The Paranormal Research and Rescue Institute Books 1-3: Books 1-3 in the Paranormal Research and Rescue Institute Series

by Lora Edwards

  Ovidia felt her heart pounding in her chest. Was she ready for this, to re-commit to him? Was it just attraction? Was she just accessible now and when they were back he would forget about her again?

  “I can see all the thoughts running through your brain, and it hurts to know that my actions put those doubts in your mind. I am not just attracted to you, although there is a heavy dose of that. I love everything about you—your obsession with fashion, your love of dancing, and also the extreme berserker warrior in you, and how loyal you are. I think I have loved you all my life. Seeing you now and how you have changed, it just made me fall more in love with you. I love you, Vid, and I want to pledge forever to you if you are willing to have me,” he said, holding her hands in his.

  Ovidia stared at him for a long moment. He was giving her everything she wanted. They were different people, and she now realized that the time they had spent apart had been good for them, had allowed them to grow into the people they were meant to be. They had been thrown together again, and it was hard for her not to see the hands of the fates in it. She would take the leap of faith and pledge herself to him again, and if he broke her heart, well, she knew where to hide a body.

  “Erik, I feel the same. I have had a chance to see that I was pushing my wants and desires on you and ignoring anything you wanted that didn’t fit into my master plan. We are different now, and I’m grateful for the time we spent apart. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life warring with you, and loving you, and having children with you.”

  Erik grabbed her and before she could continue, she found his mouth fused to hers. She felt her world tilt on its axis, but it felt right. She felt a piece of herself she hadn’t known was missing click back into place.

  “If you two are done clinging to each other, I thought you might want to know that we’re arriving at the Siren island.” Blackbeard’s voice cut through the fog that surrounded them. They had been so wrapped up in each other that neither of them had felt the boat slow and dock.

  Erik just nodded at the man over Ovidia’s shoulder, and she lay her head on his chest. There would be time later to celebrate their return to each other, but for the time being, there was the mission to finish.

  Returning to her quarters, Ovidia changed into an outfit more fitting than the pirate clothing she had worn throughout the voyage. After pulling out the dress of swirling silks she had been given during her first trip and twisting her hair into an elegant but simple French twist, she slipped shoes on and completed the look with minimal makeup.

  “Take that Teag—I can get ready in a short time if needed,” Ovidia said to the empty room before leaving the ship to greet the Siren king.

  Ovidia met Delphine in the hallway and they left the boat arm in arm to a cheering crowd of Sirens on the sand.

  Seriously, are there any unattractive people among them? Ovidia thought as she looked at the crowd there to greet them.

  Upon noticing Ovidia’s wide-eyed stare, Delphine commented, “We are all beautiful to humans and those like them—it is part of our survival instinct.”

  “It is like being dropped into a movie set. Everyone here is just…gorgeous,” Ovidia told her.

  “On the outside, yes, but we have our dangerous members and our jerks, just like any other race. Don’t let the beauty fool you—some of the people here are fierce warriors, much like you. I am sure there has been a time or two where you have used your looks to appear harmless when people have underestimated the intelligence and the fierce skills hiding behind your enchanting face and lush body,” Delphine told her as they walked closer to the crowd.

  Ovidia frowned; she didn’t know how she felt about the other woman telling her she had a lush body, but what she said was true. She had used her looks and men’s attraction to her to her advantage in the past—they didn’t see the wit and the danger until it was too late. She had dispatched many an enemy, courtier, or too eager man in a club in that manner.

  “Touché, girlfriend,” Ovidia commented, and then they were overwhelmed with people. Delphine was swept away by the welcoming crowd, leaving Ovidia standing alone, looking after her and smiling.

  “Such a beautiful lady shouldn’t be left alone,” Erik said as he came up and took her hand. “Allow me to escort you to the castle.”

  Ovidia rolled her eyes at his exaggerated chivalrous manner but leaned her head on his shoulder as they began the short walk from the docks up to the castle. There would be a feast in Delphine’s honor that evening, Ovidia was sure of it, and she was looking forward to sampling the delicious food the chefs there would have to offer. She would enjoy this small reprieve before they returned to the real world and went back to their own time to plot and plan for how they would stop Stanton.

  “I would like to propose a toast to Ovidia, Erik, Blackbeard, and the crew of the Queen Anne’s Revenge for bringing Delphine back to her home. We will be forever grateful for your help, and if you ever require any aid in the future, know the Sirens are at your disposal.” The king’s voice rang out through the great hall to much cheering and shouts of agreement from those assembled.

  Ovidia, Erik, and Blackbeard stood and bowed slightly. It looked as if the whole of the Siren nation had turned out for the banquet; Ovidia was surprised by how many there were. She had learned a bit about the Sirens from Delphine, including that a mated pair only had one, possibly two children, and then were rendered sterile. Sirens lived long, long lives, and if not for these precautions, their island would have been overrun.

  The party continued until late into the night. The Sirens were glad to have their princess back in their midst, and Ovidia, never one to turn down the chance to party, danced the hours away, being swung around the floor by a dazzling array of attractive men, much to her delight and Erik’s chagrin.

  “All right Cinderella, I think it’s time to turn back into a pumpkin,” he said, scooping her up as she finished a dance with a Siren who Erik thought had gotten a bit too handsy during the dance.

  “But I’m not tired,” Ovidia said, enjoying the buzz she had going from the truly excellent wine the Sirens had provided for the celebration. She belied that statement by laying her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes.

  “It’s a good thing Valkyries don’t get hungover or you would be hurting come morning,” Erik said before noticing that he was talking to himself as she was fast asleep.

  He carried her to the chamber they had been assigned; neither had argued when they had been given one room to share. Erik lay her on the bed, just looking down at her face. His heart swelled; he was glad to have her back in his life. He had felt a piece missing during the time they had been apart. He had wanted to be sure before approaching her again, to make sure this was what he wanted, because he knew for all her fierceness, flippant comments, and flirting, deep down, Ovidia was a forever kind of girl. He looked down at her sleeping and knew he was ready to give her that forever.

  He undressed her then slipped her between the cool sheets, and she sighed then rolled over. He undressed himself and joined her, loving the feeling of having her wrapped in his arms as he drifted off to sleep.

  Ovidia woke slowly, feeling warm and safe. She opened her eyes and smiled at the sleeping figure of Erik beside her. It felt good to lie beside him and know she would wake up to that same view for the rest of her life. Now was the time to reawaken the passion that had flowed between them always. She woke him and showed him with her passion how much she had missed him and the promise of what a life together could be.

  Delphine paced her room, looking out at the sparkling seas then around at the room that was so familiar to her. She was restless, more restless than she could ever remember being. It was time to talk with her father about the possibility of leaving the island, of joining the others on the hunt for Stanton. She could not abide sitting on the island knowing her friends had put their lives on the line, knowing she was doing nothing while they hunted the man who wanted to destroy them all.

  Delphine
squared her shoulders and opened the door, walking straight into Blackbeard.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I need to watch where I’m going,” she said, stepping back and away from him.

  “Not a problem, princess. Where are you going in such a hurry?”

  “Why do you wear this form here when you are safe and can assume your true form,” she asked, avoiding his question. She was not quite ready to divulge her plans to others, not until she talked it over with her father, her king.

  “It takes a lot of energy to shift back and forth from one form to the other, and my crew are here. Even though they won’t remember this time they spend on the island, I would like to give them something reassuring during this difficult time. There is always the chance that one will remember, as Michael did,” he said.

  Delphine smiled at the mention of the pirate. She and Amora had been good friends most of their lives, and it did her heart good to come back home and find that Amora had found her true love. She had visited with them during the celebration the previous evening, and the love that shined out of the two of them was real and precious. It had made her feel a bit less guilty about the thoughts she was having about leaving. Her dearest friend now had someone else to confide in and fuss over, and it gave Delphine just one more reason to seek out her own adventures.

  “Now, care to tell me where you’re going princess,” he asked again. The man was not letting go of this idea.

  “First of all, there is no need for you to call me princess—Delphine is fine. And, if you must know, I have an important matter to discuss with my father.”

  Blackbeard smiled and bowed. “Far be it from me to get in the way of important royal business. I will let you get on your way…princess.” He tipped his hat and sauntered away.

  Delphine put the infuriating pirate out of her mind; she had bigger fish to fry. She was not sure how her father was going to take this conversation, and he needed to understand that she was not asking his permission. She was going whether he believed it was a good idea or not.

  She knocked on the double doors leading to the study.

  “Enter.” She heard her father’s loud booming voice from within. She pushed the doors open and saw her father and the queen standing at the desk. His arm was around her waist, and the queen was giggling at something he’d said.

  Delphine smiled at the couple. They had been through so much, including her mother separating them for a time, and it was always good to see that their love had come back full force. Her father had worked hard to win her back, and to her credit, she had accepted Delphine as her own child, never once treating her differently, loving her despite the fact that it was her mother who had driven her from the love of her life.

  Delphine would always be eternally grateful for the love and kindness of this woman.

  “Mother, Father,” she said to announce her presence.

  “Delphine!” Iona said, coming to her and wrapping her arms around her. “We are so grateful to have you home safe and sound. We were so worried.”

  Delphine looked into the face of the woman who was the only mother she could remember. “Thank you for loving me,” she said unexpectedly.

  Iona frowned. “Of course, Delphine. I am your mother, and that is what mothers do. I’m sure you’re here to talk with your father, so I will leave you to talk.”

  “Actually, what I have to say concerns both of you, so can you stay,” Delphine asked.

  Iona nodded and looked worried, returning to her position next to the king and putting her hand on his shoulder for support.

  “It’s nothing bad, I just have made a decision I want to discuss with you.” She wiped sweaty hands on the skirt of her dress.

  “You want to join the institute and find the man who did this to you,” the king said in a flat voice.

  “How did you know?”

  He blew out a resigned sigh. “Darling girl, I am your father. I have known you your entire life, and there has always been a sense of restlessness about you. As much as this kidnapping frightened me, it had a positive side effect: it got you off of this island and out into the world.” Tears shimmered in his eyes.

  “No, Merrik, we cannot let her go—we just got her back,” Iona said as she let the tears stream down her face.

  He patted his wife’s hand. She was so much more than he deserved, and he tried every day to make up for his grave mistake, though he could not find it in himself to regret it as it had given him his strong, independent daughter.

  “Yes, Iona, my dear, we can. It is time for Delphine to leave and become what she will in the world. I always knew this day would come, knew she would not settle for life on our little island,” he said, speaking to his wife but looking at his daughter. “Go my darling, with our blessing. Know that this will always be your home and there will always be a place here for you if you need.” The tears he wouldn’t shed were rough in his voice.

  He had taken the wind out of her sails. She had been prepared for a battle, and there had been none.

  “What if he comes here? What if he comes and I am not here to help protect our kind,” she said, voicing the one fear that kept her from truly wanting to leave.

  “My girl, we have some of the best warriors among our men and women. We have skills other than our beauty and our voices—you have seen our soldiers train. If he comes for us, we will be ready,” Merrik said in a fierce voice. “The other beings of the sea will rise up to help us in our fight if need be.”

  “But Father, he has potions, and he is devious,” she said, still fretting.

  “Delphine, we have magic makers of our own, and we will fight. We have strong allies. Stop worrying and coming up with excuses. Go, find yourself. There is a whole world waiting for you out there,” he said. “I have something for you.” He pulled a small object out of his desk and handed it to her.

  It gleamed iridescent in the light. It looked from the outside like a plain abalone shell, but when she opened it, she saw a small stained glass mosaic of her island on the top of the shell with the very room they stood in on the bottom.

  She looked at her father, confused.

  “It is spelled to look like just an objet d’art, but it is a communication system, similar to the one the pirate Blackbeard used to communicate with the institute. Utter the incantation aperto instituto dialogo and it will open a line of communication to the island, in case you are ever not able to use your telepathy, as we have no idea what that monster has in store. He appeared to not know of your ability to contact us, but he will learn more and more, and this is just a precaution,” he explained, smiling at her again. “Be safe and be happy my girl, and don’t forget to check in once in a while,” he said sternly.

  Delphine ran around the desk and threw herself in his arms, weeping. She was sad but excited to go, and grateful that he understood her need to leave.

  “Thank you Father,” she whispered before hugging her mother once again. She then left the room; she had much to do and little time to do it in. The ship was prepared to sail in just a few hours, and she needed to be on it.

  “I am going to miss this little island,” Ovidia told Erik as she packed her valise. The Sirens had generously told her to choose whichever of the items that had been stocked in her room to take with her as a thank you for rescuing the princess. Ovidia had taken them at their word and now possessed several beautiful silk dresses, a few pieces of jewelry, and shoes—lots of shoes. She hugged the last pair to her chest before inserting them into the bag. There was a pair of gold stilettos covered with a bas-relief design of curving lines with a shell at the back of each heel. The most amazing part was the instep: on the sole, there was a painted scene of a sunset over the ocean, the vivid colors of the sky mirrored in the gentle waves of the ocean. A beautiful Siren faced the sea, her shiny purple tail trailing in the water as she rested on a coral reef.

  “Vid, do you really need that many more pairs of shoes,” Erik asked, eyeing the bulging bag warily. The hanging bag next to it already conta
ined the dresses, and a beautiful box inlaid with abalone shells held the jewels she had chosen.

  “Erik, shoes separate us from the lower mammals, and they make my legs look fantastic, which should be enough reason for you,” she said, gently placing the last pair in the bag and giving him a saucy grin over her shoulder.

  He would give her a thousand pairs of new shoes if it made her happy. He just liked to see the sparkle in her eyes when she was angry—it made her even more beautiful.

  Erik grabbed the small bag he had brought from the boat and turned to leave.

  As they closed the door and turned around, they saw Delphine standing there with a small valise in her hand.

  “Delphine, we were just coming to find you,” Ovidia said, reaching over and giving her a hug. “We will miss you. I hope someday we can come back and visit your beautiful island,” Ovidia said, pulling back.

  “Maybe on our honeymoon,” Erik said, smiling at Ovidia, who blushed a bit.

  “There is no need for goodbyes, at least not to me. I am joining you. I contacted Armand at the institute and he said he would be glad to have me. I’m going to help you hunt down Stanton,” she said.

  Ovidia smiled broadly; she’d been hoping the valise the Siren held in her hands meant she was returning with them. “Good for you, girl,” Ovidia said, winking before taking Delphine’s arm and walking down the hall with her. “We are going to have such fun hunting the bad guys.” Ovidia’s eyes sparkled at the thought.

  “Vid does love a good fight,” Erik confirmed.

  “Really? I know you’re a Valkyrie, but I just can’t see it,” Delphine said.

  “My lifelong friend Teagan, the researcher—she said the same thing. Then she saw me fight,” Ovidia said, her smile turning feral and her eyes glowing, the sword at her side glowing as well, the outline a flash that quickly faded.

  “On second thought, maybe I can,” Delphine said, eyeing Ovidia warily and startling a laugh out of Erik.