Storm Mistress

by Rivers, Brandy L

  “Many,” Aeryana replied, looking to Alenathos. “Henroyld and Aeremaius plotting against my daughter is among the most egregious. Their plans were to use her against me to take the crown.”

  The pictures were replaced with Aeremaius and Henroyld in various places, clearly discussing something. Then pieces of the conversations filled the room. All nefarious plots to abduct her, to force the awakening, to spirit her away to some secluded location in Faerie and torture her until she was ready to do their bidding.

  Henroyld spat, “And what of the evidence that Isadora is not my child? Does that count for nothing?”

  Isa jerked away from Toryn. “Hello, asshole, I’m right here, you piece of shit. I’m not property, and I won’t be used by you, or Aeremaius, blood tie or not.”

  “You hold too much power without a clue what to do with it,” Henroyld responded, his smile growing colder by the second. “You will be better used as a tool because you are even more clueless than your mother.”

  “That is enough!” Aeryana shouted. “There is no law that states it is forbidden to have a single affair, let alone your many. You are sterile, after all. I kept my line going with a man worthy to be the king.”

  “A man who died at my hands,” Henroyld answered.

  “No. I am as alive as my true mate,” Reance retorted as he came through another door hidden behind the tangled vines.

  Henroyld’s dark eyes became solid black as his hands shot out in Isa’s direction.

  Vines wrapped around Isadora’s legs and arms, winding their way up her limbs to her body.

  She looked to Toryn who was concerned, but not freaking out, yet.

  Her gaze bounced back to Henroyld. “You think that’s enough to capture me?”

  “I’ll poison you, bring you back with me where only I have the antidote. It’s a slow poison. You’ll be paralyzed for weeks, a toy, but able to feel.”

  The flowers hadn’t reached her. Isa smirked, pulling all the ambient energy. The vines withered, the wall of ice melted rapidly, and the flames trickling up Toryn’s fingers and hands swirled toward her. The wind cycloned around her while droplets became shards of ice.

  Toryn wisely took a step back. Vines disintegrated to dust, that reformed into boulders, joining the elemental storm surrounding her as lightning danced up and down her body with the flames that followed.

  “So, Henroyld, how do you think I spent my week out of your sight? I was learning how to use my power, preparing for an occasion like this. I won’t be a pawn.”

  * * * *

  Toryn watched as the elements went into a frenzy around Isadora. It was both impressive and frightening. With the Elder Guard in the room, it could be construed as reckless abuse of power if things got out of hand.

  However, her tactic was both protection and an offensive defense. If anyone attempted to attack her, they would be repelled, and possibly injured, or worse.

  Isadora controlled the raging elemental currents, keeping the maelstrom tight around her as she drew power from everything, letting her magic cycle up.

  Pure terror filled Henroyld’s eyes as he realized his mistake. He rushed forward and summoned a wall of earth that surrounded him and Isadora. Then he started to chant the spell to call his dragon.

  “The necklace, Isa, use it,” Toryn shouted, before Remus came charging around the wall with Zamal, who had suddenly appeared.

  Alenathos morphed from man to half-serpent. His torso and arms turning blue, as his legs shifted to a long tail that swiped Zamal’s feet from under him. The dragon held out his hand and an ice trident formed.

  Toryn watched Alenathos thrust the tines through Zamal’s chest before directing a stream of fire at Aeremaius.

  Seizing the opportunity, Aeremaius twirled one hand and a cyclone wrapped around him, shooting the fire up to the ceiling. With the inferno twisting, Toryn focused, making the flames burn hotter.

  Before the flames could eat all the oxygen, Remus appeared before him, coughing. With one flaming hand Toryn caught him by the throat and thrust his other out, clamping down on his crotch.

  Aeremaius screeched as the flames melted skin, and charred clothes. Then he disappeared, the wind leaving through the window carried his screams as he fled.

  He heard Isa’s startled shout and changed direction to break down the wall. Placing both hands on the shield, he directed all the heat he could summon. Reance stepped beside him, offering assistance. Eventually, the wall cracked, spreading like a spider web.

  What he saw nearly stopped him dead, but he pushed past Reance with a wail of agony.

  Chapter 45

  Isadora recognized the spell Henroyld chanted, and heard Toryn’s reminder about the necklace. She glanced back and saw the wall of earth that stretched from the floor to a ridiculously high ceiling about thirty feet in width.

  Oh fuck, Toryn can’t fight this dragon for me.

  The memory of Reance using the very same medallion flooded her mind, and without thinking she wrapped her fingers around the stone and summoned the scarlet fire dragon as the black earth dragon tore through a rift in reality.

  The air rushed as her dragon filled the space beside her. Henroyld dodged the earth dragon and came toward her along the edge of the now tight space.

  The fire dragon reached out to grab the earth dragon’s face, breathing hot orange flame.

  Isadora threw up her shields as she started toward Henroyld.

  “You certainly have learned a lot, princess. That only makes the challenge sweeter, and when I crush you beneath me, you’ll learn your place.”

  The taunt reminded her of Evanastie. All the rage, all the anger boiled up as Henroyld charged at her. Her body dispersed into air, leaving her formless as Henroyld crashed into the earth behind her. The wall cracked as he righted himself. Isa reformed only to have Henroyld drive her to the ground, plunging a dagger into her chest as he went.

  The air in her lungs seemed to ignite as the tissue froze. Her blood churned like lava through her veins.

  Isa pushed at his chest, pulling all the elements to her palms. Shards of ice, spears of earth, tendrils of fire, and bolts of electricity pierced Henroyld’s skin, tearing him apart.

  His body jerked, wrenching the blade deeper, but still missing her heart, as she tried to pull a breath into her lungs. Her shoulder gave out as Henroyld’s bloody corpse was thrown from her.

  Toryn whispered, “Shit, Isa,” before falling to his knees beside her.

  “Hurts,” she croaked. “Not good.”

  She looked down at the long carved-bone blade sticking out from under her breast. “Fuck me.” Her vision swam in a dark mist, the pain flaring hot and cold all at once.

  “This is going to hurt,” he apologized and pulled the dagger out without further warning.

  She screamed, her eyes slamming shut.

  “I can’t fix that,” Toryn explained, his voice breaking.

  “Don’t say that. Please, don’t,” she begged.

  “It’s chimera poison. Only the mystics have the antidote.”

  “No.” she shook her head, grabbing onto his shirt with her good hand.

  “Let go,” Reance told her gently.

  Her eyes blazed as she found his emerald gaze in her cloudy vision. “Fuck that! I’m not leaving Toryn!” she somehow screamed.

  “It’s the only way. We’ll bring him to you on the other side,” Aeryana told her, her diamond eyes swimming next to Reance’s.

  “Princess,” Toryn whispered, “you have to let the bracelet work or you will die and I won’t be able to follow you.”

  “What?” she whispered as a thousand hands tugged her all directions at once. The pain multiplied exponentially and another scream was ripped from her.

  Tears fell down Toryn’s face. “Go. I’ll be there soon. Please, Isa, I’m begging you, go so I can come to you.”

  “How?” she cried, panting. “Can’t let go.”

  “Stop fighting. It’s the only way.”

&nbs
p; He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. As his lips departed, she did as he bid. The fabric of reality tore, sending her through a funnel that compressed, then shot her out, expanding, twisting and tearing before she was slammed into a hard table with a thousand suns throbbing above.

  Closing her eyes she cried out as the pain rushed through her, freezing yet burning, sending her senses into overload.

  Voices were coming, footfalls echoing down the hall. They were speaking in one of the Faerie tongues, older than what most currently spoke. She couldn’t decipher what was being said, but she was fading.

  One voice was clear, speaking to her in a language she knew, but couldn’t place.

  “We’ve been expecting you, princess.” The speaker’s voice was full of life that washed over her, taking some of the pain. Hands pulled at her clothes, examining the wound.

  Isa managed to open her eyes and found crystal blue orbs staring down at her, above deep red lips on the palest skin she’d ever seen.

  “Where am I?” she asked so quietly she wasn’t sure anyone heard.

  The woman gave her the strangest look but went back to tending the wound, pressing her fingers deep. Acute agony flooded her every nerve and then the world went black.

  * * * *

  Aeremaius appeared in a heap on his daughter’s doorstep. Feebly, he thumped his open palm against the door until he heard someone running down the stairs.

  The door flew open and Dacia gasped. He looked up, into Dacia’s dark eyes. “Help,” he croaked. His voice was raw from his badly damaged windpipe.

  “Fuck off. You got yourself into this mess, you’ll get yourself out of it. You’ve never once done a damned thing for me. It was always to benefit you. So go to the fucking abyss!”

  The door slammed shut. Aeremaius dispersed once again, floating through the air where the pain was only a dull reminder of what Toryn had done to him.

  He had allies, but first he had to locate the exiled ones, and in his present state, that would likely prove difficult.

  * * * *

  Alenathos pressed a stone into Toryn’s hand. “Use this once you cross the veil. Tell Fuerah this is the last thing Alenathos will ever ask of her. Request that she take you to the citadel.”

  Before Toryn could respond, the dragon dissipated into a mist that exited through the window.

  “In that case, we won’t be far behind you. My griffin can take us,” Aeryana offered. “You’ll be there faster, but I believe she will need you more than either of us.”

  He nodded, standing to walk toward the pull of the rift. It hardly mattered which part of Faerie he landed in, the dragon would have him at the citadel within hours at most. The antidote would pull her into a sleep for at least that long.

  Toryn scrubbed a hand over his face and turned back to his oldest friend. “I hope she forgives me. She didn’t want the bracer.”

  “Of course she will. She trusts you, not some fae artifact she doesn’t understand.” Reance lifted a hand in a wave.

  Aeryana smiled. “Be swift and banish her fears. She needs you, Toryn.”

  “Yes, your majesty.” He stepped into the rift and was pulled through quickly. Closing his eyes he rubbed the ruby colored stone that heated in his hand.

  Fuerah was known for her temper. The eldest of the fire dragons, and at one point Alenathos’ mate, before Saressa found a way to twist and sunder that bond.

  Air rushed around him as the dragon came. Fuerah’s voice was a rough purr, “What does Alenathos want?”

  “To be free of Saressa.”

  “And what does that have to do with you?”

  Toryn took a long breath, starting to piece things together. “He says this is the last thing he will ever ask of you. He wants you to take me to the Starlight Citadel where his best chance to sever Saressa’s bond currently lies.”

  Her scarlet eyes narrowed and smoke puffed from her nostrils. She stretched her wings and cocked her head. “Another woman to fix his troubles?” She laughed bitterly.

  “Aye, but Isadora is my mate, and Alenathos has done a fine job of ensuring she hates him. On her oath, she’ll free him of his ties to Saressa, but I swear to you Isadora will not seek to control him without dire reason.”

  She sat back on her hunches. “The princess?” She sniffed the air, leaning down to inspect him. “Storm Mistress? She’s Reance’s child. Tell me, did she wrap you around her finger?”

  He dipped his head in a nod. “Though not how Saressa pulled Alenathos’ strings. She captured my heart with her smile, her open personality, her daring nature, and carefree spirit. Isadora does not want to control anyone. She simply wants to live and love her life.”

  “And you truly love her?”

  “Yes, I do love her with everything I am. Please, I beg you, take me to her. She grudgingly promised Alenathos she would sever his ties to Saressa if he would help her gather evidence to prevent her marriage to Aeremaius, and bring Aeremaius and Henroyld to justice for the crimes they have committed. He did, and she will honor her word.”

  “Whether or not Alenathos tells the whole truth, I believe you. Come, I’ll have you there as quickly as the wind shall carry us.”

  Chapter 46

  Toryn sang an old Fire Realm lullaby. He was only a few feet behind Isadora, but she was captivated by the violet and green oceans. The sun setting over the horizon painted a breathtaking view from the cliff.

  She finally turned back to see her heart and soul holding an infant, their infant. He wore the most radiant smile as he looked down at their son.

  Toryn’s hair had grown past his shoulders, there was a light beard on his face that gave him a rugged look. The lavender sterquan blooms on the majestic trees were a gorgeous backdrop.

  “Oh, Isadora, why are you crying?” he asked softly.

  “Because it’s not real. It’s just a dream.”

  “It will be.” He kissed her lips tenderly.

  * * * *

  “Isadora, wake up,” the voice was back, the sweet chimes in that familiar language.

  She managed to open her eyes, finding a siren staring back at her with a soft smile. Familiar, on the edge of memory, but Isa was lost on a cloud, not feeling a thing.

  This time, Isa had the sense to answer in the same language, though it came out a whisper. “Where am I?”

  “You’re at the Starlight Citadel. You were wearing a very old, and powerful artifact that saved your life.”

  “Can you send me back? I need Toryn.” Isa knew she was begging, but didn’t care.

  “First, you must heal. You are too special to send away without providing the antidote. We were able to slow the toxins, but without the treatment, you will die.”

  “How long does the cure take?” she asked, struggling to sit up.

  The woman gave her a sympathetic smile. “An hour. A few at most. That is, once you are ready to drink the tonic.”

  “Bring it on,” Isa replied boldly, managing to get upright. The pain washed back through her and she gripped the edges of the cot. She looked down to find a gown of light gold material. Pressing a hand to where she knew the wound was under her breast, she felt the bandages beneath. She was still mostly numb.

  “Excuse me?” the woman asked, gently touching her chin to raise her gaze.

  “The antidote, please, give it to me. I want to be done with this part as fast as I can. The artifact was not my idea. I simply want to go home. The faster I have the antidote, the faster you can be rid of me.”

  She laughed softly. “You are a willful child, but I see goodness in your heart.”

  “I want Toryn here with me. He promised he was coming.”

  “He will be here,” she assured, raising a small ceramic cup the size of a shot glass. “Toryn will be here before you wake again. You must understand the cure is worse than the poison.”

  Isa half-laughed and gingerly touched the wound. “Can’t be much worse than this.” She snagged the cup. “Bottoms up.”

 
The siren reached for the antidote, but Isa tipped it back, swallowing the foul-smelling liquid in a single gulp. She slammed the glass on the mattress and smiled for half-a-second.

  Her esophagus froze as the antidote slid down. Her hands clutched at her chest as the cold spread through her veins lighting up her nerves. She could hardly breathe as ice crystals formed in her blood then exploded, burning out the toxins.

  Grabbing the cup, the siren stood. “He’ll be here by the time you wake.”

  She fell back, her body spasming as muscles twitched and cramped before unwinding only to snap back to full tension. Soon it was too much and the dark swept in, blotting everything out.

  * * * *

  Hellhounds howled, creatures slithered and hissed. Fae monsters, old nightmares chased her through the dark forest. She’d never seen the dark woods, but she knew she was in hostile territory.

  The Water Castle was her goal. Toryn was being held by Saressa. Scotty was missing, and she was all alone. Not even Alenathos could travel through the forest with her.

  She ran faster, pushing harder, climbing, and vaulting over branches, downed trees, tangles of vines, and huge boulders. The forest seemed to want to keep her out, but she wouldn’t give up.

  And then she heard the crazed laugh and knew her aunt had found her.

  “Aw, the bastard bitch looking for her lost love.” The voice was everywhere, but came from nowhere. “Oh, that is so sweet, but I plan to keep him. Toryn has always been my favorite fantasy.”

  “Where are you?” Isa demanded.

  “Right here, but I don’t think you have what it takes.” The canopy of trees opened to show the woman with tangled red hair and shimmering green eyes. “I don’t think you have what it takes to reclaim your mate.”