“There you have it. My true form.” She smiled warmly, and Isa’s blood curdled. “You’ll have to cut me some slack. I am one of the oldest beings left in either world. There are a few ancient dragons and a smattering of washed up so-called gods and demons that linger on.”
“Slack? You want me to cut you slack? You could have a trace humanity and compassion for Toryn.”
Morrigan stumbled back and sank into her seat. “I do care. I always have.”
Isa stood, fuming, waiting for someone to say something that made a damned bit of sense.
When Morrigan only sat there, she turned to Toryn. He didn’t move, didn’t say a word as he stared at his hands, limp in his lap.
Morrigan lifted her head in surrender. “I apologize.” She grimaced as if the words tasted bad. “I forget what it’s like for a changeling who has newly realized what they are. Especially under such circumstances.” At least she attempted to offer a smile. “Please, don’t run off yet. We have much to discuss and I will try to be more sensitive. To both of you.”
Toryn spoke up, “Listen to her, Isa. She may be the only one who can truly help you learn what you need to know about yourself and what you’re capable of. I wouldn’t bring you here if she wasn’t the only option.”
“First, I want to know what the hell is going on.”
Toryn held his hand out to her and she sat beside him. “With your power awakened, you won’t always be able to control it. Morrigan can help you channel your magic.”
“Perfect,” she muttered, then shot a glare to Morrigan. “What do you expect from me?”
“Nothing really.” She shrugged. “You never know how one of us will react to new information. You seem to be doing well, and maybe it’s because you’re older than usual for the awakening. Maybe it’s because you found a true friend who loves you more than anything you’ve known in the past. Not to mention your bond is strong. Seeing it is unnerving, but it is a rare and magical thing in and of itself. You both are very lucky. I hope you’re worth it.”
Isa bit back her first reaction that included a few choice words, and went with, “What now?”
“I’m curious what you intend to do with the knowledge that your supposed father and uncle are out to use you against your mother and anyone else who gets in their way? Or the fact that there are powers at work who wanted you dead for as long as you’ve been alive?”
“Play keep-away. I don’t consider Faerie my home and I sure as hell don’t want to go there and be a pawn. I know I can’t run forever, and I don’t want to. But I want to make a point that I’m not a toy or a tool.”
Morrigan shook her head. “Sooner or later, you will wind up in Faerie. We all do. It’s rarely a choice. The choice is what you do with your power. Do you let someone else use you to their ends? Do you use it to get revenge? Or do you simply live your life?”
“I won’t be used. And I don’t need revenge, but I will protect myself. I want to live my life in Seattle.”
“You won’t age, Isadora. You will have to move on eventually. Again and again unless you find some place where they know what we are. Even then, we’re special. We’re a bomb waiting to be pointed at their target. It’s why I live alone, away from my kind.”
“Nothing I can do about the future right now. I’m not even sure what all I can do. I’m not much of a faerie, I know next to nothing about it. The only time I control any element it’s instinctual, when I’m in trouble.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing away memories she didn’t want. Once she had a hold of herself she added, “I’d rather have no power.”
“No, don’t you dare say that, Isa,” Toryn pleaded. “Evan would have done much worse to you. I didn’t get there in time. If you hadn’t stopped him, I—”
Isa looked away. “He wouldn’t have come after me in the first place.”
Toryn ran a hand through his untamed mane of black waves. “And what of the hellhound? What of the strange things in your life? That asshole who hurt you the day I met you? Isa, because of your parents, you are a target. Without power much worse could have happened.”
“Fuck, fine, I get it. I don’t want to argue over something neither of us can change. Ultimately, if I wasn’t faerie, you wouldn’t be here now, and I wouldn’t be with you.”
Toryn took her face in his hands and kissed her sweetly. It felt like a promise, of what she wasn’t sure.
Morrigan cleared her throat. “Okay, enough with the lovey-dovey. I’m not in the mood. You came here for information and help. Right now, I don’t have any news. I know that Henroyld is determined to find you, both of you, and Remus is doing his best to have you tracked. Seeing that neither of them know I still exist, they shouldn’t be looking for me. Another reason to erase Lisanna’s memory. Like everyone else, they think I’m an old brownie and I plan to keep it that way.”
Turning to Toryn, she continued, “Until you teach her how to use glamour, please convince her to stay here. I’m not sending someone like me into the hands of power-hungry, sadistic lunatics, or anyone else, for that matter.”
“So I’m a prisoner now?” Isa snapped.
Morrigan gave her a tight smile. “I never said you can’t leave. I am asking that you stay for your protection. I won’t stop either one of you from walking out that door. If he leaves, you will follow and vice versa. If you stay, tomorrow I can start showing you how to actively use your magic to protect yourself, and more.”
“I need to know how to protect myself, and others.”
“Knowing more will help with that. The more you know, the more prepared you are. Your world isn’t limited to humans and Others pretending to be merely human. Now you have a whole world of everything else.”
Isa gritted her teeth, her eyes narrowed. “And why should we trust you?”
“Come now, you must trust a few people, and you trust my son.”
Isa’s mouth fell open as her attention snapped to Toryn, who only nodded grimly.
“I’m not surprised he neglected to mention our connection. We don’t have the best of relationships. It seems I always make the wrong decision where he’s concerned. This time, that will be different.”
Isa stared at the woman, unsure how to respond.
Morrigan wiped a single tear from her face. Standing, she shrank down to the brownie. “It’s time for me to do my part. Please, stay. I will get answers and we can figure out what we need to do from here.” Without waiting for a response, she walked out the front door.
Toryn took Isa’s hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
Isa let out a surprised laugh. “Why didn’t you just tell me you were bringing me to your mother?”
Pushing his fingers through his hair, he shook his head. “She’s not much of one. She was behind my forced awakening. If I knew of anyone else like you, we would have gone to them, but she’s it.”
With a gentle touch, Isa pulled his attention back to her. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could do or say to make this mess easier.”
“I’ll be fine, Isa. Give me time.” The defeat in his tone was too much to bear.
She wanted to ask, but didn’t expect him to talk. Instead she smiled. “Hungry?”
He nodded absently.
“Which way is the kitchen?”
He pointed through the arch at the end of the room. The house was ridiculously huge, a step beyond a mansion. It reminded her of some big movie star’s estate.
Chapter 26
Toryn knew better than to wallow in guilt and regret, but there he was, wallowing. The doubt was overwhelming. He needed to let it go, especially when Isa hadn’t given him a reason to think she would run.
Collecting himself, he took a slow breath and resolved to find her. He was too late. She walked into the room with a smile, and two plates.
Isa sat down on the floor beside Toryn and nudged him with her shoulder as she handed over his lunch. “Want to talk about it?”
He started to shake h
is head.
Accepting his answer, she nodded, turning to pick up her sandwich.
Only he realized he didn’t want any barriers between them. It was time to suck it up and talk. Toryn slid down to the floor beside her and took her hand. He turned to her, feeling lost. “Is it wrong that I can’t figure out if I love or hate her?”
She squeezed back. “No. She fucked up. I really do think she wants to make things right. Not sure she can, but she wants to try. That’s something.”
“I still feel like I could have found a better way to introduce you to our world.”
Isa grinned. “Pretty sure nothing beats multiple orgasms, and a bond that feels right.”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “There are plenty more to come. First, we should eat. Then I’ll introduce you to glamour.”
“Remember, if you want to talk, we can. I’ll always listen. You’ve done more than your share of listening to me.”
“Mmm, but I can listen to you forever and a day. Now eat. I have a lot to tell you,” Toryn promised as he picked up his sandwich.
* * * *
Isa relaxed. Toryn wasn’t shutting her out, but his stomach was growling. There hadn’t been much time for food.
“We both know I’m not the gourmet chef you are. But, I do know you love ham and cheese.”
“I do. Thank you, Isa.”
“Any time.” She smiled back.
“Sorry I shut down.”
“I get it. I’ve been there and rarely with a good reason.”
He put his arm around her and pulled her closer. “I should know better by now. You aren’t judging me or my past.” He caressed her cheek. “You always call me your knight, but I’m not.”
“You are. Hell, even more so now. In fact, if I get a knight as princess, I claim you. Seriously.”
He half-laughed. “We don’t exactly have knights.”
“Whatever the fae equivalent is, that’s you for me.”
He nodded, but his eyes shifted to the hall. “Shit,” he whispered.
Isa looked up to find her nightmare beast stalking into the room. Black shiny fur, flaming red eyes, and rows of monstrous teeth. With a scream, she jumped into Toryn’s lap. “What the fuck is that doing here?”
“This is Snookie, Mother’s pet.” His voice was soothing. “Come on, Snookie, come over here.”
She felt like she was seven all over again, the beast chasing her through the woods. Only this time she was paralyzed in Toryn’s lap, her heart racing, as the monster bound toward them.
Not even his tongue lolling out of his big drooling mouth eased the panic. Then again, that might have to do with the three rows of razor-sharp teeth.
It licked Toryn from chin to hair and let out a happy woof that made Isa cower. His tail wagged so hard it shook the coffee table. Toryn patted the big ugly thing on its head.
He cooed at the beast, “There’s a good boy. But you need to give Isadora some room. One of your cousins gave her a bad scare when she was little. She’ll warm up, don’t worry.”
The monster gave Toryn another big wet kiss and went across the room to climb into Morrigan’s chair. Once he was comfortable, he laid his head on the arm and let his tongue hang out. The monster oozed out of the chair he was so big.
Isa shook her head, and squeaked, “That’s a… a… that’s a hellhound!”
Toryn gently turned her face. “They aren’t all vicious. Consider them like pit bulls. Depending on who owns them, and how they’re raised, they can be the perfect companion, and make excellent guard dogs.”
“It’s tame?” she squeaked, not willing to believe.
“I assure you, he is quite tame. I trained him myself, and he was my pet long ago. He’s a great big wuss. He won’t hurt you. I promise.”
Attempting bravery she didn’t feel, Isa slid out of his lap and stared at the… dog. Ha! Beast, monster, nightmare. Those words fit better.
She couldn’t pull her gaze away, but she kept seeing the snapping jaws and growling from her childhood. Somehow, she managed to eat without looking away.
Toryn rubbed big circles on her back, trying to comfort her, without barging in on her thoughts. He always knew what she needed. Well, minus the dog leaving the damned room, or him with her from the start. Details, details.
Once she pushed the plate away, Snookie eased off the chair and laid flat on his belly. He inched closer and closer as ice flowed through her veins. Carefully, he laid his big ugly head in her lap and looked up with her with the most pathetic puppy eyes she’d ever seen.
Her heart melted as Toryn leaned into her and reached over with his free hand to pet Snookie.
“See, he likes you. Give him a chance,” he urged. His affection for the beast calmed her further.
“Okay,” she whispered, gulping hard before scratching behind its ear.
Snookie lazily raised his head and she jumped as he gave her a big wet kiss before laying his head back down.
Toryn pulled his shirt off with a laugh and dried her face then brushed his lips over hers. “See, he’s a big harmless puppy dog.”
Isa let out a tight laugh. “That remains to be seen, but he doesn’t seem so bad.”
“Now, how about I teach you a few things. Some of which I probably should have started showing you before your awakening.”
Her brow arched. “Glamour?”
He dipped his head in a nod. “For starters. We’ll get to the rest. If you’re good, I’ll reward you,” he waggled his brows, a salacious grin on his lips.
“I’m all yours. Show me what you got.”
Chapter 27
Morrigan slipped through the crowd with her ears and eyes open. Very few ever paid this face attention, which served her well. Even in the Underground Market, where all manner of Others gathered, trading what the Silver Council deemed illegal. Everything from fae foods, to magical weapons.
She had to admire the principal of the Council. Their attempt to keep mere mortals from learning of the world beyond their scope was well-intentioned, and kept most mortals safe. The problem was when something went wrong, they had to clean up the mess, and those same mortals never did learn what happened to their loved ones when a werewolf ate their face off, or a vampire drained them dry, or the more gruesome fae turned someone’s toddler into a feast.
Unfortunately, some Others were monsters, and nothing would change that. Then again, humans were quite capable of being the same type of monsters, generally without a biological excuse.
Morrigan took a seat in the middle of the gathering, where she could hear the most news and closed her eyes. Everyone would assume the little old brownie was sleeping.
She had to process what she’d already learned. The child her son brought to her was in more danger than Toryn realized, likely believing Saressa and her minions no longer a threat on this side of the veil. Reance’s power-hungry sister had long ago taken the Fire and Water Realms, thanks to the help of an ancient dragon.
That dragon spent time in the Pacific Ocean, not far from her home, and his sights were set on Isadora.
* * * *
Isa was exhausted, but she’d learned a ton. She mastered glamour in a couple hours. Watching her appearance morph into unfamiliar faces was unnerving but she was starting to get used to one particular identity.
Toryn was an excellent teacher. His second set of lessons were shields which took some work, but it finally clicked. She was impressed with herself and the control she quickly learned.
They were finally settled on the couch, snuggled up, enjoying the silence when the door burst open and they both jumped.
Morrigan came in, clutching her side, drenched in blood. Isa gasped, and Toryn moved to her. The door slammed shut as Morrigan morphed into her true form, sliding to the floor.
Toryn picked her up and carried her to the chair where he carefully sat her down. “What happened? What can I do?”
She slapped his hands away with a sound caught between a grunt and a laugh. “Give me a
moment.” Pain laced her words.
He took a step back with a tortured expression. Isa moved to him, wrapping an arm around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder.
Snookie silently made his way to his mistress, sitting his butt down next to Morrigan, waiting to be sure she was okay.
She smoothed her hand down her dress and sighed in relief as the fabric transformed into a silky gold material, the blood vanishing.
As relief flowed over her face, Toryn started in, “Mother, what in the abyss happened? You were only going for information.”
“Don’t worry so much. There was a commotion between a giant and a dragon. I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“You were at the Underground Market? That was both unnecessary and foolish.”
“The market was the best place to get the information you so desperately need. It looks as if you may have more than your share of problems on the horizon. It’s not just Aeremaius and Henroyld’s minions looking for Isadora. We can discuss that in the morning. Interestingly, everyone believes you two are in Florida where mostly water fae reside.”
Isa smirked. “See, my little lie paid off.”
Morrigan perked up. “How so?”
“I told my business partner we went to take care of a friend who was in an accident in Florida.”
Toryn nodded. “Seconds after I asked her about taking a trip to San Francisco.”
“Misdirection. Lana wasn’t lying. She gave the information she had.” Isa sighed. “I hope it doesn’t come back to her. I would hate if anything happened to one of my friends.”
“Nothing will,” Toryn promised.
She wished she could believe him.
Morrigan nodded, and looked to her room. “We can discuss the situation more over breakfast. I’m exhausted and you are both safe here. We’ll eat at dawn.” With that she walked out of the room, Snookie trailing behind her, and Isa heard a door shut shortly thereafter.
Storm Mistress Page 20