The Guardians (The Tempest Isle Series Book 1)

by S. C. Storm

  “Hello, Ryden,” Rayne said, putting the book back on the shelf. Outwardly she looked calm, but inside she was shaking. “How have you been?”

  “I’m fine,” Ryden said absently. “Rafael said the priestess was here. Is that you?”

  “Yes. My sister, Destiny, and I are the goddess Selena’s priestesses,” Rayne told him.

  Ryden looked at her so long, she started fidgeting. “You knew who I was when we met, didn’t you?”

  “I knew you were a guardian but not which one until you introduced yourself to me,” she answered.

  “So why didn’t you tell me who you were? All that time we were together, and you never once mentioned it,” Ryden said angrily. “Why?”

  “Would it have made a difference?” Rayne asked.

  “I don’t know. I just think it’s something that should have come up while we were together,” Ryden said, expressing his growing frustration.

  “Together? We spent a few weeks together, and there was very little talking between us. I also recall you were not interested in personal details.”

  Ryden looked at her. “You knew how it was going to be, Rayne. I didn’t lie to you by promising more.”

  “True, I took your warning to heart though. I expected no more from you.”

  “You wanted more.”

  Rayne took a breath. “I won’t lie; I did. Not at first, but the longer we were together, I did. I thought you were starting to feel the same, but I found out I was wrong,” she said quietly.

  Giving himself a few minutes, Ryden walked to the bar and poured himself a drink. He asked if Rayne wanted one, but she declined. He knocked it back and poured another. As he was putting the glass to his lips, a thought occurred to him. He glanced sharply at her. “You said you knew I was a guardian.”

  Rayne nodded.

  “Was it your intention to try and talk me into ascending?”

  “Of course not, how could you think that?” she asked in shock.

  “You said you knew I was a guardian, and you knew I hadn’t ascended. Being a priestess of the Nexxus makes me think you would have tried if given the opportunity,” Ryden told her.

  “The choice to ascend is the guardian’s. I am not allowed to persuade any of you, nor would I try.” Rayne stopped and took a deep breath. “I am sorry you think I am like that. I would have hoped you thought better of me.”

  “I’m sorry, okay? It is a logical assumption.”

  Turning away from him, Rayne took a few deep breaths. “I suppose you are right.”

  Watching as Rayne struggled to compose herself, Ryden said, “Are you personally telling all the guardians about the Gathering?”

  “No, the others will be informed in the usual way, telepathically either by my sister, Destiny, or myself,” Rayne said.

  “I see, so why did you come to see me?”

  Rayne started pacing. “There is something I must tell you, and…”

  “And?” Ryden said after a few moments of silence.

  Rayne stopped pacing and clasped her hands together to keep herself from wringing them together. “I—before—” She sighed and tried again. “Before you left Santorini, I found out I was expecting.”

  Not sure he was hearing right, Ryden said, “Excuse me?”

  Rayne looked up meeting his gaze. “The day you left, I found out I was a few weeks pregnant.”

  Ryden blinked a few times, her words slowly sinking in. His gaze went to her stomach, then back to her face. “Pregnant. You were pregnant?”

  “Yes. The morning you left, I went to see the local midwife. She confirmed the pregnancy,” Rayne told him.

  Ryden stood looking out the window.

  “Say something,” Rayne said.

  Ryden turned to her, his eyes glowing with his anger. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded.

  Rayne said nothing.

  He went over to her and grabbed her shoulders. “Why in the hell didn’t you tell me!” He growled.

  “Let go of me.” Rayne struggled to get free, but his grip held. “I was going to tell you when I got back, but you were packing. When I asked where you were going, you said you were leaving with your brother. Your words were ‘thanks for the good time, babe, but it’s time for me to move on,’ so I decided not to tell you,” she snapped.

  With a growl, Ryden pushed her away from him.

  Rayne stumbled but caught herself before she fell.

  “So because of that, you decided not to tell me I was going to be a father!” he practically yelled at her.

  Rayne closed her eyes at his anger. “What was I supposed to do, Ryden? If I told you I was with child, you would have thought I was trying to trap you into a commitment.”

  He was silent.

  “Was I right?”

  “Maybe, hell, I don’t know. You didn’t give me the chance though, did you?” Ryden told her angrily.

  They glared at each other for a few moments. With a sigh, Rayne looked away. “You’re right, I didn’t give you a chance. I was hurt that you could walk away like that, as if I meant nothing to you.” Rayne sat down on the sofa, putting her head in her hands. “What I did was wrong. I admit that. I was scared and I panicked.” She looked up at him. “Saying I am sorry cannot make up the wrong I have done you, but I am sorry.”

  Ryden knew she was right. He would have thought she was trying to trap him. “No, it doesn’t. So do I have a son or daughter?”

  “Both, twins. Draven Reynard and Giana Angelique,” Rayne said. She took a picture from her pocket and handed it to him.

  Ryden took the picture. He looked down and saw a boy who was the spitting image of himself as a child. Looking at the girl, he saw the same features. The only difference was they had Rayne’s green eyes, and since they were smiling, he saw the dimples in their cheeks, just like hers. “Do they know about me?” Ryden asked gruffly.

  “They do now.”

  Ryden looked sharply at her.

  “They knew their father was a guardian, but that is all. Until you showed up on the islands, I hadn’t told them anything more,” Rayne told him.

  His eyes blazed again. “Were you ever going to tell them, or me for that matter?” He growled.

  “Yes, when they came of age, I had every intention of telling them about you, at least what I knew. As for you, I did not know how to find you,” Rayne said.

  “You knew when I was on the islands. Why couldn’t you find me before that? I thought you priestesses were good enough to find any guardian,” he said sarcastically.

  Rayne’s chin rose. “We can, but only if they are nearby or if a guardian opens up to us. I knew when your younger brother arrived just as I knew when you and your twin did.”

  “And did you tell them the truth or that I left you pregnant and alone?” Ryden said.

  “I told them the truth, that you didn’t know I was pregnant when we parted. I wasn’t going to let them think badly of you when you did nothing wrong.”

  “You’re damn right I did nothing wrong.” Ryden glared at her.

  “No, you didn’t,” Rayne said quietly. “What would you have done if I had told you I was expecting? Would you have changed your mind about leaving? Would you have accused me of trying to trap you, or worse yet, would you have asked if the babe was yours?” She met his stare. “Tell me, but before you do, think back to that time. You told me what to expect, then gave me hope that things between us would be different, only to walk away. If you remember, then you should understand why I didn’t tell you.”

  Ryden shook his head. “I don’t know what I would have done, Rayne, but you should have given me the chance to at least find out. You should have told me!”

  Rayne flinched at his anger. “You are right. I should have. For sixteen years, I have lived with my decision not to. I made a choice, Ryden, one that I will regret for the rest of my life. I’m not asking you to forgive me,” she whispered. There was nothing but silence between them. Rayne figured he had nothing more to say to her, so she
started walking toward the door. Ryden’s voice stopped her as she reached for the knob.

  “What did they say when you told them about me?”

  Rayne turned back to Ryden, seeing he was looking at the picture in his hand. “They want to meet you if you’re willing.”

  “When?” Ryden asked.

  “Whenever you want,” Rayne said quietly.

  Ryden looked at her. “Were they upset?” He saw Rayne hesitate. “Don’t get me wrong; I’m still mad as hell, but I want to meet them. I’d like to know something, anything about them.” Ryden gestured to the couch. “Please, you owe me that much.”

  Rayne walked to the couch and sat back down. “You’re right, I do.” Ryden looked at her expectantly. “They were upset at first, but when I explained why I kept who you were from them, they said they understood.” Ryden started to stay something, and she stopped him. “As my children, they are expected to serve the goddess as Destiny and I do. In addition to that, they are children of a guardian. This puts them in danger with anyone who wants to control the power of the Nexxus, as well as any enemies that you have. From the time they were old enough to understand, they knew the dangers of being who they are. That is another reason they were not told who their father was.”

  “That still doesn’t make it right,” Ryden told her. “Who else knows they’re my children?”

  “My sister, Destiny, and her mate, Matthew.”

  “What are they like?” Ryden asked.

  “Draven is like any boy, mischievous, sometimes serious, full of laughter and love. Giana is just like him. Both have magick beyond anything I have ever seen. We think it is because they are part witch and part guardian.” Rayne looked at him. “Instead of telling, would you like me to show them to you?”

  Ryden could hear the pride in her voice when she spoke of them. “How?” he asked.

  “Give me your hands.” Ryden did, and suddenly he was seeing images in his mind: Draven and Gia as babes, crawling, their first steps, first tooth, the first time they did magick. On and on the images came. Rayne even showed him when she talked to the children about him. Finally, she pulled her hands from his. “As you can see, they are curious about you and your brothers, but they asked questions that I couldn’t answer.”

  Ryden nodded. “I will tell them whatever they want to know,” he said, looking at the photo again. “May I keep this?”

  “Yes, I brought it for you,” Rayne told him.

  Ryden looked at her. “I would like to meet them. At the Gathering, perhaps? Or do you think they would be upset if I wait until then?”

  “I think it will be fine,” Rayne said. “I should get home. They knew I was coming to see you, and if I know them, they will be waiting anxiously.” She looked at Ryden. “I know you are still angry with me, and I will not ask for your forgiveness. I also want to assure you that I am not expecting anything from you. I only hope that you and the children will get to know one another. It is what the three of you deserve.”

  Ryden looked at her. “I am still angry, but I won’t let that interfere with my getting to know them.”

  Rayne nodded. “I must be going,” she said again. “I will see you at the Gathering.” Ryden gave her a slight nod. Taking one last look at him, she disappeared.

  Ryden stared at the spot Rayne had disappeared from. Everything she had told him, shown him was running through his mind. He was still in the same spot when his brothers noisily walked into the library. Shaking himself, he turned to them, wondering how they were going to react when he told them about Draven and Giana.

  Chapter 12

  Tourmaline Island

  “Here.” Draven Pearson handed his sister Giana a drink. She took it, and he sat down beside her. They were sitting in her room, waiting for their mom to get back. “What are you thinking?” Draven asked.

  “If he’s going to like us. What if he never wanted to have kids?” Gia said.

  “I thought the same thing,” Draven agreed. “Are you mad at Mom?”

  “I was at first. I kind of understand that she was afraid. But at the same time, I wish we had known him when we were little, even if he wasn’t around all the time.” Gia sighed.

  “Yeah. That would have been good,” Draven said, remembering his uncle Matt with Christopher.

  Catching his thoughts, Giana nudged him. “Hey, things like that can still happen, you know.”

  “Yeah maybe, if he likes us, that is,” Draven mumbled.

  “How can he not? I’m adorable, and since everyone says we look alike, that makes you adorable too.” Gia grinned. “Come on, Draven, it’s going to be okay.”

  Draven looked at Gia “What did you see?” They both had the ability to see the future just like their mother.

  “Just him and us in some huge house. I think it might have been his. It was decorated for something. I couldn’t tell what though,” Gia told him.

  “Christmas maybe?” Draven asked. Gia shrugged. “Weird that I didn’t see anything.”

  “You will,” Gia said, knowing their visions usually came around the same time. “Are you nervous about meeting him?”

  “A little, just like you are.” He started to take a drink of his soda when he stopped and took Gia’s hand. In his mind, he saw himself and Gia with a tall man. Someone who looked just like him joined them along with a younger guy. He looked like the other two. They were all on the beach talking. Suddenly his vision cleared. “Did you see that?” Draven asked Gia.

  “Yeah, was that who I think it was?” Gia said.

  “I think so. I know that was Tourmaline, which means—”

  “It’s going to happen at the Gathering.” Gia finished his sentence.

  They looked at each other. Their thoughts were swirling with what Draven had seen. Sensing their mom, they stood as one, vanishing downstairs.

  Rayne smiled as the children appeared in front of her. “It didn’t take you long to get down here.” She gestured them to follow her as she walked into her work room. The smell of drying herbs relaxed her. Sitting down, Rayne absently played with the tassel of a book on the table. “I know you are anxious to know what happened.”

  “We are,” Draven and Gia said together.

  Rayne smiled and said, “Sit down and I will tell you.” Draven and Giana sat on the stools next to her and listened to everything Rayne told them.

  “So he wants to meet us?” Gia asked.

  “Yes, little one. Ryden is most anxious, but he has asked to do so on the day of the Gathering, if that is all right with both of you.” Rayne watched her children as they looked at each other. She knew they were talking to each other telepathically.

  Draven looked at Rayne. “That’s okay with us.”

  “All right. In a few days, you will meet your father and his brothers. In the meantime, we do have work to do for the Gathering, and I am going to need your help,” Rayne said, getting up.

  “Mom, you should know, we both had a vision,” Draven said and described his. Gia also told Rayne what she had seen. “What do they mean?” Draven asked.

  “I think it means exactly what you saw. Draven, your vision says that the first meeting will go well, and from Giana’s vision, it shows that both of you and Ryden will establish a relationship,” Rayne said. Her hands reached out to touch their cheeks. “Do not worry, little ones. Everything will be all right.” Rayne kissed their cheeks. “Now if you please, we must get these herbs together.”

  Reaching for bowls, they spent the rest of the afternoon working together. Rayne knew the meeting with Ryden was not far from her twins’ thoughts.

  ***

  Obsidian Island, Atherton Estate

  Ryder stared at his twin. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” he told Ryden.

  “I said that I have children. Twins. A boy and girl. They are sixteen and live here on Tourmaline. I, along with both of you, will be meeting them at the Gathering,” Ryden said for the third time.

  Ryder sat forward. “Wait a minute. You mean to
tell me that female—”

  “Rayne,” Ryden said.

  “Whatever, is a witch and not just any witch but a priestess of the goddess Selena.”

  “I think that’s what he said several times already,” Rian said dryly. He shrugged at the dark look Ryder shot him.

  “Yes, that’s what I said.” Ryden got up and poured another drink.

  Ryder sat back in shock. “Bloody hell. How could she have kept that from you?” he asked angrily. Ryden sighed and repeated the story again. “What are you going to do?”

  “Just what I said. Meet them. Hopefully they’ll let me get to know them. After that, we’ll see,” Ryden said.

  “Now don’t get pissed, but I’m going to ask what Ryder and I are both thinking. How can you be sure they’re yours? Hell, you go through women the same way we do. Never for more than a night or two, then that’s it. I mean how do you know that she’s not after something more?”

  Ryden glared at Rian.

  “Hey, don’t tell me that thought didn’t cross your mind.”

  “Rian is right. If they’re supposed to look like you…” Ryder said.

  “I know because I was with her for a month before I took off, and they do look like me,” Ryden said. He took the picture from the mantle and handed it to Ryder.

  Looking over Ryders shoulder, Rian let out a whistle. “Spitting image of you, isn’t he? The girl too.”

  Ryder looked from the picture to Ryden, then back again. “Well hell. I still don’t get why she didn’t tell you she was pregnant in the first place.”

  “To be honest, I didn’t give her a chance,” Ryden said.

  Ryder looked at his twin. “Hold up. Is this the same female I found you with in Greece? The one who was starting to get under your skin?”

  “I never told you that,” Ryden growled at him.

  Ryder shook his head. “You didn’t have to. When I showed up, you couldn’t book it out of there fast enough, and even after we left, you kept mentioning her. Hell, I was getting tired of hearing her name by the time you finally stopped.”

  Rian glanced at Ryden. “You fell for her, didn’t you?”

  “No,” Ryden answered quickly.