Unraveled Homecoming

by J. L. Shelton

  Magical. Terrifying. Exhilarating. When Mattie had begun to tentatively approach Firestorm earlier, her horse had no such reluctance to be close. Trotting straight for her rider, the distance between the two of them had closed quicker than anticipated. Her brown eyes had gleamed, and before Mattie could stop her—Firestorm’s head had landed directly on her shoulder. The element of fire within Mattie had responded to the touch, causing her to gasp in surprise. As if she had known what would happen, Firestorm had nickered comfortingly while Mattie’s world had turned upside down for a moment. The energy in her old friend mingled with her own, blazing through them both with a fiery strength that had almost rendered Mattie unconscious.

  And while that moment had seemed to last an eternity, the merging had occurred before Belladonna could notice that anything had happened. Firestorm and Mattie had always been closer than most riders and their steeds, so nothing seemed amiss to The Eldest’s eyes. The bond had come naturally, leaving the woman and the Fury both stronger than before.

  “I see,” said Henriella with a sad shake of her head. “Between Crosshawk and Firestorm, ancient and wild magic has become a permanent part of you now. That explains why you could pull my gift from the very air itself. The unpredictable nature of it is going to make things even more difficult for you.”

  “But there’s a chance I can still control most of it, right?”

  The disheartened tone in her aunt’s voice made a chill run down Mattie’s spine. “I hope so, dear girl. I truly hope so.”

  Chapter 40

  “How in the world did those get there!?” exclaimed Garin as he quickly leapt off the bed, not caring one damn bit that his dressing for the night had been interrupted.

  “What?” asked Mattie, turning her head towards him as she held the tunic she had just shed close to her breast.

  Tentatively, he reached out and began to trace the new and delicate mark covering her bare back. It spanned across both shoulder blades and tapered down towards the middle of the lumbar curve. At first, the shudder from his wife worried him until he heard the contented sigh. Thank all that was Holy she wasn’t flinching from his touch anymore!

  Whatever Henriella Brewer had done for her niece in such a short amount of time had helped to a point. Mattie was still getting overwhelmingly distracted, if the fact she had quickly feigned tiredness and had fled to their room soon after they had returned to the estate was any indication. Even with her still keeping their bond shut tight, he had known something about getting surrounded by everyone the minute she had entered the house had troubled her greatly. Then again, the strange expression on Leto’s face as he had watched her from a corner would have troubled anybody. Mattie’s decision to escape had been the only reason Garin hadn’t punched the ancient being straight in the mouth for giving his wife undue attention.

  “Garin,” she finally asked with a note of concern. “What’s back there?”

  “Wings,” he said with awe. When he felt her stiffen, he clarified, “Only a pattern of such. They are as black as your dragon mark was at first.”

  And reminded him of the ones he had seen appear on Arion.

  There was a dark chuckle while she unconsciously rubbed at the pale scar on her left chest. “At least I haven’t suddenly sprouted a bunch of feathers. After today, it would have been just my luck.”

  The edge in her voice hit his heart. He reached out and rubbed the top of her shoulders. He wanted to help her carry whatever burden was there, but she hadn’t let him so far. A part of him yearned to demand answers, but that did not sound like a wise course of action.

  “Mattie, I’m always here if you need to talk.”

  Apparently that was the right thing to say, because she took a step back and leaned into him. Her warmth against the bareness of his chest made him wish that they hadn’t already experienced a trying day. While he felt that lovemaking would be a great stress relief for them both, the act itself would probably make it impossible for them to recover by the morning. He gently wrapped his arms about her instead, trying his best to comfort her. The tunic fell to the floor before she covered her face with her hands. She didn’t pull away, so he held her tighter as angry tears began to fall.

  “I’m scared, Garin,” she finally admitted, her voice sounding heavy with grief. “I’m scared of what happened, of what I’ve become.”

  Become?

  What in the hell happened to her today!?

  As if she had heard him, she took in a deep breath. “Garin, this isn’t going to be easy. What my mother did to me was far greater than either one of us expected. Have you ever heard of Siphons?”

  ***

  “That’s absurd!” shouted Garin, jumping off the bed in order to pace the floor.

  Mattie bowed her head, shaking it dejectedly. “I knew you would react this way.”

  Of course, he would! The excuse for the block she continued to hold within their bond was ludicrous and preposterous! While everything else she had shared after they had gotten comfortable was nearly unbelievable, he could accept the unusual events. But not this! Never this!

  More powerful than Belladonna? Than Henriella? Him? No way in hell could that be possible!

  “Mattie,” he said as he stopped and poked himself in the chest. “There is nothing special about me!” The look of abject disbelief on her face made him hold up his hands in a placating manner before he conceded a little bit. “Okay. That might not have been the most truthful of statements.”

  “You think?” her tone incredulous. “Because I remember quite clearly that you had been the only person other than I who could transform into more than two animals. And that was long before the Dragon’s Heart changed us.”

  “But—”

  “And you already had some magical talents hidden away in that thick skull of yours. Ones you never bothered to share with a damn soul!” She then lowered her voice and vehemently whispered, “Like the fact you’re most likely what the ancients called a Shadow Caller!”

  Startled seemed to be an old friend today. He had heard that phrase but once in his life, and only by chance when Metis was mumbling to herself! “How did you—?”

  “I can see it, Garin,” she hissed as she sat up straighter on the bed. “Its appearance is unique enough not to be confused with any of the others, and it sure as hell doesn’t perfectly match my aunt’s Shadow Bending. What else could it be?”

  A part of him was curious as to what she meant by that in light of Henriella’s vague comments about his ability; the rest of him did not want to know! In his breaking heart, he knew it was happening again—like it had with Evangeline Von Bos. Once she had discovered her foster son had magical talents, their relationship had painfully never been the same again, despite the fact she loved him like one of her own. It definitely seemed as if the universe had a perverse interest in him. Just when his feet were beginning to find new purchase, a massive swipe would come and knock him on his ass again!

  All his life, he had felt like a freak in one fashion or another. First as a confused child who had to finally ask Reginald Von Bos why he didn’t resemble his parents like his younger brother, thus learning the truth of his fosterage at far too young an age. He revisited the uncomfortable again when the elves had come for him shortly before his twelfth birthday. They had often looked upon him as little more than a speck of unwanted dust when he had first visited their domain. Once he had finally accepted that his mother’s people would seldom recognize him as anything more than an untouchable half-breed, his father had swooped down on him and added the brand of being a double royal bastard to his long list of oddities.

  The fact that this woman who had also lived beyond society’s norms, the woman who hadn’t given a shit about his sketchy past, now felt like she had to pull away from him because of his so-called power—it made him want to destroy something!

  With all the grief it had caused him, was it any wonder he hated magic!?

  Mattie slowly rose from the bed, worry etched on her lov
ely features. “Garin, this new power isn’t something I ever asked for—hell, I don’t even want it! And after what happened between Firestorm and I, it scares me like nothing ever has. What if I reopen the bond and the backlash severely harms you? What if I lose myself to temptation again and go insane with power? What if it also changes you into someone not even you recognize? I couldn’t live with myself if any of those things happened.”

  “But what if it’s a risk I’m willing to take!?” growled Garin. “I’m not made of glass, and I’m sure as hell tired of feeling cut off from you!”

  With her arms crossed, she bowed her head and let out a dubious snort. “Of all the times for you to finally understand how much it hurts…”

  He cringed a bit at that unfinished comment. Damn it. If it were anyone else, he’d wonder if this was a ploy to make him feel guilty. But Mattie was more direct than that—and had been more than patient with him these past few months. All those moments he kept her at arm’s length must have torn at her heart like a bear’s claws.

  And that’s all she was really asking, wasn’t it? Time to adjust to this madness that had been thrust upon her. A little bit of patience on his part until she sorted it out. Though he wasn’t sure he had any left—for her, he would find some. She had worked hard to ensure that she could stand being in the same room with him, that he could touch her without causing pain.

  Was what she asked of him really so difficult if it worked out in the end?

  He sighed as he scratched the back of his neck. How many times had Mattie said that to herself when he was the one keeping the guard up between them? How many times had she shed unseen tears because of him?

  Now he felt like a complete ass. She was standing across from him with sad yet hopeful eyes, not going anywhere. At least, not unless he told her to leave.

  There was little wonder as to why Garin then scolded himself: Damn it, man; stop acting like a child!

  He closed the distance between them; Mattie noticeably holding her breath. She softly released it when he reached out and started to gently stroke the side of her face. His action caused tears to form in her eyes, but at least they ones were of relief.

  “It won’t be easy for me,” he softly admitted as he placed his forehead against hers. “But I’ll do my best to wait until you are ready. Can’t promise I won’t be snarky about the loss of connection from time to time, but we’ll get through this.”

  A noise of surprise left his lips when Mattie hugged him tightly. While he returned the embrace, she whispered, “Thank you.”

  “Remember, we’re in this together, no matter what. To Hell and back again, right?”

  “To Hell and back again.”

  She lifted her head, eyes flashing with determination and love. He couldn’t resist giving her a passionate kiss. She returned it eagerly and greedily. Garin lifted her up and gently placed her on the bed, then he softly chuckled when she pulled him in close with a little more exuberance. The desire to connect in some way with each other quickly outweighed the need to get a good night’s rest. And it was worth every ounce of exhaustion they were sure to feel come the morning.

  Chapter 41

  Mattie was having a beautiful dream. A black-haired cherub giggled when her mother lifted her high into the air, sticking her tiny arms out as if she could fly. The forest stream they stood beside did not look familiar, but that didn’t matter as long as the two of them were together.

  “Mattie?”

  The questioning voice caused the touching scene to disappear because it had sounded like Garin trying to gently wake her. There was every intention of simply rolling over and resting her arm comfortingly across his chest. Instead, Mattie had to give out an indignant squeak of surprise as she fell off a boulder! Mist puffed up into the air when she landed sharply onto solid ground.

  Clouds surrounded her as far as the eye could see when she knelt up, so she screamed, “You have got to be kidding me!”

  A chorus of angry male voices began whispering at her shout. She couldn’t quite recognize them, though it felt like she should have. Especially the one that muttered, “Now you’ve done it, young one.”

  Then the ground quaked before a monumental “thud!” was heard. When a gigantic blue snout suddenly appeared, Mattie wasn’t surprised. She stood up, crossed her arms, and demanded, “Qinglong, what in the hell am I doing dreaming about the Dragon’s Heart again!?”

  “I deeply apologize that we disturbed your rest, Child of the Stone,” said the ancient dragon, those huge eyes of his remorseful. “We experienced an unforeseen… complication, one for which we have already begun to make adjustments. One that will need your help to correct as well.”

  Mattie let loose a growl. “Not sure how I can be of any assistance with a problem coming from in here!”

  “It is not much we require of you,” said Qinglong softly. “Simply restore the bond with your mate.”

  “You have no idea what I’ve been through recently!” she hissed. “Or the reasons behind my decision to keep it shut!”

  Those blue eyelids narrowed. “And you have no idea what your mate has gone through either, child!” reprimanded Qinglong with a soft growl. “You both have a bad habit of trying to protect one another in this horrid fashion, but it weakens rather than strengthens you. With what’s coming, you will need each other in ways you have yet to imagine. Restore the bond before it’s too late!”

  ***

  When Firestorm nickered, Mattie gave up trying to shake the vague feelings of unease left over from a fading dream. After all, she had waited patiently for such a moment so she could finally turn and acknowledge the person who had been following her at a distance all morning. “Hello, Selina.”

  The expression on the girl’s face was sullen, making Mattie glad she had listened to her instincts. In days past, Selina’s movements would have been virtually undetectable. Now, the girl’s power tugged at the edge of her senses constantly. Pointing out that Selina could no longer sneak up on her would have done more harm than good.

  After being forced to leave the Mage’s Stronghold, the last thing the black-haired girl needed was to be told that there was some magic within her. Not one with which Mattie was at all familiar, but the knowledge that she held any kind would hurt Selina’s spirit just the same. It had been the lack of power that had convinced Asger to send her to Crosshawk, believing the Stronghold unsafe for the girl. Add in the fact that her father, Sergio, had left her without even bothering to say “good-bye”, and Selina was sure Gregory would eventually dump her like everyone else had. A belief that soon explained her bitter mood today.

  “You’re leaving again, aren’t you?” Selina snarled while quickly brushing past Mattie and heading straight for the mare. Firestorm lowered her head and allowed the girl to scratch her nose.

  “Yes,” Mattie said with a sigh when she noticed Selina had more than one layer of clothing under her fur cloak. The temperatures had significantly dropped during the night, making it plain that any trip to the Watchtower had to be now. Still, the weather wasn’t bad enough yet to warrant so many coverings. “But it will only be for a day or so.”

  “Another day being stuck with the stubborn kid and the dead one,” the young lady griped. “And your father! The Duke knows his stuff, no doubt—but he’s not you! I thought you’d be training me more, like before.”

  Selina was flickering, for lack of a better term, because she was so upset. Mattie’s eyes blinked because the sight of her unusual brand of magic was disconcerting. It wasn’t a blatant stream or aura of any light, just a faint shimmering as if a thin, clear sheet of running water was separating the girl from the rest of the world. And sometimes it was if she had disappeared completely for the tiniest of moments.

  The first thing on Mattie’s list to do when she got back was to find out exactly what power the girl held. Even if nothing bad had yet come of it, she would need to be trained. Even if they had to go hunt down her wayward father for answers.

 
A frown then formed on Mattie’s face. “I’m sorry, Selina. I’m sorry I haven’t spent as much time with you as I had hoped.”

  The girl turned a back to her and let out a derisive huff. Wondering if that was a refusal to accept the apology, Mattie bit her bottom lip. The silence between the two of them agonizingly deepened.

  Hoping it would help ease the tension, Mattie quietly said, “Firestorm will need walked tomorrow while I’m gone. Perhaps you could do that for me?”

  Selina’s mouth had already dropped with shock by the time she turned around. “You’re not taking her?”

  “No,” Mattie said as she wandered over to the Fury’s other flank. She ran a gentle hand down her hooved friend’s neck. “We need to get there and back quickly. While fast, she still wouldn’t get us up the mountain in time.”

  “But won’t she try to follow you?”

  Mattie smiled, knowing the question came from other times Firestorm had hunted for her. “No.”

  Doubt was written all over Selina’s face. “But how can you be sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  The certainty in Mattie’s voice did little to erase the expression of disbelief, but that was okay. The one she had needed to convince had already accepted the reasons she needed to be left behind. While no words were exchanged across their new connection, Firestorm and her rider could communicate using emotions and images. The Fury understood why her presence would only get in the way this time. She wasn’t happy, but she agreed to stay home.

  Her only request was to have Selina care for her during her rider’s absence.

  Restore the bond before it’s too late!

  Mattie pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes, wondering how many times this particular oddity was going to happen today. The deep rumbling voice from her dream last night kept echoing through her head, shouting anytime she had a thought that reminded her of the bond with Garin. While she couldn’t remember anything other than a sense of being infuriated during those nocturnal events, that warning from an ancient blue dragon remained strong and clear.