by Meg Anne
Kragen’s booming laugh startled her out of her thoughts.
“Oh, not you too,” she moaned, thinking back to Ronan’s earlier laughter.
Kragen shrugged. “I just couldn’t help but think Battle of the Storms seems a much more fitting name than Aegaeon’s Challenge. At the very least it’s more straightforward when it comes to what’s expected.”
Helena’s lips quirked. At least one of them didn’t appear worried about tomorrow’s outcome.
“Aegaeon was the first master of Air and Water. He is the one that created the maelstrom,” Joquil informed them.
Timmins gave him a startled look, before sighing deeply. Miranda would have been highly amused to see that she was not the only cause of those sighs.
Helena lifted her brow, smirking. “See. When you know what it means, it’s abundantly clear.”
Kragen grinned. “You really think you would have pieced it all together with only that information?”
She shrugged. “Maybe not, but if I could, why would I need you lot?” His knowing smile grew, causing her to add, “In any event, I still would have figured it out before you!”
Kragen winked and the other men laughed.
There was a loud crash as the door flew open, smashing into the wall.
“Helena!” Ronan roared, rushing inside.
“Mother’s tits!” Von swore, releasing the power he’d already pulled up and had aimed at the door.
Earlier joking aside, they were all still very much on edge.
“I-I know what the challenge entails,” he panted, out of breath from his full sprint back to her.
“So do I,” she informed him.
His rush of words stopped as he stared at her, mouth agape. “How?”
Helena’s eyes slid toward Joquil, but the guarded look he wore halted her words. She would tell Ronan what they’d learned, but not while the wounds were still raw.
“My Circle is cleverer than they appear.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to do it?”
Helena was unsure which of the men had asked the question. Each of them were staring at her intently as they waited for her answer. Except for Von, he alone seemed entirely confident in her ability.
She opened her mouth to respond, but stopped, faltering as she recalled the roiling mass of water and the endless black hole it encircled. Could she? Helena wasn’t so sure. At least, not entirely on her own. The night before she had performed powerful magic, but it was only after she’d woven the threads of their individual power together that she was able to make the earth open up and swallow the acidfall.
Helena forced herself to stand tall before them, pushing all of her fear and doubt away. There was only one answer she could give them, so she did.
“Yes.”
Whether it was true or not remained to be seen.
Chapter Thirteen
They strategized for a while longer, agreeing that Joquil would be their key to soliciting help from the rest of the Night Stalkers, given his inside knowledge. Assuming, of course, they made it through tomorrow unscathed. That much finalized, the others left to find their own rooms and get ready for the evening’s festivities. They’d spoken much longer than she’d thought, leaving her with barely enough time to bathe and get dressed before they were expected downstairs. In fact, Helena was certain they were already late.
She finished brushing her hair and looked longingly at the bed. The last thing she wanted to do the night before facing-off against Anduin was go to another party. Especially considering how the last one had ended. Unfortunately, Helena the woman’s wishes lost out to Helena the Kiri’s duties almost every time. Tonight was no exception.
She sighed, trying to work out the tightness in her shoulders. Knowing what was expected of her tomorrow had her stomach in knots. There was very little, if anything, that she was enjoying about her current predicament. She was here to forge alliances and remind the Storm Forged that they were part of the Chosen. Somehow, destroying their leader didn’t seem to be the best way to go about creating that partnership. It went against everything she believed in and was fighting for in the first place.
Hearing the door to the bathing chamber open, Helena made to turn toward her Mate when she felt him at her back. Von swept her tangle of curls aside and brushed a lingering kiss on the base of her neck. His fingers trailed softly down the side of it before continuing their journey down her shoulder.
Helena shivered, eyes falling closed as she leaned into him. “You’re starting something we don’t have time to finish, Mate,” she protested weakly, loving the feel of him against her. She craved his touch, which was nothing new, but there was something infinitely more desperate about her current need for him. Ever since she’d gotten him back, they’d been thrown into Rowena’s chaos and barely had a chance to enjoy being reunited.
She missed him. Missed the quiet moments when they would curl up together whispering in the darkness, and the way she could surprise him into laughter. But more than anything, Helena missed the feel of him sliding inside her and the way he’d hold her close as she fell apart beneath him. She wanted those moments with him more than she wanted her next breath.
Being with her Mate was easy. It didn’t require effort or complicated decisions like everything else in her life. She was exhausted and overwhelmed by the emotional weight she’d been carrying these last few months. When she was with Von, all she had to do was let go. Right now, Helena was desperate to let everything go.
“That doesn’t mean I can’t take advantage of the time we do have,” he whispered hotly against her skin before biting down on the muscle between her neck and shoulder.
Helena sucked in a breath and arched into Von as he wrapped his other arm around her, pressing his palm flat against her belly. His heat surrounded her and all thoughts of responsibility and politics fled, leaving only Von in their wake.
He continued trailing kisses along the skin exposed by her dress, his fingers working their way down her body. She could feel his fingers resting just above the growing ache between her legs and let out a soft groan. The hand at her shoulder moved across her chest, his hand palming and kneading her breast.
“V-von,” she stuttered in weak protest.
“Helena,” he murmured in her ear before lightly licking the outer shell.
She shivered, his gentle assault making her need for him all-consuming. The fingers splayed over her belly began to flex and slowly gather her skirt. The air felt cool as it kissed the skin of her legs. He worked quickly, until the skirt was bunched about her waist and his warm fingers were pressed directly against her.
Helena had the distant realization that he was using his power to keep her skirt up, but then he began to stroke along her center and there were no conscious thoughts, only need. How he could do this to her, steal her focus and become the center of her world, even on the eve of battle, amazed her. Then again, if these stolen moments were the last they’d have, was there a better way to spend them?
“Von,” she moaned again, arm lifting to wrap around his head and hold him closer; her hips moving desperately in response to his teasing fingers. He was stroking the skin between her legs lightly, never quite hitting the spot that ached to feel him.
The hand at her breast dipped down under the dress, his fingers plucking and twisting her pert nipple. The sensation set off little fireworks behind her eyes and a gasp left her parted lips.
“I love how responsive you are, Mira,” he said.
“O-only for you,” she panted.
She could feel his answering grin, even though she could not see it.
“Do you want me to touch you here,” he asked pressing a slick finger down her center, “or here?” With that he slid his fingers further down and up inside of her.
Helena gasped and arched into him. “Wh-why not both?”
“Good answer,” he chuckled, beginning to work her in earnest.
Her need began to spiral tight inside of her, an arrow flying
toward its target.
There was a loud knock at the door and a voice called, “The Stormbringer requests your presence downstairs, Kiri.”
Helena’s eyes flew open and she tried to squirm away, with a strangled, “Be right there!”
But Von held her tight, growling, “You’re not going anywhere until you come for me, Helena.”
“O-oh,” she moaned, torn between not wanting to be caught and her body’s need.
“Now, Helena,” he demanded, fingers hitting the perfect tempo.
She shattered around him, body clamping down on the fingers that were still moving inside of her.
“That’s it. I want all of it.”
“V-von,” she whispered brokenly as her climax continued.
Another knock sounded at the door. “Kiri?”
Spent and languid, Helena forced her eyes open. “I’ll be right down; I just need a few more minutes.”
“Very well, Kiri. I’ll let the Stormbringer know you are on your way,” the muffled voice replied before the sound of receding footsteps met her ears.
Helena twisted in Von’s arms, her heart still pounding in her chest.
He grinned at her wickedly, taking in her flushed state with satisfaction shining in his gray eyes. “And you said we didn’t have time.”
“It appears I was wrong,” she said breathlessly.
Still grinning, he lifted his fingers to his lips, his eyes never leaving hers. “Mmm,” he murmured as he licked them.
Helena blushed, the erotic sight enough to make her ready for him again. She ran nervous fingers down her unbound hair while simultaneously trying to smooth out her now-rumpled dress.
Von gave her one last, knowing grin before declaring, “Alright, now we can go downstairs.”
“Hopefully it’s not too obvious what made us late. Or was that your intention?” she half-heartedly accused.
“Oh, it was.”
Her eyes flew to his. Von shrugged, entirely unapologetic. “You looked tense. Now you don’t.” He smirked and she felt it throughout her body. “I couldn’t let you go in there looking like you were worried about tomorrow. That’s practically rule number one. Your opponent should never see you doubting yourself. It gives them an advantage and that is the last thing you ever want.”
She studied him for a moment. There was definitely a special kind of logic he was using, but her brain was still too fuzzy for her to pinpoint the flaws in it. Besides, she had to admit she appreciated the results.
“I suppose I can’t argue with that. I certainly feel less tense,” she admitted before adding wryly, “actually, I’m not even sure I remember my name.”
His answering chuckle followed her the entire way downstairs.
Helena had been anticipating an opulent affair in line with the kind of events thrown at the Palace. She could not have been more wrong. The Storm Forged were not an extravagant people. The room was filled with their crowing laughs and the clinking of glasses as they drank deeply, but there were no special adornments or displays of magic. The large stone hall with its wall of windows overlooking the sea, was exactly the same as it had been when they were in there earlier. The only differences were the vibrant splash of color added by the sun as it completed its descent and the additional tables which had been brought in to hold the food and people. Overall the atmosphere was merry but completely relaxed.
Spotting the Circle, Helena and Von went to join them. “Not what you were expecting?” he asked in a subdued tone as he walked beside her.
“Not in the least. With all his talk of ceremony and tradition, I had expected something a bit more…” she trailed off.
“Stuffy?” he provided.
Helena laughed, that was exactly what she had expected: austere expressions, barbed threats hidden behind saccharine smiles, and a lot of posturing. Instead the atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the people around her couldn’t care less about who she was and why she was there. After their welcome this morning, it was a drastic change to say the least.
“Well, you won’t hear me complain about the difference,” she replied.
“Nor I,” he agreed just as they reached the others.
“Now this is my kind of gathering,” Ronan commented, his words echoing their sentiments and making Helena chuckle.
“And mine,” Kragen agreed, slapping him on the back. The two men grinned at each other before sauntering over to a nearby table laden with ale.
The two men were completely oblivious to the female heads which turned to stare at them in their wake. Helena couldn’t fault the women for noticing that they were attractive, well-built warriors. When those same eyes began to ogle Von, however, Helena found herself feeling less understanding. She frowned and forced herself to look away before she caused a scene.
As she did, Helena caught Serena glaring menacingly at one particularly obvious group of admirers. The women had hailed Ronan and Kragen, waylaying them before they made it back to their friends, and were now flirting shamelessly. Kragen was eating up the attention, flexing at the request of a couple women. Ronan looked more uncomfortable, shrugging off one dark-haired woman’s wandering hands.
Feeling her friend’s stare, Serena met her eyes before grinning sheepishly. “Just because he’s not mine, doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to feel protective.”
“Mmhmm,” Helena murmured, wondering if she should intervene on Ronan’s behalf when he excused himself from the group and joined Timmins and Joquil on the other side of the hall.
Nial walked over then and Serena’s entire face lit up. While the blonde beauty still felt a little possessive of her ex-lover, she was very much in love and committed to the younger Holbrooke. Helena couldn’t fault her for that. Mated or not, she was also fiercely protective of those she counted as hers.
Needing to touch Von, she wove her fingers through his.
“Feeling a little territorial yourself?” he asked, not missing the way she had scowled when female eyes turned his way.
Helena bared her teeth in a feral smile that made him laugh. He pulled her toward him, brushing his lips against her forehead. “Have you already forgotten what happened upstairs?”
She blushed, her insides going liquid at the memory. When she looked up at him her aqua eyes were shining. “Why do you think I am feeling the need to gnash my teeth and snarl ‘Mine!’?”
Von brushed a stray curl from her face, his expression tender. “If it makes you feel better, I share the urge.”
It did. They shared a heated look, all others forgotten.
“I wouldn’t mind more parties like this,” Darrin remarked, breaking their moment.
Helena found herself in silent agreement. There was something beautiful in the simplicity of the gathering. At the Palace, the parties were a celebration of the Mother’s magic; here it was a celebration of life.
“There’s nothing stopping us from having our own gatherings like this,” she replied.
“Except for a raging psychopath currently on the loose and slaughtering your people,” Darrin pointed out.
With his words, all of Von’s work to distract her was undone and the full burden of her responsibility returned. Helena frowned, “You know exactly how to kill a mood. Have I ever mentioned that?”
Darrin gave her a sidelong glance, assessing how much of her words were temper versus truth. “If by ‘kill a mood’ you mean remind you that we’re surrounded by danger and cannot afford to lower our guard, then what you’re really saying is I’m good at my job and I thank you for noticing. I did vow to shield you from harm, Helena. Not throw you headlong into it.”
“Where in your job description does it say you get to be a smug bastard?” Helena asked archly.
Darrin burst out laughing. “Ah, Hellion. You didn’t like admitting you were wrong when we were children and it would seem you like it even less now.”
“I’ll have you know that I am almost never wrong. You on the other hand…”
“Pfft,” he sputtered,
“as if there’s anyone here that would buy that.”
Von lifted his brow but didn’t comment. He was used to their antics and knew better than to insert himself in the middle.
Effie just shook her head in amusement, hiding her laughter behind her hand. Sensing that the friendly insults weren’t far away from devolving completely, she pointed her head in the direction of the couples dancing. “Care to dance?”
Darrin was torn, enjoying the almost normal moment with his best friend, but also looking forward to the idea of having a beautiful woman in his arms. It was no surprise which of the two won out. With barely a backward glance, Darrin escorted Effie to the center of the room.
Effie spun around and the look on Darrin’s face as he watched her was a look Helena recognized. It was the same one Von wore when she’d catch him staring at her. Helena’s heart ached as the reality of what was before her took shape.
“He’s falling for her,” Helena said softly.
“Well, the boy isn’t entirely stupid.”
Helena’s lips lifted in a smile but fell just as quickly. “They can never be together, not while he serves in the Circle.”
Von’s voice grew serious, “I know and so does he, Helena. He knows where his duty lies.”
“But does she?” Helena asked sadly, her voice barely more than a whisper as she noted the joy on Effie’s face as Darrin twirled her in his arms again and again. “I don’t want to be the reason he has to break her heart, Von. It isn’t fair to either of them.”
“He knew what he was agreeing to when he made his vows, Helena. All of us do. There are reasons for the rules.”
“Now you sound like Timmins,” she muttered.
