Storm Chaser (Storms of Blackwood Book 3)

by Elle Middaugh

  Ben's brows furrowed, and his lips twitched. It was like he'd tried to smile, but just couldn't. "Do we still count as brothers?" he asked, looking around the group. "Technically, we're not even related..."

  "We're brothers," Dan decided immediately. "Blood isn't the only thing that binds people."

  "And even if it were," I added, "you're bound by that too. Just not in the way it usually means."

  Rob scoffed. "By that logic, even Chrissen would technically be our brother."

  I nodded. "Yes, that's true."

  He merely shook his head. "No. Criss and Tia are not my siblings. These guys, though? The ones who've been with me my whole life, suffering beside me, loving me and caring for me? They're my true brothers. I don't give a fuck who our parents are or aren't."

  This time Ben really did smile. "Agreed. There's no scientific evidence in the world that can convince me we're not truly brothers."

  Cal smiled. "Storm brothers, forever and always."

  "Forever and always," Dan agreed with a crooked smile.

  I glanced at Chrissen who looked even more forlorn than usual. No matter what he did, he just kept slipping further and further from the group. It hurt me way too much to see him like that. Maybe it was because I could literally feel his emotions on the air, soaking into my skin. Or maybe it was just human decency knocking me in the head, but either way, I couldn't let him get brushed aside like that.

  "Listen, you guys," I began, unsure of how the hell to even proceed. "Criss is as much of a brother as any. He might not have grown up in the palace, but he's certainly paid his dues. He's been used and manipulated. His mother has been abused and tortured. He's been sucked into this blood bond against his own free will. He's kept us alive multiple times. And he's still here, trying to help even as you shut him out. We need to give him more of a chance."

  My little speech was met with silence. Rob looked irritated, like he was fighting the urge to tell me off. Cal and Ben looked thoughtful, as if they were seriously considering my words. And Dan just looked regretful, like maybe he was sorry for treating him negatively before.

  "And Tia," I said, trying to cut through the uncomfortable silence, "could make a strong ally in our war against the king."

  "War?" Cal asked, immediately sucked back into the present conversation. "Who said anything about war?"

  "I did." I said the words with a confidence that surprised even me. "I decided in etiquette class that we should start secretly amassing allies, and once our numbers are high enough, make a public stand against the king."

  Cal's features were severe. "That's treason, Peach."

  "Okay." My tone had an almost visible shrug in it. "If that's what it takes, then that's what it takes. We can't let him sit on the throne anymore. He's a psychotic terrorist. He's got to go."

  "Why don't we focus on taking him out secretly and silently? Then just ascend to the throne without bringing the people into it?" Cal asked.

  I sighed, already feeling a bit defeated. There was wisdom in his words. "You think we can? I mean, we can try it. But it can't hurt to gain some supporters in the meantime."

  Ben scratched his chin. "Statistically, the likelihood of succeeding in such a way is minimal. Alexis is on a more successful track. Garnering allies is probably going to be our strongest option."

  Cal glowered. "We have to at least try to solve this issue without mass violence."

  "We already have, Calvin," Rob protested. "We've tried a few times, and every single one of those times ended in us nearly dying."

  "Right," Cal agreed. "So what are the odds that normal, everyday peasants with no military training would be able to defeat him if we, children of the gods, can't defeat him?"

  Why the fuck could they not defeat him?

  "Look," I decided, forgoing my roll in favor of a bunch of red grapes. "We should still be making friends and allies, because one way or another, no matter what, we're going to be sitting on the throne as soon as possible. We need to know who our supporters are. Plus, if it does end up coming to war, we'll know for sure who we can count on to help."

  "Lexi's right," Dan chipped in. "We should be prepared just in case."

  Chrissen raised a hand. "I agree."

  Rob glared at him. "No one asked you, dipshit."

  "Rob—" I protested on a sigh, but he cut me off.

  "I'm gonna take a walk."

  He grabbed a roll from his plate and an entire bottle of wine, then stormed away.

  I knew better than to chase after him. When I needed space, they were respectful enough to give it to me. Clearly, he needed his space now, and I respected him enough to give it to him too.

  Still, I couldn't help but feel guilty. I didn't want any of them to feel like I was taking Chrissen's side over theirs—and if the slight tinge of betrayal on the air was anything to go by, then that's exactly how Rob felt. The thing was, I didn't want it to be his side or theirs with me in the middle. I wanted it to be our side, all of us on the same team.

  "I'm sorry, Criss," Ben said, extending his hand across the stone table. “We've been dicks to you, and it's not right."

  Criss cocked his head slightly, and a small smile crept onto his lips, a dimple forming in each cheek. He took Ben's hand and shook it, timidly at first, then with a bit more conviction.

  "Thank you, Benson," he replied. "I appreciate that."

  "Call me Ben," the Sand Prince replied with a warm smile.

  Dan followed suit, holding out his own hand. "Sorry, Criss. Rob and I can be a bit... asshole-ish. I formally apologize for both of us. And you can call me Dan."

  Criss shook his hand too. "Thanks, Dan."

  And finally, Cal. He didn't seem to have any reservations, so him going last was clearly not due to any hesitation on his part. "Welcome to the group, Chrissen."

  He smiled and took Cal's hand. "Thanks, Calvin. Just call me Criss."

  "All right, and you can call me Cal. Calvin is what our father calls me—and Alexis, when she's mad."

  I chuckled and threw a grape at his head.

  "That's enough of your sass, Calvin," I teased.

  "See what I mean?" he asked Criss.

  Criss chuckled and finally grabbed something to eat off his plate. I hadn't realized until that moment that'd he'd been too uncomfortable to even touch his food. It made me feel terrible, but also hopeful that we were finally making some progress.

  "So, Asher is alive?" Criss asked, taking a polite bite of his roll. Honestly, I'd swear he was raised as a prince rather than a blacksmith. His manners and mannerisms reminded me so much of Cal.

  "He was my pet sloth for six years," I informed him, taking a sip of my wine. "But I had no idea it was him."

  "He kept trying to die." Dan chuckled, tossing a grape into the air and catching it in his mouth. "But she kept saving him. It's hilarious in hindsight."

  "Death is the price of his magic," Ben explained. "He can turn into any animal, but in order to turn back to human form, his animal form has to die. Otherwise, he's stuck."

  "Wait, so..." Criss's brows furrowed as a small smile lit up his face. "You kept a suicidal sloth as a pet for six years?"

  I nodded, acknowledging how pathetic it sounded.

  "Gods, that's kinda crazy." Criss took another bite of his roll and smiled as he chewed. "So where is he now?"

  When our smiles all fell, he swallowed quickly and backpedaled. "I'm sorry, did I ask something wrong? We don't have to talk about it if you don't want."

  He glanced away, and I could tell he was mentally kicking himself for screwing up that moment of bonding. I could feel his regret on the air.

  "It’s okay, Criss," I said, drawing his gaze. "“We don’t know where he is."”

  "But he’s alive," Ben said, "because he’s a part of the bond. We’d feel it if he were dying."

  Absently, Criss rubbed his chest, no doubt recalling the last time we’d all survived a near-death experience. "Would we, though?"

  My gaze narrowed, and my
heart pumped faster. "Why wouldn't we?"

  Criss shrugged. "I've felt the pain of the bond three times. Twice when you were at the Lunaley, and once when you were fighting the king. How many times did Ash die on that journey? Did any of you feel it?"

  No one said a godsdamned word.

  My heart was officially lodged in my throat, beating my windpipe like a criminal.

  "If Ash's price for magic is death," Criss continued hesitantly, "then... I have a few theories."

  Ben nodded to him. "Go on."

  "One, Ash can never truly die, because death is an integral part of his rebirth and regeneration."

  Ben put his fingers on his lips as his eyes narrowed in thought. "Okay, continue."

  "Two, we'll never feel the pain of his death because that pain is strictly attached to him and his magic. Him dying is not the same as the close calls we've all had. It's different. A different sort of magic."

  Cal sighed and scrubbed a hand across his face. "Is there a 'three'?"

  I could tell he hoped there wasn't.

  Criss nodded. "Three, because of the bond, or perhaps because of your genuine demigod statuses, the seven of us can never die. You five are immortal, and because of the bond, Alexis and I get to share in that power."

  Well, that was... difficult to wrap my head around. Ash would survive no matter what, but we couldn't feel if he was hurt?

  "The Storm King ordered us to get a chimera egg," Cal said, pulling the conversation back to Chrissen's original question. "We did as he demanded, but when we found out chimeras emit an anti-magic poison, we knew we couldn't give it to him."

  "Ash wanted to turn into an egg and spy on the king," Ben continued. "We told him no, that it was too risky."

  "But, of course, he did it anyway," Dan said, shaking his head. "That little shit never did like listening to what he was told."

  "And we have no idea where the Storm King took the egg," I finished. "All we can do is hope he finds his way back to us."

  Hope and plead and pray that he's not being tortured.

  Criss's brows squeezed tight with worry. "But what if he doesn't find his way back?"

  I shook my head. Truth was, I'd thought a lot about that possibility since I woke up and realized Ash was gone. I just didn't know what the guys were thinking about the issue. Now that I knew Ash might be hurting, I was even more ready to take action.

  "I'll personally go after him if he doesn't show up soon," I said.

  All four sets of eyes locked onto mine.

  "No way, Lexi," Dan argued, shaking his head.

  "Not happening, Peach." Cal crossed his arms and stared at me.

  "Sorry, Sailor," Ben sighed. "But they're right."

  Criss smiled sadly. "I think it sounds a little too risky too. At least for you to do on your own. I mean, you have no idea where he is, right? He could be anywhere in the world."

  "Or not even in this world," Ben pointed out. "Remember the archway?"

  I nodded. The Lunaley was actually one of the first places I'd thought about searching. If I could figure out how to get inside that arch, then I had a feeling we could learn all sorts of important things.

  "If Ash is in one of those archways," Ben said, "then he could be gone for years. We have no idea how time works in there."

  Oh gods, he was right. My stomach plummeted straight to my toes. Once again, I lost my appetite.

  Cal ran a hand through his golden hair. "Can we at least agree that no one should go looking for Ash without consulting the group? And that we should give him at least a couple months to figure it out on his own first?"

  I didn't want to agree to those terms. The first part? Maybe. The second? No way. I needed Ash back now. I didn't want to wait months or years. I'd waited that long once before to be reunited with him, and it'd been awful.

  But it wasn’t like we didn't have other shit to do in the meantime. We had to find the Eye of the Sea in order to save our own people from senseless destruction. We needed to stop the war with Timberlune and Hydratica. We needed to overthrow a king…

  I sighed but nodded. "We can give it a couple months. If he's not back by then, we'll have a chat and decide what to do."

  Dan glanced at Chrissen. "Chats are honesty talks. Cal can sense truths or lies—it's his second power."

  "Wait, you guys have more than one power?"

  Dan nodded.

  Ben gave an overview of everyone's unique brand of magic. "Cal controls the sky, and his price is his strength. His second power is honesty. Dan controls the sea, and his price is his breath. His second power is charm. Rob controls spirits and the dead, and his price is pain. His second power is bravery. Alexis controls fire, and her price is—" He sighed, his tanned cheeks flushing a gentle pink. "—desire. Her second power is empathy. And I control the sands and vegetation. My price is the loss of all five of my senses, and my second power is my word—it's magically binding."

  That was a lot of information for anyone to take in, but I could tell Criss's curiosity was focused on me.

  "Um," he began, sounding extremely hesitant, "desire? Like, greed?"

  "No," Dan corrected him with a smirk. "Like sexual desire. Lust. Horniness. Sex and orgies. It's a blast."

  "Daniel!" I shrieked indignantly. I mean, sure, he was right, but still. He didn't need to be so blunt about it.

  "Ooh!" Cal taunted. "You just officially got the full name treatment."

  Dan flipped him the bird and pulled me into his lap. "I'm sure Sexy Lexi didn't mean it."

  Ben reached over and stole a roll off Dan's plate this time. "I'm sure she did."

  Dan stuck his tongue out at his brother, and I giggled. "I see my childish tendencies are rubbing off on you."

  "I'll give you something to rub off," Dan teased, nestling his nose into my neck and kissing above my pulse.

  I wiggled from his grasp and sat back down in front of my plate, blushing like a schoolgirl for some stupid reason.

  Thankfully Cal changed the subject. "So, any ideas on what this Eye of the Sea actually is?"

  "A literal eye?" Dan suggested. "From a siren or some other aquatic creature?"

  "Or metaphorical," Ben countered. "Perhaps it's not an eye at all, but rather a seer, an orb, or an important artifact?"

  My smile drooped. "So, it's another wild goose chase."

  Cal smiled softly. "Probably. But if it's anything like last time, then we'll understand more about what we need to do when we arrive in Hydratica."

  Criss's eyes widened, and he quickly swallowed his bite of bread. "You're not seriously considering going there?"

  Cal shrugged. "What choice do we have?"

  "But we're at war with them right now," Criss protested. "Going into their kingdom would be suicide."

  "Yes," Cal agreed. "But not going would be genocide, considering the king will kill hundreds of innocent citizens if we fail."

  Criss sighed and rubbed the top of his buzzed head. "I guess you're right."

  Dan gave our newest member a sympathetic smile. "You don't ever get used to it. The brutality and cruelty. It never gets easier."

  I put my hand on Dan's shoulder. "That's why we're going to stop him."

  Criss nodded solemnly. Pain radiated off him in waves, and I could tell he was still raw and hurting from his mother's torture.

  Cal let out a sigh. "Lunchtime is over. Why don't you guys go on ahead? I'm going to find Rob."

  My brows furrowed as I stood. "Are you sure you don't want help looking for him?"

  "Nah," Cal said. "He wouldn't have gone far. Besides, the king will take it out on our mothers if we're late. May as well save as many of them as we can."

  "All right," I conceded. "I guess we'll see you at dinner then."

  I didn't want to leave either of them behind. And I especially didn't want to leave knowing Rob was upset. But I didn't know what else to do. That bad feeling, that sense of wrongness, kept creeping deeper and deeper into my chest and mind, eventually manifesting into two separ
ate fears—one, fear for Rob in the woods; and two, fear that this dinner was going to go terribly amiss.

  "It'll be okay, Sailor," Ben assured me, putting his arm around my shoulders. "They'll catch up in no time."

  By the time we'd saddled up and the palace was back into sight, Cal and Rob had caught up to us and galloped by, leaving us in a literal plume of dust.

  I chuckled and relaxed a bit as half the weight of my worries lifted right off my chest. At least one of my bad feelings had proven faulty.

  Now, I just had to hope dinner turned out the same.

  Chapter 9

  Magic training passed by in the blink of an eye.

  It was good to see Taron and Tamara again, to banter with them while they raked my ass through the coals—not as bad as they did Chrissen, but still. By the time training was finished, I was a sweaty mess, but I felt good. I'd gotten much stronger since the last time we'd practiced. My stamina had built, my reflexes were sharper, and the power I packed behind each punch had grown exceptionally.

  I was getting closer, step by step, to defeating that sadistic bastard once and for all.

  Kill the king.

  Rory, the magic user who'd given me his powers upon death, had clearly left an impact on me. His infamous last words tended to circle around my head in an infinite loop, urging me to finish what he could not.

  I will, Rory. I'll kill the king.

  After I'd bathed, scrubbing off the sweat and soreness from training, I dressed in an elegant purple gown with black lace crawling overtop and waited for Rochelle to do something with my hair.

  "Beautiful choice of gown, Your Highness," she commented as she brushed my wavy brown locks into shining perfection.

  "Thank you."

  "Are you prepared to face the foreign dignitaries?" she asked, as if talking about such things were no big deal.

  "Of course, I am," I bit out, angered at myself for not sounding kinder.

  After that, she remained silent, moving from my hair onto my makeup while avoiding eye contact of any sort.

  I hated how I felt about her. Mostly because I didn't want to hate her. It'd just sort of... happened. I knew it was wrong. I knew there was an explanation for it, and it wasn't a good one, and yet, I couldn't stop the antagonistic feelings from surfacing anyway. I hated her because she wasn't Gemma, and I hated me for hating her for no good reason. The hate just circled around and around like a cyclone, pissing me off more and more by the second.