Mending Scars

by Rivers, Brandy L

  “Is Toryn’s mother some sex deity? Might explain a few things.”

  Preston’s brow arched. “Like your trio isn’t freaky?”

  Robert’s eyes skated away. “I’m not discussing my love life, thank you.”

  “Always the gentleman.” Preston laughed, and Robert shot him a disgruntled look. “For fuck’s sake, I wasn’t asking. I was ribbing you, ‘cause I can. I truly don’t want to know what you three do behind closed doors. As long as you all are happy, I’m fine.”

  Robert nodded. “How’s the hangover? You going to be okay for traveling?”

  “Yeah, Toryn fixed the problem. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” He thrust out his hand and Robert took it.

  The wind rushed through him and he heard the pop as he landed on his knees waiting for the nausea to hit. Maybe the frigid ocean air helped ease his stomach because he felt fine.

  “You okay?”

  Pushing to a stand, Preston nodded in confusion. Even without a hangover, it usually took a moment for his stomach to settle. “Surprisingly, yeah.”

  He finally took a look around and groaned. They were standing on a ledge halfway up the steep wall of a cliff. In front of him was a drop to the Puget Sound, and behind him, a tiny trail leading into pitch black between dense evergreens.

  Robert snorted. “Thought Remus was supposed to be an air fae.”

  Preston shook his head. “Half, also half earth. Maybe he likes being underground. He might feel it’s safer there.” Taking a fortifying breath, he raised his hand and summoned an orb of light as he stepped into the darkness.

  “You feel him?”

  “He hasn’t been here today, but he comes often. The place is so full of his essence my skin is crawling.”

  “And Dacia doesn’t have that effect?” Robert asked thoughtfully.

  It took all Preston had not to overreact. His friend was only looking out for him. He drew a slow breath and shook his head. “Never has. She’s not all bad, Robert. Consider her father for a moment. And her mother has a strange history. Dacia has more than her share of reasons to be fucked up. Just like me.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you, Preston.”

  “Same with her. So stop.”

  Robert’s brow arched, but amusement danced through his eyes. “Sorry. My impression of Dacia is still tainted by the fact she tried to kill Fallon.”

  Preston’s eyes narrowed in warning. “People make mistakes. She’s apologized, and more than made up for it.”

  “Okay.” Robert held his hands up. “I’ll drop the subject.”

  “Thank you.”

  The darkness pressed in on them. It was fae magic, and not one easy to dispel. Instead, Preston focused more energy into the light floating above his hand. It expanded as he infused his energy into the orb, pushing the shadows back.

  The wind rushed through him as he let out a breath. The ball burst into light-filled dust that spread out, chasing the darkness away and filling the entire place with a gentle glow.

  “What was that?” Robert asked, his voice full of wonder.

  Preston shook his head slowly. He knew fae mating sometimes mingled one partner’s magic with the other. Amethyst and Hayden had some of that going on, but it usually took weeks, months, or even years.

  “Something to do with Dacia and you bonding?”

  “Maybe. Shit—I don’t know.”

  He took a look around at the illuminated room and shuddered. The entryway flowed to an open floor plan, complete with a bathroom behind a glass wall. There was a cage the right size to hold a person in the corner. A bed draped in black satins not far from that. The wall surrounding the same dark corner was littered with instruments that made Preston’s blood run cold. Especially contraptions to bind unwilling victims.

  Robert stood there staring, a look of horror and disgust on his face.

  Preston slapped him on the back. “And you wonder why my girl has some issues?”

  He shook his head in response, his mouth opening and shutting with no words coming out. Preston knew he was likely wondering about Liz’s past.

  “Word of advice, old friend. Look away and clear your mind.” Turning, Preston’s gaze landed on a desk and filing cabinets. He started for them.

  Robert’s voice was barely a whisper. “Do you think that monster has hurt women here?”

  He could guarantee it with the essence still coating every surface. Robert’s mind was likely on the pictures Preston found when they were hunting down his brother. There was evidence Liz had been whipped in a similar place.

  “You don’t want my answer, Robert. Best to concentrate on helping me find something we can use to figure out where the hell he is.”

  Preston pulled the center drawer open. Robert’s hands landed on the desktop with a thud, his breath coming in great gasps.

  As much as Preston wanted to help his friend chase away the demons, they didn’t have time. “Whatever’s going through your head, you need to shove it back in your mental trunk and lock it away for now. If you need to talk later, I’m all ears.”

  Robert nodded, but didn’t move as he got his breathing under control. Preston flipped through one empty drawer after another. Then turned to the locked filing cabinet. It took a simple spell to open, but only the bottom drawer had anything besides bundles of pictures he didn’t have the stomach to look through. Part of it was not wanting to know what the monster might have done to his own daughter.

  Finally in control of his emotions, Robert crouched beside him. “Find anything useful?”

  Preston flipped through a series of contracts, and several more deeds. He needed to sit down and actually study the documents because a lot of it was in fae languages.

  “Not sure yet. I need to translate, but I’m not fluent enough to do it here. Though, this one is cause for worry. I see Dacia’s name all over it.” He held up a parchment paper that looked an awful lot like some kind of contract.

  “You could ask Hayden maybe? Even Toryn.”

  Preston let out a snort. “Yeah, Hayden’s still not my biggest fan. Toryn…” Preston pushed his fingers through his hair and looked Robert in the eye. “Do you have any idea how weird it is to stare at your father and know he has no clue who you are to him?”

  “I can’t imagine it’s easy. I could tell him.”

  Preston sighed. “I need to talk to my mother. I used to think I understood her reasoning for not wanting the secret out, but now I’m not so sure. However, she was the only one who could have told Remus, who told Dacia. That being said, why?”

  “Maybe she didn’t have a choice?”

  “Why didn’t she come to me? I would’ve helped.”

  “I don’t have the answers, but I’ll help you get them,” Robert promised.

  Preston took another look around and nodded. “Let’s get out of here. We have more places to hit, but first, let’s drop these at my place.”

  “Then maybe we should pay your mother a visit.”

  “Brilliant plan.”

  Robert took his arm and brought them to Charleston, where they both grew up.

  Chapter 5

  Dacia paced through her office, trying to think about anything but Preston, and failed miserably. She wanted to prove that she could help.

  There were a few options, none of which seemed to be the answer. She could go to Toryn and offer her assistance, but she didn’t want to make Preston look bad.

  Another option? Telling Toryn who Preston was. And after spending half the evening before wondering why they looked so damned similar, it all made sense. Of course, she had no clue why Toryn didn’t know in the first place. She didn’t want to risk going against Preston’s wishes.

  As a last resort, she considered tracking down her father herself, which wasn’t likely to end well.

  Feeling useless, she threw herself into the leather executive chair and picked up the phone. Not dialing, she only stared at it, unsure who to call or what to say. A distraction was what she needed.
/>
  Her door slammed open and in strode Lincoln, who looked pale. His sea green eyes flashed, an intriguing contrast to his coffee and cream colored skin. Finally starting to fill out, he no longer looked like a teenager, but a man, at twenty-seven.

  Dacia’s head cocked to the side. “My, aren’t we pissy today?” Which was new for Lincoln. Shy, embarrassed, timid—all things she associated with him. Royally ticked, not so much.

  He gripped the back of his neck. “I need your help. She’s driving me crazy. If I stay, she’ll find a way to control me. I can’t take it. A fresh start is what I need—away from her—in a place I can call my own. “

  Dacia sat up straight, her brow arched. “Who, Lincoln? You’re not making sense.”

  He paced the room, pressing his hands to his head for a moment before facing her and throwing his arms down. “My mother is still here, haunting me. Only now she’s calling me a sinner, and I’ve done nothing wrong.” Color flooded his dark cheeks.

  Blinking, Dacia sorted through what Lincoln could possibly have done to merit his mother tormenting him from the grave. The worst thing he could possibly do was jerk off, but that wasn’t a sin. Except his mother was probably that much of a prude.

  Finally, a distraction.

  “What are you looking for?” she asked, business-like, as she pulled out a notepad and pen.

  Lincoln took a deep breath, and let it out in a huff. “You’re not going to question me?”

  “Didn’t figure you were going to tell me what you did to earn mommy’s wrath.”

  He swallowed, his eyes dropping to the ground before blazing up to lock with hers. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. “I’m done being the perfect little boy who never does anything for myself.”

  “Good for you. I already like the new Lincoln better than the wallflower you were.”

  “Doubtful.” He sighed. “It’s like she expects me not to feel desire. And I keep sensing her.”

  Frowning, her brows drew together as her hand rose. “Your mother?”

  Shaking his head, he scrubbed a hand over his jaw as one corner of his mouth tipped up shyly. “Someone I want, but I can’t even think about inviting her into my home while my mother watches over my shoulder.”

  “Come again?” Now she was doubly curious. “You finally found a woman you’re willing to pursue?”

  He nodded. “First, I need a house, apartment, I don’t care, something not my mother’s!”

  “Budget?”

  “Doesn’t matter, but I’m not looking for something huge. Simple, low maintenance, but I need some place to call my own.”

  “And fast?”

  Lincoln nodded.

  “I’ll drive.”

  * * * *

  Old Street Diner stood before them. Preston had fond memories of studying in one of the booths after school with Robert and Liz. They spent many days there back in the forties. His mother had owned the place for as long as he could remember.

  Preston stared through the window trying to gather his words to confront his mother on a subject that she had shut down every damned time for decades.

  Robert’s question interrupted his thoughts. “You sure you’re ready for this?”

  Shoving his hands into his pockets, he looked over. “Not really. My mother is the only one who could have told Remus who my father is. Why tell him, and not Toryn?”

  “When was the last time you talked to your mother?”

  Pinching the bridge of his nose, he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “Months ago was the last time I sat down and really talked to her. I meant to call, but then had to deal with Toryn, and well… What the fuck was I supposed to say? Every time I ask why I can’t tell Toryn, she shuts me down.”

  “You sure she’s okay? If Remus came here…”

  He refused to think too much. “Don’t. Let’s go see what’s up before we jump to conclusions.”

  Preston pushed through the door and found his mom behind the counter flirting with one of the regulars from years ago. He took a breath, letting relief fill his lungs. “See, she seems fine.”

  Preston lifted his arm in a wave.

  A smile brightened her face, but a single eyebrow arched. “New tattoo?”

  With a glance at his arm, he remembered the Lady of the Lake. Mom hadn’t seen the ink before. “Been there a while. I need to talk to you, Mom.”

  She tipped her head toward the kitchen. “Joe, come out here a minute, please. I need to talk to my boy.”

  “Pshh.” The regular laughed outright. “That kid of yours hasn’t been a boy in more than seventy years.”

  Joe came out with a grin, his face wrinkling further. The troll preferred to appear as a crotchety old man. He’d been his mother’s business partner for ages. “Go on, Priscilla. Maybe tell him about that weasel who was coming around a few weeks ago. You can’t trust Remus and you, of all people, know that first hand.”

  “I will, but I’m protected. Remus can’t harm me in my establishment,” she offered lightly.

  “You aren’t always here, are you?” Preston asked coldly.

  Her eyes flashed, but she didn’t argue.

  Robert cleared his throat. “Come on, let’s discuss this away from prying ears.”

  Priscilla nodded, leading them back to her office, then through the closet door to go down to the basement. Magic washed over him, sending a tingle down his spine. It was always like that. There was a tunnel that led to her home across town, and she used it whenever anyone paid her too much curious attention.

  Once the door was closed Preston started in, “Mom, why did you tell Remus Arc who my father is, but I can’t say a damned word to anyone?”

  She turned, her eyes wide as her gaze ping-ponged back and forth between Robert and Preston.

  “I know,” Robert offered ruefully. “Don’t worry, it didn’t come from his mouth. But here’s a warning, you will not bind me the same way you bound your son.”

  She nodded slowly. “Very well. I won’t ask how you learned the truth.” She took a deep breath, her chest heaving with the motion, and turned to face her son. “I didn’t have a choice.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Remus would have burned the diner down with everyone in it. He wove a spell to make sure no one could slip out during his visit. Telling him saved everyone here. Besides, it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. I’m amazed it hasn’t yet.”

  Her attention flicked to Robert. “Doesn’t this change Preston’s position with the Silver Council?”

  “His secret is safe with me, Ms. Emrys. I value your son’s friendship far more than his pedigree. Have you learned nothing of me over the years?”

  “Your mother—”

  Robert’s expression turned dark, his eyes narrowed. “Don’t ‘my mother’ me. She’s no longer here, and even while she was, I didn’t let her ideals control my life. I have far different views from her, as you would know if you ever paid attention to the fact that I have never let your son down.”

  “You wouldn’t have reported it?” she mocked.

  “No. I would not have.”

  “Anyone else would!” she insisted.

  “Maybe most, but not all. That’s not why we’re here. We need to understand why you wanted to keep this secret from everyone, especially Toryn.”

  Her arms crossed over her chest. “What good would the fae knowing do? He couldn’t be here for his son, and I wasn’t going to allow Preston to be raised in Faerie when I’m a fugitive there.”

  “I highly doubt Toryn Flame would have gone so far as to take me from you. I have a feeling the man would have strived to be part of my life without taking me to Faerie.”

  Her hands landed on her hips. “And what makes you say that?”

  Preston let out a bitter laugh as he paced away, pushing his fingers through his hair. “You know so little about him. Do you have any clue what he’s really like? Or did you make assumptions based on the fact he took you to bed and d
idn’t try to make a relationship work? Well, Mom, I’ve got news for you, I’ve bedded plenty of women, and it didn’t make me a bad man.”

  She fidgeted, looking anywhere but at him. “I never said Toryn was a bad man. I’m the first to admit he is honorable, and would have made an excellent father. But think about this. If anyone ever found out Toryn helped me escape Faerie, we’d all be dead by now. If the mages ever learned your father was fae we’d be outcasts, treated worse than you were because they think your father is a human. Telling Toryn would have put us all in danger. All of us!”

  He paced away and hit the wall, then turned back to his mother. “For the record, I’ve been dealing with him for my current assignment. As it turns out, we see eye-to-eye on quite a few things.”

  “He knows? He can’t!” she shouted.

  “And why the fuck not?” Preston yelled back, throwing his hands up.

  “If the Silver Council finds out, it will ruin your career.”

  “Yeah, well you told Remus, and he already shared your secret with my mate.”

  The absolute shock on her face would have been comical if he hadn’t been so mad. “Mate? Wait… what? Mate? As in a fae bond?”

  “Yes, Mother. Didn’t think that could happen, did you? Funny, neither did she, and she’s only half-fae.”

  “Half?” Her brow knit together. “Who?”

  He still wasn’t totally sure where Dacia and he stood to begin with, but his mother’s meddling could easily throw a wrench into their tenuous beginning.

  Preston sucked in a breath, and spit out the answer, “Dacia. Remus’ daughter. So thank you very fucking much for potentially ruining a relationship that took weeks of chasing her before she let me in.”

  “You—you chased a woman? For real?”

  “Yes, I did! I want her more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life, and the stubborn woman kept turning me away because she didn’t believe I could be sincere. Apparently just like you. Fuck! Why did I come here again?”

  He glanced over at Robert, practically ready to beg him to transport his ass anywhere else. Robert’s lips twitched.