Approaching Storm (Alternate Worlds Book 2)

by Taylor Leigh

  Arkron mused. ‘Interesting. I think you’re right. I think the Daemons were trying to steal Tollin’s Realm Jumping power from him and into Sam. Only it didn’t work out that way. It split.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Tollin muttered. ‘Figured that out.’

  ‘So do you think we’re stuck this way? Permanently?’ Sam asked.

  Arkron nodded. ‘I would assume so. Realm Jumping is in the DNA. You can’t just give it to someone. Daemons have supernatural abilities and attempting to modify genetics wouldn’t be too far a stretch for them, but we can’t do that. I think that ring rewrote at least part of your DNA. Better get used to it, kids. Wherever Tollin wants to go, Sam’s got to go too, unless Tollin can figure out other means.’

  Tollin made a face. Sam hid her grin. She honestly couldn’t think of a better turn of luck on her behalf.

  Marus ran a hand through his hair. ‘Well, this is great! Anyone else we want to bring along on this picnic? Arkron, you want to come? Does Sam have any friends? We could make a day of it! Darius? You up for a little walk in the park?’

  Tollin glowered. ‘Calm down. Sam is good with this kind of thing, trust me. She won’t let us down. She saved me from the Myrmidons, after all! That’s more than you can say, brother.’

  Sam felt herself glow with pride from Tollin’s praise. It was oddly satisfactory to hear him think so highly of her.

  Arkron stood. ‘Well, you kids have fun. I would come if I could, but someone’s got to do the housecleaning here. Like you said, there’s still a chair here, which needs to be dismantled and then there’s Avery Roth to deal with.’ She waggled her fingers. ‘It’s been a while since I did an exorcism. Should be interesting.’

  Marus looked at her like she’d just morphed into a large beetle: his expression one of surprise and revulsion. ‘Yeah, have fun with that.’

  Darius cleared his throat and everyone looked at him for the first time. ‘Look, I don’t know much about what’s going on, I get that, but I know a little bit about technology and I know that that generator is going into a meltdown. I hit it pretty hard, I wanted to do some damage. It needs to be turned off properly or there’s going to be nothing left of this place.’

  ‘And you just think of telling us this now?’ Marus demanded.

  Darius shook his head. ‘Didn’t really have a chance before, did I? You’ve kept me locked up! Anyway, like I said, I don’t really know what’s going on, but I don’t want to just sit by while you all go off helping. I want to do my part, too.’ He cast a glance at Sam. ‘I don’t think I could go to another world, and I wouldn’t be any help anyway if I did, but I can help here.’ He stood and stared at Arkron. ‘Let me come with you, I can help.’

  Arkron mulled it over for a minute. ‘Why do I always get stuck with the young ones?’ Then she shrugged. ‘Eh, I’ve got no problem with it. But it’s going to be dangerous; the place is already turning into a netherworld. That means supernatural things are going to happen. It won’t be safe.’

  Darius nodded. ‘I want to come.’

  Sam smiled proudly.

  Tollin took a deep breath. ‘Well! Glad we have that sorted.’ He stood. ‘All right everyone, we’ve all had a long night—well, some of us had. Let’s all have a quick kip and then meet back here in a few hours, aye?’

  The words were a welcome relief to Sam. She stood and motioned for Darius to follow her. ‘Come on.’ She took his hand as the group started to disperse.

  ‘Sam, one day you have to explain all of this,’ he said in her ear.

  She nodded. Tollin caught her eye as she and Darius made their way to the door. He started to follow. ‘You sure you’re okay with this?’

  Sam stopped at the foot of the stairs and studied his face. ‘Yeah. I can’t imagine me doing anything else. I want to go more than anything.’

  He gave her a queer look that Sam wasn’t sure she understood. A gentle grin pulled at his lips, filling Sam with another strange, overwhelming feeling of longing. She wanted to reach out and touch him, just to reassure herself that he was real, that he was back and safe. She never wanted to be parted from him again. The thought didn’t even surprise her as much as Sam thought it should. The fact he couldn’t Realm jump without her gave her an all new sense of assurance. He needed her just as much as she needed him.

  She didn’t dare say any of this, but just returned his smile. Sam started up the stairs, the idea of sleep already feeling overwhelmingly attractive.

  ‘Oi!’ Tollin cried after them, eyes shining. ‘Remember, I said to get some rest!’

  Sam rolled her eyes and flashed Tollin a teasing smile. ‘Watch it, you.’

  Tollin grinned widely and then turned from them. Sam watched him go for a moment, forgetting where she was going. Darius tugged at her hand gently.

  ‘Sam, come on.’

  She nodded. ‘Right, yeah.’

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Sam lay still, staring at the ceiling, as she had been for the last hour. Darius had fallen asleep long ago, after he’d realised nothing exciting was going to happen. But Sam, as tired as she was, could not fall asleep.

  She felt alone, which shouldn’t have been, because Darius was right next to her. But here, with the pull so strong to the man downstairs, she felt incomplete. She was cut off from an important part of her and after all they’d been through, she desperately wanted to be back with him. Those few stressful hours hadn’t been enough. She couldn’t stand it. They were about to go on a dangerous mission and who knew when the next time Sam would be allowed to talk with him alone?

  Before Sam quite knew what she was doing, she slid out of bed, following after the magnetic pull inside of her. She paused for a moment at the top of the stairs, trying to work which way would bring her to him. A smile slowly pulled across her lips. Of course.

  She brewed tea once she was downstairs, not really believing it would calm her nerves but deciding it was better than nothing, and then started off for the library. The nearer she drew, the more unsure she became. Perhaps what she was doing was wrong, too needy, too desperate. She didn’t want to push Tollin away by her need to be near him, but she couldn’t help it. Sam had never been clingy, but Tollin was different. And as much as she hated it, she couldn’t stay away.

  The library was dark. Sam paused in the doorway, just barely able to make out Tollin’s lanky form sprawled out on one of the sofas. His hands were clasped on his chest, long fingers steepled into a triangle, which he drummed repeatedly.

  Sam bit her lip, indecisive. She didn’t think he’d seen her. She started to back out of the room, wrestling with her emotions which were proving impossible to control.

  Damn it all; what the hell was wrong with her?

  ‘It’s all right,’ Tollin said in the darkness. ‘You can come in.’

  Sam breathed a sigh of relief and walked in to him. She held out the cup of tea. ‘Wondered if you might want something soothing. My nerves are all in tangles. Thought it might help a bit.’

  Tollin, slumped so far down in the couch he almost looked like it had devoured him, was the picture of relaxation. At the sight of the tea he sat up a bit straighter and accepted it. He took a deep sip and nodded appreciatively.

  ‘Sit down, if you’d like,’ he invited. ‘Doubt you just came here to offer me a cuppa.’

  Sam sank down next to him in the darkness and curled her legs up under her. Unable to stop herself, as if he were some magnet, or a planet, he almost seemed to pull her in. Her body automatically leant in to him. Every spot where they touched sent small waves of warmth through her shoulders, her leg, all down her left side.

  ‘You all right?’ Tollin asked softly after a moment.

  Sam sighed heavily, feeling exhausted now that she was back beside him. ‘Yeah, I dunno…I just couldn’t…’

  ‘Stay away.’

  Sam rested her head against his shoulder sleepily. ‘Yeah. Sorry. I couldn’t help myself. Sounds like a lame excuse but…’

  ‘It’s because of ou
r connection,’ Tollin said, voice soft. ‘Funny, but it really is a bit like a magnetic pull. Don’t worry, I was feeling it too. I think after all the time we were separated it just made it more difficult once we were reunited. It shouldn’t always be like that. It’s just more exaggerated now. Once we get used to it we’ll be able to ignore it.’

  Sam breathed deeply, contentment flooding her. ‘Guess it is a good excuse, then. Makes me feel a little less mental…So strange, knowing that I’m sharing your DNA. Won’t that be a problem? What does that even mean? Am I part dragon now? Am I going to live for ever like you?’

  ‘My goodness, someone is talkative for being so sleepy. Sam, you need rest…’ Tollin chuckled quietly and then waved his hand dismissively. ‘Oh, I highly doubt that. Your body isn’t built to survive that long. We Dragon Kin are a little more durable. You should have a normal lifespan. You’ve just got some of my Realm Jumping information, some of my memories, which are safely locked away. Your eyesight and hearing might be a tad bit better, but your body isn’t built to handle what my body can. Kind of concerning, but if you haven’t felt any effects by now then I’d say you’re all right.’

  Sam winced, disappointed. ‘The long life would have been nice.’ There went her hopes of travelling with Tollin for ever.

  Tollin took in a deep breath. ‘It’s not as nice as you might think. Living a thousand years is a curse, not a blessing.’

  Sam sighed heavily. Perhaps he was right, but surely, if one was with the right person it wouldn’t be so bad. ‘Still find it hard to believe that you’re a thousand years old…that’s one hell of an age difference.’

  Tollin offered her a slight smile. ‘Slower ageing process with my kind. Much, much slower. Funny thing is; if I’d been allowed to grow up properly, I’d look the same age as you.’

  Sam raised her eyes to his. ‘What?’

  Tollin pulled a face. ‘Of course I wouldn’t really be your age, but I’d look it. As it turned out, I had about a thousand years sucked away from my life so I’d grow up quicker. Arkron sped up my life…for complicated reasons. The day I was born I’d already used up that much of my time. Turned into a man of nineteen after just a few hours of breathing.’

  Sam scowled at the cryptic explanation. ‘Well, that hardly seems fair.’

  ‘Perhaps not. My life certainly would have been different if it hadn’t been done; if I’d been left to grow up on my own. The eternal childhood is what they call it. Most Dragon Kin don’t survive it. We’re a persecuted lot. Most consider us abominations. I probably wouldn’t have lasted if she hadn’t done it.’

  ‘So…you’re really two-thousand ?’

  Tollin leaned his head back against the sofa thoughtfully. ‘Heh, I’d never thought of it that way! Rather not. Makes me sound incredibly old!’

  Sam nudged him. ‘You are incredibly old.’

  She could feel his facial hair against her forehead. He was smiling.

  ‘There’s something that I’ve been wondering, and I know it’s completely off-topic for a time like this, but I’ve been wanting to know.’

  ‘Now you’ve got me curious. What is it?’

  Sam bit her bottom lip, suppressing a smile. ‘Why did you tell me to not let Marus kiss me?’

  Tollin chuckled. ‘You didn’t, did you? Not that it’s any of my business.’

  Sam flushed. ‘No. But…’

  ‘But you wanted to,’ Tollin finished smugly. ‘Experiencing lots of warm, fuzzy feelings towards him?’

  Sam huffed. ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Ah, that would be the old Dragon Spell.’

  Sam raised her eyes to him. ‘What?’

  ‘Well,’ Tollin continued, clearly enjoying himself. ‘When dragons are in human form they have this charming habit of releasing pheromones that humans find completely irresistible.’

  Sam was more stunned than she knew she should have been after everything she’d learnt so far. ‘You mean he’s been…drugging me?’

  Tollin grinned slyly.

  Her jaw was starting to drop. ‘So he’s been tricking me into thinking that I like him…?’

  Tollin chuckled. ‘He can’t really help it. Dragons are the most bloody selfish creatures in the Realms and Marus is used to getting his way when it comes to humans…or any other species for that matter. He’s quite, em, sociable.’

  Sam let out a breath. ‘Well, that’s a relief. Starting to think I’d lost my mind.’

  Tollin snorted.

  ‘Tollin?’

  ‘Hmm?’

  Sam pressed her lips together. ‘Do you have that dragon spell stuff?’

  He smirked slightly. ‘No. Why?’

  Sam suppressed her smile. ‘Never mind.’ She put her hand to her forehead. ‘Blimey, everything’s just feeling so mixed up now. Here I’ve been drugged on dragon pheromones, mixed up in an emotional connection with you and poor Darius is thrown into the mix, I can’t keep it all sorted!’

  Tollin shifted slightly, causing Sam to sink a little more deeply into his side. ‘Well, now that you know about Marus’s little gift it should begin to lose its effect. As for me, I’ll work on trying to tone down our connection, make it less…intense. That should leave Darius back as the apple of your eye.’ He sounded a tad condescending. ‘Assuming that’s what you still want.’

  Sam groaned and closed her eyes. ‘I’m not sure what I want anymore. I’m too confused.’

  ‘It’ll all get sorted. You’re better off with him. Nice human, no strange problems…good anchor for you to normal life…’

  Sam pressed her lips together. Normal life…if there was even such a thing left to her now. She was about to jump to a Daemon infested Realm to destroy a stone no-one knew how to destroy. ‘What’s going to happen on Murkfin?’

  Tollin sighed heavily. ‘I’m not quite sure,’ he confessed. ‘It’s going to be dangerous. There will be Daemons, real, proper Daemons. We’ll have a fight ahead of us…’

  Sam pressed a palm to her eyes. ‘I’m not ashamed to admit I’m scared. Really scared. But…at the same time I feel confident. I mean, I have no idea what to expect, but I trust you and I know we’ll get through it.’

  Tollin’s lips pulled down into a grim line. ‘Well, I’m glad you’re scared. You’d be mad not to. And you shouldn’t be putting all of your faith in me. After all, I failed rather miserably during the Myrmidon raid, and this will be about a thousand times worse than that.’

  ‘But we’ve got to do it. If we don’t, then…’

  ‘I know.’

  Sam pursed her lips; the one real fear that she had was beginning to grow now that she thought about it. She didn’t even want to consider the horrible consequences but she couldn’t avoid it, even if the answer would be the last thing she wanted to hear. ‘Tollin…if there’s Daemons there, can I be…you know…possessed?’

  Tollin sucked in a deep breath. He was quiet for an agonisingly long time. ‘Yes, Sam, I’m afraid you can.’

  Fear wrapped around her spine. All she could see was Roth, writhing on the floor.

  ‘These Daemons won’t be like the ones in your ring,’ Tollin continued, as much as Sam wanted him to stop. ‘They’ll be powerful, fully formed and they’ll take a lot more than a strong will to keep them at bay. If they get the chance, they’ll try to take over you.’

  Sam curled up into a tighter ball. She tried to fight back the black wave of dread starting to rise in her. ‘W—what about you?’

  Tollin again sighed deeply. ‘I can’t be possessed.’

  Sam straightened, hope filling her. ‘You can’t? Why?’

  Tollin frowned thoughtfully. ‘Not sure, actually. I’ve always been that way. It’s come in pretty damn handy over the years, so I’ve never complained. My memories of my earliest days fighting are foggy. Yet I’ve always had the ability. Must not taste well to them.’

  ‘Well,’ Sam muttered, ‘I guess that’s something.’

  Tollin reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. ‘Just
stay close to me, Sam, you’ll be fine.’ His dark eyes went serious, but soft. ‘This isn’t the first time I’ve done this sort of thing, you know. I’ve brought humans into situations like this and much worse loads of times and they’ve come out alive.’

  Sam glanced up at him; his words sparked excitement. He did take people with him. ‘Really?’

  ‘Oh yes,’ Tollin said easily, ‘Daemons have a healthy, respecting fear of me; and those who are with me. Just keep close. They’ll get the message. I am their most feared adversary, after all.’

  Sam smiled. ‘Well, that makes me feel a bit better.’

  Tollin tousled her hair. ‘You’ll be just fine, Sam. You’ll be brilliant. You’ve already proven that. Now get some rest, all right? You won’t be any good to me dead on your feet!’

  Sam sighed heavily. ‘Don’t think I’ll argue with that.’ She closed her eyes. ‘Mind if I just…’

  ‘Nah,’ Tollin said, his words already growing fainter to her. ‘Won’t bother me one bit.’

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Sam awoke to Tollin shaking her gently. Her body had moulded itself against his side and it was warm. She shook her head, still feeling groggy and glanced up to Tollin, yawning despite herself. He flashed her a charming, boyish grin and then bounded from the sofa and through the door.

  ‘Time to get up!’ he chirruped. ‘Things are about to get exciting!’

  Sam fell with a groan, once Tollin’s support was gone. Sam raised her eyes, only to lock with Darius’s, who’d stopped just in the doorway. She smiled at him in embarrassment. The expression on his face was tight with nerves, but Sam still caught the hurt look his eyes held. She mentally winced. It hadn’t been right, she knew, but she couldn’t have helped it. How could she possibly even begin to explain it? Maybe one day things would return to normal enough to have a proper chat then, but for now…Now Sam just had to be near Tollin. He was the only thing keeping her from panicking at the moment.

  As if on cue, Tollin ducked back into the library. ‘Come on, you! We’ve got work to do! Get up!’