Storm Mistress

by Rivers, Brandy L

  “Always,” she promised, laying her head on his arm and snuggling closer. “Besides, you can’t lie to me, so I sort of have to.”

  Oh, but he could withhold information. His chest ached at the look on her face in the vision.

  “When do you have to leave? And when am I meeting them?” she asked with a glance at the bathroom door.

  One corner of his mouth lifted. “I have enough time for a shower. I’ll confirm what time you need to be at the Monsoon.”

  She nodded as she bounced from the bed. “Hurry up, my knight.”

  * * * *

  After a shower to remember, Isa stood in her closet looking through her clothes for the most unprincess-like outfit she could find.

  She pulled out a pair of soft leather pants, boots, and a corseted tank. Then she grabbed her favorite sweater and rubbed her face against the soft yarn. The black garment was open down the front and felt great to snuggle in while still being sexy. Toryn had given it to her for a birthday years ago. He told her it was special.

  His hands closed over her shoulder. “That is from Faerie. The creature looks a lot like a llama, but comes in more colors.”

  “One day, maybe you can show me.”

  He pressed a kiss to her shoulder. “When you’re ready.”

  She turned, a half-smile on her lips. “I don’t want to lose myself. I’m afraid if I go to Faerie, they’ll try to make me something I’m not.”

  “Who?”

  “Everyone,” she whispered, looking away.

  “They may try, but they’ll never succeed. I can’t see you settling to be anyone other than you.” He kissed her softly before nodding to her purse. “Morrigan and Sammy will be at the Monsoon shortly. You should go.”

  “Be safe.”

  “Scotty will be there soon. He’ll bring you to me.”

  A bad feeling crept into her gut.

  Trust, I trust Toryn completely.

  She put on a brave smile. “I can’t wait.”

  * * * *

  Aeremaius paced his office where he’d spent the night. Preston Emrys had the Council scour his home, and no doubt found footage as well as photographs of his intimate sessions. It was a wonder they hadn’t checked the security firm.

  Tiffany wasn’t his first plaything in the human world, but would be the last. Once he had Isadora under lock and key, which shouldn’t be long, he would have the one prize he craved.

  He already knew where to find her. He happened to catch the text Toryn sent to Scotty earlier. Now he needed to show up at the Monsoon before the blubbering nymph did.

  He went to his balcony, stepped beyond the wards, and dispersed into the air to float down to the wretched diner Isa and Toryn frequented. Taking Scotty’s form, he stepped inside and spotted Isadora in the company of two unfamiliar faces.

  Chapter 42

  Once again, Isadora felt eyes on her. When she looked back, she found Alenathos in his human form, following at a distance. Her skin crawled as she stepped into the Monsoon.

  Morrigan and Sammy were in the corner booth. He looked more surfer boy for the moment. She was sporting dark hair with blue streaks and heavy make-up, going for Goth and nailing it.

  Isadora couldn’t help marveling at the odd pair they made, but they both wore lazy, yet satisfied, smiles that came with lots of between the sheets activity.

  Jason gave her a curious look as she sat down opposite Morrigan and Sammy. The waiter cocked a brow. “Why do you look as if you’re missing someone?”

  “Toryn had a few errands to run. I’m joining my friends for breakfast before meeting him.”

  Sammy gave her his own peculiar look. “Errands? You didn’t kick lover boy out of your bed, did you?”

  Isa shook her head. “Errands, honestly, that’s all.”

  Morrigan frowned and ran her fingers across the table. “I don’t like that he left you alone.”

  “I trust him. Scotty will come to pick me up when it’s time. Don’t stress so much.”

  Morrigan closed her eyes and took a long, slow breath. “I don’t like it.”

  “Don’t have to. He’s a big boy. He can take care of himself.”

  Isadora looked up and watched Scotty walk in, but it wasn’t Scotty. “Shit,” she whispered harshly, “where the fuck is Scotty?”

  Morrigan glanced over and back quickly.

  Taking a more thorough look, without stripping the glamour, she saw Remus’ face hidden underneath and looked back to Morrigan as he approached.

  Isa pulled her phone out, and under the table, sent a text to Scotty. At the Monsoon with asshole wearing your face.

  “So where’s Toryn?” He even sounded like Scotty, which made her skin crawl.

  Isa answered with a sugar-sweet smile. “One of your clients had an emergency and insisted he come over.”

  “I didn’t hear about that. I bet you miss him.”

  She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “He won’t be gone long.”

  Morrigan tossed a glance at Jason who was on his way over, but he quickly switched directions to go to another table.

  “When is he meeting you?” Remus asked, sneering.

  “Don’t know. Depends on the job, right?”

  He finally looked over at Morrigan and Sammy who hadn’t said a word yet. “Who are your friends?”

  Isa smiled. “Meg and Sean, this is Scotty.”

  He nodded, and Isa looked to the restroom. “You’ll have to excuse me. I need the ladies room.”

  Remus sighed, but moved, letting her up. Isa saw Jason hanging out by the hall, looking baffled.

  Isa looked back to see Morrigan smile mischievously as she leaned over and touched Remus. He slumped to the side and Morrigan winked at her.

  Jason cleared his throat. “I don’t know how, but Scotty is both,” his brow arched as he shook his head, “under the table, and out in the alley. Does he have an evil twin I don’t know about?”

  “Something like that. Look, I’m sorry, here’s a tip. Don’t argue. I’m going to be skipping brunch.”

  He nodded. “All righty then.”

  Isa slipped past him and out the back door.

  Scotty grabbed her shoulders and she looked into his big brown eyes. His hat was pulled low. He pulled her toward his SUV. “We need to go.”

  She climbed in and over the driver seat, then crouched to the floor when she caught a glimpse of Zamal coming around the corner.

  “Shit. What’s going on?” she squeaked as Scotty took off down the road.

  Ignoring her question, he asked, “Where is Toryn?”

  Isa slid into her seat. Scotty turned onto another road as she clicked her belt into place. Focusing on him, she attempted to strip his glamour, on the off-chance she was wrong.

  He squirmed in his seat, a laugh bubbling free. “Knock it off. It’s really me.” He handed her his phone with her text still on the screen.

  “Sorry, had to make sure. Morrigan and Sammy are in there. They put Remus to sleep. He looked like you and probably planned to leave with me.”

  “Morrigan won’t need help. Sammy will be fine. So where is Toryn?”

  “I thought you knew.”

  “No clue. I got your text right after Toryn sent one telling me to pick you up.”

  “Well fuck me, what’s going on?” She twisted the ends of her hair as she sat back.

  “I was hoping you had answers.”

  “Toryn was acting weird this morning. Intense, like he was scared. He said you’d pick me up and take me to him.”

  Isa’s phone started buzzing. Frowning, she answered with a nervous, “Hello?”

  Morrigan sounded amused. “Remus should stay unconscious for the next few hours. Don’t worry about Jason. He doesn’t remember a thing other than Zamal picking up Remus who was passed out drunk under the table.”

  “Thank you. Sorry I ditched you but I knew you could handle him.” Or she had hoped.

  “Please, make sure my son isn’t getting himself into trouble.”r />
  Isa had a sinking feeling in her gut. “I’ll do what I can.” She hung up.

  “You okay?” Scotty asked.

  “Will be, after we figure out what’s going on. I hate that he’s not here with me. I know he’s close, and safe.”

  “I remember what it was like be apart from my mate.” Scotty stared at the road as he headed toward the freeway.

  His phone pinged, and he nodded to it. “Can you check it?”

  She pulled up the newest text from Toryn. “Alki. Bring Isa,” she read.

  “Shit,” she gasped, her hand landing on the dash as she turned toward Scott. “Oh fuck, what is he doing?”

  “Trying to keep you safe and happy,” Scotty answered grimly.

  “You okay?” Isa asked.

  “I have a feeling he’s making a deal with Alenathos.”

  “The creature who tore your bond apart?” she asked softly.

  “I used to think that, but I’ve come to the conclusion Saressa used him against me. He’s in the same position I was, but unable to resist her orders. I feel bad for him, sort of.”

  “What’s he going to do?”

  “It’s not going to be good.”

  Something happened. Pain tore through her gut, causing her to double over and clutch her abdomen. It wasn’t her pain, or blood, she felt spill down her body.

  “We need to find him,” she cried. “Now! Please, fucking now!”

  Toryn was fading, even as Scotty punched the gas tearing through the streets, his knuckles white. “He’ll be okay, Isa. It won’t be for nothing. Toryn would never leave you unprotected.”

  The pain wasn’t real, but it sure as hell felt like it. Tears rolled down her face as she whimpered, trying to breathe. All she could smell was ocean air and copper. The waves lapped at the shore, seagulls sang, but everything was going black.

  “What’s happening?” Isa whispered, rubbing at her eyes.

  “You’re the one tied to him,” Scotty snapped back.

  “He’s hurt. Bad. He’s fading.”

  The SUV came to a stop and Isa all but fell out of the vehicle. She ran the direction of Toryn’s pull. Her vision was clearing by the time she saw Toryn lying there in a bloody mess.

  There wasn’t a single other person on the normally busy beach. It was eerily silent.

  Isa screamed, “Toryn!” She collapsed beside him and stared down in horror at the gaping wound displaying his innards.

  He made a sound and she met his cloudy, pain-filled eyes. “Why?” she whispered as she tried to cover the torn skin.

  “You will save me,” he croaked.

  Her laugh was pained as she closed her eyes and tried to push healing energy at him.

  A hissing laugh surrounded them. “I knew you didn’t love him, princess.”

  Her eyes flared open, and all she saw was light as she refocused her energy on Toryn’s ruined stomach. The light was too bright to see. Instead, she felt his skin mending, his breath becoming steady.

  Toryn caught her face as he sat up. “Told you.”

  Isa shook him off, leapt to her feet and stepped over Toryn as she caught sight of the monster who nearly took her knight. She called the elements to her as her long strides ate up the distance.

  Rain fell around her, but she remembered the sun moments ago. Didn’t matter, she was going to kill a dragon. Magic danced over her body. “You’ve made a grave mistake!”

  “I needed to know how much you really loved him,” Alenathos hissed. “I had to know the lengths you would go to save your mate. It was the only way to trust you.”

  She raised her hands and tiny clusters of sand lifted into the air, spinning, gaining mass as they grew to tire-sized boulders dancing around her. Electricity arced up and down her body, the fire crackling over her limbs as the rain fell harder and the wind swirled around her.

  “You tried to kill him to find out how much I love him? What gives you that right?”

  Toryn shouted, “Isadora, please, let it go. He’ll help us now.”

  “Is that so?” Her power distorted her voice. “You’ll bring evidence to put an end to Remus and Henroyld’s plan?”

  Alenathos laughed coldly. “Under one condition.”

  She lifted her hands to the sky, letting lightning from the dark clouds meet her fingers and dance over her. “And that would be?” she screamed, ready to kill the dragon, knowing she could.

  “Break Saressa’s spell. Bind me to you. I know it won’t be today. You’ll learn how soon enough. Promise me this and I’ll help you bring Henroyld and Aeremaius down.”

  He shifted back into the giant water serpent before diving back into the water.

  * * * *

  Toryn climbed to his feet, feeling steadier than he imagined possible. Healing usually mended wounds, but left one weak. He felt fine moments after lying at death’s door.

  It was hard to see Isa through the sandstorm swirling around her. Rain was falling, boulders swirled, lighting and fire danced over her, and silver light poured from her eyes as she marched toward Alenathos.

  The dragon had the sense to dive into the water where he could escape the initial brunt of the Storm Mistress’ fury.

  Scotty called his name as Toryn walked forward, through the maelstrom. He pulled Isa into his arms.

  “He tried to kill you,” she growled, the power reverberating in her voice.

  “He’ll help you now. It was only a test, but I knew you’d save me. It was the only way.”

  “I’m going to kill that fucking dragon.” Her breaths came in great gasps, but she didn’t turn to him. He felt the pain in her voice. “I thought I was losing you.”

  Toryn spun her around and took her hands, placing them over his mended stomach. “I’m fine. Thanks to you.” He caught her chin and pulled her eyes to his as he pressed her palm over his chest. “My heart beats because of you, Princess.”

  The anger faded, but tears filled her eyes. “You shouldn’t have gambled with your life. I’ll make Alenathos pay for that.”

  Toryn shook his head, a cautious smile on his face. “I think he’s properly afraid now. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to make him pay while he serves you.”

  Far from the shore, he saw Alenathos slithering across the water, waiting for something.

  Isa turned, her eyes narrowed as the silver light flashed brighter. “You come through for me, and I’ll find a way to break the spell. But if you ever touch Toryn again, I will kill you.”

  Alenathos saluted before diving under to swim away.

  She turned back to Toryn, her fury renewed. “Do we really need him? I would rather cockblock him and do this without the damned dragon if he thinks he can threaten your life to get what he wants. I will happily prove the bastard wrong.”

  “We need him. He has witnessed plenty of deeds from both Aeremaius and Henroyld, and he can basically play them back for your mother. Irrefutable proof.”

  “Fine.” She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. The light faded, the sand dropping in wet piles around her as the boulders crumbled. The fire and electricity died out with the wind. Her hair fell around her in a tangled mess.

  “I’m sorry, Isa,” he whispered.

  Her eyes flashed with anger when she opened them. “Don’t ever scare me like that again. I felt your pain, I felt you dying. I felt it! And there was nothing I could do.”

  “You saved me. You, no one else. Keep that in mind.”

  “I shouldn’t have had to. I can’t heal. I… fuck, what if I failed, what if I couldn’t?” Her tears rolled down her face. “I couldn’t even heal a twisted ankle.”

  “Remember what I told you? Sometimes it has to be life or death before you can do any healing. That’s what you did. You saved my life, and now I’m fine.”

  “Can we go home now? I… I need to make sure you’re really okay.”

  Toryn scooped her up, and she squawked, “Hey, you were just dying on the ground.”

  “Thanks to you, I’m completely fi
ne.”

  Scotty stared wide-eyed. “Hey man, you’re lucky she isn’t whooping your ass. She felt your injury, it was freaking me the fuck out.”

  “That wasn’t my intention,” Toryn answered. “Really, it wasn’t. I didn’t have much choice.”

  “No more talking about it,” Isa insisted as he stood her up in front of his car. “I don’t want to hear it. If I think about it I am going to freak out. So let it go, please.”

  Scotty cleared his throat. “Toryn should know that Remus tried to impersonate me at the Monsoon, and Zamal was driving around, probably the getaway car.”

  Isa crossed her arms over her chest and glared back at Scotty. “I didn’t fall for the glamour. I slipped out before Remus had a chance to do anything, and then you showed up with the perfect timing.”

  “I can’t wait until Remus gets what’s coming to him,” Toryn said.

  Isa took a look at Toryn. “At least there’s time to clean you up before we go to the meeting.”

  He opened the door for her, and she climbed in. She hadn’t noticed the blood coating her hands yet, or the fact there was blood on her pants and sweater. There was a good chance she would be angry all over again when she noticed.

  Toryn shot Scotty a look. “Thank you for bringing her. I can’t repay you.”

  “No need. I still owe you. We are nowhere near even, old friend.”

  “Even if you had to see Alenathos.”

  Scotty shrugged. “It wasn’t his fault, Toryn. That was all Saressa.”

  “I won’t ask you to come out to the Old House.”

  “If you need me, call. You know I’ll deal with the consequences.”

  “You won’t have to,” Toryn promised, before moving around his Maserati to climb in beside Isa.

  Chapter 43

  The image of Toryn bleeding out in the sand wouldn’t leave Isadora. Her heart raced, her breath ragged as she futilely tried to blot out the memory. It was her new nightmare. Worse than the hellhound, worse than the dragon shooting a stream of fire at Toryn.