Twisted Bonds

by Brandy L Rivers

  Morrigan destroyed the entire Fire Realm, leaving desert behind when the asshole took her child. No one knew what happened to the boy.

  Saressa meant to destroy that child and very nearly succeeded.

  Slumping back, she closed her eyes. Morrigan was likely her enemy now. She’d tortured Morrigan’s son, nearly destroyed him. She hadn’t been able to find him to see what became of the scar. She couldn’t reach anyone close to Reance.

  Gebiet told her, “Morrigan was at the wedding.”

  “She was?”

  Morrigan had left for so long no one thought she would come back if she lived. She was no longer an ally. If she ever was.

  “You may need the ichor already.” Gebiet offered his hand. “Come, you can’t use the castle. I can still feel Reance’s magic. If we’re not careful, Fuerah will see us and report our presence.”

  “Really think he cares about the Fire Realm now that he’s married to the Air Queen?”

  Gebiet’s brow furrowed. “You’ve been disconnected from the rest of Faery for far too long. Rumor is he’s to be the Fire King again.”

  “I need to stop that now that I’m no longer locked in my prison.”

  “We’ll help you destroy your enemies. We’ll help you take the realms. It’s time to shake the foundation of everything wrong in Faery.”

  “And perhaps I can free you of the nuisances you carry.” Kasai looked at her stomach with a cruel smile. “I may know someone who can remove the burden of the Arachnian spawns.”

  * * * *

  Marielle watched Jackie and Eddie dance through the throne room. It had been two hours they explored, then wound up in the grand room made of crystal. There was a pool in the center where those who needed water to survive could stay for all announcements.

  “He makes her happy,” Miles murmured. “I remember you smiling like that for me.”

  “I still smile like that for you.” Marielle leaned into his side. “They’ll never feel at home in Faery. Seems the new generation prefers Earth.”

  “You preferred Earth when I was there.”

  “Ah, but your Council believes you dead.”

  “Unless Preston Emrys tells the rest of the Council.”

  She smiled. “Don’t believe he will.”

  “Doubtful. His mother disappeared as well. He understands better than most why leaving the Council is sometimes necessary.”

  “Preston says they’re changing. Maybe one day they’ll more readily accept hybrids.”

  “Not sure I’ll ever feel at home on Earth,” Miles admitted. “Not without you by my side.”

  “You came for me when I was about to give up.”

  “It took me years to find you. When I did, I made sure to get back to you.”

  “And then we were still kept apart.” She sighed. “Personally, I’m glad we don’t have to deal with Saressa. I only hope the Elder Guard has no plans to force our children to stay in Faery.”

  “Thankfully. I can’t imagine any of them considering Faery home right now. Toryn’s son is only half, ours is only half. And Isa, they will always fear her. And if they’ve realized who Kellan is, well, I fear it will be much the same for him as well.”

  “I’m sure it will. Though he hasn’t realized his potential. What Isadora did…truly amazing. She took down the entire castle in her quest to free Toryn.”

  “Aye. And she’s friends with our girl. If Jackie winds up in trouble, she has friends who will come to her aid.”

  “That she does. I only wish Brent had come. He’s kept watch over her all these years.”

  “So did John, after Eddie’s parents were murdered. I’m hoping Preston can give me more information about that investigation.”

  A soft grunt lifted Marielle’s head. Eddie held Jackie against the wall, his hands under her shirt as her hands squeezed his ass.

  Miles cleared his throat. “You have an audience.”

  Jackie’s head landed on Eddie’s shoulder with a groan.

  Eddie chuckled. “Sorry. Hard to resist my fiancée, and I thought we were alone.”

  “Quite all right. We have the same problem. However, I should take you back to the Air Kingdom before anyone notices we’re gone.”

  Chapter 28

  Almost a week had passed and tomorrow they were due in Faery to hear what the Elder Guardians decided. Isa wanted to stay away. She preferred exploring and even training with Toryn, doing as they pleased wherever they chose to go.

  Somehow, she’d let Toryn keep her from where he’d been raised. He avoided it with a new adventure every day. And she let it slide.

  Part of her got it. The other part wondered why. She didn’t want to press, but he promised.

  She sat on the couch, trying to sort through her thoughts. It was time for him to come clean and tell her what he was worried about. Answers. That was all she wanted.

  Was it fair? She thought so. She didn’t need an explanation, just wanted the facts. And maybe that was stupid.

  Toryn walked into the living room and leaned against the wall, watching her. “What is it?”

  “Why are you keeping your past from me, Toryn?”

  He moved to her, dropped to his knees, and took her hands. “I’m afraid of your reaction.” His eyes searched hers. “I massacred the entire village. Not mine, but a neighboring one. I couldn’t control my magic, everything hit me at once, and I burned it all to the ground.”

  “They tortured you, took your innocence, and you fought to do the right thing. And when they tried to kill you, you lashed out. Of course you lost control. You were a boy, Toryn. I saw what my father saw.”

  “Not the same as seeing it from me.”

  “Don’t you trust me to be here for you no matter what?”

  His eyes closed, but he nodded.

  She caressed his face. “Then why hide?”

  “I’ll take you, Isa.”

  “Toryn, I want to understand. Nothing you show me will change anything. Nothing. I won’t pity you. You don’t deserve that. You’re stronger for the hell you’ve been through. Just share it with me.”

  His eyes held such sadness when he finally opened them. “I will, but it’s not easy for me.”

  “Let me take away the pain. You’ve done so much for me. I want to do this for you.”

  He leaned up, taking a soft kiss, then pressed his forehead to hers. “Take the memory, and we’ll go.”

  The image filled her head and she opened the portal. Then he stood, sweeping her up into his arms, and crossed over.

  Nothing but forest surrounded them. “It’s peaceful here,” Isa stated.

  “This was the happy place. Where I grew up, until the witch hunters burned it down. Those of us who looked human, they took in. The rest…they killed everyone who didn’t escape.”

  “Who escaped?”

  “Sammy, Layla, and a handful of others.”

  “Sammy can pass.”

  “The witch hunters were mages, Isa. They could strip glamour. And in those days, that’s all they needed to kill those they deemed didn’t belong.”

  “You’ve known Layla that long?”

  He shrugged. “Back then, we were strictly friends. And I hadn’t seen her in over a century before we met up again.”

  “And hooked up?” Her brow cocked.

  “Still amazes me that you don’t mind who I’ve been with.”

  “You don’t mind who I’ve been with, right? It’s the same thing. And sometimes I have to wonder how that worked out. I mean, was she all woman? Or part snake? And I probably shouldn’t be asking that.”

  “Woman. She’s usually only part snake when she’s pissed off. Which, I managed not to do to her.”

  Isa laughed. “You rarely piss off women. Except those who want more. Or men…”

  “You’ve broken your share of hearts,” he teased, leading her through the woods and stepping into a vibrant garden.

  Isa turned to
Toryn. “What is this place?”

  “My foster parents’ garden. It’s all that’s left. I knew I wasn’t theirs.”

  “What were they?” Isa asked.

  “A gnome and a dryad. Unlikely couple, but they loved each other, and that’s all that matters.”

  “Like I love you?” she asked, her eyes delving into his.

  “Like I love you. Always, forever, and no matter what, I’ll fight for you.”

  “Ditto. I proved that once.”

  His head dropped. “And yet, you don’t get the true horror of watching your parents burn before you. I didn’t have access to all my magic yet. I couldn’t control it worth a damn. I held it back because I didn’t want to kill everyone else, even as the witch hunters raped the woman who raised me while gutting the man I thought of as a father.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He touched her face, and the images flooded her head. Tears leaked down her face. She saw something he hadn’t caught. The dryad threw a spell at Toryn.

  Isa’s eyes flew open. “She blocked your magic, Toryn. You couldn’t have done anything.”

  “I could have fought. I could have—”

  She pressed her fingers to his lips. “It’s not your fault. They had you shackled. You were a boy. There were ten men in that small house. You may have taken a couple, but they would have killed you. And I would still be stumbling through life, making one tragic mistake after another. I need you. Only you, Toryn. Please. Stop doubting my love.”

  “It’s not your love, it’s your perspective I doubt.”

  “Then show me more,” she answered softly.

  * * * *

  “Take us here,” Toryn whispered brokenly. It was the final thing he held onto. The rest he could understand why she wouldn’t blame him, but this last thing was his fault. The castle he burned to the ground was done out of hatred and disgust. He was so repulsed by the vile things the people did he burned everything and everyone in his wake—including the other prisoners who’d been wronged as badly as he’d been.

  If she could handle that, she was right. Nothing would change her mind.

  She opened a portal and pulled him through. There wasn’t much left. The forest had reclaimed most of the castle grounds. A few charred stones were left, outlining the castle walls.

  The pain of that day hit him and he collapsed to his knees, squeezing his eyes shut. Isa pulled him against her and threaded her fingers into his hair, taking the memory.

  The big one who’s violation had nearly torn him in half grabbed him by his ankle and dragged him out of the cell, up the stairs, and into the broad daylight.

  The bastard threw him against the stake and another took a handful of his hair, pulling him to a stand before winding iron chains around him.

  Toryn wanted to scream, to cry out, to protest, but nothing would work. Tears streamed down his face as the crowd jeered.

  “Demon!”

  “Monster!”

  “Burn it!”

  Toryn looked around. Even the children threw rotten food at him, screaming right along with the adults. “What have I done?” he yelled back, anger licking through him.

  “Quiet,” hissed the big one from behind, shoving something against his rear. “I’ll split you open while you burn.”

  Burn? They’re going to set me on fire?

  He’d gone to such lengths to hide his magic, and now they were going to burn him alive anyway?

  A hysterical cry escaped his lips.

  The real monster grabbed the waistband of his pants, yanking down as he tossed the torch at his feet.

  Rage washed through him, the fire licking up his legs, feeding his own silver flames that leapt from his body, spreading, dancing across the castle grounds as a small girl ran up and threw what looked like horse dung at him, screaming, “Demon! Demon! Burn!”

  He hardly heard the nymph beside him begging for mercy as the fires flowed up her dress, into her hair.

  The iron melted, falling away like water, and he spun slowly as the giant of a man backed away, pleading. His shields flashed bright around him as Toryn advanced.

  “I did nothing to you. You violated me, and all these others. You will burn. Not me. Not ever!” Toryn stepped through the mage’s shield and grabbed handfuls of his shirt as he shoved him to the ground and straddled his broad chest.

  Fear stared back.

  The little girl collapsed beside him, wailing as the fires overtook her.

  Toryn stumbled back, looking around in horror as the entire castle burned around him, people screaming.

  Isa wiped the tears from his face. “You couldn’t control it. I felt your terror, Toryn. Shit, I would have done worse, and I wouldn’t have waited until they were trying to kill me. I would have done it the moment they put their hands on me. Stop blaming yourself or I’ll beg Robert to go into your head and remove those memories.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, crushing her in his embrace. “How can you not hate me for all those people I killed?”

  “They thought you were a monster, and you hadn’t done a damned thing wrong.”

  “It was the girl. Her parents taught her to fear me. She was too young to understand.”

  “And if you’d had control, you would have killed only those you had to in order to escape. But here’s the problem with that, Toryn, they would have kept coming. They wouldn’t have stopped hunting you. It’s not your fault you lost control. You know better now, you have other means to escape. Stop looking at it like you had some kind of choice. You never did.”

  “If I hadn’t wanted him dead, maybe—”

  Her mouth collided with his, her hand shooting out, opening another portal as she dragged him, still kissing him, through the other side into the garden he grew up in.

  Isa pulled his shirt over his head, then her dress, pressing against him. “You’re my knight. My heart belongs to you. The past shaped the man you’ve become. You’re the one who always comes to my rescue, the one who builds me up. Without you, I’m nothing.”

  “Don’t, Isa. You made me better.”

  “You made me so much more. Now stop doubting yourself and the past. Just love me.”

  “I love you more than life itself.” He splayed his hand over her flat stomach and finally smiled. “And Kiernan. My boy, our boy, and I’m never going to let either of you down.”

  “Then let the past stay in the past because my future is standing in front of me now.”

  “Mine too.” He took her to the ground, and she opened his pants. Then he was in her, making love to her. She rolled him to his back, rising over him, her hands over his chest as she rocked her hips in circles.

  He sat up, delving his fingers into her hair. “Love you, Isa.” He lifted her, moving forward to pin her against the tree, driving deeper as she clung to him, wrapped around his body. He was so deep he felt all the way to her soul.

  The flowers grew around them as they made love, their passion driving them further. The whole garden brightened, magic dancing through, and it flowed from them both, not just Isa. Him too.

  She pulled his mouth back to hers, kissing him deep. As the grass spawned flowers that swept up around them, blowing on the breeze, teasing their bodies as they brushed past. Toryn thrust twice more and came, taking Isa with him as he fell back, pulling her into his arms as he looked around, then laughed.

  “What did you do, Isa?”

  She trailed her fingers over the rose scar on his chest. “Not me, you. That was all you, Toryn. You breathed life into the garden.”

  “We did, not me alone. Without you, it wouldn’t have happened.” He rolled until she was under him, smiling back.

  “That’s better. No more doubting. We’re meant for each other. Nothing will ever change that.”

  He dropped his lips to hers, finally letting go of the pain that surfaced every time he thought of this place or the castle.

  Chapter 29

  E
very time Saressa drank the ichor, it became more tolerable, but she needed it every other day. The movement in her belly had slowed. Maybe the concoction was killing the monsters within.

  She could only hope the little bastards suffered. There had been no luck in finding the midwife who could remove them. And she was tempted to burn them out of her belly, only she was immune to fire. She could cut them out, but wasn’t sure what would ensure their death. They carried her magic after all. Neither water or fire would harm them.

  Kasai dropped down beside Saressa. “The castle is warded against Gebiet and myself. You too, I assume. How will you know what announcement is made?”

  “Easy.” She waved her hand and a pool formed in the floor. A few whispered words pulled up the throne room in the Air Realm.

  No one was there yet, but it was still early.

  “What happens when they announce who has what realm?”

  Saressa smirked. “I’ll bring the Castle of Flames down around them.”

  “Tell us how to help,” Kasai asked, a cruel smile on her face.

  She glanced up at Gebiet. “An earthquake, coupled with an eruption of this volcano should wipe out any chance anyone restores the castle.”

  “That can be done,” Gebiet promised. “Though how long before they make a move on the castle?”

  “With the way he can move from place to place, there’s no telling. Though I imagine he’ll want to claim it soon.”

  “We’ll be ready when they make an appearance. And wouldn’t it be nice if he brought his queen with him?”

  Saressa smirked. He had suffered for his choices. In order to stop the Earth Realm from destroying the Fire Realm, Tiewaz had bargained to force Aeryana into marrying his son. Which she did. Keeping Reance and Aeryana apart for centuries.

  Crushing them now that they were reunited would only sweeten her revenge.

  * * * *

  Isadora paced the floor of Shenanigans. Once again, it was time to take some of her friends, not as many as before, but plenty, to witness the Elder Guardians’ announcement.