“Yes, definitely. I was afraid of what he’d say about me having a mate. The one thing he was insistent about was that one would hurt me.” She paused. “Or maybe he was only warning me from Eldred.” Zoe pulled in a breath. “I need answers.”
“I need to get on the plane.”
“See you soon.” She hung up the phone and took a breath of relief.
“Told you not to give up hope,” Aquila said.
Zoe blinked back tears. “He’s resurrected. I don’t understand.”
Lonny drew in a breath. “Leave that to me to explain. Toryn filled me in not long ago.”
* * * *
“Wait, what?” Isa demanded, staring at her father.
Reance combed his fingers through his long hair. “Kellan is alive. Yes, he died, but like Saressa, and myself, he’s also a phoenix.”
“And what about me?”
“That remains to be seen, though I’ve never seen your death, so I can’t say for sure.”
“Oh, that’s just perfect.” Isa paced away, and Toryn caught her shoulders. Her eyes flashed to his. “Did you know about this?”
“No. Though it does explain why everyone believed Reance had died.” Toryn tipped her face up. “Think about it, Princess.”
“Yeah, makes sense.” Isa turned back to her father. “So Saressa has been resurrected?”
“Unfortunately,” Reance answered.
“So what do we do about her?”
“For now, nothing. She hasn’t shown herself, and for the moment she has no reason to come to this world. Eldred is the bigger problem. He’s your great uncle.”
“So you’ve mentioned before.” Isa shoved her hands in her pockets. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Reance winced. “Once Nemia realizes the connection to you and Kellan, neither of you will be safe. Neither will your mother.”
Her brow pinched. “The harpy Eldred cursed?”
“Your mother found the records. Eldred was banished to Earth, Nemia to her mountain. She cannot leave until the curse is broken.”
“Will Kellan get sick again?”
“From what I’ve seen? No. I think once he died, it ended the curse for them. However, their child is still cursed, until Eldred dies.”
“And how does Nemia fit in?”
“She was exiled to her mountain to keep her from killing off the rest of your mother’s family. She decimated all but Sirocco, your mother’s father.”
“And she still has a personal vendetta?”
“Yeah. However, that means Nemia’s exile will end and nothing will stop her from coming for Kellan, or the rest of you.”
“Not even the Elder Guardians?”
He sighed. “They may or may not respond fast enough. She’s been exiled for so long there is no telling what they’ll decide to do about her once she is free.”
“What have you seen?” Toryn asked.
Reance shook his head. “Nothing I’ll share.” He sighed. “You need to learn how to open portals, Isa.”
Toryn frowned. “Open portals?”
He nodded. “If I can, I imagine she can. Kellan gets around with his own portals under normal circumstances.”
“I can do that?” Isa asked in surprise.
“I’ll train you, if you’d like.”
She nodded. “Yeah. Please.”
Toryn wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her ear. “I’ll be back in a bit. I’m going to check in with Scotty. He’s seeing what he can find out about Eldred’s movements. He can’t go long distances as air, so he’ll have to find other means of transport because his dragon is no longer his.”
“What?” Isa spun toward him.
“Aquila called earlier to let me know Zoe has taken over as Ororo’s master. I’m sure Eldred is furious, regardless of what he believes he feels for her. Unfortunately, that narrow-minded prick has no idea what love is or how to keep it.”
“You’ve met him?” Isa asked with a raised brow.
“Aye, I have. Though not in some years. Doesn’t change the fact he hasn’t changed.”
“Right,” Isa muttered.
“Love you, Isa.” Toryn backed toward the door and blew a kiss before leaving.
“Always something new to worry about. Who do you think she’d go after first?” Isa asked.
Reance drew a slow breath. “She may have a sense of obligation to the man who ended the curse. You’re another member in Eldred’s bloodline. She may leave Kellan and come for you, your mother, and a number of your cousins and other aunts and uncles.”
Her brow pinched. “There’s a lot more family I haven’t met?”
“Aye, there are a lot of people in both our families you haven’t met or learned of. You’ll meet a lot of them at the wedding.”
Nodding, Isa redirected. “How about that lesson in opening portals?”
Amused, Reance shook his head. “Sooner or later, we’re going to have a long conversation about all your fears and questions.”
“Training first.”
Chapter 26
Nerves raced through Zoe as she drew closer to her father’s valley. The Escalade traveled higher into the mountains. Before long, they would have to stop and take to the air.
A thought hit her. How would Kellan find them? If he couldn’t open a portal, then how would he get there?
She turned in her seat. “Aquila, after we get to my father’s, I need you to go to the airport Kellan’s most likely to come to.”
“I’ll see what I can find out,” Aquila promised.
“You won’t go alone,” Ororo told Aquila, then turned to Zoe. “And all you need to do is call my name if you need me. I’ll hear, and I’ll come. You have my word.”
“I don’t plan to call on you unless I truly need help.”
“Which is why our arrangement is mutually beneficial.”
“Because I’m keeping you from being a slave to Eldred.”
“Worth it, in every sense.” Ororo reached over to squeeze her shoulder. “I’ve always had a fond spot for you. You were too innocent to fall into his hands. I only hope your new mate is far better.”
“Kellan is. He came for me, didn’t he?”
“He did. And he would have beaten Eldred had he been prepared.” Ororo shrugged. “Whatever the case, we’ll be ready this time. There are ways to kill Eldred, though I have a feeling Brynhilde has made the task easier.”
“Who, and how?”
He smiled sadly. “A healer who hates Eldred almost as much as you.”
“Why?”
“That’s a story for another day.”
* * * *
Kellan sat in the seat on the airplane. Second time traveling in a flying machine and he wasn’t impressed. He couldn’t call Zoe, couldn’t talk to anyone who knew anything. Had he been smart, he would have called on Aquila, but it was too late for that.
Couldn’t explain a woman showing up on a flying plane, if that could even be done. He sank into his seat and closed his eyes. Sleep, but Zoe wouldn’t be sleeping. Was there anyone who could help him? Besides his mother. Shit, Saressa was the last person he wanted to talk to.
And if she knew he would be resurrected, why not warn him long before now?
Because she had an agenda.
She always did.
No matter what she said, he’d figure out her plans some damned way.
How? Did he even want to know?
Then an idea formed. Nightwing. He couldn’t remember anything about Eldred, but if Zoe’s father really did create the wards and give him the sword, then there was a good chance he could find something about him. Unless his mother somehow managed to block those memories.
Closing his eyes, he reached for the memories.
Nothing.
Frustrated, he focused on Zoe’s bright blue eyes and her sexy, sleepy smile after being thoroughly fucked. He drew a slow breath as the plane took off.
Kellan found himself looking into her tear-filled, dete
rmined stare as she made her way through thick forest. Zoe?
She stopped mid-stride and seemed to find his gaze. Kellan?
“Why are you stopping?” Aquila asked.
“Hang on,” she whispered with a shaky voice. Am I imagining you? she thought loudly.
He smiled. No. Though I’m glad I can connect over all this distance.
Me too. Her smile brightened as she started hiking again. How long until you’re near here?
Tomorrow you’ll be in my arms again, gorgeous.
Can’t come soon enough, babe.
Hey, Kellan changed the subject, I need to pry into some of your memories. See if I can get some answers about my mother that I can’t access through my ancestral memories.
Her smile faltered. I wasn’t here for that.
No, but through you I may be able to access those memories.
You have my permission, love. Now, I need to fly into my father’s property. Call for Aquila when you land. She’ll bring you to me.
I’ll get somewhere toward the mountains first. So no one sees her shift.
Zoe smiled. Good. Can’t wait to see you.
Tomorrow, gorgeous.
She shifted, and he left her alone as he pushed into her memories about her father. From there he found her link to him and followed it to the man who starred in one particular nightmare when he was tiny. Being strapped down, pain laced into his skin with every chanted word.
Then it hit him, tattoos, wards, even the sword. It had never made sense before.
Tall, broad shoulders of a warrior, sunny hair that molded up into a point like some fancy bird, sky blue eyes, and huge golden wings. The only thing he remembered was the majestic voice demanding him to do one thing. “Take care of her.”
Kellan scrolled through his memories. The man had missed his daughter terribly and prayed to some deity he’d never heard of. There wasn’t a single deity he could recall the fae praying to.
More questions, but that could wait.
He came to what he was looking for. Saressa walked into Nightwing’s living room through a portal, carrying a tiny bundle.
“Saressa. It’s been many years since I’ve seen you. Tell me, have I earned your ire, once again?”
Saressa shook her head. “To set the record straight, I never held ire for you, only the fact you refused my bed.”
He snorted. “Aye, for good reason. I’m no woman’s slave.”
“You mated a harpy,” she countered.
“Galinda never made me a slave, and I do enjoy a strong woman who doesn’t want to control me, or be controlled.”
Saressa sighed. “I’m sorry you lost her. I know she made you very happy.”
He closed his eyes for a long moment. “Yes, well, had Eldred seen reason, I wouldn’t have lost either my mate, or my daughter. No, he insists on revenge against a woman who was never his, and his eons old obsession has twisted into genocide.”
“I carry the answer to that problem. My son is your daughter’s mate. He needs the protection and strength only you can provide, and you can impart onto him an important artifact that only he can wield.”
“He’s but a child,” Nightwing pointed out.
She nodded. “Yes, but he will grow into a better man than his father or I could ever be. As wrong as Eldred is, I understand his need to find revenge. Some days, especially when I look into Kellan’s sweet, loving eyes, I realize how many mistakes I’ve made, but the thing is, I wouldn’t change a single one.”
Saressa moved the blanket to caress Kellan’s tiny face. “Before I can mess up with my boy, I want to ensure he has every chance for happiness.”
“And you won’t mess that up for him?”
She looked away. “I’m not sure I can change my nature. It’s likely too late.”
“I’ll do what I can for him. Tell me what you’ve seen of my daughter and your son.”
“He’ll defeat Eldred, and she’ll defeat Nemia. Together, they’ll bring hope to all harpies.”
“There aren’t many left.”
“No, but without the curse, they will thrive once again. Their numbers will multiply quickly, soon after Eldred’s death. There is a whole clan of them hidden as far south in Faery as you can go, beyond the Nightmare Plains.
“Truly?” Nightwing asked.
“Yes. No men allowed. They took the mountains past the twisted creatures, hoping no one would find their mate.”
“What protection will your son need?”
“Everything. He is a Storm Master. He will defeat Eldred, and do many great things. In fact, I want you to imbue the Elemental Sword into his skin. He will need it to destroy the last purely air fae. That will signal a change throughout all of Faery. He’s the last pure blood elemental being.”
“Besides the dragons?” Nightwing asked.
“Dragons don’t count. It’s rare for mixed dragons to be born, but dragons are rare these days.”
The memory ended and he found himself staring into Nightwing’s eyes, much the same way he looked into Zoe’s. “Kellan?”
He nodded slowly. “I am. And your daughter’s mate.”
“Don’t hurt her.”
“Never intentionally. I’m coming to right the hurt she felt at Eldred’s hands.”
Amusement danced through Nightwing’s eyes. “Your mother was right about you. I’ve kept an eye on you through the years. How did you manage to find me if you died, though briefly? I thought phoenixes come back with limited power.”
“I didn’t even know I would come back until I woke up in New Zealand.”
“Where you feel most at home,” Nightwing answered.
“What?” Kellan asked.
“The place you feel most at home is where your body reforms.”
Kellan smiled. “The cabin I bought for Zoe. We haven’t been together long, but most of my best memories were created there.”
“Hurry here. Eldred is coming.”
“As fast as I can without the ability to open portals,” Kellan promised.
Finally, he drifted to sleep for the rest of the trip.
Chapter 27
Zoe flew over the rise and hit the ground running, her talons shrinking back to toes and her body shifting back to her normal visage. Lonny kept the pace, the dragons following.
Coming to a stop, she spun to face Aquila. “How long before Kellan lands?”
“He won’t land until morning, then the trip here,” Aquila answered.
“There’s one airport he’d be coming to. We’ll be there long before he is,” Ororo added. “In fact, if your contact doesn’t come through with a scheduled flight, I’ll scout my way to find him.”
“Sounds good. If you’re coming with me, that is,” Aquila murmured, looking into the dragon’s eyes.
They’d been flirting heavily the entire trip. The sexual tension was at a breaking point, but apparently, until Eldred was dead and gone, they didn’t want to join together in a mating.
She sort of got it, but she wondered how much faith they had in her ability.
Taking a deep breath, Zoe walked to her father’s door. He opened it before she could raise her hand to knock.
He wrapped her in his arms as he brought her close. “My dear girl, I have missed you so.”
She gulped and leaned back to look into his eyes. “You weren’t here when I brought my mate to meet you.”
“I do apologize for my absence. It was only the second time I’ve been called to Faery since you were born. I wish I hadn’t been needed.”
“Everything all right?”
“Aye, it is. However, I know about your mate. Kellan Storm, son of Saressa. I’m willing to venture I’m better acquainted with his abilities than you are.”
She smiled sadly. “His mother did bring him to you?”
“Aye, and I can unlock his power faster than waiting for them all to come back to him.”
“How?”
“One of the enchantments I gave the boy will bring all of his abilit
ies roaring back to life and strengthen the enchantments you activated.”
She stepped back, out of his reach. “What do you know?”
“His mother told me much about him. About how he was going to bring you great happiness and many beautiful little harpies.”
He reached down to pat her tummy, which was quite round by now. “You’ll have her soon. I can’t wait to meet my granddaughter.”
A hopeful smile graced her lips. “You aren’t upset?”
“Of course not.” He took a slow breath. “I hate that you stayed away so long.”
“I was afraid you’d be disappointed.”
He sighed. “Only in myself. If I hadn’t tried to hide the ugly truth from you, perhaps things would have been different.”
“What do you mean?”
“That maybe you wouldn’t have followed Eldred when he’s the reason harpies die.”
“I’m not sure your warning would have done much good.”
“He was my friend once. Before he became desperate to find a mate. His arrogance and rash decision earned him his own curse. He is unable to find a mate, so he cursed all harpies to lose theirs, or their mates to lose them.”
“You knew him?”
“From the beginning. I grew up with him. My father trained him in combat. We were close for many years. However, he was jealous of his brother’s mating and vowed to find his own. After a thousand years of not finding his mate, he found an ancient spell that would force the bond. He saw Nemia, and he insisted she be his mate. Only Nemia feared him, and rightfully so. He was already losing his mind.”
“Nemia?”
“Yes, she was the daughter of the leader of harpies more than three thousand years ago. He was obsessed and garnered a deal that brought her to his castle. He had every intention of forcing the bond, only her mother had already cursed him to ensure Nemia never mated Eldred, knowing what his plan was.”
He looked over his shoulder at Ororo. “In fact, Ororo and her mother had mated while they stayed at Esmeralda’s castle. Later, after Nemia escaped with one of his once faithful servants, Eldred forced Ororo to kill Esmeralda.”
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