Power of Rhythms

by Taige Crenshaw

  I wonder what she’s doing right now.

  * * * *

  “What are you doing here?” Pandora paused in her office doorway.

  “Coming to visit my good friend.” Grayson smiled from where she sat on the edge of Pandora’s desk.

  “How’d you even know I would be here?” Pandora strode to her desk then took a seat in the chair.

  “You have a big meeting later and Savage mentioned you usually come in early to get your work done and prep for it. So I came in with him, figuring I’d catch you before I went to the clinic.” Grayson was a vet.

  “Okay. But what is so pressing you needed to see me so early? Or you couldn’t talk to me over the phone?” She picked up the mail that her assistant had left then started to sort it by priority of when a reply was needed.

  “Because I wanted to see you, since you’re such a sunny and giggly person.” Grayson snorted.

  “Now I know you’re either crazy or drunk. Have you been chugging some alcohol so early, Grayson?” Pandora teased. She’d recently reconnected with her childhood friend.

  “Funny lady. Since you are in such a good mood, I assume Zyric is taking shelter at your house.”

  “I should be in a bad mood he is even there. The bastard knew asking for his right for shelter as my potential water mate would back me into a corner.”

  When Zyric had said that, she had been surprised then impressed at his cunning. Shelter to a Siren was at the base of what they were. To them, shelter was more than a place to stay—it was about being in each other’s presence. It was willingness to explore having someone become part of their lives.

  “But if you didn’t want him there, you would have denied him, no matter what claim he made,” Grayson pointed out.

  “Thanks for mentioning the obvious.” Pandora glared at her.

  “That’s what friends are for. Calling you on your shit when you are trying to bullshit them or delude yourself.” Grayson laughed. “It’s especially fun with you. You get all growly and grumpy.”

  “Fuck you.” She chuckled. “I don’t even know if I like him.”

  “You like him. Even when he was that pain in ass government drone, you liked him.”

  “Maybe.” Pandora propped her elbow on the desk then put her hand under her chin.

  “You did, or you wouldn’t have let him stay to work here with you all.”

  Pandora frowned. “Stop being logical.”

  “Okay. So…how is Zyric as a kisser. Savage is an awesome kisser.” Grayson smiled smugly.

  “Ewwww…I don’t need to know that about my friend.” Pandora wrinkled her nose. “Why would I know how Zyric kisses?”

  “Because you know you want to find out.” Grayson wiggled her eyebrows.

  “Damn seer.”

  “I don’t need my seer abilities to see you are attracted to Zyric.”

  I have been from our first meeting. “That’s fine but I don’t just go with my baser instincts.”

  “Sometimes a baser instinct is the way to go.” Grayson laughed wickedly. “With Sav—” Her cell dinged.

  “Saved by the bell from another tidbit about you and Savage. I swear, if you keep sharing things like this, I’m gonna kick your ass.” Pandora shook her finger at her.

  “Friends share.” Grayson pulled out her cell and looked at the screen.

  “Fine, but if you need to share again, bring some liquor.”

  “Okay. I’ve got to go. An emergency came in.” Grayson rose then hurried out.

  Pandora leaned back on her chair and frowned. Grayson mentions of kissing hadn’t helped to calm her down from what had happened earlier. The challenge she’d given him in her kitchen and his meeting it head-on made her want to taste him. She imagined their kiss and how he’d take her forcefully, making her lose her senses. Pandora pushed it away. As she’d told Grayson, she wasn’t going to be led by her baser needs. She had more control than that.

  * * * *

  What the hell happened to my control? Pandora stared at Zyric as he washed the dishes.

  It had been a week since she’d given him sanctuary and her awareness of him increased each moment she was in his presence. After that first day, they’d gone into work together, either taking her car or his. She wouldn’t admit it out loud but she looked forward to the end of the day so she could see him. When they went to her house, she enjoyed his company. A purr made her look at his cat in her lap. She petted it then glanced at his tiger, hawk and her dogs. The animals were never far from them. She had quickly become used to having his pets and hers together. Come to count on Zyric being around.

  Bad, bad idea, Pandora. Leave him alone. She glanced out of the window. Sitting up, she frowned as she swore for a moment she had seen a black swirl in the glass—which was not possible. She would know about anything that came within the lands she owned or her house. She’d warded the area, as many beings that lived in Blackstone did. It was for protection. Pandora sent her powers out, seeking, and in moments she knew there was nothing. But still an unease filled her.

  “What are you thinking?” Zyric said behind her.

  She pushed away the feeling and focused on him. He looked so damn sexy with his mussed hair. He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts with his feet bare. She’d come to think of it as his relaxing-at-home wear. It was another thing that had become something she had looked forward to—when he shed his day clothing and got comfortable.

  “Nothing.”

  “You looked like it was something.” Zyric leaned closer.

  “It was nothing.” Pandora studied him. “We haven’t talked about us knowing each other as kids. I remember you were a pain in my ass.”

  “Wrong, you were the one who was a pain.” Zyric laughed. “You loved to coat me in seaweed. Damn, that’s a hard thing to get out off, even when I went into the shadows.”

  “Yeah.” She grinned and thought fondly of those times.

  “No need to look so smug.”

  “Yeah there is. You were all swagger, acting like this big bad Shadower. It used to irritate me.” Pandora stared at him. “I was there through it all. When your dad died, I saw how it devastated your family. Was there when they lost you. That was…how could you do that, knowing what you all went through when you lost your dad? How could you put them through that again?”

  She couldn’t understand how he would even do such a thing that caused so much pain. Having witnessed the loss of his dad, Pandora had thanked her blessings her parents were alive. That her family was intact. The wreckage of grief had left the family a shell of themselves for a long time as they mourned. It had taken a while for them to start to heal and live again. His parents hadn’t been the same since losing their third. They had become a duo when they’d been a threesome and the gap of that was still with them. For their kids, they had moved forward. Then when Zyric died, it had almost decimated the family. After, when Lethra left, then Sin and Savage banished, their family had once again be broken.

  “It was necessary.”

  “To you, but your family…they thought you were dead. Gone forever. Did you not think what that would do to them?” Pandora was trying to understand what would drive him to do that.

  They had been young by immortal standards of their kind, but old enough to make choices that should have taken into account the repercussions of their actions.

  “I thought of nothing else every day I was gone. Wished it could be different but I had to handle what Blagden did the way I did for the protection of my family.” Pain was clear in Zyric’s eyes. “I longed each day to come home to my family—to see Shadow World again. Now I can see my family, but the home I knew—Shadow World—is gone. Yes, I got part of its essence, as many of the Shadowers who have not let the power take them have. Yet seeing the tangible home and once again standing on the lands of Shadow World with my family by my side, as I have dreamed for centuries, will never happen. And all the loss leads back to Blagden. To his duplicity. For that, I will never be able to stop until he
is destroyed.”

  “I understand your need for revenge. I would do the same in your position. But to leave my family for their protection is an insult to them. They would have wanted to know, just as your family needed to know. I would have—” Pandora stopped before saying anything further.

  “Choices were made and what you would have done wouldn’t have matched mine. What any of my siblings would have done. That’s what makes each person so different and uniquely them.” Zyric sighed. “My parents and siblings said similar things as you have—that I should have told them. They also told Lethra the same. They were not even angry about what we did, just hurt, and that made Lethra and me feel bad. We even discussed it and he feels as I do. I did what I felt was best. If I had the same thing happen today, I would do the same thing.”

  Pandora decided to let the subject drop—they would not agree on this point. Zyric was correct that everyone took different paths.

  “Do you want something to munch on while we watch TV?” Pandora scratched behind the cat’s ear.

  “Sure. I’ll get us some drinks and snacks. What are you in the mood to drink?”

  “I made some lemonade earlier.”

  “Then lemonade it will be for both of us then. Love the taste of when you make it. What do you put in it?”

  “I add a little bit of vanilla essence to it. Gives it a better taste.” Pandora sensed something behind her and quickly looked back.

  She frowned when she didn’t see anything once again. Narrowing her eyes, Pandora didn’t like feeling at all, as if she was being watched. Something was going on and she would get to the bottom of it. She turned back to the face Zyric. He was staring at her.

  “You have that thinking look again. What is going on inside that head of yours?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Again with the nothing.” Zyric stopped putting the items of the tray and came over to stand in front of her. “Do you need me to use that hot button to get you to speak?”

  “Whose, yours or mine?” Pandora set the cat on the floor and stood.

  “Pick.” He smiled.

  “Yours,” she challenged.

  Zyric, as usual, took the challenge and he lifted the hem of his T-shirt, bearing his stomach to her view. She touched the muscles—her fingers so used to them, even though she had only touched him once. Zyric inhaled and the movements under her hand made her long for more. She stroked the skin softly.

  “You’re tempting me with the rhythm you’re touching me,” Zyric said.

  She continued her caress. “I love rhythms. The one when you stretch has a melody. The one when your breath catches just so has a note that strikes a chord in me.”

  “Now who is being…?” He hissed as she dug her nails in.

  “Don’t tease me,” Pandora warned.

  “What do you want, Pandora?”

  Instead of answering, she stepped closer and lifted her head. She kissed him, drawing him close.

  Chapter Three

  Zyric stiffened then relaxed. Pandora deepened the kiss, sliding her hand to the back of his head and holding him in place. He opened and made a sound deep in his throat. Her being in charge made her want to push him down and have him. In the next moment, Zyric changed everything. He grabbed her, yanking her into his arms then he took over the kiss. She expected fierceness but received a tenderness that was her undoing. She went weak as he stroked his tongue gently along the inside of her lips, setting off a need that she wanted to be quenched.

  Bad, bad idea. She withdrew and stepped back. Pandora placed her hand on his chest, staring into his intense eyes. The hunger in them almost made her go back into his arms.

  “I’m heading to bed.” She turned and walked away.

  “By yourself?”

  “Yep.”

  “What the hell was that kiss about?” he demanded.

  “I wanted to know how it would be.” She shrugged. “Now I do, and I’m off to bed.”

  He was silent and she went out of the door. In the hall, Pandora paused to steady herself. Placing her hand over her racing heart, she prayed she would be able to keep her senses around him. If she wasn’t careful, he would get beneath her skin. She wouldn’t allow that, since she knew there was something Zyric was still hiding. Although she couldn’t read him, she felt that in her gut. Until he let her in fully, she could not trust him. To her, trust was important on building any connection.

  What don’t you want me to know?

  * * * *

  Zyric pivoted and kicked the bag with all his might. The chain broke and the bag flew across the room. With a thought, he stopped it and returned it to where it had been hanging before. He clenched his fist and pounded at the bag.

  Two weeks of living with and being around Pandora and I still have no idea what she is thinking. He back-kicked the bag then returned to punching it. Pandora and he shared meals, bantered but she still wasn’t letting him in. He still hadn’t made any progress getting below the depths to what made Pandora who she was. Zyric hit the bag hard and it again broke, going toward the wall. He set it in place again then went back to punching it.

  “What has the poor bag done to you?” Lethra came out of the shadows then braced himself on the bag, holding it for him.

  “Nothing. Just need to work off some energy.” Zyric kept hitting.

  “I know the feeling.” Lethra studied him. “I don’t about you, but it’s strange being back among the living. Well, I was living, but in some alternate world where I had limited contact with people. Now there are people all around.”

  “Yes, I understand the feeling. Although I wasn’t away from people. I was away from the people I knew and had to adapt to others. It was strange to get used to but I did. Now I’m sort of back from the dead, it is…” Zyric searched for the word. “Disconcerting, being with those who knew me when I was younger. They have preconceptions about me from before and expect things that are no longer me. They don’t really know me now.”

  “Exactly. I know Mom and Dad mean well, but they still see us as their young men.” Lethra closed his eyes then when he opened them, the pain in them made Zyric still.

  “We have seen and done things they cannot fathom of the young men they knew,” Zyric said softly.

  “Yes,” Lethra said, equally as soft.

  “We didn’t mean to do that,” their mom said, her voice catching.

  She came out of the shadows holding a bag. Lethra and Zyric looked at each other and although Zyric didn’t hear him cursing, he imagined he was. Because Zyric was too. They should have sensed her coming. He’d forgotten his mother had a knack for appearing without them knowing she was coming. Driya used to say she had to be stealthy so she could keep an eye on her kids to make sure they didn’t get into trouble they couldn’t get out of. It was a tease for the kids to catch on she was going to appear. Zyric had missed that about his mom. He had missed his family and would not leave them again.

  “Mom—”

  “No, Zyric.” She held up her hand then looked between him and Lethra. “You too, Lethra. You are our oldest, Lethra, and followed by you, Zyric. You coming back is…such a blessing, and we have to accept it is actually real. That time has passed and you are now much older. Powerful men in your own right. We didn’t mean to make you feel we were seeing you as the young men who we knew. It’s just that we don’t know the men you are now. We’ll have to learn about you. And you’ll have to learn about us, too. It’ll be a transition for all of us. You know your siblings as they were when you were there, but not who they are now either.”

  Zyric realized she was right. He and Lethra exchanged looks. They went to their mother and stood on each side of her, hugging her. She patted them on the arms before kissing each of their cheeks.

  “I brought you lunch for when you have a break.” She held up the bag.

  “In about an hour,” Lethra said. “Can you stay and have it with us?”

  “I brought enough because I was hoping you would ask. Also brought some f
or Sin, Savage and your dad. Your dad went to get them.”

  “Good,” Zyric said.

  “I have a quick training class to run,” Lethra said, grinning. “You can come watch, Mom.”

  “Why do I just have to watch? Why can’t I participate? Or are the men you are teaching afraid of harming a lady?” Driya smiled.

  “I have to see this.” Zyric laughed.

  “I’ve learned a few things,” she said. “Lead the way.”

  Lethra led and Zyric followed with their mother. Soon they were in the large training room and Zyric took note of the men and women gathered there for Lethra’s training. Lethra introduced their mother then stepped back to stand beside Zyric. A shift came in the air then their dad and brothers came out of the shadows.

  “Now why are you letting your mom have all the fun?” His dad pouted.

  They all laughed.

  “You can give it a go after,” Lethra said.

  “So who will be first? Hell, don’t worry about first. Come all at once.” Driya twisted her hair up quickly and materialized a hair stick to put it up. She beckoned with her hand.

  The group hesitated then swarmed her. Driya laughed—a delighted sound—then raised her hands up holding the bottom of her palms together then pushing out. Her power ricocheted off the people and many of them collapsed under it.

  “What has Lethra been teaching you?” Driya frowned at Lethra. “They shouldn’t have fallen under that. Stop holding back your power and teach them, if you are going to teach.”

  Driya flung her hand and her power rose in a black shadow over the group of beings still standing. She lifted them and swallowed them into the shadows. She slapped her hands together then turned to them.

  “That was fun but not much of a challenge.” Driya came over and stood by her sons.

  “My turn.” Their dad went to stand before the group. With a flick of his wrist, he brought everyone on the floor to their feet and yanked those in the shadows out, before setting them down. “Now my wife has a flair for the dramatic but I, on the other hand, like the subtlety.”