,” Pandora said, reaching out and stroking along the tiger’s head.

  The tiger turned into her touch, pushing at her hand. It let out that rumbling purr again. Zyric stared in disbelief and Pandora stroked along the plush fur and made soft sounds to the tiger. The tiger turned its head and glanced at him. Zyric would swear it was smug.

  “If you can draw yourself away, can you show me to my room?”

  “Someone is calling you grumpy but they’re the one who is.” Pandora kissed the top of the tiger’s head before she rose, lifting the cat into her arms. She glanced at his hand. “Why are your hands like that? You can’t possibly be jealous of your own pet.”

  Zyric lifted his hand and retracted claws he hadn’t even known he had extended. “Of course not.”

  “You’re acting very strange.” Pandora frowned. “Let me show you to your room.”

  “Okay.” Zyric followed her. The tiger fell into step beside him. “I’m not feeding you. You’re getting bulky and could lose a few pounds,” he told the tiger.

  The tiger swiped out at him but Zyric dodged, laughing. The tiger licked its lips then bared its teeth.

  “Will you all stop playing and come along,” Pandora called. “I swear, Ram, boys love to play. Unlike us girls who know when to get things done.”

  Zyric followed with the tiger padding beside him. He caught up with Pandora and she showed him where things were as she led him upstairs to his room. Inside, she stopped by the door as he explored the sitting area with a nice library then went into the bedroom with the adjacent bath. He placed his bags by the bed then returned back into the main room then strode across the spacious room. Pandora still stood by the door, stroking the cat in her arms and petting the tiger.

  “Well, I’ll let you get settled then.” She set the cat down before straightening. “It was a smart move to claim shelter as my potential water mate. But I still don’t like you much.”

  “It changed from ‘I don’t like you’ to ‘I don’t like you much’. That’s progress, Pandora.” Zyric leaned against the wall by the door.

  “Humph…so you think.” Pandora pivoted and walked away.

  Ram stared at him then ran after her.

  “Hey, I’m the one you love, who feeds you and gives you toys. Deserting me for a new person is not nice.” Zyric stepped into the hall.

  Pandora paused and scooped the cat up then kept going. “I’m more delectable smelling to her.” She laughed.

  Zyric glan
ced at the tiger. “Looks like it’s just us guys.”

  The tiger swished its tail then went after Pandora. Her laughter increased.

  “Fine, I’ll have fun by myself.” Zyric thought of something he did with his pets. “If you feel inclined to talk things out about anything with the tiger, don’t.”

  “Stop being jealous.” Pandora turned left at the hall.

  “I’m not jealous. Don’t share what you are thinking with the tiger,” he called again.

  She laughed. Zyric shrugged. He’d warned her not to. Zyric went back into the bedroom and to the floor-to-ceiling windows. From the second floor, he stared out at the gardens. A hawk flew down and landed delicately on the railing. Zyric went to the balcony door and opened it, stepping outside and leaving the door open.

  “So you decided to join us too.” Zyric leaned on the rail next to the hawk.

  It cocked its head staring at him questioningly.

  “He’s inside, misbehaving as usual.”

  The hawk flew past him and into the room then out of the door and into the hall before disappearing from view.

  “What is it with Pandora? Everyone is flocking to her and deserting me.” Zyric chuckled. “Might as well go and unpack.”

  He went back inside to his room. Zyric put his suitcase on the bed. He made the rest of his things appear. He’d only shown a few things, not wanting Pandora to freak that he was moving in. That was what he was doing. She was his mate and he wasn’t leaving her without a fight, even if he had to fight her stubbornness to win her over. A woof caught his attention. He turned as Pandora’s dogs came into the room. They came to him and jumped on the bed by his case before lying down and watching him.

  “Come to keep me company?” Zyric scratched behind each of their ears. “Don’t you want to do like everyone else and go after your momma?”

  They laid their heads down on their paws, looking as if they were settling in.

  “I guess not. Glad for the company, boys.” Zyric pulled out his shirts. “Your momma is a complex woman. Any tips on getting on her good side?”

  The dogs growled.