by Lora Edwards
1901-The Society File
Book 3 of the Paranormal Research and Rescue Institute
Lora Edwards
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Contributors
Cover by: BZN Studios
Developmental Edit: Savannah Swisher
Line Edit: C. Marie
Proofread: Macie Kingery
For Aunt Lora, you always believed in me, and you are greatly missed.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Epilogue
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Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter 1
“Fish girl, I think you have gotten better,” Ovidia declared as she swung the heavy broadsword toward Delphine’s head once again. Delphine swiftly dodged it, bringing her own sword up to block the blow and feeling the vibration of it down her arms.
“I have been practicing,” she said as she swooped, aiming low. Ovidia followed the movement and was barely able to knock the blade away before it made contact with her body.
Dancing back and holding up her hand to stop the practice, she nodded approvingly. “It shows.”
Delphine lowered the sword, rolled her aching shoulders, and stretched out her arms. Her upper body, already strong from swimming in her Siren form, had become even more so as she worked with Ovidia to improve her fighting skills. Delphine had plaited her long hair, its ombre of blues and greens highlighted by the simple hairstyle.
Ovidia the Valkyrie was beautiful, tall, and slim with well-proportioned curves and long flowing blonde hair. She looked every inch the warrior as she stood tall and sheathed her glowing sword, which simply vanished into the ether. Ovida was a woman of contrasts, a warrior one moment, a beautiful sophisticated lady the next. Delphine’s new friend had quite the dichotomy inside of her, with a love of fighting and a bloodlust worthy of any warrior while her other side loved Jimmy Choos and designer clothes, not to mention her enthusiasm for dancing.
Delphine shook her head and smiled. She was happy for Ovidia; her good friend finally felt right in her own skin, and the next day she would be marrying the love of her life. The betrothed couple had gotten off to a rocky start, but now, in Ovidia’s homeland of Kvenland, they would seal their bond.
“Leave it to you to want to work off your pre-wedding jitters with a little sword practice,” said a voice from across the room. The two women turned toward the speaker and a smile lit Ovidia’s face.
“Teag, you made it.” She crossed the room and hugged her oldest friend.
“Yep, Bran was finally able to tear me away from my books.” She lowered her voice. “Teagan, the bloody books will be there when we get back home. Your oldest friend is getting married.” The three friends laughed as Teagan did an admirable impression of her husband, Bran.
“Dragons are not known for their patience.” Ovidia laughed.
“Don’t I know it,” Teagan grumbled before turning to Delphine with a smile. “Delphine, how are you? I wanted to say how much I appreciate you being so kind when I ramble on during your history lessons.” A slight blush of embarrassment warmed Teagan’s cheeks.
Delphine smiled. The blush only made Teagan lovelier with her peaches-and-cream complexion, emerald eyes, and long red hair. Delphine wondered what she looked like when she let down the glamour that hid her fae side. Teagan was the product of two powerful supernaturals, a high-ranking witch and a fae prince. She had been spelled until just a few years ago to forget everything connected with the supernatural world, including her own magic, and both Teagan and Delphine were still learning the ins and outs of the Institute of Paranormal Research and Rescue, where they worked.
“I found it all quite interesting, Teagan—no reason to be sorry,” Delphine reassured her.
Ovidia rolled her eyes. “You’ve gone and done it now, fish girl. She isn’t going to restrain herself anymore and we’re going to be inundated with boring historical facts. I hope you’re ready.”
“Vid, that isn’t nice.” Teagan elbowed her in the side.
“I look forward to it.” Delphine smiled gently.
“Are you ready for all this until-death-do-us-part stuff,” Teagan asked Ovidia.
Ovidia’s expression softened at the mention of her upcoming wedding. “I am more than ready. It feels like this has been coming for a long time, and I can’t wait to have Erik as my husband.”
“I am so glad you two finally found your way back to each other. It was hard to see you so sad,” Teagan said softly, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Hey, what are those? I wasn’t sad—I was perfectly content in my life without him.” Ovidia stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest.
Teagan sniffed back her tears. “There was always a sadness there, even at times of joy, just behind your eyes. Now it’s gone and it makes me so happy.” Teagan’s eyes again shimmered with tears.
“No need for tears. You’ll get me started.” Ovidia grabbed Teagan in a hug, tears filling her eyes.
Delphine stood off to the side, tears welling in her own eyes at seeing how much the two of them loved each other.
Ovidia had been engaged to Erik once. He had broken their engagement, telling her it was for the good of his kingdom as he was to enter an arranged marriage with a woman from a neighboring kingdom. Ovidia had later found out that Erik abdicated the throne to his brother, Calder, who married Alexandra, Erik’s intended. The pair had been in love for some time. Erik had not returned to Ovidia after abdicating, instead going away to complete dangerous secret missions for Armand, the head of the institute.
Armand had paired Ovidia and Erik on a mission to rescue Delphine, and Ovidia learned of his betrayal at the start of the mission. Through their swashbuckling adventures with the pirate Blackbeard to rescue her from the clutches of the Society for the Eradication of Unnaturals, they had fallen in love again.
What a beautiful love story, Delphine thought to herself, wiping away a tear. She hoped one day she would be able to find a love
as strong as what these two women had with their men. Delphine sighed as Teagan and Ovidia turned to her.
“Sorry you had to witness that little spectacle.” Teagan smiled as she wiped away her tears.
“Don’t apologize. Your friendship is beautiful to behold.” Teagan and Ovidia reached out to Delphine and pulled her into a hug. The three women broke out in laughter.
“Do you see this,” Bran asked Erik and Flynn as they stood in the doorway of the practice room, watching as the friends laughed and hugged.
“Weddings make women a bit crazy—that’s what my da always said,” Flynn said, amused.
Erik just nodded with a big smile on his face. It was good to see Ovidia so happy.
The women turned and looked at the men.
Bran frowned and strode across the room, seeing the drying tears on Teagan’s face. “Love, why are you crying? Do you feel alright? Did something upset you?” He pulled her in for a hug.
Ovidia was too busy talking with Flynn and Erik to hear the low exchange, but Delphine eyed the couple curiously.
Teagan saw Delphine’s look and smiled through another blush. “It’s nothing, Delphine, just his overprotective dragon nature.” She gently pushed Bran away.
He roughly pulled her back to him, eliciting a startled laugh from Teagan. He then winked at Delphine over his wife’s head, and she winked back at him with a small smile.
“Bran, quit manhandling my best friend—she has to come with me. We have just a few more wedding details to sort out.” Ovidia strode over and tugged Teagan out of her husband’s embrace with an exaggerated eye roll.
Bran gave Teagan a look. “I will be fine,” she told him quietly.
“All right ladies, it’s time to leave the men. We have important matters to see to,” Ovidia announced as she marched her two friends out of the practice room. Delphine looked back, and Flynn flashed her a saucy wink. She chuckled and gave her head a gentle shake as she hurried out of the room behind her friends.
Delphine woke up chilled. She didn’t know if she would ever get used to the freezing temperatures of this world. Sliding out of bed, she rushed over to the ornate stone fireplace. She waved her hand over the fire, whispering the enchanted word Ovidia had taught her, and bright blue flames immediately flared to life, dancing cheerfully in the stone fireplace and warming the room quickly. Delphine sighed as the heat seeped into her skin. Grabbing a thick velvet robe that hung on a hook on the back of the door, she wrapped it around herself as she went to the window to look out at the sea.
She was about to turn back when she noticed a flash of silver scales in the water. She started then pressed her face to the glass and saw the flash again, and then another. She had heard rumors of mermaids living in the colder oceans, fierce fighters who had adapted to the colder, harsher waters of the north, and why not here in the land of the Norse gods?
Delphine hurried to throw on a pair of wool pants and boots, pulling on the fur cloak Ovidia had left for her after making a comment about how “fish girl has thin blood.” Delphine then hurried out into the cold clear morning.
She found a staircase built into the side of the cliff, hewn out of the rock. Delphine carefully picked her way down the steps until she was level with the sea, protected by a small cove. Water lapped gently at the steps, unlike the way it crashed at the rocks farther down.
Delphine stood shivering in the furs, thinking it must have been a trick of her eye. She had a nice warm grotto to swim in courtesy of a mage from the institute so she would just go back up to her room and have a quick swim before she needed to go help Ovidia dress for the ceremony.
“Are you going to stand there and shiver or join us in the water, cousin?”
Delphine jumped at the sudden voice inside her head, knowing there must be another of her kind near as they were the only ones who could speak inside her head.
She looked down at the last step to find a mermaid sitting there, happy as could be, as if she was sunning herself on a rock. Her skin had a slight blue tinge, her hair so blonde it was almost white.
“Hello, cousin. I would be honored to come swim in your home,” Delphine said, divesting herself of her clothing. Shivering one last time, she dived into the icy water, the fire of the change distracting her from the bitter cold of the sea.
A splash and the mermaid swam beside her, leading her down into the depths. Stopping at the entrance of a cave, she turned to make sure Delphine was following before she swam inside. Delphine paused for a moment. Not all of her cousins were friendly, and these Norse mermaids were an unknown.
The mermaid turned and frowned. “Come, cousin. We wish you no harm.” Delphine felt the sincerity of her words, and with a flick of her purple tail, she followed deeper into the cave.
Delphine could feel the water become slightly warmer as they swam back into the cave system. Finally it opened up to reveal a mermaid pod. Their homes were carved from the rough hewn rock, and Delphine smiled as three toddlers swam by, stopping suddenly to stare at the newcomer.
“Lady is pretty,” the oldest one thought into her head.
Delphine inclined her head and thought back, “Thank you child.”
She heard the children giggle in her head as they swam off to continue their adventures.
Delphine continued to follow the mermaid until they reached another large cavern, the home of the Norse king of the merfolk.
Delphine swam in place and bowed her head to the leader. “I am Delphine, Princess of the Sirens of the isle. It is an honor to meet you.”
She left her head bowed in deference until she heard a deep voice in her mind. “Raise your head, Princess Delphine.”
She did so and took in the merman in front of her. He had the torso of a fit man with the large broad shoulders and long white flowing hair of a Viking warrior. He held in his right hand the trident of his station, and his icy blue eyes took her in, from the top of her head to the bottom of her fins.
“What brings you to our waters, Siren of the isle,” he asked.
“The princess of Kvenland is to be married today and she is a good friend of mine. She and her fiancé came to my rescue along with a shifter, saving me from a man who wanted revenge on my people.”
“Did you have your revenge on this man,” he asked, quirking one eyebrow.
“He met his end by his own hand, but there are still those who helped him with his nefarious plan, and I seek revenge on them,” Delphine said, her tone hardening.
“I admire your determination, Siren of the isle. My people are warriors, and I recognize the cold revenge in your heart. If you need anything of the Norse merfolk, we will be glad to help you to mete out justice for your people.”
Delphine nodded once more. “I must return to the surface as the time for the ceremony draws near.”
“You are welcome to swim in our waters whenever the need arises.” He nodded at her once more in dismissal. Delphine turned and swam hard for the surface. She had no sense of time in the water and the sun shining down was much brighter than it had been when she’d entered. She needed to return soon.
Delphine slipped onto the stone step and willed the change to hurry, the fiery pain slitting her tail into legs.
When the transformation was complete, she slipped into her clothes, shoved her feet into her boots, and wrapped her fur cloak tight then hurried up the steps and back into the castle.
Chapter 2
“Delphine,” Flynn called out. He had been knocking at her door for several minutes with no response. He had been nominated to escort her to Ovidia’s suite of rooms, where the ladies were dressing for the wedding. Ovidia had followed in Teagan’s footsteps, combining some of the traditions of the modern wedding ceremony with the ancient handfasting of the Norse people. That morning he had learned she would wear a modern wedding dress. She’d also elected to have attendants, but the ceremony would be the traditional Norse ceremony. He wasn’t sure why they had thought it necessary to tell him these details. He was one of Erik
’s groomsmen, but he just needed to be told who to escort down the aisle and where he needed to stand.
Where could she be? Could she have possibly already started making her way to Ovidia’s suite? No, that was not possible; he would have seen her.
“Delphine, I’m coming in,” he said in a loud voice before he pushed the door open. He looked around the chamber. Delphine’s bridesmaid dress was laid out over a chair, but there was no sign of her. He walked across the room to the adjoining bathroom. It appeared she had gathered up things for the wedding, but she was nowhere to be found. He paused and heard the faint sound of singing.