Return to Me (Storm Lords)

by Nina Croft

  “They’ll time the opening of the portal for moonrise. That’s when the veil is weakest.”

  Bella glanced at her watch. It was only mid-afternoon and the evening seemed an age away.

  “Okay, we’ll meet back here at six,” Cade said. He cast his eyes over her. “You might want to go shower, get changed. Make yourself presentable.”

  “Why?”

  “We’re meeting the queen.”

  She snorted. “I think you’re mistaking me for someone who gives a shit. She might be your queen, but she’s not mine.”

  Cade raised an eyebrow. “Your T-shirt is on inside out, and you look like you just got laid, and that’s not likely to put Lilith in a good mood.”

  “Good point,” she conceded.

  They made to leave the room, but she held up a hand to halt them. She had to say one more thing.

  “Whatever happens, you can’t let them use me to make Torr do anything. You have to promise me that if it all goes to crap, you’ll kill me.”

  Cade stared at her, and she thought he would refuse. Then Bryce stepped forward. “I’ll do it. I’ll stay close. If it comes to that, I’ll kill you.”

  Bella swallowed. “Thanks.”

  What did one wear to meet a queen?

  In the end, she just dressed in clean jeans and another T-shirt.

  The time dragged. She lay on the sofa with Skip on her stomach and tried to remember the good times. At least now, she had her memories and, on the whole, they were good.

  She’d been eighteen when she first met Torr, old to be still single within her tribe, but something had held her back from making the ultimate commitment. Until a dark-haired stranger, with the body of a god and the face of an angel strode into her life.

  She’d been lost from the first moment, so in love she hadn’t been able to think straight. When he’d kissed her the first time, about thirty seconds after they had set eyes on each other, she’d known that she’d found Heaven on Earth. She’d given herself to him, body and soul, with no thought of holding back, and he’d made love to her at that first meeting in a clearing in the forest, beneath the sky, the sun beating down on their naked bodies. She’d been a virgin, and he’d taken her with such slow, erotic care that even now she felt a twinge of remembered pleasure.

  Two thousand years ago.

  At the memory, she ached with the need to hold him again, as she had that first time with no guilt or fear between them.

  Only afterwards, when he had finally told her what he was, had she felt the first flickering of unease. He stood before her in all his naked glory, golden wings spread, and told her he was an angel. She’d been afraid then, as though she was stealing something from Heaven. He’d soothed her with his kisses, and she’d looked into his mind and seen such goodness, she had pushed her fears aside.

  He’d stayed, bringing his brothers, and they’d found women, fallen in love, and settled down. She’d had twelve years of pure happiness with Torr.

  Then, she’d started to show the signs of aging, while Torr remained as perfect as her first sight of him. He’d smoothed away the lines with his fingers and told her he loved her, that everything would be well and that they would be together for eternity.

  When he’d explained what he’d planned to do, she’d known it was wrong. To take the Elixir of Life, to defy the laws of Heaven, but she’d wanted it so much. Never to be parted from Torr, never to grow old, she hadn’t been able to resist the lure. So she drank what he offered.

  Now she remembered the taste, bittersweet on her tongue.

  They’d been attacked only minutes later. Someone had betrayed them.

  And she’d known she had brought about his downfall. She hadn’t fought when her own people had condemned her. She’d deserved worse, and expected to meet the fires of Hell when she died.

  Now she realized that Hell was anywhere without Torr. She’d been loved by an angel and that had changed her irrevocably.

  All through her lives since, she’d never fitted in, and the dream had followed her, ruining any chance of happiness.

  So maybe she’d paid enough.

  She dashed away the tears and pulled herself up, hugging Skip to her chest. “We’ll get him back.”

  He licked the salt from her face.

  A movement in the corner of the room, made her jump. Skip yelped as she hugged him too tightly. She turned slowly. A figure stood still against the wall. She studied him for a moment and recognized him, the archangel Gabriel in all his inhuman glory. He’d been the one to cast Torr into the Abyss, and a wave of hatred washed over her.

  “What do you want?” she snapped, placing Skip on the sofa and rising to her feet.

  “The punishment was just,” he murmured.

  “You can’t punish people for loving.”

  He stepped toward her, and she scrambled to put the sofa between herself and the angel, as though it could somehow protect her. He considered her, head cocked to one side, like she were some interesting specimen he was planning on dissecting.

  “The Storm Lord requested that I look after you once he is gone.”

  “I can look after myself, and Torr isn’t dead yet.”

  “No, and I’d planned to wait. But it seems now the Covenant has been completed. Torrin wasn’t expecting that. This changes things…possibly. I need to know—will he go back on his word?”

  “No. He’s given himself up to Razul and he plans to kill him and demolish his army tonight. But Razul has his soul. He’ll destroy it as soon as Torr moves against him.” She made herself step toward him. “Hasn’t he suffered enough? Can’t you save him? Give him back his soul?”

  “His soul is beyond my reach.”

  “What if I offered my life for his? My soul for his?”

  “You would do that?”

  “If it would save him. Please.”

  He shook his head. “I told you, his soul is beyond my help.”

  Something occurred to her then. “What if he dies tonight? Will I still keep living?”

  “No, with the completion of the Covenant you are tied to Torrin. If his soul is destroyed, unless I intervene, you will also die.”

  She felt only relief at his words. She couldn’t bear the thought of another life alone. But she was determined it wouldn’t come to that.

  “So, I take it you don’t want my protection or my intervention?” Gabriel asked.

  “No.”

  He shrugged and turned away. For a minute, he was silent. When he turned back to her, a small frown played across his features. “You are not what I expected.” He ran a hand through the golden waves of his hair. “I cannot help you. I cannot venture into the Abyss. However, you should know something. A soul is a resilient thing. Not so easily destroyed as you would imagine.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Listen and understand. The jewel Razul now possesses is not Torrin’s soul. It is merely a vessel that carries his soul, a container that prevents his soul from returning to his body.”

  “So if…”

  She blinked. The angel was gone.

  Vanished.

  Chapter 20

  Bella had built herself up to dislike Lilith. She needn’t have wasted the energy.

  Hatred swept over her as she stared up at the other woman. She was probably the most stunning creature Bella had ever seen, which did absolutely nothing to reduce that hatred.

  Long red-gold hair hung down to her waist in a mass of glossy curls. She was tall, probably a foot taller than Bella, with a curvy voluptuous body that oozed sex appeal. Bella had a vision of Torr lying with Lilith, and wanted to leap at the other woman and rip her into tiny, bloody shreds.

  So far, Lilith had ignored her presence, concentrating on Cade and Bryce, who had accompanied her. Now she turned her gaze to Bella and raised one arched brow. “What is this you bring me, Caden?”

  Bella had had enough of being ignored. She took a step forward. “I’m Torr’s wife.”

  Shock flared in Lilith
’s eyes, then they narrowed on her, and Bella almost wished she’d remained silent. Such a concentrated blast of venom was directed at her that she almost stepped back. She locked her muscles and forced herself to stay in place.

  “I don’t believe you. Razul swore he would see you dead.”

  “Well, he failed and the Covenant is completed. You must return his soul.”

  “Razul will return his soul when Torr opens the portal.”

  Cade spoke up. “Torr lied. He won’t open the portal. He plans to destroy Razul and his armies.”

  “Why would he risk his soul?”

  “For me,” Bella said. “He made a deal with Gabriel that I would be saved.”

  Lilith studied her, a puzzled frown on her face. “What does he see in you?”

  “I love him.” Bella stepped closer. “But I believe so do you. Do you really want to see him destroyed?”

  Lilith hissed, but didn’t answer. Bella moved closer and she held the woman’s gaze, looked into her mind. At first, all she saw was a cold, reptilian darkness. She searched, needing to see something more, and finally hidden beneath the darkness she found a spark of something warm.

  Torrin.

  The name whispered through Bella’s mind, and a first glimmer of hope woke inside her. “You love him.”

  Lilith’s hand flew to her mouth and she stepped back, breaking the contact. “Get out of my mind,” Lilith spoke quietly, her words seething with hate.

  “You must ask Razul for Torr’s soul. You’re his queen. He must do as ordered.”

  “It’s too late. Razul will never return his soul now, not when he believes he is so close to victory.” Lilith studied her, calculation in her dark eyes. “Razul will not hand it back, but perhaps he will exchange it for something he wants equally.”

  “What?” Bella asked.

  “You.”

  Bella released a sigh of relief. She had needed Lilith to make the suggestion. If Bella had made it herself, Lilith would have felt manipulated. This way she would believe that she was the one doing the manipulating. “Why would he want me?”

  “He was in love with you.” She lifted a shoulder in a casual shrug. “Probably still is. There’s no accounting for taste.”

  “But what would he want with me?” Bella allowed a little fear to enter her voice.

  Lilith smiled. “Nothing unpleasant, I’m sure.”

  Yeah, right. Bella bit back the words.

  “I’ll make him promise not to harm you,” Lilith said. “You’d be doing this to save Torr.”

  “You can’t get it back any other way?”

  Lilith shook her head.

  “Then I’ll do it.”

  ***

  Torr stood on the promontory before the portal. Far below him, an army swarmed, quiet but for the sound of muffled feet as they shuffled into position. There were thousands, and the air filled with the rank sulfur scent of demons.

  He hadn’t known Razul had so many at his command.

  Could he take them out?

  He’d better.

  He rolled his shoulders trying to ease the tension, rubbing his wrist where the shackles had been removed. Razul was keeping a wary distance, and every few minutes his fingers would reach for the jewel, which hung on a silver chain around his throat. How long would Torr have once the jewel was destroyed? Would he have sufficient time to destroy the demon before he, himself, was obliterated forever?

  This was the end.

  He’d thought to die with the knowledge that he had failed. That Bella no longer loved him. Now he knew he had her love, and while that warmed the coldness inside him, it made him regret his coming demise. He closed his eyes and remembered again the feel of her in his arms, and the wonder of her love washed over him. For so long, he’d believed redemption beyond him, now he knew salvation was his.

  Since she’d left him, he’d searched his mind for ways through this where somehow he could survive and be with her, but while Razul held his soul, he could do nothing.

  All he could hope for was that Gabriel would keep his side of the bargain and ensure that Bella had a good life.

  He drew himself up to his full height. As he spread his wings, Razul took an instinctive step back, and Torr allowed himself a small smile.

  “Are you ready?” Razul asked.

  Thunder rumbled in the sky above them, and his gaze flickered upward. Storm clouds were amassing, and a wild sense of elation exploded inside him.

  His brothers.

  He looked back at Razul, but the demon’s gaze was on his army, a gloating expression smeared across his smug face. Whatever else happened, Razul would die here tonight.

  Torr prayed for enough time to see it done.

  Thunder roared again and lightning flashed. The skies opened and Finn landed lightly on the ledge beside him, followed by Kill, Roark, and Devlin. No Cade, but that made sense. Cade had Phoebe to think of now, and he had promised to look out for Bella. He wouldn’t risk himself.

  Torr grinned his welcome. It meant so much that his brothers were here at the end. Now, he would go out fighting.

  Razul had disappeared into the swirling mass of lesser demons. Torr spread his wings and launched himself from the promontory, then dived toward the army. He unleashed a bolt of lightning and the startled demons below stood transfixed as fire rained down on them.

  Other bolts, crimson and blue fire, lit up the twilight all around him and finally the army broke and fled for cover.

  Torr searched the area below, hunting for Razul. He caught sight of the demon as a shaft of burning agony shot through him, locking his muscles. He tumbled toward the ground. Finn called his name, and he fought through the haze of pain, until he could control his fall, and he slowly lifted into the air.

  His eyes locked on Razul and the jewel around his neck. He lifted a hand to send a bolt of lightning through the demon, as Razul squeezed the jewel again, and Torr lost control. This time he blacked out for a second. When he came around, he was hurtling toward the ground. He hit with a crash, which emptied his lungs of air.

  Rolling on his side, he pushed himself onto his knees and prayed for the strength to see this through. He closed his eyes, focused his inner power. One blast would finish off the demon. And his soul.

  Finn landed lightly beside him, then the others.

  Razul watched them warily, but his closed fist tightened around the jewel. His other hand burst into flames. “Move,” he said, “and I incinerate his soul.”

  Torr screamed, pushed the pain down, and raised his own arm.

  “Torr, don’t.”

  He went still at the sound of her voice.

  He saw the one thing he yearned to see most in the whole world. And the very last thing he wanted to see right now.

  Fuck.

  ***

  Chaos.

  The sky filled with flashes of lightning. The sound of thunder rolled around in the air, and the heavy scent of ozone mingled with the odor of roasting flesh. She swallowed the nausea rising in her throat; she’d seen Torr crash to the ground. Were they were too late? Only Lilith’s hand on her arm had stopped her from running to him.

  Bella forced herself to relax and breathe deeply. She needed to stay calm if she wanted to help Torr. She glanced up; high in the sky, she could make out a blood red eagle circling above them. Cade.

  She studied the scene in front of her. Bodies littered the ground as far as she could see. Torr was on his knees in their midst; his face etched with pain, his hand outstretched toward a tall figure, who she guessed must be Razul. The demon appeared mostly human, only his dark red skin and crimson eyes showing what he really was. Razul’s hand was at his throat holding the jewel with Torr’s soul in his fist.

  She hurried through the carnage toward them, coming to a halt only feet away. Torr stared at her with horror in his eyes, and she returned his gaze, willing him see her love. Then she turned to Lilith. “Do something.”

  Lilith eyed her for a moment, but then shrugged. “
Razul, release it now.”

  Hatred and resentment warred on his face, but he slowly loosened his hold on the jewel. “He betrayed you.”

  “Give it to me.” She held out her hand imperiously.

  “No. We see this through.”

  “Would you like the human, Razul?”

  His eyes flicked from Lilith to Bella and he licked his lips.

  “No!” Torr screamed.

  Lilith ignored him. “The human in exchange for the angel’s soul. Come on, Razul, you destroy his soul and he’s gone, his suffering over in a brief moment. You take his woman, and he’ll suffer an eternity. And don’t you want her, Razul? Didn’t she turn you down? This way, you can have your revenge twice over.”

  Bella swallowed.

  I can do this.

  She took a step toward the demon.

  “Bella, stop!”

  At the tortured sound of his voice, she shrugged helplessly. In that moment, she realized that all along, she’d been conning herself. She’d told herself she could save them both, but deep down she’d known it was a lie. This could very well be the end. If there was no way to save both of them, she would choose Torr. He could do much more good in the world.

  She’d faced death countless times in her many lives. And always, it had been a relief, an escape. However, this time she wanted to live so badly, like a pain gnawing at her heart. But she’d had more lives than anyone deserved. Maybe it was time to go.

  She took another step toward Razul. She sensed Bryce at her side and rested her hand briefly on his arm. If everything went to crap, he would make sure Razul couldn’t use her. He would make sure the end was fast.

  She was close now, so close the stench of sulfur saturated her nostrils. Torr was on his feet; he stumbled toward her, and crashed to the ground as Razul tightened his fist around the stone.

  Bella stopped just out of reach. Razul looked from her to Torr, triumph in his expression. “You should have let me have her the first time. How do you think the angels found out about your theft so quickly? I whispered in the ear of your human friends. They were fast enough to listen, their jealousy easy to stoke. I beat you then, and I’ll beat you now.”