by Ophelia Bell
I felt the insistent tug of awareness pulling me toward her but didn’t dare let myself give in to that urge. What I could do was help her focus her power to uncover the truth of this particular dilemma, just as long as it kept her from gravitating back to me.
Recalling the previous day’s conversation with Llyr, I whispered a quick message into the wind, the quickest way to get word to my grandmother that Deva was with me.
“No!” Deva yelled, jolting up out of her seat and springing at me. Her hand clamped around my throat so fast I barely had time to process her movement. Quick as the wind, and just as unpredictable. My sweet girl was coming into her own.
I shook off that thought bitterly and raised my hands to her wrists, scrambling mentally for some way to quell her panic. “You want to know what those creatures are, we need to bring in some help, all right szívem?”
Her head cocked to the side and my gut went ice cold at my slip with the term of endearment. She could not get wise to my secret. Not yet. I’d have to be more careful about my choice of words. As in, stop fucking using them.
But her hand relaxed. “I heard what you whispered: ‘Found her. If our friend still wants her he needs to come.’ Who, exactly, is this friend?”
Prying her hand off my neck, I resisted the urge to topple her into my lap. Instead, I pushed her back a step and looked into her eyes, mentally composing the speech I thought was most likely to ease her into the idea of having her bodyguard back on duty, whether he was following her father’s orders or not.
Before I could get the first word out, a loud pop sounded behind me and my eardrums ached from the sudden change in air pressure. Deva’s eyes went wide and a chill washed down my spine.
“No fucking way! Send him back. I don’t want him here!”
I tightened my grip on her wrists. “Deva, he’s here to help.”
“Let go of me! I can’t fucking trust you, not if he’s the first person you call!” She wrenched her arms away and ran past me into the house, slamming the door behind her.
“That went well,” Llyr’s sardonic smirk was aimed at our wind-swept reflections in the door. All I could see of Deva was the white shape of the shirt she wore barely covering her perfect ass as she ran away. A blast of harsh, cold wind picked up the umbrella, patio table and all, dragged them several feet, and with a splash, dumped the whole assembly into the swimming pool.
16
Deva
How the hell could this have happened? One minute I was on my own, finding my way to understanding myself bit by bit, and now the last two people I wanted to see had just fucking appeared out of thin air. I’d let myself be comforted by Ozzie’s presence, like an idiot. I shouldn’t have been surprised he’d betray my presence to Llyr. My Dionarch father’s assigned bodyguard was no doubt on a mission to find me. He was the only person who had any chance of succeeding. And yet somehow I’d managed to walk right into the easiest place on the planet for them to catch up to me.
Ozzie’s house. Ozzie’s house!
I tore through the living room, flashing back to the snippets of conversation—to Keagan’s griping about pissing off the Maestro. Ozzie was who he’d meant. And the tattoos . . . they clicked into place now, the mirrored Fs shaped like wings. So familiar, though I couldn’t place where I’d seen them. I must have seen the design somewhere. That was their band logo. FF for Fate’s Fools.
Halfway down the hallway, a wall of man stepped into my path and grabbed my arms. “Whoa, princess, what the hell lit your ass on fire?”
“Get me the fuck out of here, Keagan. I can take care of Rohan but you both have to leave with me.”
His dark brows lifted. “Oh yeah? And go where? And what the hell for?”
“Anywhere but here! I will not stay in the same house as them!”
“Don’t let her go,” a deep voice called from across the house as footsteps jogged towards us.
Keagan’s gaze shot behind me. “What’ve you got against the Maestro? And who’s the other guy? Someone you know?” He looked back at me and chuckled. “Ah, someone you know by the way your whole body just warmed up like a furnace.”
A silhouetted figure entered the hallway behind Keagan and wavered there before starting forward. “What the fuck is going on out here?” Rohan asked. “Dude, let go of her.” He reached us and grabbed Keagan’s shoulder. The big ursa gave a shrug and loosened his grip.
“She’s all yours, man. You can deal with the angry elders. I’m betting she’s done something pretty serious if she’s got a goddamn Thiasoi soldier after her, though. It’s your ass.”
“You love my ass,” Rohan retorted, smirking at his friend as he hooked an arm around my waist and held me close.
“Hey, Maestro. Welcome home,” he said in a casual tone. “How was the trip?”
Next to his big body I somehow felt more in control. I glanced up at him, baffled by the easy grin on his face and how the mood in the room suddenly relaxed. Ozzie and Llyr had stopped halfway across the living room and stood there like idiots just smiling back as though they couldn’t help themselves.
“Ah, fuck, Rohan. Don’t pull that shit with me,” Ozzie said, barking out a surprised laugh.
Then I felt the euphoric tingling in my body and my muscles relaxing the way they had the night before after Rohan shared his breath.
“Ro,” I warned. “You don’t have the energy to spare for this.”
“Don’t worry, babe. I just want to find out what they want with you. A little happy smoke won’t hurt.” In a louder voice he said, “I call dibs. She’s mine.”
“What?” I twisted my head around to stare up at him.
“Rohan, she isn’t a fucking prize—some shiny thing for you to collect like you hoard new instruments. You have no idea who she is, do you?” Ozzie called.
“Why don’t you tell me. What is she to you? Or to that jackass?” He jabbed a finger toward Llyr and I had to resist turning around and kissing him on the spot.
The pair blurted out their answers in unison, their words tangling around each other. Ozzie snapped his mouth shut before he finished, but I heard Llyr as clear as day say, “She’s my mate.”
“I am not!” I snapped, though my heart pounded at the revelation that he had even a glimmer of affection for me after how we’d parted three weeks ago.
Rohan’s hand slipped down to my hip and squeezed. “You sure you want to deny him so fast? He’s one powerful satyr judging by his aura. I’ve already resigned myself to sharing you with Keagan. Why not add him to the mix? More power to go around.”
“That isn’t what he’s here for,” Ozzie said, giving Llyr a glare. “Whatever it is you’re chasing, Deva, we want to help. And by the Winds, please don’t tell me you’re fucking both of them.”
“It isn’t any of your business who I fuck. I don’t trust either of you not to send me back home.”
“Who the hell did you piss off?” Keagan asked. I darted a glance to where he leaned against the wall beside us, casually observing the exchange. “Is the Summer Shaman that protective?”
Llyr shook his head. “It isn’t Vrishti I answer to, but her mate. The Dionarch is who sent me, along with one of Deva’s other fathers. You might have heard of him. He goes by Nikhil.”
Keagan let out a hiss and stepped away, moving toward the center of the living room to face me along with Ozzie and Llyr. I guess my dad’s name was enough for Keagan to decide which side to be on. I closed my eyes, hoping Rohan wouldn’t retreat as well.
His arm only held me tighter and he murmured into my ear, “One of your fathers? Exactly how many men am I going to piss off by claiming you when I get my strength back?”
Oh, my sweet golden boy. I wanted to turn around and hug him. “Seven.” I sighed in defeat. “I have seven dads and three moms and all of them probably want me back.”
“What are you?” he asked, and I knew I couldn’t run away and take him with me. Too much of my past was in this room right now, even if it was only rece
nt past. Even though Rohan’s promise to keep me was impossible for him to keep, he still deserved to know everything.
17
Deva
“I suppose we should get this over with,” I said, leading Rohan down into the sunken living room he’d destroyed the day before. I still didn’t quite trust the two new arrivals, but the fact that Llyr hadn’t already drifted me back home suggested they might actually be willing to hear me out, and I was just too tired to object. Deep down I wanted to trust these men. Ozzie had saved my life the year before and Llyr . . . well he’d risked the wrath of my dads, and endured it just to help make sure the ritual to reach the bloodline was a success.
“Deva, can I talk to you alone for a minute?” Ozzie asked, taking a cautious step forward to meet me halfway.
“Fine,” I said. I squeezed Rohan’s arm and extracted myself from him. “I’ll explain everything soon,” I said in a gentle tone and cupped his cheek, leaning up to give him a peck on the lips. When I did, I released another measure of power into him, just enough to see his aura brighten again and his soul’s bleeding slow.
Ozzie was at my side, giving me an odd look when I pulled away from Rohan. He led me down the hall and into the empty room beside Keagan’s.
“Why not your room?” I asked as he shut the door and paced across to the windows.
“What the fuck are you doing with Rohan?” he snapped, ignoring my question.
I scowled, his meaning clear as day. He meant how affectionate we’d been, though I doubt he’d forgotten my explanation about Rohan’s condition.
“Rohan makes me happy.”
“He’s a fucking Gold dragon. They make everyone happy. That’s no excuse to fuck him.”
A million responses went through my head, but before I could find a sane one, I blurted out, “I’m not fucking him, but maybe if you were, you wouldn’t be such a bitter dickhead!”
His head jerked back as if I’d physically smacked him. What the hell had happened to the attentive, caring man who’d saved my life? Had I dreamed all that, too? He darted his gaze to the door, frowning.
“Your dragon powers seem stronger. What you did just now . . . could you always do that? Give power like that?”
“Without fucking, you mean?” I jabbed.
Ozzie closed his eyes and inhaled slowly, then nodded.
“Gaia, when did you become such a prude?” I asked.
“I’m not, except where you’re concerned,” he said, leveling a stare at me. “What I want to know is if you can give so easily, why the hell did you fuck Keagan?”
Shit. He had heard me earlier.
“It’s Prismatic dragon power. I can’t take power without someone reaching Nirvana near me. I can only give. And I think I always could . . . I just never had the need to use that skill. It’s like my other passive abilities.” Like how I know you’re losing your shit right now but I have no idea why.
“Exactly how near to you was Keagan?”
I clenched my eyes shut and shook my head in exasperation. “It’s really none of your business, but I’m sure you’ve already figured that out.”
“Did you force him?” he asked.
Eyes wide, I struggled for a response to that. “Have you seen Keagan? He’s bigger than you!”
“Goddamn it, Deva! Did you sing to him?”
My mouth fell open. What the hell did that have to do with anything? “No! Not that it matters. He’d still hate me if I had. If my songs were that powerful I’d still have . . .”
A knot formed in my throat and I swallowed, darting an infuriated glance away. It was probably better that my songs were as ineffectual as they were to have any lasting effect, especially if Ozzie believed I’d use my voice to force anyone to love me.
Ozzie let out a soft curse and closed the distance between us. He gripped my shoulder gently and pulled me into his arms. “You have me. I will always care about you. I’m sorry for being a bitter dickhead. It just scared the shit out of me when Llyr showed up and said you were missing.”
Tears pricked at my eyes and I sank into the long-missed comfort of his arms. “Gaia, I missed you,” I said, embracing him tightly. He held me for several moments, his warmth merging with mine and his heartbeat quick beneath my ear. The sounds and sensations felt so perfect, reminding me of all the dreams I’d had of being held just like this, though in those dreams we were horizontal with no barriers between our skin.
His breath tickled the top of my head. “I missed you too, Deva. So much.”
The note of almost mournful longing made me tilt my head to look up at him. His blue eyes had clouded, his dark blond brows drawing together as he met my gaze. For the briefest second I was sure he looked at me the way he had in my dreams, but before I could process the spark that passed between us, he abruptly released me and turned back to the window. His broad shoulders tensed as he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.
“How much do you want them to know?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder at me. “Llyr of course already knows everything, but the others . . . Rohan and Keagan.” He paused and took in my perplexed expression. Where was he going with this? He closed the distance between us once more and dipped his head, his brows lifting in earnestness. “I’m not sending you home,” he said gently, squeezing my upper arms. “And I’m also pretty sure you’ve only just met the two of them, despite obvious evidence of a deeper, ah, acquaintance.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake, Ozzie. I’m part dragon. Deeper acquaintance goes with the territory. Can you drop it?”
He lifted an eyebrow and pressed his lips into a tight line, then chuckled and shook his head. His dirty blond hair caught the stark morning sunlight, taking on a silvery sheen that looked like ice. “Right.” He scraped fingertips over the couple-day’s growth on his chin, took a deep breath, then looked at me more intently. “Rohan’s clearly formed an attachment. Are you . . . do you want to . . .” He winced, but it didn’t take a genius to read between the lines.
“I feel the same way,” I said. “I mean, as much as I can after a day, but at the very least I need to stay close to him to help him survive. And no, I don’t want to keep any secrets. We’re in this together now. I guess Keagan could be let off the hook, but I have the feeling he won’t leave Rohan if we asked him to go.”
“Nobody’s going anywhere,” Ozzie said. “Not until we’ve worked out what exactly is happening with the bloodline, and with these attacks. But as long as you’re fine with the others hearing anything I have to share about your past, we should include them in the conversation.”
A rush of excitement filled me. He was actually willing to help. “Just to be clear, we are not bringing my parents into this. And you’ll make sure Llyr doesn’t haul me back home, right? I really need to see this through. I have a feeling it’s the key to my power.”
The corner of Ozzie’s mouth turned down. “Despite what you might think, Llyr is here for you, not for Neph. He’ll help too. What exactly makes you believe your power hangs in the balance here, anyway?” His voice held a cautious edge, like he might be afraid of my answer.
“Because of how new these abilities are, being able to see the creatures that attack the souls. No one else can, that I know of. Figuring out how to use my Prismatic talent. Maybe it’s just getting out there and using my powers for a real purpose that’s making that possible. Either way, I need to do this to see exactly how much I can learn, how much stronger I can be. After a day with Rohan, I can tell my dragon magic is stronger. I still can’t breathe fire yet—”
“Thank the fucking Winds,” Ozzie interjected.
“Hey, it means something to me!” I punched him lightly. “I’m sick of feeling like I have no purpose, and before you go all, ‘but your family loves you’ you know that isn’t enough. You of all people should know.”
He dropped his gaze, frowning. “Being cursed to have a pre-determined soulmate is not exactly a bonus.”
“At least you know there’s someone out there for yo
u. That’s more than I’ve got. So, I guess I’m more willing to take love where I can get it, even if it doesn’t come with that kind of bond.”
Something in my core ached to confess that I wished it were him offering me that bond, or even some facsimile of it. The old song I’d composed for him itched at my lungs. As if sensing that urge within me, he stepped close and placed a finger over my lips.
“Rohan’s a good choice,” he said in a gruff voice. “If nothing else, he will make you happy, so save that song for him.”
I swallowed and nodded, not sure whether I should confess that the song I longed to sing was only for Ozzie, and that Rohan and I already had one we shared.
He moved his hands to my shoulders and cocked his head. “Is this all you’ve got to wear?” He pinched the fabric of Rohan’s t-shirt off my shoulders and dropped it.
“I didn’t exactly pack anything when I left home,” I said. “And conjuring outfits is a waste of magic when I need every ounce to help Rohan.”
“Well I’m not letting you out of the house in only a t-shirt,” he said, turning and striding to a closed door that was obscured by a tall, potted plant. I followed him, simply gratified by the idea that he’d consider letting me out of the house at all. Not that I’d have stayed if he’d forbade me from leaving.
He stepped inside a small walk-in closet and rummaged among the hangers, glanced at me once with a frown, then grabbed a garment and shoved it at me. “Put this on.”
I took it, eyeing the other clothes that hung inside. There were only a handful of hangers dangling from the rods, but they were all dresses, though some looked distinctly dowdier than others, including the one he’d handed me.
I held the dress out and wrinkled my nose at the dark gray cotton. “Why do you have old lady dresses?”
“Nanyo also doesn’t always arrive with luggage, and neither does Evie. Lukas and Iszak usually borrow something from me or the guys, but Nanyo and Evie are more particular. They left these here for visits.”
