She turned from the cliff face and felt her heart jump in her throat as branches crunched in the woods as if a wrecking ball was coming through them. Isabel exhaled hard when she saw Bodhe appear out of thin air, and his larien ripping through the trees. The magnificent being looked like her Toressa, but with all black feathers. Standing tall with his sword and raka ready, he had a fire in his eyes she’d never seen before. His larien circled in the sky with a scream as Bodhe stared at her.
Holy shit he was a sight…every inch of him was divine godliness in the jeans she loved so much. Leathers kissed the golden skin of his chest, weaving around the muscles that she needed holding her right now. She looked in his burning eyes, and her own began to well up with tears.
“I’m so sorry, Bodhe! It all just came to me. God, I’m an idiot sometimes!”
“I couldn’t say more until I was sure I wasn’t affecting your mother’s sleep. Forgive me for not telling you everything, but I couldn’t jeopardize your happiness. You’re my life, Isabel. And I’ll be damned by all the Gods if I have to. I’m done with this charade that’s been forced on us. You’re coming home now, and don’t expect my mouth to be off you for any great amount of time in the near future. So deal with that the best you can.”
She inhaled sharply as she listened to him and watched as he soared toward her. But less than twenty feet from where she stood it looked like he slammed into a brick wall. A frozen look of crazed anger came over his inhumanly beautiful features as he hissed at her.
Confused and ready to have a Princess-sized meltdown, she screamed. “Really, Bodhe, I said I’m sorry! You don’t have to get all pissed at me over this. Aren’t I entitled to just one mistake after everything? It’s been a long fucking week and I really want to go home…to our room. I want to see the clothes in my closet…and most of all, I want to show you how much I love you, and how sorry I am. I’ve been such an ass. And I’ve been so confused, I’m sorry. You don’t need to spend the rest of your days proving you love me. I need to spend the rest of mine, proving that I love you. And I will, I promise. Please, forgive me.” A tear fell down her face as the enormity of what she nearly threw away hit her. It was always Bodhe. What the hell was she thinking running away from him? They would wake her mother somehow, together. Why hadn’t she trusted him?
“Isabel, shut up. Il weiren meyth,” he growled. “Always. Fly to me, baby. Fly now!”
She tried to run to him, the flying thing not listening to her yet. But she was stopped by a brick wall in the way of a voice and something very sharp on her back.
“Well hello, Beauty. Turn around, slowly, if you value your skin intact.”
Isabel turned, and there on the edge of the cliff was Morkain, not a foot from her with his sword drawn. Before she could even blink he had grabbed her and spun her around to face Bodhe, the metal of his sword biting into her throat now instead of her back. She struggled for a moment before realizing his strong arms had her held like cement.
“Morkain! So help me if you even scratch her with that thing I’m going to skin you alive!”
“I don’t think you’re in any position to make demands right now. Don’t piss me off, or I might slip.”
Anger rolled off Bodhe in hot waves, much like his passion did. Only this was dark and not at all a pleasant sensation against her skin. She felt it welling in her too. Shared emotions. Hmmm, maybe she could use this to her benefit, after all? Lightning struck down as rain began to fall in icy sheets around them, but she had a feeling that none of this was the storm she saw in the distance. It was all her mans’ anger, and dammit if that didn’t turn her on too.
“I can’t even begin to fathom the why of what you did. But I suggest you release me, Morkain, or this is about to get very ugly.”
He tightened his grip on her and put the sharp edge of the sword harder against her neck. When she felt the small stream of blood falling down her throat she thought she was going to see Bodhe actually turn into an animal. His eyes burned, his jaw clenched, and a look she’d never seen before crossed his face. Her lover was gone. In his place was a raging beast that would kill without remorse. She reached into his mind and only hoped that he could hear her. I’m so sorry, Bodhe, please forgive me for what I have to do. Look, the blood moon has risen. I won’t be lost.
He looked at her with confusion in his eyes.
“So, what the hell do you want, asshat?” she said all saccharine sweet. “You can’t have me…obviously. So what in Gods’ name are you after now?”
“I never wanted you, and I suppose you’ve learned that by now. I was foolish, but now all I want is Rhonan back, and one of your Time Sifters will get her for me. That and the crown of Albequen actually, will do.”
Bodhe sucked in air and the fire in his eyes was absolutely smoldering now. He was glowing brightly from the anger, as was she.
“Really, could you two tone it down a notch? It’s starting to bother my eyes.”
“You know that we can’t do that, Morkain, on either account. Bringing back the dead never has the results you want. Plus, the universe makes up for it by killing her again and again, since they no longer belong with the living. There is one exception to that, but since Rhonin died trying to kill my partner, I doubt she fits the criteria for a God overturn. Who will you threaten next time when a boulder falls on your beloved? The Gods themselves?”
Morkain roared so loud that she thought her newly, extremely sensitive ears would burst.
“You will bring a sifter here NOW, or I will cut her throat and you can watch her bleed to death just out of your reach, you disgusting faerie!”
Okay, now she was pissed.
“You know, asshat, you should never call us faeries. It really makes us a baby bit mad. I’m personally a Time Sifter, but since I’m the one that killed that traitorous bitch you call a mate in the first place, I’d hardly agree to bring the female back,” came Amele’s voice from the trees. “Besides, if you continue, I may sift back and break all the rules,” Amele grinned an ice cold grin, “just to throw her ass into the Unseelie Kingdom. I hear Baylor is extremely hungry now that Isabel is gone.”
The blade tightened even more on her neck and she felt a steady stream of blood running down to her chest. She could feel Morkain’s muscles clenching at Amele’s words.
Morkain screamed a word that didn’t translate to anything, but based on his tone and inflection, it definitely was the equivalent of “bitch”…or worse, in Elven. Isabel grimaced, knowing that wasn’t going to go over well with Amele. “When I’m done with Isabel, I’ll be coming for you next.”
“You’re cute, for a lying, murdering, piece of shit…but no, I think not.” A furious wind swept around them as Amele’s features changed, along with her voice. She paled, and her dark hair whipped around blood red lips and her amber eyes were like full, liquid gold. A light that would blind a mortals’ eyes projected outwards from her and Isabel had to squint. If Amele wasn’t her best friend, the sight of her this way would’ve scared the shit out of her. She felt the blade relax against her neck as Morkain took a quick breath.
A voice that wasn’t Amele’s came out of her, booming across the land as if there were subwoofers planted around every inch of dirt for miles. “I am Queen Ameieloreya. First daughter to the realm of the Sidhe and direct descendant of the Gods. You will kneel before me, you imbecile. There is order in chaos yet chaos will reign if you do not lower that sword. I allow this, Elf, make no mistake. Your death came the moment you killed upon this ledge and plotted the death of more innocent lives. The Demons will enjoy you, in the hells.” An icy grin formed on her lips as the wind died down and her amber eyes returned to normal.
Isabel felt the blade shaking against her throat. One shake too hard and this bastard would cut her damn jugular! And holy shit, Amele!
“Mmmmm, I haven’t pulled energy from the old Gods in so long. That was absolutely delicious. Morkain,” she said, stepping a few paces forward, “I would sift to you and stab you my
self if this wasn’t all so very entertaining.”
“Amele! She’s bleeding!” Bodhe heaved. “Morkain, so help me…if you don’t drop that sword I’ll kill you just enough a thousand times before I kill you for real. And I’ll bring Rhonan back to watch before the laws of nature make her death happen again,” Bodhe screamed.
“Oh, don’t worry, dear Nephew. Just watch.” She grinned and gestured her eyes back to Morkain and Isabel.
“She’s right, you know, “ Isabel started, “For a man that wants something that’s so not happening there’s a few things you’re just not going about right with it. Hi Amele!” Isabel smiled. “And holy shit, we’re totally talking about that crazy ass thing you just did later. Wow, and I do mean wow!”
Amele winked at her and Bodhe just continued to spill his anger in waves of ice around them.
“Oh? And what is that, you little faery brat? You know, I thought you were decent, for a faery, but you’re no different. If all of you were dead, the realms would be better off.”
“That was really rude. I’m bypassing it. So, for starters, you should never call us faeries. We really don’t appreciate that term. Second, holding a knife to my throat isn’t going to do you much good since I’m immortal now. Helloooo? Full moon’s a rising.”
He looked up at the blood moon in the sky and tightened his grip on her arms.
“Well, I could sever your head, that would do the trick,” he growled.
“If you sever her head and are not dead by the time I reach you, you will wish you were. I hope you understand that I was not placing idle threats when I advised you about my son earlier. I have heard enough. Guard! Seize that traitor who threatens the Princess of Albequen, now!”
Morkain whipped her around, the damn blade in her throat cutting deeper. On the other side of the cliffs, there was an army, and in the center of them, in a white and gold cloud of material, a woman stood proud, gazing at her. Blond hair was wrapped in a crown of gems and shiny silver metal that twisted and writhed as if it were a part of her. Her eyes flashed black for a moment, and storms were now all around them, from the side of Albequen and here in Loveryn. Wind whipped everywhere, but the woman on the cliffs had a different rhythm to the way her gown billowed. It was as if she was the storm within the storm. Isabel tried to swallow, but the blade was too tight against her throat. She watched as Elves began leaping to the outside of the cliffs, going around so they could get to Morkain. Wow, that was her grandma?
“God, you really didn’t think any of this out, did you? If that’s my grandmother, she looks really, really pissed.” The woman inclined her head at her, a ghost of a smile at her lips for just a moment before Isabel was turned back toward Bodhe and Amele.
“She can’t get to me before I’ve killed you. Lorelei doesn’t scare me, and neither do your little friends over here. Bring me Rhonan, NOW!” he screamed at an amused looking Amele.
“Well now, that’s the third, and most fatal of your flaws in this master scheme, you ever loving piece of shit. I’ve actually been letting you hold me here. I could get free. But first, I want you to tell me about my father.”
“We’ve been over that, already,” he snarled at her, tightening the sword.
“We have. But my father didn’t fall on accident, did he?”
“Afraid not. Too bad he didn’t have faerie wings like your mother.”
Something exploded in the distance and she thought she saw the wisps of blond hair coming through the trees. An unknown anger burned through her entire being.
It was true.
He killed him.
Isabel saw red.
“Well, I’m not so good at flying and I’m terribly afraid of heights, but you’ve left me no choice you murderous bastard. Have fun in the hells, and please give my regards to Rhonan.”
Before he could even respond, her slippered foot cracked down on his shin with a force Amele had to be smiling about. He loosened his grasp just enough so that she could grab her raka from the sheath on her arm and she twisted it into his side. Once mortal, twice dead. But, she wouldn’t need the second strike. If these cliffs could kill an immortal, they would certainly kill just a man—which he was now. She used his shock against him, and then she used all her weight and new immortal strength to throw them both over the edge of the cliff. The panic she saw on her grandmother’s face for a fleeting moment before she began to fall was enough to know she was in trouble.
Okay, so maybe not brilliant, but certainly effective.
“Isabel!” She heard Bodhe scream before she passed out from the whole falling thing.
CHAPTER FORTY
Be Mine
“MY BRAVE, INSANE little warrior.” He said, his hands running through her hair. “What the hell were you thinking?”
She opened her eyes and smiled at the concern on his face. “That you would save me, of course. Oh! And look, you did.” She grinned at him. “So how far down did I get before you swept me up in your arms? I tried to fly but I passed the hell out, which reminds me, I’ve really got to get over my fear of heights at some point. It was the only flaw in what would’ve been a completely flawless plan.”
“I, um, didn’t. Amele sifted to you. She got you before I could. But dammit, if she hadn’t been there it would’ve been me,” he growled with frustration, even as Isabel started laughing.
“Amele saved me?” She laughed even harder.
He scowled at her and she bit her lip; stifling her giggles. “Oh, Bodhe, I’m sorry. You can save me next time, I promise,” she smiled. “And it was you that saved me from the Uglies remember?”
He laughed at her term. “Yes, I remember. I had to nearly rape you to get us home, but yeah, I saved you. Would you believe they were mere seconds from grabbing us when we were whisked back to Loveryn?”
Raising an eyebrow, “That little bit of info I could’ve done without, but yes, I thought I heard him right before we exploded back to Loveryn.”
He laughed a bit more then. “At least you were drunk and mostly oblivious. Talk about performance pressure!”
She giggled and sat up in bed, leaning into his mouth. After a slow, lightning filled kiss she broke away from him. “How long have I been out for?”
“Just a few hours and, ah, there’s something we need to talk about.”
She blinked. “Please, no more bad news. I think I have had enough of that for one day? For a century maybe, but at least one...”
His face got serious then. “No, I think this news you can handle. I hope,” he still looked at her with that serious expression, brows slightly creased with concentration. “Well, first, your mother is freed from her cave and eager to see you awake. Apparently the Elemental was toying with her that she had called upon to make you safe in the first place.”
Isabel’s face grew dark.
“Don’t even think about it, love. The Elementals are Gods and at no time will you ever call upon them. It’s against Sidhe law, and is my only rule. Please?”
“Until I learn more, agreed. What else?”
He scowled at her before continuing, “Well, Amele and our mothers have been working tirelessly in the great hall and would like to see that we have our Lerei nish dei tomorrow. They’re refusing reason even though I tried to tell them that you may not be ready.” He began to pace the room.
“Well, Bodhe, in all my wildest dreams, I never imagined a proposal as sweet and genuine as that! My God! You brought tears to my eyes. How could I ever say no?” She frowned at him and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Isabel! I didn’t mean…I only wanted to…Gods,” he groaned and swiped a hand down his face. “I just thought that you wouldn’t be ready. For the Gods sake, you just jumped off a cliff. I would walk over the fire pits of hell for you, female! But having you with me is enough—I just thought you might need some time before the ceremony of the Day of Light. Horse-shit. This isn’t coming out right at all.” His perfectly chiseled face became red as he paced back and forth in front of her.<
br />
“Did you just say ‘horseshit,’ Bodhe? It’s ‘bullshit,’ and please don’t ever freaking say that again.” She fell back on the bed laughing so hard her sides hurt. “Don’t…just don’t,” she said with tears of laughter running down her face.
He walked over and cupped her face in her hands, trying not to laugh even though his face seemed strained trying not to. “I love you with all that I am, Isabel—Il weiren meyth. I loved you the moment I saw you, and will love you until the end of days. Would you like to join with me for eternity in front of the entire realm tomorrow?”
“Now that, my dear Bodhe, is much better,” she smiled, eyes misting. “I would like nothing more than to tell the entire realm how much I love you.”
He kissed her slowly and fully, pressing against her so that she could feel the rock hard length of him against her again. “We’ll join them in just a little while, but first I need to do something to you,” he said as he grinned wickedly and carried her to the bath. “I need to wash that male’s scent off you and then make you scream again. This time it won’t be as you’re jumping off a cliff.”
She almost got mad, until his mouth came down on her.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Deal With A Blue Devil
“I KNOW WHAT I’m asking of you is extreme, Aunt, and I don’t do so easily. We have to try though. She wasn’t lying. Feiren locked her up in that disgusting hell and she’s innocent! They’ve suffered as none should, for a choice that wasn’t theirs.”
She looked at his burning eyes. “But you know the laws, Bodhe. I can’t just bring her back. It would alter everything that has happened since.”
“Yes I know, but there must be a way. We’ve never been able to see what happened because of the magic that bound them all, and we all assumed that it had been in the very least both Baylor and Delia, and that the girls were a warning to us all. Please, can Nikolai help with this? He’s tricked you, right? Maybe he’d be willing to add this to the deal. They have the power to transform the past and it is possible that he could keep everything the same but not keep Delia and her children there. They were just girls then. Can’t you try?”
Immortal Dreams (Immortal Realms Book 1) Page 33
