Toryn pushed his fingers through his hair with a torn look on his face. “Shit. What do I do? I want to help, but I don’t know how.”
“It’s obvious you want to do what’s right, but I don’t have a clue what that is.”
“Unfortunately, neither do I. Coming here was the right choice, but I don’t want her in danger.”
“If we all stay here, no one will be in danger. So let’s get some rest.”
“All right. I could sleep with you.” He gave her a wicked grin before throwing her over his shoulder.
Isa squeaked, “Your mother!”
“Trust me, she’s not going to mind. I’ve heard some of her romps in the past, but I know how to keep the sound from traveling.”
“What?” Isa asked in surprise, a thrill running through her as her head filled with all sorts of naughty scenarios.
His laugh was low and seductive. “Oh, we could play there too, but I meant a spell to keep the sound in with us.”
“Oh.” She was almost disappointed. “We can explore that later. For now, I have a good idea of what I want.”
Chapter 28
Dawn came too damned soon. The pounding on the door jolted Isa out of bed.
“Rise and shine,” Morrigan called, much too chipper, as she strolled into the room.
Isa glared at Toryn, who stretched with a yawn. The gorgeous site nearly distracted her. “This is our wakeup call?”
Toryn chuckled sleepily. “Yup, she wasn’t kidding.” He climbed to his feet and pulled a pair of jeans out of his bag.
Realization dawned as Isa noted her lack of clothes. Her eyes rounded as she looked to Morrigan. “What? You’re going to stand there while we get dressed?”
Morrigan’s brow arched as she nodded. “We need to talk. Figured my presence would motivate you both to hurry.”
“Right,” Isa snapped, digging through her backpack for her favorite holey jeans and a tank top. “Seriously though,” she shot Toryn a dirty look as she shoved her foot in her pants. “You had to put up with this shit?”
He grinned, and she rolled her eyes.
Once dressed, Toryn took her hand, and they followed Morrigan to the kitchen and out the back door to the patio. There was a large table filled with an assortment of fresh breads, fruits, and cheeses. Like her kitchen, there were selections from here and Faerie.
Isa wasn’t hungry. She took her seat and stared out over the ocean.
The smell of fresh coffee rolled over her. It was the one thing missing at the table. Then someone sat down next to her. Looking over, she froze when she saw Leon smiling back.
“Shit. Please tell me you and Toryn really weren’t a couple,” she pleaded.
He chuckled. “Never. Don’t worry. What you saw between Toryn and I was all a front. We’ve been friends for years. Not lovers. We put on a show to convince you and everyone else.”
The relief was huge. She leaned over, hugging him tight.
He smiled brightly. “I brought you a good cup of joe.”
“Thank you. Really. You don’t know how relieved I am.”
“Even if I was interested, he’s been in love with you all along, Isa. Pretending with me made it easier because he was having a hard time pretending with anyone else.”
Shaking her head, she took a breath. “I really am blind. You two put on a good show.”
Toryn sighed. “I couldn’t take things too far, Isa. Not until it was time.”
She turned to him. “I know. Though, maybe if you had, it would have solved a few problems sooner.” Shrugging lightly, she shifted her gaze to Leon. “So, if it’s not for Toryn, why are you here?”
He laughed. “It is for Toryn, and for you. Toryn asked me to help get you in fighting shape, should the need arrive. Consider me your drill sergeant.”
A frown wrinkled her brow. “I’m in good shape, though.”
Leon nodded. “You are. But you have much to learn to protect yourself from all manner of beings.”
Isa let out a startled laugh. “Like dragons.” She shook her head. “I think I’ll let Toryn handle those.”
“I’ll take on any dragon for you,” Toryn promised.
She got a flash of that… vision? And shivered.
“I also bring news,” Leon added.
Morrigan leaned forward. “More than the fact Remus went to Florida?”
“My sources say their plan is to go to Florida and then head to the Keys before heading back this way. Scotty found proof that Remus hired Evan. We already knew he set-up that job trying to keep Toryn from Isa the night of Evan’s first attack.”
Morrigan added, “There’s more. Alenathos is in California. He wants to speak with Isadora. I’m not completely sure it’s safe.”
“He’s rumored to be dead. Are you sure?” Toryn asked forcefully enough it concerned Isa.
She wracked her brain for the knowledge. Then her eyes went wide. “The dragon that helped take the Fire Kingdom from my father. The one that Saressa left Scotty for.” Isa slapped her hand over her mouth as she tried to shake off an onslaught of unwelcome memories that weren’t her own. Battles, fires, flooding, massive amounts of death and destruction.
“Shh,” Toryn murmured, stroking her face. “Breathe, slow and easy. Let it go.”
One deep breath in, and slowly out. The images faded and her muscles relaxed. She opened her eyes to find her chair turned, and Toryn kneeling before her, holding her face in his hands.
“Thanks.” She was still trembling.
“Don’t force the memories so hard. They’ll come if you simply focus on what you need.”
She nodded slowly. “Good to know.”
Toryn moved to his seat. “Saressa sending her beasts after you makes more sense now.”
Tugging her hair into a knot, Isa asked Morrigan, “What does he want with me? If not to kill me like Saressa wanted?”
“That’s a good question,” Toryn directed his attention at his mother.
“He believes you may be the solution to his enslavement. However, his solution puts him under your control.”
“What the hell would I want with a dragon?” Isa blurted out.
Leon chuckled. “There are a lot of things you could use him for. Top of the list is a personal body guard.”
“Uh, one who was trying to kill me when I was a baby?” Her mouth fell open. “I saw Reance fighting a dragon once, when I was little. I thought… I thought it was a nightmare.”
“Well, if you do bind him to you, he won’t be able to harm you directly,” Morrigan offered. “However, Alenathos is a clever dragon and can twist most situations to his favor.”
“I don’t want him. He’s only going to try to use me the same as Henroyld and Remus.”
“He may try, but he can’t compel his own master to do his bidding. He’s likely to manipulate a situation, but you’ll always be guarded,” Toryn told her, rather firmly.
She nodded. “Good. You aren’t leaving my side.” She swallowed hard. “I couldn’t do any of this without you. You’re the one holding me together.”
“You’re stronger than you think, but I have no desire to ever leave you, Princess.”
She laughed, her eyes closing. “You’ve always called me princess.”
“Even if you weren’t royalty, you’re my princess. Always, forever.”
“And you’re my knight, so don’t argue.” She smirked and looked over at Leon and Morrigan. “So, fae boot camp? How scared should I be?”
Leon shot Toryn a look full of amusement. “Not terribly, at least not my side of things. Toryn would barbeque my ass before I did anything to harm you. Now, Morrigan, I make no guarantees.”
Morrigan snorted. “She’s got fire. I trust she will handle herself better than you imagine.”
“I hope so,” Isa admitted.
“So,” Leon changed topics, “I hear DJ Green Man is playing Saturday. Want to join me?”
Morrigan interrupted. “First, before they get to that, did you learn any
glamour, Isa?”
“We covered that,” Isa replied lightly. She turned to Leon with a grin.
A tingle travelled through her skin as her image morphed. Her pale skin turned ebony, her long hair shrank to a tightly curled cap. She wore a bronze slip-style dress. “Convincing enough for you?”
“Oh lord child, yes. You can be my Nubian goddess anytime,” Leon replied.
Morrigan laughed sweetly. “That is excellent. No one will think you’re Isadora, as long as my son also crafted a new guise.”
She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “He matches.”
Toryn made a grand gesture with his hand. His hair grew into long dreadlocks. His body bulked up and his skin darkened. Jeans and t-shirt shifted into black slacks and a bronze silk shirt. He leaned in, putting his arm around her and pulled her close.
“You two are the perfect match as long as you take the time to come up with a background.”
“We covered that as well,” Toryn answered. “I’ll let Isa do most of the talking, and we’ll pose as shaman.”
“Brilliant. They’re secretive enough they wouldn’t tell anything other than perhaps their names.” Leon’s brow arched.
“Reshanta.” Isa pointed to herself, then Toryn. “Drake.”
“Drake?” Leon’s brow arched. “You do have skills with fire.”
Finally feeling like things were right in the world, at least for the moment, Isa picked up a purple fruit that looked like a peach. She took a bite and savored the sweet flavor that burst across her tongue.
“Mmm, what is this?” she asked.
“Sterquan, it grows in the Moonlight Forest,” Toryn replied with a sweet smile.
Isa turned to Leon. “Lisanna mentioned you’re the jaguar. What did she mean?”
“I’m a werecat. It’s my other form. Want to see?” He waggled his brows.
“Can I? I was always more of a cat person.” She shot Toryn a smirk.
Isa felt heavy paws land in her lap. She looked back down to find big, beautiful dark eyes staring back at her. He was covered in glossy black fur. Scratching behind his ear brought out a deep rumbling purr.
“You’re gorgeous,” Isa admitted, running her hands over his soft coat.
Toryn snorted. “Down boy. No licking.”
Leon let out a mewling sound and climbed down to shift back. He wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing, which she noticed was laying on the ground beside him. Isa quickly looked away, trying to contain the smile.
Morrigan cleared her throat. “Eat. Leon has you first, Isadora. I need to talk to my son. Later, I will show you what I can about magic.”
A new wave of nervousness flowed through her, but she nodded. “Great.”
Toryn squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry. You’ll do fine.”
* * * *
“You wanted to talk?” Toryn asked as the kitchen door closed behind his mother. Tense didn’t begin to cover what he felt at the moment. He knew Isa was in good hands with Leon. It was how Morrigan planned to train her that worried him. Not to mention whatever in the abyss she wanted to discuss before then.
“You love her. It’s plain to see.” Morrigan looked off into the distance.
Toryn groaned. “Why do I have a bad feeling about where this conversation is going?”
Shaking her head, she met his gaze. “You shouldn’t. I’m honestly happy for you. Life with a Storm Mistress, particularly newly awakened, is going to be tricky for a while, especially if she insists on staying on Earth. Magic fluxes for her are going to be intense.”
“I’m immune to most magic. I’ll help her through it. We’ll be fine.”
“I believe so. She’s good for you. She lights you up in a way I’ve never seen.”
He leaned against the counter and looked out the window. His view was blocked but he smiled anyway. He could imagine her sparring with Leon.
“She does. I’ll do everything in my power to always keep her safe.”
“I wish I could claim responsibility for how well you turned out.” Morrigan turned away, placing her hands flat on the table. “I know I’ve made a mess of things. I can’t turn back time and fix them, and there is no excuse for what I did.”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “As Isa says, it’s in the past. I need to let it go.”
“I don’t expect you to.”
“We aren’t always going to see eye-to-eye, but I understand the motivation behind your decisions. I don’t agree with the choice, but I know you had my best interests in mind. Shit, while it was a fucked up way to go about my awakening, a part of me understands.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve hated myself for the mistakes I made. It seems to never end. That’s why I went to Alenathos. Why I had to ask what he plans to talk about with Isadora.”
“He knows she’s here?”
She shook her head. “No, he doesn’t. I made sure of that. It’s why I didn’t risk healing myself until I was home. He claims he wants Isadora’s help, but when have you ever known me to trust any dragon?”
“Not once. I’m worried about what’s coming. I know she winds up at the citadel. I know how even. But I’m scared. What if my visions aren’t visions? What if they’re only dreams?”
“When have your visions ever been wrong? Never. So don’t stress. Believe in yourself. Believe in her. She’s a fighter and is taking everything quite well. She isn’t running in fear.”
“Isadora always amazes me. Still, it’s a lot for her to deal with.”
“But she has someone to see her through. I never had that. Neither did you. She’s fortunate.”
“I hope I’m enough for her. I hope she won’t regret what she’s chosen when she starts to accept she’s royalty.”
Morrigan turned back to him with a snort. “That woman wants no part in royalty. Her perspective is not going to change. She may take it up if she is forced, but it won’t be her first choice.”
“Her mother sacrificed her bond-mate to protect her people.”
“She’s not her mother. Isadora will not let you go. She will forge another way.”
Toryn let out a short laugh. “Aeryana’s decisions saved two kingdoms, and countless refugees.”
“Isadora is more resourceful,” Morrigan insisted.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Stubbornness. Strength of will. She stood up to me already. I have a feeling she’s going to give as good as she gets when I take her on out there.”
“Yeah, she will. You should have seen what she did to Evanastie before her awakening. Bastard had a melted handprint on his chest, and the skin was dead like severe frostbite. All from one powerful jolt. He was dying from it. I think that’s why he went after her the second time.”
“By the time I finish with her, she’ll know what to do with her magic. Her instincts will only help.”
“Don’t hurt her. Please.”
“Trusting me doesn’t come easy. I understand that, but give me a chance. I will train her well.”
He nodded. “That’s all I ask for.”
Chapter 29
Remus paced through yet another hospital in Florida. His associates were scouring through every facility they could find. And nothing, not a single trace of Isadora or Toryn.
He’d known leaving the cabin was a bad move, but he had little choice. The princess refused to see reason, and threw him out, trusting that worthless piece of dirt. Somehow, the fool managed to sneak her away from everyone and everything.
Dreading the next course of action, he placed a call. It took several rings for Henroyld to answer. His tone was harsh, “Tell me you have good news.”
“Afraid not. I believe Isadora lied to her partner.”
“Did you wring the answers from her?”
“Unnecessary, and that would only draw attention. Her partner cannot lie, and is being watched by Toryn’s allies.”
“Toryn is supposed to be our ally. What did you do to alter that?”
“He fell in love with Isador
a. I warned you this was a very real concern,” Remus pointed out.
“You also assured me that Isadora was not interested in Toryn, choosing instead to bring home a string of men to keep her occupied.”
Remus pushed his fingers through his long dark hair. “I have no good answer. They forged a bond. I have a feeling Toryn will take his mission to protect Isadora seriously and stop at nothing to keep her safe.”
“Then we have a problem. Have you contacted the dragon Saressa used? Perhaps Alenathos can come between them, or better yet, take Toryn of the equation.”
“I will see if I can find the dragon, but it may not be easy. He has managed to stay away from any of Saressa’s allies for more than twenty years.”
“I don’t want excuses. I want results.” The phone went dead, and Remus changed directions, heading for the rental car. It was time to get out of Florida and track down a water dragon.
* * * *
First, Leon ran her ragged. Then Morrigan nearly set her on fire when she singed Isa’s favorite jeans. Finally, Isa was now relaxing in the ridiculously large tub.
The warm water felt like heaven as she floated on her back, blocking out the whole world. She was miffed that Toryn was busy. To be fair, he appeared to be working on something important and she didn’t want to bother him.
The tension floated away as she breathed in deep and caught Toryn’s scent. A smile pulled at her lips as she sat up.
He devoured her with his gaze. “May I join you?”
She nodded, watching as he gripped the edge of his shirt to pull it over his head. His muscles moved under his skin, and she longed to trace the ridges, as he reached down to undo his belt and open his pants, revealing how much he missed her.
“I hope that means you’re about to give me something good,” she murmured.
“Mmm, I have every intention of it, Princess.” He stepped out of his clothes and into the steaming water. Sliding in, he leaned against the edge. “Come here and turn around.”
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