Perfect Misfits

by Mackie, Lawna

  “You can say that again,” she agreed, and then called for Spitter. “Spitter, you can come out. The gargoyles won’t hurt you.”

  He didn’t appear right away, but eventually stuck his head out from the side of a tree. “They are scary, Tempest.”

  “That’s not polite. I used to think you were scary.”

  He slowly proceeded forward, coming to stand beside her.

  Ryder growled, and Spitter jumped behind her, grabbing onto her legs.

  This time, she glared at Ryder. “That was not polite of you, either.”

  His mouth fell open. “He’s touching you.”

  “Yes, it appears this troll can touch me, as well. Can you put your wings away so you don’t look so intimidating?”

  Both of them did as she asked, folding their wings up against their backs. “Tempest, I believe I know where the second key is,” Ryder stated.

  She frowned. “What keys?”

  He waved his hand at her chest. “Jewels.”

  Her eyes widened. “Where is it?”

  “Fedor has them in an ice cabinet within the mountain.”

  She shivered outwardly. The time had come. “I see.”

  “I tried to grab it, but I couldn’t.”

  Spitter jumped into the conversation. “Why didn’t you kill him?”

  “Because killing Fedor would kill Tempest,” he growled.

  Her heart sank. Could he be kidding? He must be kidding. She couldn’t be linked to Fedor that way. Finding her voice, she spoke. “Are you serious?”

  “Unfortunately, I am.”

  None of it mattered; she’d already made up her mind. “I wish to see Fedor,” she demanded, holding her chin high.

  Ryder glared at her. “Definitely not!”

  She crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. “You can take us, or I’ll walk, myself.”

  “Have you lost your mind? If you walk in there, you’ll be giving him exactly what he wants.”

  “This is my decision, Ryder, not yours.”

  “Perhaps she can retrieve the jewel,” Ashton chimed in.

  “Yes, she did before,” Spitter said with excitement.

  Ryder stormed away from them, letting out a giant roar of frustration.

  “Let’s go,” he practically yelled.

  “Wait.” She stopped him. “I need Rogue.” Her eyes darted to Spitter, who for a moment looked like he could cry. “And Spitter.”

  “You are the most infuriating pixie I’ve ever met,” Ryder spewed. “We don’t need to take them.”

  “You’re wrong, Ryder. I do need them.”

  He spun away from her. “Ashton, can you manage both of them?”

  Ashton groaned outwardly. “You owe me.”

  “Let’s go before I change my mind.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Ryder held Tempest in his arms while they flew from the warmth of the sun to the frigid snow-capped mountain. He pulled her closer, not wanting her to feel the cold, and because there was no place in the world he’d rather her be other than in his arms.

  Something in her demeanor had changed. It happened after they’d made love the last time and she professed her love for him. Inwardly, he scolded himself for being the cold-assed jerk most knew him to be. She hadn’t deserved that, but her response shocked and terrified him. Now he wondered.

  Could I live a somewhat normal life with her back in Levare? Would it be possible?

  The answers were still unclear. However, one fact would remain—when they did leave this hellish place, he would never be able let her go. The thought of her with any other guy brought a tidal wave of emotions washing over him.

  Up ahead, the entrance to the cave shone with a bright light, not at all like only hours before. He circled cautiously.

  The decrepit bastard must be up to something. I don’t like it.

  Fanning his wings wide, he slowed their descent and landed. He continued to hold Tempest, and felt her shiver. “I’ve got you,” he whispered in her ear.

  Ashton landed behind him and placed Rogue’s immobile form on the ice. Spitter jumped from his back and cowered behind his massive leg.

  Ryder squinted, cursing his one eye that took longer than normal to adjust to the light. In the large throne sat Fedor, wearing a heavy red cloak. The arrogant look on the wizard’s face made him want to knock out whatever teeth were left in his mouth.

  “This is bad, Tempest. We should leave now. We can’t stay here,” Spitter said in a hurry, still hiding behind Ashton’s leg.

  Tempest squirmed. “I’m fine, Ryder. Please put me down.”

  He gently set her on the ice packed ground. “I don’t trust him.”

  Fedor stepped from the throne. With his hands clasped behind his back, he moved a few feet closer to them and stopped.

  “I knew you’d return.” He glared at Tempest.

  “I’d never return for you,” she spat.

  Fedor shrugged his shoulders. “Too bad.” Yanking on his robe, he collected it up and moved toward the ice cabinet.

  “You’ve never been in this room, Tempest, but I’m sure you must feel the draw.” He spun and faced them. “Don’t let me stop you.” He spread his arms wide, bowing in front of the cabinet.

  Ryder could feel her heart pounding. “I…what is it?” She moved like a puppet with deliberate steps toward him and the cabinet.

  “Back away from the crystals, Fedor,” Ryder commanded.

  “My pleasure.”

  “Tempest, he’s making this suspiciously easy.”

  She continued forward without hesitation until she reached the glowing ice.

  Ryder moved to her side. “I swear, if this is a trick, I’ll hurt you so bad you’ll wish you could die.”

  Unexpectedly, a bright-red crystal floated forward, twirling in the air.

  “I hope she knows what she’s doing, boss?” Ashton asked.

  Her hands flew to her chest, where she yanked on the collar, ripping the shirt open to expose the mark. Immediately, Ryder cringed, closing his claws over his own scar, which now began to tingle.

  The icicle turned from red to blue to purple, and the intensity of the colors grew all the while it spun faster and faster.

  Tempest closed her eyes and swayed. Ryder placed a hand on her arm. At that moment, the icicle exploded with shards of ice flying in all directions. Everyone ducked, with the exception of Tempest.

  The only thing remaining was a tiny, sparkling, purple jewel. She tilted her head back, and like a magnet to steel, the jewel flew straight into her chest.

  Tempest screamed, and her knees gave out.

  Ryder scooped her into his arms before she could hit the floor. “Tempest, are you okay?” He shook her gently. Her beautiful green eyes opened, and she smiled weakly.

  · · · · ·

  Tempest felt vibrant and powerful. Ryder held her in his arms, and she knew the feelings and pull she had for him and him alone. Her eyes came to rest on his palm. She’d found all the “keys,” as he’d called them. Ryder was the last missing link. As much as the pull inside her body knew he was the last link, she closed her eyes and thought hard about what she was about to do.

  “I’m fine, Ryder. ” She squirmed to touch the ground.

  He stared at her, and his mouth fell open. She looked at Ashton and Spitter who also stared wide-eyed. What were they looking at?

  Staring down at herself, she gasped. Every inch of her body glimmered with silver and gold sparkles. It was absolutely beautiful…she was beautiful.

  Fedor clasped his hands together and licked his lips. “You look more beautiful than I expected.”

  Ryder growled and stepped forward. Immediately, she placed a hand on his giant arm. “Leave him.”

  When Ryder halted, she removed her hand and strode toward Fedor.

  “You are a despicable, revolting excuse for a living creature. I truly wish you were dead. I will no longer have visions if you touch me, and trust my words—if you ever touch me, I will k
ill you myself.”

  “Indeed, you have changed,” Fedor grinned.

  “Let them go. I mean all of them.” She motioned to the cabinet full of other misfit souls like hers.

  “Why would I do that?” He laughed bitterly. “I will not die like Vicasha and Astral did.”

  “Start by freeing Rogue. And that’s not an option. Do it now!” she ordered.

  “No, I don’t think I will.”

  Tempest could feel an energy building inside her, but had no idea what it was. “Let. Him. Go!” she yelled.

  Ryder jumped to Fedor, grabbing him by the neck, and with a giant jump, had him dangling over the ledge.

  Fedor gurgled, saliva drooling from the corners of his mouth. With one hand, he reached into his pocket and removed the blue crystal.

  “Put me…down…or…I drop it.”

  Tempest screeched. “Put him down, Ryder!”

  Ryder threw him to the floor, and Tempest watched while he wallowed around, trying to stand.

  “I’m going to kill him and be done with this,” Ryder declared.

  “No!” Tempest held him back. “He has control of Rogue.”

  Fedor turned to face her. “Let’s make a deal, shall we.”

  She knew what the deal would be. She had since finding the first jewel.

  “Be my wife, and I’ll free Rogue and the others.”

  “Over my dead body!” Ryder jumped at him again.

  “No, Ryder! Leave him be.” Tempest placed herself between the two.

  She swallowed and stared at Ryder. The one being other than Rogue that she loved more than life now stood staring at her as if she’d lost her mind. In all actuality, she may just do that. Ryder would never understand, and there would be no way around this. She choked back a sob and tried to push the tears away.

  “Move out of the way, Tempest,” Ryder spoke with deadly intent.

  “No.” She turned to Fedor. “I’ll do it. Free all the misfits from the hellhole, return Rogue to me, and I’ll…I’ll marry you,” she choked.

  “Are you out of your mind?” Ryder grabbed her by the arms and shook her.

  A lump formed in her throat as she paused, knowing the next string of words would hurt more than anything in the universe. “I don’t want you here, Ryder. Thanks for your help, but I don’t need you anymore. You need to leave us and go back to your regular life. We are from different worlds, Ryder. You don’t belong here.” The words stung; every single one was a lie.

  Ryder staggered backward, but his eyes never left hers. “I don’t believe you. What about what you said earlier?”

  She needed a performance of a lifetime. Crossing her arms, she forced a laugh. “What do I know of love? I only said that because I thought it would be appropriate. Isn’t that what Levarians are supposed to say? This is my world…here on the mountain. It’s all I’ve ever known. I don’t love you.”

  Ryder backed up even farther, staring at her in shock.

  Fedor spoke up. “I’ll free them all, including Rogue, if you’ll marry me.”

  She spun to face him with a smile. “I’ll marry you. Just as soon as you do as you say.”

  Fedor rubbed his hands together and smiled. “You got it, sweetheart.” He hobbled over to Rogue and placed the blue orb between the tiny wings on the animal’s back. Similar to hers, the orb spun, shattered, and disappeared onto his back. “He’ll be back to his normal self in no time.”

  Tempest smiled, already noticing minor differences in Rogue. “What about the others, Fedor?”

  The doors to the cabinet were already open, so he reached up and snapped open a latch holding the roof. Slowly, the large chunk of ice lifted from the top. He removed a large oval-shaped piece of crystal from the very front, and one by one, the icicles lifted into the air and floated to the entrance of the cave. She watched, as the multitudes of ice crystals flew into the sky and disappeared.

  The last crystal made its way over to Spitter. He jumped back, but the crystal landed on his head. The transformation was complete. Gone were the warts, beard, and bulbous nose. His feet shank, and he even grew a bit taller. Unable to contain her happiness, she smiled.

  Spitter looked at his hands and down at his feet. The only part of him that seemed disfigured were his ears, which were a tad large, the other deformity was his right leg. It was slightly shorter than the other, causing him to limp.

  “Look at me Tempest! I’m almost normal!”

  She walked to him and bent down. “You are normal, Spitter. Don’t ever think otherwise.”

  Fedor interrupted. “I’ve kept my end. The crystals will find their owners. So when can we be wed?” He drooled, looking at her.

  Her stomach heaved, and she spun away from him, scared she would indeed throw up.

  “Tempest, don’t do this,” Ryder pleaded, pounding his fist against the wall of the cave.

  She couldn’t bear to look at him. She’d made up her mind. Once all the others were free, including Rogue, she’d marry Fedor. Her heart was heavy, and she wondered how she would survive.

  Perhaps I won’t.

  “You can leave, Ryder, but could you please send help to ensure all the misfits are brought back to Levare?” she asked, despondent.

  “If that is your wish.”

  “It is. Spitter, I think you should go to Levare with Ashton and Ryder. I know they will take care of you.”

  “No, Spitter will stay with you.”

  “You are a young boy. I really must insist that you go back to Levare and start living as such.”

  He hung his head. “If you say so.”

  “I do.” Turning on her heel, she made her way into the tunnel, back the only room she’d ever known as home.

  “We’ll marry tomorrow,” she called out without looking back.

  Chapter Twenty

  The emptiness Ryder felt left him in a state of confusion, shock, and anger all at once.

  “Let’s go, Ashton. You can return with the squadron and help bring the misfits back to Levare.” He moved to the entrance of the cave.

  “That’s it…you’re just gonna leave like this.”

  “You heard her. This is what she wants.”

  “She’s lying, Ryder! You know that she doesn’t want to marry that.” He pointed to Fedor.

  “I said let’s go!” Ryder jumped from the ledge, taking off into the sky.

  · · · · ·

  Sleep didn’t come for Tempest; she spent most of the night crying. Her heart was broken, and nothing in the world could fix that. Ryder was gone, and she’d never see him again. How would she go on? Could she escape again? Of course she’d try, once Rogue returned to normal. Then Fedor could no longer control him.

  When daylight broke, Tempest still sat in the same spot staring blankly at the wall. Fedor’s voice broke the silence as he called for her, but it was the sound of Rogue’s growl that caused her to stand and run to him.

  He ran full-out, knocking her down and showering her with kisses. She laughed and hugged him close. “Oh, Rogue, I’ve missed you. I’ve been so worried about you.”

  Finally, he let her up. “Rogue missed you, Tempest. I don’t know where I’ve been.”

  “You don’t need to know. We’re together now, and that’s what matters.” She smiled faintly.

  “Where is the gargoyle?”

  Her smile disappeared. “He had to leave.”

  Rogue sat. “When will he be back?”

  Fedor rounded the corner. “He won’t be back.”

  She barely had a chance to grab Rogue’s collar before he growled and lunged at him. “It’s okay, Rogue. Ryder’s gone, and all the misfits are free, including you.”

  The critter shook his head violently. “What did you do?”

  “We are getting married…now.” Fedor jumped in.

  Again, she pulled him back. “It was for the best, Rogue. I got you freed.”

  He slowly turned to look at her with his sad red eyes.

  What did I do wrong? Rog
ue should be happy to be free.

  The hurt in his eyes pierced her heart like a knife. How much sadness and loss could she take in one day?

  “It’ll be okay, Rogue, I promise,” she encouraged.

  He sat and continued to stare at her. “As long as he’s alive, it will never be okay.”

  He got up and wandered slowly up the tunnel. She followed.

  “We can marry by the throne,” Fedor exclaimed.

  “Rogue, where are you going?” she asked, trying to keep up to him. He didn’t respond.

  Once in the large, open room, Rogue stopped on the ledge, looking out into the snow. “He’ll always use me against you, Tempest. I’ve caused you to agree to his demands,” he said sadly.

  “No. No, you didn’t, Rogue.”

  “You’re stalling. It’s time for us to be wed,” Fedor urged from behind her.

  “You can’t marry him. Rogue won’t let you.”

  “Trust me,” she whispered, “it will all workout.”

  He turned and rubbed his large head up against her body, and licked her cheek with his giant tongue. “Rogue loves you, Tempest.”

  She circled her arms around his neck. “Silly boy. I love you, too.”

  He pulled away from her grip, leaving her to wonder why. A tear rolled down his face. “I won’t let you marry him.” He moved closer to the edge, and her heart stopped as she finally realized his intent.

  “Rogue, come away from there,” she begged.

  “I love you, Tempest.” With those words, he stepped from the ledge. She screamed and ran to the edge. “No! No!” and crumpled to the floor. Rogue had given his life for her—the true meaning of love. Unconditional love.

  Nothing mattered anymore, now that both Ryder and Rogue were gone.

  “Fuck that stupid creature!” Fedor swore. “You will stick to our agreement, you stupid misfit pixie,” he seethed, stalking toward her.

  His voice brought the anger out in her. Sniffling, she stood, equally his height. Her body glittered. “I will do nothing with you, Fedor—not now, not ever! I hate you, you despicable troll!”

  He snagged her by the wrist. “You’re going to give me what I’ve been dreaming of since the day you came here.”

  She twisted and pulled, trying to free herself. Thank the Gods no visions came. “Let go of me!”