Storm Mistress

by Rivers, Brandy L

  “Fine, but I can’t watch anymore,” he growled, closed his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets to hide his clenched fists. “Be careful, please.” He turned and stalked off to the house.

  His first instinct had been to pick her up and carry her inside. However, she was right. She needed to learn. But she was crazy if she didn’t think he noticed her limping.

  He stormed through the door and slammed it.

  Morrigan gave him an amused look. “What’s wrong?”

  “She hurt herself,” he snarled.

  “And she told you she’s fine?”

  He nodded. “She’s not.”

  “She wants to prove herself, Toryn. A lot like myself when I found out what I was, and how they wanted to use me. She has to know she doesn’t need to rely on anyone.”

  Letting out a breath, he pushed his fingers through his hair. “I want her to lean on me.”

  “She does, and she will. Doesn’t change the fact that you will not always be by her side. She needs to believe that if you aren’t there, she can protect herself.”

  “How am I supposed to help her when I want to protect her? Yes, she needs to know this shit, but fuck, I hate watching her twist an ankle and refuse to tell me. I can fix it, if she’ll let me.”

  Morrigan smiled. “How can she learn if you keep fixing everything?”

  “Damn it all to the abyss,” Toryn growled.

  * * * *

  “Well, fuck,” Isa muttered as she watched Toryn storm off.

  Scotty shook his head. “You sure you’re okay? I saw that look when you landed badly.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t you dare say a word to him. He nearly panicked when I fell out of the tree and knocked the wind out of myself. He only calmed down when he realized I was fine.”

  Leon came over with a serious look. “How bad is your ankle?”

  She lifted her foot and wrapped her hand around the worst of the pain, focusing her energy at the sore joint.

  Nothing.

  “Fine,” she snapped, and then charged at him.

  Isa managed to slip past him and swing low, knocking his feet out from under him, before darting away. Determined to fight through the pain or fix it her own damned self, she clenched her teeth and kept going.

  They kept her sparring for another hour before Leon sent her to take a shower.

  Scotty pulled her aside before she got far. He whispered, “He’ll fix it if you let him.”

  “What are you talking about?” Isa asked in irritation.

  “Your ankle, it’s been hurting you and you made it worse because you’re stubborn. Tell him. He’ll fix it.”

  “It’s not his damned fault.”

  “No, but he’ll still fix it.” He patted her shoulder and followed Leon around the corner.

  Chapter 31

  Remus was back in Washington after combing Florida himself, and having the Keyes scoured. Neither he nor his minions found a trace of Toryn or Isadora.

  Now, he was headed to talk to his worthless daughter, Dacia, and see if she might have an inkling where Toryn may have gone.

  She had enough contact with the Silver Council of late, and it seemed that pesky sheriff in Edenton could always manage to find out everything he shouldn’t know.

  The drive to Edenton was always a chore. He hated the town with a passion, especially now that the Silver Council was snooping around everyone’s comings and goings.

  Thankfully, Remus was there on fae business, which they had no jurisdiction over.

  One mage had taken it upon himself to seek Remus out. Why, he wasn’t sure, but he worried what the persistent prick would uncover.

  He had too many secrets, and a stash of illegal weapons at Dacia’s house. Weapons the Silver Council had jurisdiction over.

  He pulled up to the house and walked to the door. Ringing the bell received no answer. Remus called his daughter, and still nothing. He growled his frustration as he closed his eyes and phased through the door.

  She wasn’t home, so he went up to where the weapons were hidden. The house was too quiet. Magic flowed through the walls, silent but pushing at him.

  Frowning, he climbed the stairs. Something was off, or missing. He didn’t feel the old curses on the weapons. The wards were protective in nature.

  He ran the rest of the way to the chest, and threw it open. Gone. All of the weapons were gone.

  “Oh, Daughter, what have you done?” he snarled, though she couldn’t hear him.

  He felt an old magic, though not fae. Her meddling mother had helped craft these wards.

  Gritting his teeth he called again. Still nothing, and it was rare for Dacia to ignore more than one call.

  A full minute later, Dacia materialized across the room with fire in her eyes and her arms crossed over her chest. “Don’t come closer,” she warned. “We’ve had this discussion. I’m not ferreting out information for you.”

  “You will if I say you will.” He raised his hands to wind a spell but Dacia phased out again. Magic started to pour through the closed doorway.

  Before he could take two steps, he was flung straight through the walls, his body dematerializing on her command. The magic was a mix of both witch and fae, and nothing he knew how to counter.

  He found himself in a heap on the ground. When he moved to the wall, he was thrown back.

  “Dacia, you will do as I say,” he demanded.

  She threw open the door and yelled, “No! I really won’t. You’d be wise to stay away. I’m not helping!” She slammed the door shut.

  A black Maserati drove past, slowing down. Remus couldn’t see past the darkened windows, but he knew it was the mage.

  Another idea struck. Perhaps Dacia could help without realizing it.

  * * * *

  Isadora managed to sneak past Toryn, who was at a computer. It appeared he was working on forged documents for their other identities.

  She hoped it gave her enough time for a shower, and to figure out the healing thing. Yes, Toryn could do it, but she needed to learn, without resorting to a near death experience.

  Morrigan was nowhere to be found. Isa slipped into their room, stripping on the way to the shower. She winced as she looked down at the bruised and swelling mess that was her ankle.

  “Hmph, it’s not that bad,” she grumbled as she flipped on the water. She stepped in and sat on the floor, wrapping her hand around the worst of it again. Focusing her energy did nothing to alleviate the pain.

  Frustrated, she leaned back and let the water course over her. Out of energy, she stayed there and tried to let go of all the stress and worry. It didn’t help when she tried healing again.

  With a sigh, she turned off the water, and climbed out. She gripped the counter, grimacing. Once the pain eased slightly, she made her way to the bedroom and found her comfy sweats, the ones that covered her feet, and a tank top before lying down face-first on the bed to close her eyes.

  It wasn’t long before Toryn wandered in. She heard the disappointment in his words. “You didn’t stop to tell me you were done.”

  “You were busy,” she answered.

  He sat down by her feet and pulled her good ankle into his lap. His thumbs dug into her arch and she moaned. Taking his time, he worked his way over her foot and up her calf.

  She was a puddle of goo by the time he took the other leg. She tensed a moment, but he started at her calf and worked his way down. Thoughts of hiding the pain dissipated.

  Until he rotated her foot and she tried to jerk away, winding up on her back when he pulled her closer.

  “Tell me when you hurt.”

  “I need to learn.”

  “You won’t. Not until it’s dire. So tell me until then,” he pleaded in a low voice. “You did more damage to yourself with your stubborn streak. Your pride is not worth it.”

  “Fine. I don’t know how I’m supposed to learn, but fine.” She sighed. “For the record, it wasn’t you. I twisted it. Plain and simple.”

 
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t like you hurt. Never have, and now that we aren’t keeping secrets, I will fix anything and everything I can.”

  Knowing she was never winning this argument, she nodded. “Okay. Then please, fix my ankle before I fuck it up worse.”

  Smiling, he brought her ankle to his mouth and feathered kisses along the worst of it. The pain melted away.

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  His mouth trailed down the top of her foot before his tongue circled her big toe.

  A startled gasp escaped her mouth.

  Then his lips closed over her toe, gently biting down. Every nerve ending lit up on the way to her clit.

  Her head fell back with a groan. “Oh, fuck, that’s good.”

  His eyes locked on hers as he pulled off with a pop. “You mentioned once you liked that.”

  “That was forever ago,” she groaned as he sucked. “Wasn’t this good.”

  He chuckled as she relaxed, or tried to while he ramped up her desire, pleasure building. She never expected the climax to hit her so hard, or at all, but it did. Pulling a pillow over her head, she cried out.

  Then her pants were gone and Toryn was over her, tossing the pillow away as he slid deep. She tried to be quiet but a ragged moan escaped as he met her end.

  He stopped there, peering into her eyes. “We’re the only ones here, Princess. I want to hear every last sound. Don’t hold back.”

  “Now that I have you, I can’t. Couldn’t if I wanted to.”

  “Mmm, but you just tried,” Toryn taunted, still seated deep inside her. “Don’t. Hold. Back. Princess!” He withdrew only to slam into her. Her ankles locked around his hips as she cried out his name.

  “That’s how you want it?” She threw him over, and they fell off the bed. She moved to take him in, and ride.

  Toryn sat up, his hands wrapping around her waist as her nipples grazed over his chest.

  “Harder,” he urged.

  “Fuck, yes.” Her hips moved faster as his rocked.

  Her mouth met his with a fury, their tongues dueled, passion building. When her rhythm faltered, Toryn spun her toward the bed, bending her forward over the mattress. His hands landed on her hips as he drove into her.

  The rhythmic sound of skin meeting skin filled the room as her cries grew louder.

  “Coming, coming, coming,” she moaned as pleasure worked through her so intensely she thought she might explode when he followed.

  He held her there, his lips trailing kisses down her spine as she trembled beneath him.

  “You’re mine,” Toryn whispered. “I’m yours. Whatever happens, I’m not letting you go, Princess.”

  “My knight,” she murmured lazily.

  He picked her up and moved her fully on the bed, pulling her into his embrace.

  * * * *

  Morrigan walked along the beach, two miles away from her home, wearing her own face as she searched for the dragon. Questions needed answers, and Alenathos held them all.

  “Come on, you old wyrm, show yourself,” she called.

  A mist floated from the water, swept around her, and then settled before her, materializing in his human form. Alenathos hissed. “What is it you want?”

  “To talk. Your answers before did not leave me confident in your plans.”

  “Then ask.”

  “What do you want with Isadora?”

  “If she cooperates, she will break my compulsion to Saressa. After watching the child for years, I don’t believe she will use me, at least not to rip apart those she loves.”

  “You stole Saressa from her true mate. You manipulated her away from Endiscott, the man she is bound to.”

  “That’s not the real story. Saressa used me the same as she’s used many others.”

  “Can you honestly say you denied her advances?”

  “I couldn’t once she bound me to her. Before that, I denied her. She tricked me, Morrigan.”

  “Very well. What is it you want from Isadora, beyond breaking your connection to Saressa?”

  “I only want to be free of Saressa. Is that so hard to believe?”

  “When will you go to her?”

  “The moment she steps out of your precious wards. Urge her to take a walk soon, and keep Toryn from coming with her. I need to speak to Isadora alone.”

  “If you harm the girl, and she doesn’t kill you herself, I will. Keep that in mind.”

  Chapter 32

  That night, Isadora lay awake in Toryn’s arms, staring out the window at the water. The blue sparkle on the ocean caught her eye. Grabbing the silk nighty, she silently moved to the balcony for a closer look.

  Is that a water serpent?

  The fins sluiced in and out of the water in a mesmerizing pattern. Curious, she started down the stairs, and followed the trail to the beach.

  “Perhaps you shouldn’t have come alone, Isadora?” The voice seemed to slither around her with a dangerous tone.

  Her brow arched. “Who are you?”

  “Someone you’d be wise to fear.”

  She remembered that voice, in another time, another place. He said the same words to her father more than a hundred years before.

  Reance stood at the ready, a sword in his hands as the dragon advanced. “You should go now. She is out of control.”

  “Who are you?”

  “Someone you’d be wise to fear.”

  “Your name, dragon?”

  “Alenathos, but your sister will tear your world apart if you don’t leave now.”

  “She already has.” Reance charged at the dragon with his sword slashing through the air.

  “Alenathos,” the dragon answered as he shifted from the long serpentine dragon, to a more human build with glittering sapphire and topaz scaled skin. His eyes were those of a lizard’s, his body long and lean but strong. Something about him looked familiar.

  Isa glared back. “The one sent to kill me. Though, if that was your intention, you wouldn’t be here now.”

  One corner of his mouth lifted in a grin. “You aren’t mad about my past attempts?”

  “That’s not why you’re here. You want something more than what Morrigan mentioned.”

  “Mmm, I won’t lie. I would greatly enjoy a night with you, but I know what happens when the master tries to mix sex with orders. I’m not one to be submissive.”

  “Oh, you will never have me. I’m not interested in a dragon who tried to kill me, my father, my mate, and helped a psychotic bitch take a kingdom away, only to destroy everything.”

  He walked closer, his body becoming more and more human. The scales thinned, becoming transparent, giving him a pale blue complexion. The closer he came, the more the moonlight shimmered off his skin.

  “Not even once?” he asked in a whisper as he stopped an inch from her. Leaning in, but not touching her skin, he added, “I would wring such pleasure from you.”

  “I’m not interested. What is it you want?”

  His forked tongue flicked across his lips. “I’ll stick to what you may be willing to help with.”

  Her hands tightened into fists as the cool breeze shifted the silk across her thighs. It would be wise to go back to Toryn, but she held her ground, staring into the deep blue depths of the creature’s eyes.

  The silence stretched and Isadora placed a hand on his chest, pushing him back with all her strength. “Not so close. What do you want?”

  His head dipped in a slow nod, one not entirely docile. “I would appreciate it if you broke my bond to Saressa by binding me to you. What you do after that is your prerogative, but I urge you to keep the connection, in case Saressa decides to once again move against you. She will. It’s only a matter of time before she does.”

  “Why do you say that? And why should I trust you?”

  “She can’t control me unless she comes to Earth. She has no interest besides you and your father in this realm. She will send others.”

  “Like what?”

  “Isadora!” Toryn shou
ted as he broke through the trees and stepped between her and Alenathos. “What were you thinking coming down here alone?” he growled.

  Isa grabbed his shoulder, and felt the heat radiating from him. She looked down to see his silver fire flowing up her arm, not attacking, but shielding.

  Isa groaned, “Toryn, you need to chill out.”

  Alenathos started walking backward toward the water. “You’ll find the answer to my problem when it’s time. I’m not in a rush, but Toryn should take you back to the house while I chase away Saressa’s minions.”

  “What are you talking about?” Isadora demanded.

  “Oh shit,” Toryn muttered as he turned and threw Isadora over his shoulder.

  Alenathos shifted to the serpent again, and dove into the water as she heard hauntingly beautiful voices rise into the night. A shudder travelled through her, but Toryn flew down the trail.

  “Toryn?” Isa questioned.

  “Need you inside! They can’t fucking have you!” he shouted.

  Flashes of siren flipped through her mind. Basically mermaids or mermen, but they didn’t have tails. In the water, their bodies were covered in scales, their fingers and toes webbed, a membrane over their eyes. They had the ability to enthrall through their song.

  Isa shook her head as she tried to make the onslaught of memories stop.

  He stepped through the kitchen door and slammed it shut as he set her down.

  “Aww, my knight,” she grinned, taking his face in her hands to kiss him slow and sweet. When she broke away, she shrugged a single shoulder. “Their song held no power over me. I was fine.”

  He took a deep breath, his eyes peering into hers, his features smoothing out. “None, whatsoever?”

  “None. I knew they were calling to me, but it did nothing.”

  “Really? Nothing at all?”

  “Nothing.”

  His hands landed around her waist as he backed her into the wall and his lips descended on hers. She met his fiery passion with the same intensity.

  He ground his hips into her, proving how hard he was.