Storm Mistress

by Rivers, Brandy L

  “Aeryana is the ruling figure, not Henroyld. So, regardless of your actual father, you would still inherit the kingdom.” Toryn made a leap in logic. “Henroyld and Remus could share power if she was removed from the throne. I’m beginning to think Remus was sent here to confirm their suspicions about your father’s identity.”

  Isa snorted. “What? Why couldn’t they do a DNA test?”

  “Not that simple. Our blood deteriorates outside our bodies too quickly to analyze. It’s been tried, but they can’t get a read. It comes back as blank data.”

  “Really?” She shook her head. “Don’t get me wrong. I believe you, but wow. Talk about crazy. So how do you know for sure?”

  “No way for anyone but your mother, and you, to know for sure. The awakening reveals everything to you, but sometimes it takes a while to grasp all the details. It’s like having access to a library containing the history of everyone in your family. You may never get through every book, but you have all the resources.”

  “Okay,” she answered slowly.

  “But your flames and the rain outside while we were together means Henroyld can’t be your father.”

  “I didn’t cause the rain,” Isa insisted.

  One dark eyebrow rose. “You did, Princess. That was all you. It’s still clear and sunny. That was you. The earth shook, and not figuratively, that was you. The whole storm outside, was you.”

  “Okay, okay.” Laying her head back, she turned toward him. “So the flame was a give-away.”

  “Appears so.” He squeezed her hand.

  “What happened to Reance?” Or rather, what did Toryn think happened? She knew Reance was the one who watched over her during her early years. Isa was afraid to tell Toryn, in case Reance had since passed. She hadn’t seen her father since the day Toryn walked into her life ten years before.

  “Before you were born, he died on a hunting trip, while I was on a mission that turned out to be a wild goose chase.” His hands flexed on the wheel as he took a deep breath. “Hellhounds found and killed Reance in his weakened state.” Toryn wiped the back of his hand across his face. “That necklace I gave you last week was his. Aeryana made sure to give it to me when I came back, knowing we were close.” He half-laughed, but it wasn’t happy. “Maybe I should have figured it out before now, but I never guessed you were his child.”

  Some of the darker deeds Toryn committed filtered through her memory, but nothing bad enough to color her opinion of the man. If anything, it only made her believe he was a good guy in a bad situation. He always found the best way to deal with an assignment.

  She grinned. “At least you aren’t my uncle.”

  Rubbing the back of his neck, he asked. “You know more about Remus, don’t you?”

  Several flashbacks slammed into her, leaving her nauseous and even angrier. She wasn’t ready to delve into that, probably never would be. “Information first, and then we’ll talk about what I know. Let me process, wrap my head around the facts swirling through my mind.” Preferably she could completely abolish anything to do with Remus.

  He nodded, but didn’t say a word as he took her hand. Isa stared out the window, not really seeing anything, too lost in her own thoughts as he drove through the mountain pass.

  Chapter 21

  Somewhere along the way, there was another tug, a familiar pull, but it was so much stronger than Isa remembered, and definitely not corrupted. Not like her tie to Remus.

  Their destination was a club for Others, so it stood to reason that Reance could be there. If he was, she had a million questions to ask.

  Toryn pulled into a warehouse parking lot in the middle of a dry and desolate field. Upon a closer look, it warped into a fancy nightclub complete with flashing lights, and a water feature built into the front of the building.

  He squeezed her hand. “Ready?”

  Unsure of the answer, she nodded and climbed out of the car. Pretending confidence she didn’t have, Isa strutted up to the door. With a wink back at Toryn, she warned, “Things are about to get interesting.”

  His brow wrinkled in confusion even as he watched her hips sashay side-to-side.

  He shook his head and trotted to catch up. “What do you know?” he whispered.

  “Nothing certain.” She stepped through the door. There was an honest to god halfling sitting on the stool, before a shimmery black veil.

  The halfling hopped off his perch and sniffed her. “Mmm, I haven’t had the pleasure, Storm Mistress. Your kind are extremely rare. It has been eons since anyone has heard from one.”

  Her gaze slid to Toryn, who nodded. Looking down, she smiled coyly, bent over, and whispered in his ear, “Then please, do keep the secret for me.”

  He glanced up her dress and then at her cleavage with a wink and a smirk. “With pleasure.” He nodded toward Toryn and climbed back up on his perch.

  They stepped through the curtain and her brow ached as she leaned toward Toryn. “Their feet really are hairy.”

  He nodded, but his eyes locked on the emerald gaze of Reance, her supposedly dead father and his old friend.

  “Well,” she murmured, “he is certainly a pretty boy if I ever saw one.” His hair glittered as if it were spun from rubies and his pearlescent skin gave him a divine appearance. Even his chocolate suede leather pants and vest seemed otherworldly, which made more sense than it ever had.

  Toryn stood there, stunned.

  Isa took his arm, pulling him into motion as he stared at Reance who couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. She wished she had told Toryn she knew, but hadn’t known how.

  Reance stood up regally and started toward them. He came to a stop right in front of her and bowed so low he could have kissed her toes. She stood there, baffled, unsure of what to say. Nothing had changed. He was still her guardian angel from youth.

  “Hello, Father,” she managed awkwardly.

  He fell to his knees, as if worshipping her.

  Embarrassed, she whispered, “Please, stand up.” She looked around and saw every eye in the place on them, including the two cyclops in the corner. They were strangely beautiful. “This is so surreal,” she uttered under her breath.

  Reance stood in a fluid movement and she understood why her mother had fallen in love with his feline grace. It must be something natural to the Fire Kingdom because Toryn also moved like a jungle cat.

  Her father’s voice was smooth as honey, “Isadora, you are more than any father could hope for.” He smiled at her with unwavering adoration.

  She wasn’t sure how to respond.

  Reance turned to Toryn, and gripped his shoulder. “I am truly sorry I had to let you think me dead, my dear friend. Thank you for protecting Isadora all these years. Aeryana sent word you were assigned to protect my daughter on the king’s orders. I was finally able to leave her in peace.”

  Slightly startled, Toryn looked at her.

  She shrugged. “He was always nearby, watching over me.”

  Toryn put his arm around her, drawing her close with a pained look.

  Isa gave Toryn a reassuring smile. “At least until you showed up.”

  “I’m afraid I frightened her on more than a few occasions,” Reance added sadly.

  “You were never the one to frighten me.” Isa offered a tight smile and took another look around. They certainly had the attention of everyone in the place. “Can we take this reunion somewhere quiet?”

  “Of course. Right this way,” Reance offered, sweeping his arm to the side. They followed him into a private room.

  * * * *

  Toryn could feel Isa’s anxiety ratcheting up. She was still glowing like a million candles burned under her skin. Of course, every Other was staring at her. Hell, normal humans would notice her radiance at this point.

  Reance led them into the same room in which Toryn had met the queen’s emissary countless times over the last six years, since moving to Washington. He wasn’t angry by the betrayal. More hurt, though he understood the reason. His gift o
f sight was nowhere near as strong as Reance’s.

  “Have a seat, we can talk. I’m sure you have many questions.” Reance looked first to Isadora, then Toryn. “Especially you, old friend.”

  Toryn nodded, but Isa was still staring. At first she was very cavalier, but now she’d gone quiet.

  “Why did you leave her?” Toryn asked, unable to avoid the accusation in his voice.

  “Ah, yes. I had to once you came into her life. I watched closely until someone who would put her first was in place. You. I knew Aeremaius wasn’t far behind, and I couldn’t risk being found. All but Aeryana believe me to be dead.”

  “You left Isadora vulnerable,” Toryn insisted coldly.

  “No. He really didn’t,” Isa defended Reance. “He was consistently there before anything horrible happened. He always stepped in to stop anyone who would have harmed me.”

  “Indeed. I couldn’t be a formal part of her life without causing suspicion, so I did what I could. She has always been a strong force. At seven, she singlehandedly killed a hellhound with one impressive bolt. She would have been fine if it hadn’t landed on her, causing her to hit her head. I carried Isadora home and left her on a hammock as if nothing happened, after healing the knot and a few scratches.”

  “A hellhound?” Toryn whispered in astonishment. “Here, for Isadora specifically?”

  “Afraid so.”

  Isa blinked at her father. “That wasn’t a dream? That beast was real?”

  Ah, so that made sense. The big nightmare creature she kept dreaming of was a hellhound. Thankfully, Reance was watching over her. Now, more than ever, he was wondering who was plotting against Isadora, or rather, to use her.

  “Afraid not, Isadora.” Reance took her hand, kissing it.

  She ran the fingers of her free hand over the hem of her dress. “I always thought of you as my guardian angel.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you who I was, that I couldn’t be a real part of your life. I was protecting you and your mother both. Now, with your awakening, and the knowledge that comes with it, you better understand the danger. Perhaps the only safe places for you are the Moonlight or Sun Citadels.”

  “No!” Isadora stood up, shaking her head vehemently. “Oh no, slow the hell down. I’m me, nothing more. Under no circumstances will I be some weapon for the king or a plaything for my demented uncle. I saw too much of what that sick shit wants to do, and I will not marry him under any circumstance. If he so much as touches me, I will kill that piece of trash. And I sure as hell don’t want to be a princess. I want to spend my life being me, free of expectations from a world that sent me away.”

  “Isa,” Toryn spoke her name softly, taking her hand.

  She came back and sat beside him with a frown.

  “I’ll do everything I can to keep you here as long as possible,” Toryn reassured.

  There were tears in Reance’s eyes though, and her anger crumpled.

  Reance told her, “I’m afraid that’s not possible, my dear. If I could help you avoid Faerie forever, I would give my last breath to ensure that. There is more at stake than you know, but only you can choose the path. I have every confidence you will make the right decision.”

  Toryn would have done anything to wipe away her despair. She sat there, sucking in one breath after another, looking lost.

  * * * *

  Isadora’s head swirled with a thousand thoughts. None of them useful. She shot a glare at Toryn. “This the information you came for?”

  Toryn ran his free hand through his hair. “As much as it pleases me to find my oldest friend alive and well, I thought we were meeting the queen’s emissary.”

  “You’re early then. It will be nearly another hour before he arrives.” With a gentle touch, Reance turned her face back to him. “I am sorry, Isadora. We all wind up back in Faerie at some point. Though I don’t believe you will spend much time there until you’re ready.” He smiled thoughtfully, if sadly.

  Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and offered her father what reassurance she could. “Sorry. I really am happy you are real, and my father. I’m simply overwhelmed right now.”

  “Are you hungry, Isadora? I could have the chef make something you would be accustomed to.”

  One inquisitive eyebrow arched. “I’m up for trying anything, except the wine. That first time was too much for me.”

  Reance gave Toryn a meaningful look.

  Toryn held his hands up defensively. “This was right after her near-death experience, and she had learned a lot more than she could easily digest. She needed to unwind and you don’t know how stubborn she can be.”

  Reance smiled in amusement. “Well, in that case, you should try a small amount. I’m sure you would have a less erratic experience since the awakening.” Toryn and Reance exchanged another look, but she didn’t catch whatever was communicated. “Excuse me a moment, I’ll order something fitting.” He dipped his head at Toryn, who laughed heartily. Reance walked out of the room, leaving them in silence.

  Toryn whispered in her ear, “You knew he was here?”

  She gulped, nodding slowly. “I strongly suspected, but I wasn’t sure. This is all new. What if I was wrong? What if he’d since died? I didn’t want to open an old wound.”

  Amusement danced through the concern on his face. “But what do you feel?”

  She lifted a single shoulder in a shrug. “I felt a familiar connection. I haven’t felt it in years, except that it’s about a thousand times stronger now.”

  “That’s a relief.” He smiled softly. “At least we have a head start.” She saw the suspicion in his gaze as he looked toward the main lounge. “Something is coming, we can’t stay long.”

  She wasn’t even sure how to answer.

  “Can we trust Reance?” Toryn’s tone was all too serious, and it rattled her to her core.

  “You’ve been friends for centuries.” Her eyes slid shut as she shook her head. “I don’t even know how to answer that.”

  He placed a hand over her heart. “What do you feel here?”

  She took a slow breath. “I believe so. He doesn’t give off that same undercurrent of evil Remus does.” When she opened her eyes, she found Toryn watching her intently, a slight smile on his lips. “I feel hope from him.” With a shrug, she glanced back at the door. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Toryn. I’m not used to being an emotional barometer.”

  Reance chuckled as he walked back in and sat down across from her. “Toryn’s looking out for you. He’s your protector now, no longer mine. He’s believed me dead for all of your life. Frankly, it pleases me he will always put you first.”

  “He always has.” Isa took Toryn’s hand and leaned her head against his shoulder.

  A pleased expression filled Reance’s features, before his emerald eyes darkened. “Did you feel a sort of push in a particular direction from Remus?”

  Isa couldn’t help but grimace. “Yes, but the connection is weaker than ours. Remus feels wrong, off…” She turned to Toryn, her brow wrinkling. “I think his presence set off the storm.”

  Toryn grinned, but shook his head. “He wasn’t the cause.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Then what was? Because I got flashes of Remus doing things…” She shuddered, blocking those images. “He’s not touching me. I will barbeque his fingers, and send ten gagillion watts of lightening up his schlong before that ever happens.”

  Amusement danced across Toryn’s face, even as he gritted his teeth. “He had nothing to do with the storm. That was you coming into your power.”

  “When I panicked and backed off you?” Her laugh was tight. “No. It wasn’t. I felt him, and his memories flooded my head.”

  Reance fisted his hands so tight his knuckles turned white. “Please tell me that knave has never touched Isadora.”

  Toryn’s attention shifted to Reance. He wore a look of cold satisfaction. “Just once, and he only meant to touch her face, moments after her awakening. Isa had so much powe
r coursing through her she knocked him clear across the room when she slapped his hand away. I’m sure he will be feeling it for a while. Not to mention, he was bleeding from the mouth.”

  A ghostly hand carrying a transparent tray of food entered her vision. Isa looked up to find an ethereal phasing through everything in his path.

  Her first thought, How are we going to eat food that’s not really there?

  As soon as the ethereal took his hand away, the tray and its contents materialized on the table. Isa blinked in astonishment as she watched him float through the closed doorway. And as absurd as that was, it was strangely familiar.

  Reance ignored her reaction. “I’m relieved. I will not stand for that cretin marrying my daughter, much less using her to fulfil his twisted desires.”

  “Trust me, I will never let him,” Toryn vowed vehemently.

  “Not an issue. I’ll make sure he gets the point,” she promised.

  One corner of Toryn’s mouth lifted as he turned to her. “I have no doubt, but I would take great pleasure in proving he can’t touch you.”

  A chill ran down her spine. This harsher, bloodthirsty version of Toryn was even sexier than the loyal, protective friend he’d always been.

  Reance cleared his throat. “Isadora, how are you adjusting to your new reality?”

  She took a deep breath and answered thoughtfully, “I’ve always known I’m… different. That there is a veil between what humans know and everything else. I’ve never been normal, but I didn’t have a name for what I am or what I can do. Now I do.”

  Her father’s laugh was like tinkling bells, and he turned his blatant curiosity at Toryn. “This storm—I have to know. What was it like?”

  Isa blushed, but Toryn squeezed her hand with a wicked grin that turned her on. “It was amazing. She conjured a lightning storm, and a small earthquake. The cabin trembled, the sky lit up, thunder crashed, and the rain was coming down in sheets. Her body was covered in blue lightning and silver flames.”