by Amy Sumida
But then I jerked my head around in shock and rubbed the saltwater from my eyes. I was in the middle of the sea; no land in sight. I didn't even see Mimir's boat. He was long gone, and I was hoping that he wasn't returning to Hawaii for Gage.
“Fuck!” I screamed as I fumbled for the chain around my neck.
It was a good thing I'd had my traveling stone placed into a gold setting so I could wear it on the same chain as my contact charm. Without it, I would have been stuck there and possibly died despite my escape.
I tread water as I pulled the traveling stone free. But then I paused; I didn't know where I was. I had no idea if Mimir had taken me to another realm or not. The God may have his own way of traveling through the Veil. Just look at the Drachen and the Griffins; they could jump around Earth without the restriction of having to leave the realm every time. And Mimir was cunning. What if he had found a way to move about like Drachen, and had dumped me into an ocean on Earth? Should I jump to Tír na nÓg and possibly waste time, or just risk traveling straight to—
You're on Utgard! Kyanite interrupted my internal ramblings. Just go to Hawaii!
“Thanks,” I muttered just before I sent myself back to Hawaii.
I appeared in my kitchen—dripping seawater all over the tile floor—and immediately started to shiver. Gage was nowhere in sight. I began to panic and ran through the house shouting his name as I splattered water everywhere.
“Elaria?” I heard Gage's muffled voice coming from outside.
I ran to a window and saw Gage standing on the small strip of beach behind my house. Beside him were the Spellsingers; Adelaid, Eilener, Genevieve, Alexandra, and Daphne. They had all turned to face the house with him. I hurried downstairs and out into the backyard. Then I went straight into Gage's embrace, but as soon as I hugged him, I pushed away.
“It was Mimir,” I announced.
“I know; I saw him,” Gage growled. “I was about to travel to Primeval to get help, when your family appeared.”
“We told him to have some faith in you,” Adelaid said with a smug smile. “One on one, a Spellsinger always wins.”
“Hi, Aunt Addie,” I said with a grin.
“Hello, my darling,” she said. “I'd hug you, but you look rather wet.”
“That bastard chained me up and tossed me into an ocean!” I snarled.
“He did what to my niece?” Eilener growled. With the bass clef tattoo on his cheek, and his pale gray eyes, the growl seemed even more sinister. “I will tear him apart; piece by piece.”
It was nice to have Eilener's anger directed at someone other than myself. In fact, his familial protectiveness warmed my heart.
“How did you escape?” Aunt Daphne asked as she tossed her chestnut hair over her pale shoulder. “We can't sing underwater.”
“That's true.” Adelaid narrowed her green eyes suspiciously at me. “Maybe a few shrieks, but that's all. Nothing that would allow for a spell to be sung.”
“After the Witch Relic went back to its slumber, I began to notice some enhancements that it had left behind,” I admitted.
“The kyanite, right?” Aunt Alexandra asked with a curious look in her soft, brown eyes. “Your mother told us about that.”
“And an ability to throw my voice,” I added.
The Spellsingers gaped at me.
“Our one weakness defeated,” Eilener whispered.
“You lucky girl.” Adelaid grinned. “And thank goodness for it. Otherwise, you'd be drowned at the bottom of the sea; despite my confidence in you.”
“I'm so jelly right now,” Daphne huffed, her ivy eyes flashing.
“I'm sorry”—Eilener blinked at Daphne—“did you just call yourself jelly?”
“It's short for jealous,” Daphne informed him with a lifted chin. “You'd think with that urban mark on your face that you'd be more in touch with the modern lingo.”
“I'm as in touch as I need to be,” Eilener proclaimed defensively.
“I was about to go after you anyway,” Gage cut through the Spellsinger conversation. “But then I heard you calling for me.”
“I'm all right,” I assured him. “But I need a change of clothes, and then we need to get back to Primeval. Who knows what was next on Mimir's agenda.”
“All I know is that I'm going to start with his eyes and work my way down,” Eilener declared.
“I think Odin may have called dibs on Mimir's eyes,” Gage said casually.
Eilener turned his stormy stare on Gage, but Gage didn't flinch.
“On account of Mimir causing Odin to lose one of his,” Gage added.
“Fuck!” Eilener snapped. “That means the Witch has more right to them.”
“And then Cerberus wants a piece too,” Gage went on. “Since Mimir abducted his girlfriend, Freya.”
“It seems as if everyone wants their pound of Mimir flesh,” Eilener huffed.
“Don't worry, Eil,” Adelaid rubbed his shoulder gently. “Mimir's a giant; he'll have plenty of other pieces for you to focus on.”
Eilener started to smile, and it was the most chilling thing I've ever seen.
Chapter Fifty-Two
“Brother!” Kalliope shouted when we appeared in the Amber Temple.
“Kalli!” Eilener swept his sister up in a hug.
I called the other Spellsingers my aunts, but Eilener was the only one who was my mother's sibling. The rest of the Spellsingers were a little further removed. Adelaid was my mother's aunt, and the others were descended from different Sirens entirely. But all Spellsingers were the children of Sirens and Witches and that, plus our small numbers, made us family.
There was a bit of a family reunion while Gage and I explained to my other consorts what had happened. Torin looked as if he were about to throw something or someone out the window, Declan glared at Gage with more venom than I'd seen him show in a long time, and Banning merely closed his eyes and sought calm.
“It's not Gage's fault,” I defended him. “Mimir appeared behind me and took me through the Veil before either of us could react. Gage didn't have the time to blink, much less attack Mimir. None of you could have done any differently.”
“How did Mimir even know where to find you?” Banning asked.
“I'm afraid that may be my fault.” Odin sighed.
We all stared at Odin in shock.
“As you may recall, I thought we were friends,” Odin reminded us.
“And you gave him my address because... ?” I asked with irritation.
“I didn't give him your address,” Odin said. “Awhile ago, I mentioned you, and Mimir started asking casual questions. I said you lived in Hawaii. He asked how you liked it there. One thing led to another, and then I showed him some pictures of the last time I went to visit you.”
“So, Mimir had the image of my home to work with,” I huffed. “It's fine, Odin; I made it out alive.”
“But she may not have,” my father growled.
“I'm so sorry,” Odin said to my father and me. “You know that I would do anything for Elaria. She's like family to me. I placed my trust mistakenly, but I will be more careful in the future.”
My dad fumed.
“Dad, do I have to remind you of the reason I have four consorts?” I asked softly.
My father's face shifted into shock, then horror, and then embarrassment.
“My apologies, Odin,” Robert said stiffly. “I'm apparently the last man who should cast stones.”
“I'm sorry to bring it up, Dad, but Odin didn't deserve to be attacked; he's only been trying to help,” I said.
“We were both fooled over the course of years,” Odin said gently. “After a certain amount of time, the thought of betrayal seems ridiculous.”
“It did,” my dad said. “Thomas betrayed me, and yet it is my daughter who pays the price.”
“It's not a bad price to pay, Dad,” I said as I shot smiles at my men.
“Nonetheless, I'm at fault for your injury,” Dad huffed. “I failed at prot
ecting my own family.”
“Dad, people make friends and they trust them.” I shrugged. “That's life, and we can't stop living because someone betrayed our trust.”
“I just need to be more careful in my choice of friends,” Dad huffed.
“We have many other wonderful friends to make up for the ones who weren't,” Odin pointed out. “Look at all Nigel went through for you, and how Ilis is currently helping me.”
My father's grim expression lightened, and then he nodded.
“That's sweet,” Ilis said, “but I'm growing bored of your endless guilt. Can someone please introduce me to the Spellsingers?”
“Of course.” I laughed as I went over to where Ilis stood with Calex. “Ilis and Calex, I'm pleased to introduce you to my entire race. Starting with the eldest, we have Adelaid, then Eilener, Genevieve, Alexandra, and Daphne.”
“It's lovely to meet all of you,” Ilis said politely. “I've admired your feats of magic from afar.”
“Well, perhaps you should get a little closer,” Eilener suggested with a sexy smirk.
Eilener slid forward, claimed Ilis' hand, and kissed it lingeringly. Ilis smiled appreciatively as she looked over Uncle Eilener's fit body and attractive face (even with that tattoo).
Odin started toward them with an angry look in his eye, but Torin grabbed him and whispered urgently in his ear. Odin's expression shifted slowly to calm as he breathed deeply, and then nodded. I sent Torin a grateful look.
“Isn't this the Drachen you dated?” Adelaid asked me—thankfully breaking up the budding romance between Ilis and Eilener.
I sighed deeply as Calex grinned and stepped forward.
“I'm honored that you remember me.” Calex shook Adelaid's hand. “It's nice to see you again, Adelaid.”
“You as well,” Addie said sweetly, then looked over her shoulder at me and widened her eyes in appreciation. She turned back to Calex and said, “I can't imagine why my niece ever let you escape her clutches.”
“Ah.” Calex smiled tightly. “I'm afraid there was no escaping on my part. That was all Elaria.”
Adelaid turned to me with a chiding look.
“And on that note,” I said with false cheer, “perhaps we could begin discussing the upcoming war?”
“You mean; what soundtrack we'll use?” Adelaid smiled viciously.
“Yeah.” I bit at my lip. “That reminds me; I forgot to tell you about the way Kyanite helps me sing.”
“Kyanite?” Adelaid lifted her brows.
Right on cue, the “Imperial March” started to play in the air around us. You know—Darth Vader's music. I groaned as the Spellsingers gaped at me; I was having a bad influence on my jewel.
“Gods damn it!” Eilener swore. “That's just not fair.”
Chapter Fifty-Three
“You can't let your mate control you.”
I was walking through the hallways of the Amber Temple, heading back to the suite I was sharing with my consorts, when I heard the conversation coming from around a corner up ahead of me. I slowed to a stop and listened. I knew that voice; it was Finteren; Gage's brother.
Both of Gage's brothers had come to help us this time, along with a host of Griffins. Their parents had remained behind on Torr-Chathair, but it seemed as if their influence had made the trip without them.
“Mother wants you home,” Rentar said. “How can you upset her like this?”
“I've already spoken to them both,” Gage huffed. “In fact, I told all of you that I was going to live with Elaria and I told you why. It's very simple really; Elaria can't live in Torr-Chathair, and I can't live without Elaria.”
I smiled to myself. My griffin could be quite the romantic... and he was so getting lucky tonight.
“She doesn't have to live on Torr-Chathair,” Finteren cajoled. “We all can cross the Veil with ease. Elaria has a home in the Human Realm—separate from her consort there—and then a home in Tír na nÓg which is also separate from her Shining One consorts. So, why can't you have a home on Torr-Chathair and see her when she visits?”
It was a good argument; one I would have made myself if I wasn't afraid of hurting Gage's feelings. But his feelings mattered more to me than my personal space. So, if Gage needed to live with me, I wasn't going to argue. But it looked as if his family would.
“Again I say; stop letting your mate rule your life,” Finteren growled. “You're the male; act like one!”
The sounds of a scuffle came around the corner, and I decided that I'd spent enough time eavesdropping. I hurried forward and found Finteren and Gage on the floor—at each other's throats like a couple of junkyard dogs.
“Enough!” I shouted; my voice echoing out with the power of my jewel.
The men went still and then broke apart. They hurried to their feet and started straightening their clothing.
“We were just...” Finteren stumbled for an explanation.
“Trying to bully my mate into doing things your way?” I asked with a lifted brow.
Gage chuckled. “Fin acts as if his mate doesn't run his life, but she does.”
“I can stand my ground when needed,” Finteren huffed.
“Yeah; when you need the other Griffins to see that you're not a pussy,” Rentar inserted.
“You'll understand after you're mated,” Fin said to Rentar. “Women are complicated.”
“As is my relationship with Elaria,” Gage slid in smoothly. “Now, tell Mom and Dad that I'll visit often, but my home is with my mate.”
“Elaria, I understand that you want Gage with you, but he's a Griffin; he should be with his family,” Finteren said to me as if it were my decision.
“She is my family, Fin,” Gage growled.
“I think you've misunderstood, Finteren.” I glanced at Gage before continuing, but he just lifted a brow at me in question. “This was not my decision; Gage chose to live with me. I never pushed him into it, but I will support his choice.”
Gage smirked at his brother.
“This is your choice alone?” Finteren asked Gage in surprise.
“Brother”—Gage sighed and shook his head—“would you live apart from Kryana if she had to reside elsewhere, or would you follow her across the realms?”
Finteren's expression shifted into tenderness, and then he smiled. “I think I understand now, Brother. Okay; live with your mate. I'll explain it to Mom and Dad.”
“I don't get it,” Rentar huffed.
“You'll understand when you have a mate,” Gage and Fin said together.
Chapter Fifty-Four
“Do you want me to live on Torr-Chathair?” Gage asked after he closed the door to our suite behind us.
I paused long enough for him to know the answer.
“Wow,” he whispered. “I had no idea that you felt this way. Okay; I think I can catch Fin and Ren before they tell Mom and Dad.”
“Hold on.” I grabbed his arm. “It's not that I don't want to live with you. It's just that I need to be able to spend time with the others and by myself.”
“And you don't want to feel bad about asking me to stay home when you do?” He lifted a brow. “Elaria, why didn't you just say so?”
“Because you were so adamant about living with me.”
“I can live with you and leave when you need me to,” he said with a gentle smile. “When you wish to be alone, or when you go to visit the others, I can go to Torr-Chathair for a visit.”
“Oh,” I whispered.
“Or I could just stay in Hawaii and enjoy some alone time myself.” He smirked.
“Well, that sounds just about perfect.” I started to smile.
“It does,” he agreed. “We'll never get sick of each other.”
“That's wonderful; I'm very happy for you,” Declan announced from the doorway. “But we have a situation unfolding downstairs that requires your attention, El.”
“A situation?” I asked as I followed Declan out of the room.
“The Blooders have been here for
a few days now,” Declan started.
“Along with everyone else,” Gage added.
“Yes, and that's where things got interesting.” Declan gave us a wry grin.
“I know there has been some awkwardness between all of the races”—I paused as we reached the temple's entry hall—“but I thought they had worked out the issues?”
“Training schedules were created so that they each have separate time in the field.” Declan nodded.
“And we've worked out a rotation in the dining hall as well as a comfortable lodging situation,” Gage said. “They're training, eating, and sleeping. So, what's the problem?”
“I didn't say there was a problem.” Declan opened the front door and waved us out.
I stepped into the meadow before the Amber Temple. The sun was high overhead; illuminating the scene before me vividly. Against a backdrop of the stunning Sgàthan Sea, Banning's Gura was training with the Norse Gods; each God paired with a Blooder. The Blooders weren't nearly as good as the Gods in warfare, but they looked as if they were learning quickly. A few of them were even able to knock their partner down. Considering the number of years the Norse had on the Blooders, I'd say the vampires were doing amazing. I smiled at Banning; who was walking among the training teams, giving advice and encouragement to his troops.
“That's nice of the Gods to help train the Blooders,” I noted. “Not only are they sharing their training time, but they're teaching another race. It's very generous...” my voice trailed off as I noticed Gage's amazed expression, and Declan's amused one.
I looked up—into the glaring sunlight—and then back at the Blooders. My mouth fell open.
“How did this happen?” I had finally worked out what was so fascinating about watching Blooders train.
“As I mentioned,” Declan began again, “the Blooders have been here a few days, and they needed to feed on something more substantial than animals. They were going to travel back to the Human Realm to do so, when Freya suggested that they drink from the Gods.”