Twisted Bonds

by Brandy L Rivers

  She smirked. “Come to kill your mother?”

  “I’ll let Isa deal with her.”

  “And me?” she asked.

  “I imagine you’ll want revenge once Preston’s done with Gebiet,” he taunted, waiting for the dragon to make the first move.

  Kasai blew a stream of fire at him, but he burst into flames, absorbing the magic as he advanced, then he dispersed, his flames dancing over her before freezing, sinking through her before pulling away and reforming.

  A scream tore through her as she lumbered toward him, her limbs moving less and less.

  Then she reformed in her human guise on fire, melting the ice. The ocean wasn’t far. Perhaps he could lure her close enough he could dispatch her properly, but he needed to extinguish the flame in her belly first.

  He darted along the path leading toward the water. The bushes on either side went up in flames as her footfalls drew closer.

  Damn she was fast.

  Kellan burst through the trees and onto the sand.

  Kasai dropped to her knees, clutching at her chest. “Gebiet!” She shifted again, flying toward where Preston and Robert were dealing with the earth dragon.

  Reaching toward the water, he pulled. Ice formed in shards that flew at Kasai, embedding itself in her back.

  She roared as her body swung back, diving for him.

  Kellan burst into air, moved over her, and reformed on her shoulders, lying on her neck. Reaching around, he forced the dragon’s mouth open and called the water forth in a wave.

  The water heated, but he quickly countered, freezing it as it started to slide down her throat and ice formed along her scales.

  Again, Kellan dispersed, floating through the ice. He landed on top, standing above her as he brought his hands up.

  That sand pulled her down, burying her as he pulled more sand up, forming boulders he slammed down on the beast, shattering the ice, and the dragon.

  He dropped to his knees before her, pulling in one breath after another.

  Preston ran through the trees and halted. “Damn, glad I’m not her.”

  “Gebiet?” Kellan asked.

  “Gone. Now to make sure Isa and Toryn have Saressa handled.”

  * * * *

  Saressa stood in the living room she’d made to look like her favorite dungeon. She pulled up a vision of Damha, hoping to stop Toryn in his tracks.

  Isa burst through the door, two golden blades in her hands. “No mind games, Saressa.” She lifted her arms and brought them down, dissolving the illusion Saressa had created.

  “You realize you put yourself in every situation you’ve ever found yourself?” Toryn calmly asked, not at all rattled.

  She spun, slashing her hand out, burning his shirt from his body with a spell.

  Her symbol was gone, and in its place was a rose. “How?” she screamed.

  Isa drew closer, and Saressa burst into steam and moved away, reforming behind her.

  Isa spun, a dark smile on her face. “He’s mine. I reclaimed him. You’ve got nothing on me. Had you listened to your brother, you could have lived with Ankou all this time, but you let vengeance rule you.”

  “What are you doing then?” Saressa demanded. “You’re the same as me, Isa. You could turn against your father. Stand by my side. I’d leave your precious mate alone as long as you swear to join me.”

  Isa slashed out one of her blades. It morphed into a whip, flicking through the couch that burst into splinters and shredded fabric as Saressa rolled to the side, out of the way.

  She came up, flinging out her hands, pure fire washing through the house.

  There was a pop, then a blond man stood beside Isa, before they both disappeared.

  Toryn pulled the fire toward him, extinguishing it before the blond came back and removed Toryn in an instant.

  Saressa burst into steam and flew from the house, finding Isa and Toryn on their way to her.

  Isa threw her hands out. Blue bolts of electricity shot forward, ripping through Saressa.

  Her body reformed on her knees, gripping her belly as the beasts within started to tear at her womb, demanding to get out.

  Isa shot forward, the blades in hand.

  Saressa fell back, forcing her hands away, exposing her writhing belly as blood started to seep through the gown where the monsters ate their way through. “Kill them!” she screamed as the pain became unbearable.

  * * * *

  Isa stumbled back as she stared at the tiny black and brown spider legs that poked through where Saressa’s children ate through her to get out.

  When she stood there staring too long, flame burst across Saressa’s hands as she covered her stomach. Tiny wails rose up, joining a symphony of screams, but nothing burned.

  Pushing herself into motion, Isa rushed forward and drove both blades into Saressa’s womb and funneled pure power into her.

  Saressa’s back arched as she screamed out.

  Isa stood and moved to strike Saressa, but Saressa pulled herself away. Isa’s stomach churned with thoughts of Kiernan being lost as those tiny lives were extinguished in the wave of magic left from her mana-blades.

  Toryn rushed forward, sliding on his knees to cover Saressa’s heart and face with his hands. Sparks had joined along his silver flames as he pumped magic into her.

  Isa collapsed on Saressa’s other side, placing her hand over her still moving belly and neck. She transmuted Saressa and her babies into stone.

  Toryn’s flame turned the stone molten as it seeped into the ground.

  Aeryana walked through a portal and placed her hands over the molten rock, not touching, but pushing her own spell into what was left of Saressa.

  She disappeared.

  Isa looked up at Aeryana with a pinched brow. “Tell me you didn’t save her!”

  She shook her head. “No, I ensured she cannot rise again, nor her spawn. Only an Air Fae can disperse into air and reform. I’ve killed another phoenix for good this way. I broke her particles down so far, they can’t ever reform the way they’d been. I only hope Reance forgives me, but I couldn’t let her survive after all she’s done.”

  Isa looked up to see Reance come through the portal. He dropped down behind Aeryana and wrapped his arms around her.

  “It needed to be done. I couldn’t have done it, not even for us.”

  She turned in his arms. “You need to let go of all the guilt, my love. Part of the blame may lay at your feet, but not all. I made the decision to save my kingdom, not you. I kept us apart as much as Saressa did, but I saw no other way to save my people.”

  Reance wiped the tears from Aeryana’s face. “And I saw no other way to save them, or anyone else. You made the right choice. But if I could have helped my sister in the beginning, none of this may have happened.”

  “You can’t change the past, you can only move forward,” she whispered.

  A soft smile pulled at his lips. “With you at my side, I can finally do that.”

  Aeryana placed a kiss on his lips.

  Toryn pulled Isa to a stand and wrapped her in his arms. “You hesitated. Are you all right?”

  Blinking back her own tears, she nodded. “Thought about how much hatred she had to want her own children to die. I don’t ever want to be like that.”

  His mouth covered hers in a tender kiss. “Can’t imagine you ever will.”

  “No longer worried I’m out for blood for the sake of blood?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  Isa nodded at Preston, who walked up to them. “Talk to him. I need to check on Kellan.”

  He dipped his head, and Isa went to her cousin.

  Isa took Kellan’s hands. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry things aren’t different.”

  “I’m sorry my mother did what she has for so long,” he answered, looking into her eyes. A small smile graced his lips. “When you get back from your honeymoon, come see me. We’ll have a family dinner.�
��

  He winked and opened the portal to go back home. She saw the worry on his face.

  Sirens sounded in the distance. Robert let out a sigh. “Looks like we’re on cleanup duty, Preston.”

  Preston shrugged. “Not at all surprising.” He nodded at the rest of them. “Go on, we can get ourselves back home. Keep in touch.”

  Toryn dipped his head. “You got it.”

  Reance walked to Isa and pulled her in for a hug. “Thank you for not making her suffer.”

  Isa shook her head and squeezed back. “I just wanted the threat to end.”

  Reance kissed her head. “When you’re ready, contact us. I love you, Isadora.”

  “Love you, Dad.”

  Reance turned to Toryn. “Take care of our baby.” He opened his own portal.

  Aeryana squeezed Isa. “Thank you. I think your father is finally starting to see the truth. You’ve helped bring us closer together.”

  Reance agreed, “She did. Now go. The fire crews are nearly here.” He took Aeryana through another portal.

  Toryn threaded his fingers through Isa’s. She opened a portal with the other hand, and they stepped into their villa.

  “Let’s get cleaned up.” Toryn scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bathroom, where he deposited her on the counter.

  She caught his hands and pulled them to her belly. “Tell me I’m going to be a better mother than that bitch.”

  He grinned, leaning down to press a kiss between their hands. “Goes without saying, but yes, you will be a better mother. And I shouldn’t have worried about you and blood lust.”

  Pulling him back up, she looked into his eyes. Nothing but his love shone back. “I’m just glad it’s over.”

  “Thank you for coming for me.”

  “I’ll always come.” She pulled at his shirt, and he put her on her feet and quickly stripped her down before allowing her to do the same.

  * * * *

  Relief flowed through Toryn. Saressa was no longer an issue. For now, they were safe. Until someone decided to try to use her or kill her for being too powerful.

  They could worry about that later. Right now, he needed to make love to his mate, the woman to claim his heart and soul. The only person who ever saw all the way into his past and accepted everything he’d done and made him see he wasn’t a broken monster.

  Isa pressed a kiss to his chest, licking the scar she reshaped as she trailed her fingers down the stem and continued to his hard cock.

  She wrapped her hand around the length, slowly stroking as she pushed him toward the shower and reached past to spin the knobs.

  Scooping her up, he carried Isa into the shower and sat her on the bench. Kneeling before her, he ran his thumb through her slick folds.

  She grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him closer, staring into his eyes. “Make love to me.”

  He slid into her while pressing a kiss to her lips. “Making love to you, going to sleep, and tomorrow, we can let the real exploring begin.”

  Chapter 39

  Their honeymoon was over, but Isa and Toryn weren’t out of the phase yet. Probably never would be. She dressed in a slinky black dress that showed off a good portion of her tattoos.

  Toryn came up behind her and slid his hands up her thighs. “So damned sexy, Isa.” He pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

  She turned, finding him in her favorite black pants with the golden zipper and a black silk shirt. Fucking gorgeous as always. “Our first night back,” she murmured.

  “And there’s a welcome home party for us. You ready?”

  She nodded. “Sort of.”

  “Liked having me all to yourself?” he murmured, pulling her against his body.

  “Yeah, but I do miss our friends, and even our family.” She pushed him toward the door. “We should go.”

  Taking her arm, he led her to his car and drove them to Shenanigans.

  Three weeks since she’d last seen everyone. She missed Lana, especially, and hoped whatever Reance worked out meant she could choose who she wanted to be with and stopped holding Lonny at bay. They deserved to be happy.

  Toryn parked and came around to let her out. “Come here, Princess.”

  She leaned up, stealing a kiss, then pulled him inside.

  Cheers greeted them. Home. Faery was a nice place to visit, but this was certainly where she felt she belonged.

  Her parents stood off to the side with Xander, Marielle, and Miles. Isa looked up at Toryn with a cocked brow.

  “Your parents wanted to be here. The rest consider you a friend.”

  A laugh escaped. “I gave Xander hell.”

  “Yeah, but it pushed him to do what needed to be done, and you proved you were there to do the right thing. So, relax and enjoy the party.”

  * * * *

  Kellan made his way to Isa as she took a seat at the bar. “Hey, you. Good trip?”

  “Very. How’s Nyla?”

  “Growing fast. She’s showing signs of some of my magic. I’m not sure if that should be a relief or not.”

  “Why?” Isa asked.

  Zoe slid up next to Kellan. “Because our girl set his pants on fire yesterday. She didn’t mean to.”

  “And I didn’t stay mad. But I need to figure out how to help her control that.”

  Isa nudged at Toryn. “He helped me learn control, and he’ll need practice for Kiernan.”

  Toryn nodded. “I’d be happy to.”

  Zoe grinned. “Maybe Isa and I can go shopping for baby clothes while you two work on helping Nyla gain a little control.”

  “Sounds good,” Kellan answered.

  Zoe pulled Isa aside, and he was curious why, but didn’t argue. He turned to Toryn. “By the way, thank you. The last month has been the most peaceful one I’ve ever had.”

  “Glad to hear that. Still sorry it had to be that way.”

  He shrugged. “Even Reance agrees it’s better this way. The only person I feared might try to save her.”

  “And what of the children?”

  He shuddered. “I refuse to think about it. I know she didn’t want them. And they would have destroyed her anyway.”

  “She was immune to the venom.”

  “They would have eaten her alive. They don’t stop to just get out of the womb. No, they eat everything, even the bones.”

  Toryn shuddered. “There’s an image I could have lived without.”

  Kellan nodded. “Me too. I had nightmares about it. Zoe seems to think I’m starting to get the gift of vision, unwanted or not.”

  “It’s not all bad. It’s helped me be in the right place at the right time.”

  “I just hope I don’t wind up like my mother or Reance. I don’t want to know everything before it comes.”

  “You and Isa both. I doubt I have any reason to fear falling into that pattern.”

  Kellan shook his head, glancing away. “Did you notice you started to gain some extra magic?”

  “Hmm?” Toryn asked.

  “You should train with me, if not Isa. I noticed you pushing fire and lightning at Saressa, and don’t tell me it was all Isa. It wasn’t. That came from you.”

  His brow pinched. “You’re sure?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. You can learn to use the rest. And you may find it helps.”

  “Soon.”

  Isa came back with a funny look on her face.

  “What is it?” Toryn asked.

  Closing the distance, Isa leaned up. “Zoe wants to write a story about Kellan and me. Not exactly showing who we are. I don’t know.”

  Kellan touched her shoulder. “Brent doesn’t want all our secrets out, but he does want people not to fear us.”

  Isa turned toward him and nodded slowly. “Might be worth it.”

  “They’re covering more stories to cut down on some of the misinformation out there.”

  “All right,” Isa answered. “As long as it doesn�
��t put anyone in jeopardy.”

  “It shouldn’t.”

  * * * *

  Jackie pulled Isa aside before she could reply to Zoe. “You look amazing, Isa.”

  “Thank you.” Her forehead wrinkled slightly. “What’s going on?”

  “Just wanted to thank you for saving my parents. I don’t feel so out of place with them now.”

  Isa laughed. “I couldn’t leave them in a dungeon for no reason.”

  Jackie glanced away. “I heard what she did to heal Toryn. That didn’t bother you?”

  Isa shook her head. “Not in the least. Why?”

  She let out a breath. “Making sure. She didn’t know if a little time would change your mind, and you haven’t been over to talk to any of them yet.”

  Isa laughed. “Every time I think I can, someone pulls me aside.” Shaking her head, she shrugged. “I’ll get over there, and I don’t have anything against your mother. She’s pretty amazing. She went through hell to protect her people the best she could.”

  “Yeah, she did. And I wish I had known that sooner.”

  “How’s being a princess?” Isa asked.

  “Not that different as long as I’m here. Though over there, it’s weird to hear that title.”

  “Yeah, which is why I want to stay here, not go back too often. Occasionally, but this is my home.”

  “Me too.”

  * * * *

  Reance watched Isa being swept from one set of friends to the next, Toryn staying close by her. He was proud of the woman she’d become, and Toryn was perfect for her.

  “What is it, love?” Aeryana asked.

  “Realizing how happy I am with letting go of some of the visions.” He turned to her, wrapping Aeryana in his arms. “Seems like everything has improved in Faery.”

  “It has. Now, let’s welcome our daughter and her man home, and we can go home ourselves.”

  He smiled, leading her through the crowd, until he stood in front of Isa. “Please, come to visit soon.”

  Isa smiled. “We will. You taking off?”

  “I am. Your friends want you, and we just saw you a few days ago. But enjoy the party. This is where you belong.”