Twisted Bonds

by Brandy L Rivers

  “You have my word.” She offered without limits.

  His head cocked. “You have changed.”

  “Right now, I’m more interested in living and not letting Damha’s spawn rip me open.”

  He shook his head. “There is one person who may be able to help with that, though I can’t swear the old midwife will aid you.”

  “For now, the ichor will do.” She reached again, and Gebiet strode past her.

  “You’re barely on your feet. Take a seat,” Gebiet commanded.

  He was right, she was weak. Taking his advice, she sank onto one of the chairs in the kitchen. “Thank you.”

  “You make my mate whole, and I’ll be indebted to you.” He managed a smile.

  Her stomach knotted, pain twisting through her muscles, radiating out.

  “Getting bad?” Gebiet asked.

  “Very.”

  “The ichor may kill you.”

  “Might be a blessing,” she cried, her body doubling over as she clawed at the counter.

  “That’s right, you come back. But I won’t be bound to you.”

  “Either way, I made you a promise.”

  He turned, a smile on his lips. “Very well.” Turning, he went back to work on the concoction.

  Agony swept through her. Darkness blotted out everything. She drifted in the sea of pain until someone’s hand grazed over her back.

  Saressa sat up, blinking until she focused on Gebiet’s onyx eyes. The cup was placed at her lips.

  “Drink. It won’t be pleasant, but at this point, it can’t be much worse.”

  She gulped, a new pain joining the old. The liquid froze a path as it went through her system, but she continued to drink until the glass was empty.

  She was lifted into a solid embrace and carried somewhere. Everything went dark.

  * * * *

  Finally, alone, Isa turned to Toryn and smiled. “Ready?”

  Nodding, he moved closer to her. “Always.”

  She grinned and lifted her hand but someone knocked. Her eyes narrowed. “Go now? Or see who it is?”

  He tipped his head. “This could be interesting.” He walked to the door, and she groaned, dropping her head forward.

  Toryn’s velvet voice soothed Isa. “Morning, Marielle, we were just on our way to our honeymoon.”

  “Sorry to delay you, but it will only be a moment. I wanted to speak with your wife.”

  Isa plastered a smile on her face and moved beside Toryn.

  Marielle didn’t hesitate. “Thank you for giving us our freedom and for giving us the opportunity to see our daughter again.”

  Miles nodded. “We’re indebted to you.”

  Shaking her head, Isa grinned. “I went to free Toryn. I wasn’t going to leave anyone a prisoner. No need to thank me.”

  “You’re wrong. There is. You did the right thing, and I feel you will be a great ally,” Marielle stated.

  Isa lifted her hands, backing away. “I’m sorry. I don’t plan to make my home here. I’m not an ally. You can consider me a friend, but I’m not coming back to Faery anytime soon.” She hoped.

  “Be that as it may, you may find you need a friend. I’ll be here.” Marielle dipped her head, took Miles’ hand, and walked away.

  Isa watched her go. “Should I check on Jackie?”

  “Nah, she’ll call if she needs you. She has other friends she can lean on.”

  And that was the truth. Isa closed the door and opened the portal. “Now, before anyone else tries to stop us.”

  Toryn put his arm around her waist and took her through to the other side. They stepped into the living room of a villa on the outskirts of Paris.

  “How long have you owned this place?”

  Toryn smiled. “I bought the land ages ago. When Reance first sent me to France on a mission. I had the home built after meeting you. I thought eventually I could bring you here, show you the sights.”

  “You built this for me?”

  He pulled her into his arms. “Hmm, I couldn’t resist. A part of me hoped we would be together.”

  She threw herself at him. He caught her. “Show me Paris. Tomorrow, you can show me where the town you grew up in is.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair, a dark look on his face.

  “Or not,” Isa muttered.

  Toryn caught her face in his hands. “You won’t like the story that goes with it.”

  “I’d listen. I want to know it all. Nothing you’ve done in your past, nothing that was done to you, will ever change how I feel about you, Toryn. I know everything I need to know, but I’ll always want to know more.”

  He laughed softly, sweeping her off her feet and sitting down on the couch. She straddled his lap, twining her fingers in his hair.

  “If you want to know, I’ll show you, but it’s not happy.”

  “Then I’ll take great pleasure in giving you a better memory to go with the place.”

  “I’m a lucky man.”

  “And I’m a luckier woman. I don’t know what I would do without you.” She meant that. She couldn’t imagine life without him since the moment he’d stepped into that diner so long ago. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to keep him by her side.

  His hands skated under her dress, skin on skin. She closed her eyes as he found her clit under her panties. “Perhaps I should feast on you before we go.”

  “Hmm, sounds wonderful.”

  * * * *

  Kellan laid Nyla down and turned back to Zoe. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “About Saressa?” Zoe asked.

  Kellan sank onto the couch. “Yeah. I’m obviously not going to help her, but shit, she is persistent. I can’t keep her completely out. So what do I do?”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “Wish she were already dead so I didn’t have to keep running in my dreams.”

  “Would you kill her if provided the opportunity?”

  He nodded. “You don’t understand, Zoe. Even when she’s playing the victim, she’s not. She’s manipulating everyone into doing what she wants.”

  “And you know better, but can’t shut her out?” Zoe shook her head. “What do you want me to say?”

  “Any ideas on how I make her stay away for good? How do I keep her from fucking with me?”

  “Maybe talk to a Dreamwalker? I know one who can maybe help you figure out how to keep your mother from your head.”

  “How do you know a Dreamwalker?”

  “I did an interview for In Other News. Nice guy. I’m sure he’d be willing to help.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  “He’s in Edenton. He owns Enchanted Baubles. We could go now.”

  “Nyla just went to sleep,” he pointed out.

  “She’ll be fine in Edenton. There are plenty of Others. But the sooner you find a way to block Saressa, the better off you’ll be.”

  “Very true.”

  Zoe took a sling and snuggled their daughter within. “I’m ready.”

  He grinned. His beautiful mate, their daughter. Things had moved at lightning speed, but he couldn’t be happier. Unless his mother was totally out of the picture. A hint of guilt crept in every time she entered his head, and he knew it was Saressa, not him.

  He opened the portal to Main Street in Edenton, and they stepped through.

  Zoe smiled brightly. “This way, handsome.”

  He chuckled, following. “Hey, I was going to ask. How did you like Faery while we were there?”

  “The Air Kingdom is beautiful. The castle…” She let out a sigh. “Would have loved to fly from the balconies, but I didn’t want to scare anyone either.”

  Kellan chuckled. “Once Saressa is no longer a threat, and the four kingdoms have been split, perhaps, Aeryana will have us back and you can do that.”

  “You’re worried they may see you as a threat?”

  “I think her advisors do at the very least
. They watched me like a hawk.”

  Zoe smirked. “We’ll prove them wrong. Besides, some of that might have been being mated to a harpy.”

  “That will change.” And maybe she was right. Maybe no one shared how Kellan was related to Saressa. It was possible no one knew who his parents were, but her advisors had to ask, right?

  Scrubbing a hand over his face, he let out a breath and came face to face with a druid. No, he was more than a druid. There was feral power under the layer of magic. A wereanimal as well?

  The redhead’s head tilted, his emerald eyes sparkling as they took him in. “A pleasure, Zoe. And I take it this is Kellan?”

  Zoe grinned. “Yes, this is Kellan. Kellan, meet Devlin. He’s the Dreamwalker I told you about.”

  Devlin frowned. “What exactly do you need? I don’t make it a habit to use my ability with the unsuspecting.”

  Shaking her head, Zoe put one hand up. “No, nothing like that. Kellan wants to know how he can block someone from finding him in his dreams.”

  Devlin nodded, a slight smile on his face. “Sure, but there are factors to consider. First, who is this person and what is their connection to you? Second, are they an actual Dreamwalker? Third, why are you running from them?”

  “Straight shooter, I appreciate that.” Kellan tipped his head, considering his words. “I’m trying to avoid my mother. We’re Fae. I’m not sure where she’s at, but it’s nowhere near here, and she’s trying to reach me through dreams. I’ve been running to avoid her. I won’t help her in whatever her latest plot is, and I know her well enough not to trust her.”

  “Fae? That’s not a typical Fae talent, is it?”

  “Some Water Fae have the ability. It’s rare, but my family is full of rare talents.”

  “Interesting. Still, you should be able to block her the same way. It may take practice and will definitely take effort. But if you have a couple hours I can teach you the basics.”

  Zoe smiled. “I’ll head over to Monique’s Uniques. Maybe I’ll find a couple outfits.”

  Kellan pulled her closer and took a kiss. “Thank you, Zoe.”

  She grinned. “Anything for you, Kellan.”

  He leaned down and kissed Nyla’s head. “See you two soon.”

  Zoe smiled at Devlin. “Thanks for your help.”

  Devlin nodded. “I’m more than happy to help in this capacity.”

  * * * *

  Toryn rolled from the bed. “So, those blades. Did you want to practice with them?”

  Isadora rolled to her side, looking out the window, into the Seine River below. “I want to explore. Then later, we can work on the blades.” She groaned. “I think I did pretty damned good with them yesterday.”

  “You did. But the more practice you have, the more natural it becomes.”

  Standing, she met his gaze. “Later, after exploring. It’s our honeymoon, though, and I want to enjoy some time without having to worry about everything else.”

  He caught her face in his hands. “We’ll have time for that. And I can’t stop worrying until Saressa is dead and gone.”

  Isa huffed. “Can’t we pretend?” Hope sparkled in her emerald eyes.

  “Sure. For the rest of the day. Tomorrow, I’ll make training fun.”

  Nodding, she turned to dress. “The rest of the day, I get to enjoy you. No worries.”

  “No worries.”

  Spinning back, she walked to him and trailed her finger over the rose scar on his chest. “You sure I did all right with this?”

  He moved to the mirror and really looked at it again. “I love it, and it’s perfectly you.”

  She chewed her lip.

  Turning her toward him, he pulled her chin until she looked up at him. “I’m yours. This is your mark, not hers. It’s perfect. I’ll bear any mark you give me with a smile. Any mark, Isa.”

  Isa placed a kiss on the petals. “I don’t need to own you. I just want you in my life.”

  “Ah, but from the moment I laid eyes on you, I was yours to command. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

  “I know, but all I need is you by my side.”

  And he truly believed that after she came for him. “Get dressed. I want to show you the sights.”

  “Mmm, that sounds perfect.” She slipped from his grasp and pulled clothes on.

  “Anything you want to see?” he asked.

  “Surprise me, Toryn. You know me well. Show me exactly what I’ll enjoy.”

  Grinning, he dressed and led her to the car.

  Chapter 24

  Saressa woke up drenched in a cold sweat. There were no dreams. Pain danced along her nerves, dull, but certainly there. She pushed herself up to find a cave, deep underground.

  Volcano, more likely.

  “Gebiet,” Saressa called, her voice weaker than she would have liked.

  He walked to her. His skin darker than night, his eyes like onyx. Crouching before her, he offered a bowl of stew. “This may help, though it won’t be to your liking.”

  “If it helps, I’ll be happy enough.” She took the bowl, her grasp stronger than before. This time, she fed herself, gulping the scalding soup.

  Relief flowed through her, chasing away the pain. Tiny voices rose up in her head, her spiderling bastards wailing in pain.

  A cruel smile lit her face. Between the Deathknell Ichor and the healing soup, her bastard children were harmed. Though they writhed in her womb.

  Hate, nothing but hate for Damha’s creations. She couldn’t wait to burn every last one of them alive.

  Her eyes closed as she set the bowl aside. She pulled the words she hated to utter out of her vocabulary as she looked up into the dragon’s eyes. “Thank you.”

  He nodded. “Better?”

  “Very. Where is she?”

  “You’re sure you’re ready?”

  “One way to find out. Though I’ll warn you, my healing takes either pain or pleasure. As long as you pleasure her, I can use that to heal.”

  His eyes narrowed. “You don’t want to touch her?”

  “She is your mate. I’m here to help, not destroy what you share.”

  His brow pinched. “Why are you being so kind?”

  “Too many regrets to create another. I’ve pushed everyone away until there is no one left by my side.” She smoothed a hand down her gown. “You don’t have to believe me. Let my actions prove my intentions.”

  “We’ll see. It’s hard to trust someone with your record.”

  Climbing to her feet, she looked at the exit of the cave. “Show me where we’re going.”

  Gebiet led her to another cave, this one warmer, more comfortable. Kasai’s scarlet hair flowed over the side of the bed. She lay face down, her back exposed. Jagged blue lines flowed across her bare back, showing an image of shattered bones within the wings she would have if she shifted.

  Interesting.

  Kasai hissed. “This is your fault.”

  “Shh, lover. Saressa aims to heal your wings. Don’t anger her, please.”

  Her ruby eyes glinted. “You helped her. You should have let her die.”

  Shaking his head, Gebiet knelt beside her and took the hand closest to him. “Listen to me, Kasai. You chose to help me, when I told you to stay. Your wings are broken because you were worried about me. Now she wants to help you, without binding you to her. Let her.”

  Her eyes flashed to Saressa. “You won’t bind me to you?”

  “No.”

  “Do you trust me, lover?” Gebiet asked.

  Her eyes closed on a sigh. “Yes.”

  “Let me love you. She’ll heal you.”

  “No, don’t want her to touch me while you are.”

  “Won’t have to touch you. Just have to be here to channel the energy to your broken wings,” Saressa explained. “It’s that, or I inflict pain until you heal by my other means.”

  “If you can inflict the pain on me, I’d take it,
to heal her,” Gebiet offered freely.

  Love, true, real, and something she would never share again.

  Her eyes closed. “Please, Kasai, tell me how to gain your trust.”

  Kasai’s breath caught. “You’ve changed.”

  “I was made a slave, an object. I’ve learned a valuable lesson,” Saressa admitted.

  “Very well. Gebiet, love me.”

  Disappointment trailed through Saressa, but she wrangled it back. She didn’t want to cause undue strain between these two. Together, they could serve her well. Especially if they thought it was their choice.

  Gebiet climbed onto the bed behind Kasai, pushing her skirts up. “Don’t resist, lover.”

  Kasai gasped when his thumbs pulled her open and his tongue delved through her heat. Her pleasure flowed off her in waves, pushing energy at Saressa.

  She drank it up and trailed her hands inches above Kasai’s back, up and down the slender frame.

  The blue lines straightened and melded to a deep red color, forming gorgeous dragon wings that flowed down her back, ass, thighs, and calves.

  Kasai’s hands tangled in the blankets as her body writhed. With Kasai healed, Saressa made her way out of the room to let the dragons finish what they’d started.

  Back in the cave she’d woken in, she slid down the wall and pulled up memories of Endiscott. Their sweeter, more gentle moments when she gave into the love she’d despised. If only she’d realized the strength in the emotion, she could have changed everything.

  * * * *

  Reance couldn’t stop the images rolling through his head. Seemed like Saressa was putting on a show for him. Changing her ways, letting him see.

  “What is it, Reance?” Aeryana asked.

  “I think Saressa has become desperate. She’s showing compassion, helping others.” He rubbed at his face. “And I think it’s an act. If it’s not—”

  “She tried to tear your daughter’s mate from her. She attempted to torture him, mark him, and ruin him for Isadora. Now she wants you to stop Isadora from killing her. You know as well as I do that she watched everything Isadora did to Damha. Saressa watched as Isadora demolished her castle. She hasn’t changed. You should block her from your side.”