Approaching Storm (Alternate Worlds Book 2)

by Taylor Leigh

  He just wouldn’t get close. That was the only solution. Don’t become attached and there would be no threat. Whatever force that stole Molly away wouldn’t have a reason to take Sam. Assuming it was a reasonable entity.

  He cursed the situation. How could he protect Sam from the Myrmidons, when he might be just as big a danger himself? He ground his teeth in frustration.

  ‘I don’t see why you’re sulking about,’ Marus said, swaggering into the room. ‘Seems to me you’ve got enough to be pretty damn pleased with yourself.’

  Tollin lowered his brows irritably. And now he had his all-too confident brother to deal with. Just what his brain needed, a nice, taxing bother to further distract him.

  ‘After all,’ Marus continued. ‘Samantha Turner…’ He whistled. ‘I would say she’s out of your league, but you’ve always managed to have surprising luck when it comes to women.’

  Tollin glowered. ‘Is that all you can think about? I know you’re a dragon and not capable of much more thought than that but at least try to move to an intellectual level beyond that of a hormonal juvenile, if it’s at all possible for you!’

  Marus barked out a laugh and held up his hands. ‘Whoa! Someone’s a little touchy on the subject. Sorry, didn’t mean to upset all of your high and mighty morals. So what’s so incredibly important that has caused you to be so distracted from your pleasant surroundings?’

  Tollin crossed his arms tighter across his chest. He was not about to divulge his worries about mysterious lights to Marus. ‘In case you haven’t noticed, being too distracted with our new companion, we’ve got bigger problems. Something about this Realm is off. There’s something pulling the edges of this dimension back and I can’t begin to hazard a guess at what that might be. The sister stone to the one in the ring is still missing—which makes me very nervous—and the anniversary is in just a few short weeks, and I still don’t know how to stop it! That is why I’m as you say, sulking about!’

  Marus’s expression did not change. ‘You’re worried about all of that? Bloody hell, you can’t worry about all of that, it’s too much, even for you!’

  Tollin didn’t like the statement. It sounded too much like a challenge.

  ‘If you ask me, there’s more pressing issues close at hand,’ Marus grinned. ‘Like Samantha.’

  Tollin’s spine stiffened. Very slowly he sat up and fixed Marus with his most warning stare. When he spoke it was slow, even, but he fought back a snarl. ‘Don’t you even think about it. I know exactly the way your little mind works and you’re going to leave Samantha alone. She’s here so I can keep her safe, not to be your next…conquest! You try anything, any of your dragon influences on her and you’ll have me to deal with and believe me, I won’t be merciful just because you’re my brother.’

  Marus grinned nastily. ‘Easy! Look, I completely understand. Attractive woman like that, you’re bound to be jealous.’ He pressed his hand to his heart dramatically. ‘Don’t worry, little brother. I shall not corrupt your young friend—though I doubt she’s as innocent as you’re giving her credit for—if you want to keep her to yourself then fear not, I shall stay away, no matter how she begs!’

  Tollin opened his mouth to protest, to state he didn’t want Sam for himself, but Marus was already gone. He exited the room in a melodramatic turn, leaving Tollin once again alone.

  He huffed his breath out in a miserable puff and ran his fingers through his hair, turning it messy.

  True, he had no way of knowing who Sam was, or what her future held. But for now, he had to do what was in his power to protect her. There was an inexplicable gravitation towards her he was trying as hard as he could to fight, but it was still pulling him in. There was something about Sam, something he couldn’t deny, or understand.

  Because there was one other thing Tollin daren’t mention to anyone. Something he knew he’d sound positively mad for saying if he ever spoke aloud. He knew he had a future—or at least a possible one—with Samantha Turner. He knew that one day their lives were inevitably supposed to entwine in some dramatic way. The thought both frightened and excited him, because he knew it was true.

  Because he’d met Sam before.

  Chapter Twenty

  Sam met Tollin early next morning, wearing what she could find in her wardrobe. She’d finally managed to wash and get a good night’s rest and felt surprisingly well after everything that had happened.

  Tollin looked up from the apple he was eating and offered her a large smile. ‘Well, you clean up nicely!’

  Sam gave him a look and picked up another apple from the table. ‘So, I was thinking, everything here on Scottorr is monitored by ID, how are we going to buy anything, or go anywhere for that matter? And for another thing, how are we going to cross the border from the Druid’s land to Tartania?’

  ‘Easy!’ Tollin said around a bite of apple. ‘I’m somewhat of an expert when it comes to the ins and outs of security. Just leave it to me. We’ll just pop in for a spell and be back here before your Tartan friends over in Miol Mor know you even graced them with your presence!’

  Sam shrugged. ‘Well, ready when you are.’

  Tollin was completely at home as he settled behind the wheel of Arkron’s automobile, which looked to be almost as nice as Marus’s. After a bit of tinkering with the machine Tollin got it up and running and soon they were off, leaving the dark manor and Marus behind them.

  At the foot of the drive was a young Druid boy on a bicycle, watching their approach intently. Tollin stopped when he saw him and flashed a warm smile.

  ‘You’re staying up at the old castle? I haven’t seen anyone there besides the hunters,’ the boy said, grey eyes shining beneath dark locks of hair.

  ‘Yes, hello!’ Tollin said brightly. ‘What’s your name?’

  ‘Martin,’ the boy answered. He bit his lip and stared at them. ‘Sorry for asking, sir, but are you the Traveller?’

  Sam glanced over at Tollin, impressed.

  Tollin smiled, perhaps a little too smugly. ‘How do you know about him?’

  Martin shrugged. ‘Oh, he’s always been talked about. One of my great uncles actually met him once. Stories have been passed down. You look like him and I figured…well, I figured you’d be here investigated the building.’

  Tollin’s expressive brows pulled down in a frown. ‘Ah! What building?’

  Martin turned round and pointed behind him. ‘The one they built to the south of here, on Guardian Mountain. They came about four years ago just out of the blue and lobbied for the Parliament of Elders to allow them permission. I hear the permits usually take years to file but they had them in days. The Elders let them because they offered a great deal of money, needed it for schools and rot like that, but it’s been…weird.’

  Sam leant forward. ‘Weird? How?’

  Martin made a face. ‘I don’t know. There’s always lorries driving there in the middle of the night, black automobiles. The people don’t talk to anyone, but you can tell they’ve got some huge experiments going on there, weird, big equipment is always being shipped in; it just looks like really wizard, scientist kind of stuff.

  ‘I think that’s why they built it out here, to not attract attention to what they’re doing. It’s been labelled as some forestry building, Tartan Timberlands, I think, but there’s no sign of any of that work going on. There’s a lot of power coming from there too, I think. In some of our villages we’ve been having major power failures. I’ve started documenting them. They didn’t start till the building went up.’ Martin turned slightly sheepish. ‘I just figured that’s why you were here.’

  Tollin nodded thoughtfully. ‘Someone’s certainly done their homework.’ He exchanged a conspiratorial glance with Sam, and she felt a deep shiver. That look, she was beginning to learn, meant something. ‘Thanks for the information, Martin. You’ve been most helpful!’ He gave the boy a little salute. ‘Keep out of trouble!’

  Martin waved as Tollin started the machine again and soon he was out of si
ght as they twisted along the forested road.

  After they passed the border between the Druid’s land and the Tartan’s without any problems, Sam turned to Tollin. ‘You’ve been unusually quiet. You’re thinking about what that boy said, aren’t you?’

  ‘What? Oh, yes,’ Tollin looked intrigued.

  Sam bit her lip thoughtfully. ‘You think it has something to do with the Myrmidons, don’t you? I mean it just kinda makes sense. How many secretive groups can there be out there?’

  ‘Oh, you’d be surprised.’ Tollin grinned over at her proudly. ‘Yes, I do think it’s the Myrmidons, which is intriguing. I didn’t know they’d moved a branch up to Scottorr; then again, it’s been a while since I’ve been to this Realm. Leave for a few decades and all the kiddos start misbehaving!’

  Sam shook her head. ‘So we’re not really as safe as we thought.’

  ‘Safe?’ Tollin blinked, as if the word were foreign to him. ‘Oh no, Sam, we’re never safe! Wouldn’t dream of it! Where’s the fun in sitting in your little padded room, going through life every day the same routine of fish and chips and shopping? No! Never safe! I’m glad the Myrmidons have a base here, it’ll make things easier for us!’

  Sam eyed him. ‘What kind of things easier?’

  Tollin’s brown eyes gleamed. ‘Espionage!’

  The shop Tollin had selected was on the outskirts of Miol Mor. Sam was slightly disappointed she wouldn’t be able to walk along the riverfront shops but didn’t complain. The city felt different to her now. Alien. She still knew the streets, her favourite restaurants, places she’d gone clubbing with her mates, the museums. But she no longer felt like she belonged.

  She went about her shopping quietly, head down, determined to not attract attention; selecting food she figured three people could all agree on—what exactly did dragons eat? She grabbed plenty of red meat, just to be on the safe side.

  Sam had just made it to the queue for the machines before realising with a moan she’d forgotten the milk. She turned on her heel back to the dairy section.

  To her surprise, her handheld buzzed in her pocket. Sam had hardly remembered she’d had it with her and hurriedly pulled it out. The screen flashed; informing her she had twenty new messages. Sam was honestly upset she didn’t have hundreds more. She opened the latest text and read over it quickly, surprised by who it was from: Darius. Her boyfriend—or ex. She wasn’t exactly sure what their status was anymore.

  SAM IF YOU ARE SAFE PLEASE TEXT ME. EVERYONE IS WORRIED SICK. I’M IN MIOL MOR AT A JOB TODAY BUT PLEASE CALL. I NEED TO KNOW YOU’RE SAFE.

  She reread the message as she walked, mind whirling on how to respond—or if she even should—when she accidentally slammed straight into a man.

  ‘I am so sorry!’ Sam gasped, scrabbling to pick up his dropped items. They were random things, a torch, butter, tin of beans.

  ‘Not a problem.’ The man offered a smile as they both stood. She looked him over. He was tall, close shaven, and appeared to have a thing for black. ‘Accidents happen.’

  Their eyes locked and Sam stood stunned. His eyes were the most unnerving blue she’d ever seen. She felt a sudden nervousness about him, like being confronted with a poisonous snake.

  ‘The name’s Erikson,’ he said, sticking out his hand. ‘Pleased to meet you.’

  Sam shook it gingerly. ‘Yeah,’ she swallowed. ‘It was nice bumping into you.’

  He smiled a thin smile. ‘Sorry, but you look familiar to me, have we met before?’

  Sam shook her head hurriedly. ‘No, no. Probably not. I’m new here.’

  Erikson looked surprised. ‘Oh? Where from?’

  Sam bit her lip. Why the hell was he so chatty? She was on thin ice and she knew it. ‘Far. You’ve probably never heard of it.’

  ‘Ah! Well, welcome to Miol Mor. Winters are a bit rough but one can’t complain.’ Erikson glanced down at her hand. ‘That’s a lovely ring you’ve got there.’

  Sam winced inwardly. ‘Thanks. Been in the family for years.’

  He brightened. ‘Really? You know I’m somewhat an expert on old things like that. Do you mind if I take a look at it, I could appraise it for you?’

  Sam recoiled slightly. ‘No thanks. That won’t be necessary.’

  Erikson smiled again. ‘You sure?’

  ‘Sam,’ Tollin’s voice drawled as he came around the corner. ‘They have this excellent selection of cheese here, if you haven’t tried this stuff you absolutely have to. I remember one time when I was—’ Tollin stopped dead and stared at the man. ‘Ah, who’s your friend?’ his voice took on a slightly icier quality.

  Sam shifted the basket in her arms. Erikson’s gaze left hers and flickered over to Tollin. He held out his hand. ‘Clieg Erikson. Pleasure to meet you. I just ran into your girlfriend here, gave her a start, I think.’

  ‘Oh, I’m not his girlfriend,’ Sam muttered.

  Tollin nodded. ‘I see. Well, pleasure meeting you, Mr Erikson, but we really do have to be off. Long day.’

  Erikson nodded. ‘Nice bumping into you, I’ll see you around!’

  Sam rubbed her arms, unnerved, once the man was out of sight. ‘Dunno why, but there was something definitely off about that bloke.’

  Tollin’s eyes grew dark. ‘You seem to have a knack for this sort of thing.’

  Sam frowned at him. ‘What sort of thing?’

  Tollin took the basket from her. ‘Getting noticed! Standing out! How many other people trying to not be noticed would run straight into a Myrmidon agent?’

  Sam stopped. ‘What?’

  Tollin sighed. ‘He’s probably been tailing us all day. I was stupid to not be more careful! Letting you come along at all was a big mistake.’

  Sam gave him a tight smile. ‘Well, unless you wanted to waltz in here and buy me all of these clean knickers, I think it was worth it.’

  Tollin grumbled as he moved to the chip and pin machine. ‘We’ll see,’ he said wryly, scanning in the first item.

  When they left the market, Sam immediately started scanning the crowded streets, looking for the familiar figure of Darius. She felt a rising anxiety at the thought of leaving without seeing him. She stood on tiptoe. There were plenty of people, but none familiar. She didn’t dare send a reply text; she didn’t know if her mobile’s activity was being monitored.

  Tollin, standing just beside her, was lost in his own thoughts. Ever since they’d bumped into Erikson he’d gone quiet, even more than after their talk with Martin. Sam wasn’t sure which she found more frightening: the fact they’d bumped into a Myrmidon agent in Miol Mor, or the fact Tollin was so taciturn about it. She had expected him to immediately drag her out of the city and back to the safety of the keep, but Tollin had not.

  When he finally did speak, he surprised her. ‘I’m sure you’ve come to the conclusion by now that that man, Erikson, was not here by chance.’

  Sam tore her eyes away from searching the crowd to glance up at him. ‘Yeah, but he seemed to do a bodge job of it, if you ask me. Not exactly being very inconspicuous, was he?’

  ‘No,’ Tollin agreed slowly. He swung himself up onto a railing and watched the streets, feet swinging slightly. Sam leaned beside him, trying to catch what he was looking for, ducking her head to the side to avoid his bumping shoes.

  ‘But he knew he had to get close to you. Had to see if you had the ring. Perhaps he was scanning you.’

  Sam suddenly felt violated. ‘Could he do that?’

  ‘Oh, yes. Very simply.’

  Sam chewed on her bottom lip. ‘So, if you don’t mind me asking, what are we waiting for? Don’t you think it’s a bit dangerous to be out?’

  ‘Oh, a bit,’ Tollin waved a hand distractedly. ‘No offense, but you being a missing person is seeming to be not exactly major news. Only those people who want to find you would be looking, and they’ve already found you, haven’t they?’

  Sam frowned. It was true that no-one was paying them any mind, but on her first trip to the city she’d imm
ediately run into a Myrmidon agent. It didn’t make her prospects of going unnoticed look that likely. Not to mention Darius somehow already knew. For once she questioned Tollin’s confidence.

  ‘So,’ she said after a moment, ‘what are we still doing here, then?’

  ‘I thought we’d pop down to the delivery headquarters; see if we can find anything about what they might be shipping to our friends on Druid land.’

  Sam watched gulls circle overhead. ‘You don’t think they’re actually going to tell just you, do you?’

  Tollin leant down to her, eyes shining. ‘Oh, I can be very persuasive when I want to be.’

  Sam shook her head at him ruefully, grinning.

  Tollin swung himself off of the railing energetically. ‘Come on! Time we went and asked some questions!’

  Sam trotted after him, a rush of excitement she’d never thought capable of feeling beginning to course through her. Was this what really living felt like? Is this how Tollin felt all the time? She didn’t know, but she didn’t want it to leave her, not ever.

  Tollin threw open the doors of the Miol Mor Shipping and Delivery Company with a little more force than perhaps necessary. Sam followed him inside, trying to adopt the same purposeful look that Tollin didn’t ever seem to be parted from.

  The few employees inside glanced up in mild surprise at the suddenness of the entrance and stared stupidly.

  ‘Hullo, hullo!’ Tollin called. ‘And how are we all doing this morning?’

  An employee stood slowly. ‘Hello there…How can we be of service?’

  ‘Ah!’ Tollin flopped against the counter. ‘Yes, well, I’m here with the Tartan Timberlands Company to check on the status of our last order. It hasn’t come in yet.’

  The man flipped open a book. ‘I can only tell you what I told your associate an hour ago. It won’t be shipped till the proper paperwork is filled out.’