Ryder on the Storm (20 page)

Ryder turned and looked at her, “Storm, you read my mind. I did not say that aloud, I thought it.”

She clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes widening in shock. They stood in silence, measuring each other for a few moments before she dropped her hand. “I – I’m sorry. I didn’t know I could do that. I just heard you talking and - I’m sorry.”

“Do not be sorry. It could prove useful. Keep it between us for now. Have you ever read the seraphs before?”

“No. I have never read anybody before. I didn’t know I could do it.” She shrugged. “I mean, I never tried to read anybody so I am not sure how it works. How come you didn’t read that on me?”

“I am not sure.” The thought troubled him greatly. “Let’s go see if you can read somebody else, Kell or Pollux, I think. Just do not let them know what you are doing, alright?” She nodded. “Maybe you should grab a jacket or something?”

On their way out, Storm took a cardigan from the coatrack. He recognized it as one of Trin’s but said nothing. The guilt of sleeping with her aunt still weighed on him. How would she ever forgive that?

“You didn’t sleep with Aunt Trin. She just made you believe you did.” Storm looked back at him and smiled. “You didn’t sleep with her, Ry. She told me.”

“What?” Ryder could not figure out what part of that made him more uneasy. He stopped moving and just stared at her. How could that be possible? He knew the feeling of her beneath him, all of her beauty marks, her – wait.

“Aunt Trin is linked to a Soul Mirror, I talked to her. She told me she spelled you to believe you’d slept together so that you would listen to her about the Emerald and your immortality. You never really slept with her.” Storm shrugged and headed out the front door into the night. Ryder caught her, lifted her tops and tugged at the waistband of her jeans. Sure enough. Wow. He had not seen that coming.

“What are you doing” Storm hissed at him, a mixture of irritation and arousal, he could tell now somehow.

“I had to know. She does not have the same birth mark as you, does she? I mean, that small mark shaped like a flower on your left hip?” The pieces were clicking together slowly, at least to the mystery of him and Trin Sullivan.

“Nope. That’s all me. Why?” Storm stopped and looked at him quizzically. The moonlight broke through and lit her auburn hair just so. Gods, what a beautiful woman.

“So, you are telling me that she fabricated an entire relationship. I am not sure how it is possible but I think she planted images of you in my memories.” Ryder weighed the facts but still came up confused. “How could that be? Her magic should not have worked on me in that capacity.”

“No, I know. But I think she used my magic to enhance her own. Hey, she only did it because she had a vision of us together and wanted me to be happy.” Storm stopped and tugged at his arm. “It really isn’t a big deal is it? I mean, she did it for us, so we could find each other. If you had killed her like the Sullivan’s before her then you never would have found out about the real prophecy. You might have killed me.” She smiled. Her whole face lit up and he knew it really did not matter. Nothing in the world matter but her. Ryder pulled her up in his arms and slanted his mouth on hers. He pulled back and rested his forehead on hers, eyes closed, inhaling her scent. “I love you. Nothing matters but you. Please believe that.”

“Somehow, I do. I mean, I never saw this for me. Of course, I didn’t have emotions until a week or so ago and my father apparently cursed me so that I wouldn’t find men attractive, so it kind of goes without saying that love was not on my horizon before you. I still haven’t figured that part out either, but I honestly don’t care anymore.” She stopped, an embarrassed look crept across her face followed by a truly flattering blush.

Ryder pulled back, lifted her chin with his finger and studied her, “Are you saying that you love me back?”

“Yes, I guess I am. It feels like I have been waiting for you somehow.” Storm smiled at him, “Now quit stalling, let’s go see what I can do with my new trick.” She took off down the driveway, her hair blowing in the wind. He took off after her to find one of the Scots.

Storm

“Miss Sullivan? What are you doing out here? I thought you were going to sleep.” The Scot looked more than alarmed to see her out and about. She caught enough of his countenance in the light from the front gate to know that.

“I know, I got into bed and found myself too restless to sleep.” He seemed to accept her answer and nodded. “I’m sorry, are you Kell or Pollux?” She tried to reach in his head and pluck the information out but heard nothing. With Ryder it had been like he was talking to her; it didn’t even register that she was listening to his thoughts.

“I’m Pollux. I know we look a lot alike. He simply refuses to cut his hair though it would make things easier.” He smiled at her, she could see the charm he possessed glaring through in a boyish manner. “I am the elder so I should get to choose my look first, right?”

Storm couldn’t help herself, she burst out laughing. Ryder walked up and greeted Pollux. “Hey, the lady wanted to get some fresh air. Any sign of activity?” He looked at her meaningfully and she stopped laughing. She shook her head to let him know she couldn’t hear Pollux. Ryder shrugged and smiled. Storm heard his thoughts loud and clear, he didn’t want her to find Pollux too endearing. Aw, he felt jealous. In spite of the impending attack from Daddy Dearest, Storm found herself in an amazing mood. It could just be the earth-shattering sex or the glow of love, but somehow it seemed more than that, like she finally found her true self, not the dour, uptight ice queen she’d been before.

“No, it has been unusually quiet. Roane seems anxious, well, more than usual anyway. Man, Ry, it was weird to see and hear him like that. No offense, Miss Sullivan. I have never seen Roane soften toward anybody.” Pollux seemed a little embarrassed. Another charming attribute. The ladies must adore him.

“None taken, Pollux. And please, call me Storm. I have never liked formalities. Thank you for being here. I intend to return the favor someday.” Storm smiled broadly. She meant it. She’d find a way to repay the kindness they’d all shown her.

“Well, Storm, I get that you’d like fresh air but if Roane sees you out here he is liable to go into a complete freak out. He believes that Jasper intends to make a move this evening. Perhaps you should be tucked safely away until this is over?”

Dammit. That ruined the whole charm factor. Storm did not like the damsel in distress feeling she kept getting from the Immortals. She may be smaller, softer, and newer to this life but there was nothing defenseless about her. Hell, she got away from her father on her own just a few hours ago and now she knew more about what she was up against. Storm felt her teeth grinding and then Ryder’s hand on hers. He gave her a warning look.

“Pollux, I am certain that Storm can handle herself but perhaps you are correct, Roane will not appreciate seeing her out her just begging for Jasper to attack.” Dammit, that was smooth. Ryder pictured her naked again, how could she argue with that. “Storm, let’s go up to your room and you can shower up and rest. I could go for a hot shower myself and maybe I could prepare us a bite to eat?”

Dammit. She was bombarded with images of Ryder fondling her in the shower, then Ryder toweling her dry as he kissed her neck. Storm looked at him and raised an eyebrow. He just smiled and shrugged, tugging her back toward the house. They walked hand in hand up the drive.

“Why do you think I can hear you but not Pollux?”

“Perhaps one of Pollux’s gifts is being able to block mind readers. Who knows? We can try again with the others but for now, let’s focus on neutralizing your father. You have plenty of time to explore your many gifts.” Ryder squeezed her hand and opened the front door for her.

“I have the journal still. Maybe it can shed some light on all of this?” Storm reached to the small of her back and realized it must be in the study somewhere after their little escapade. “It’s in the study, I’ll get it. Why don’t you go make us something to eat?”

“No, I think I’ll stay with you. I agree with Pollux, the night is too quiet. I am not letting you out of my sight tonight.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He can’t even get into the study. Ryder, there is one room between the study and the kitchen and I am not some helpless waif. I took care of him before. Trust me.” He looked skeptical but Storm stood her ground. She needed some female friends in the worst way. All this testosterone could drive a woman crazy. “Ryder, I will be fine. I am protected in the study and you said yourself, I am powerful.”

He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “I just do n0t want to lose you now that I have found you. Believe me, I know how strong you are and I trust you to handle yourself.”

“I know. Now please, go make some food. You work up a hell of an appetite in me.” Storm stretched up and planted a kiss on his lips.

Ryder

She bounded off toward the study leaving him with a raging arousal and consequently very motivated to make the shower fantasy into a reality very soon. Ryder sauntered into the kitchen, trying to sort out Storm’s mindreading talent, how to defeat her father, and trying to control his growing desire to have her again. He failed to pick up on the other presence in the room. Ryder barely registered the pain in his head before everything went pitch black.

Storm

Storm found the journal under the sofa. She paused to remember the feel of his hands and the warmth of his skin on hers. Who would have guessed? The Emerald in love with an Immortal. It felt strange to know her role as the Emerald, a legendary Seer with great power and apparently a real destiny. Suddenly it felt too big, too much responsibility, too much power. She sat on the sofa and looked at the brown leather journal.

Opening the journal, Storm recognized Aunt Trin’s scrawling hand.

My Storm,

All my love,

Tears burned in her eyes. The tears she should have shed over Aunt Trin’s grave. She wiped them away with the back of her hand and flipped to the first page. Her aunt had laid out the family tree, on one page the many generations of Sullivans back to Celine and on the other side, Jasper listed as her father and two lines that connected him to Roane and Damarra. Well, Roane seemed to be telling the truth. She flipped to the next page and found the legend of the Emerald. There seemed to be slight variations listed that went on for several more pages but Aunt Trin had labeled one as the true prophecy. She noted that it had been copied directly from Celine’s journal and sure enough it matched what Roane had told them.

Storm felt a strange prickly sensation up the back of her neck. Ryder had not come for her yet. She couldn’t hear him in the kitchen either. Storm reached out for him mentally but came up empty. He wouldn’t have left her. Dammit. Storm crept out of the study, careful to hold her emotions in check so she wouldn’t start glowing. She took the long way around rather than cutting through the dining room, instinct guiding her along the shadows. The alternate entrance to the kitchen didn’t have a door so she could peek into the kitchen before entering.

Tucking the journal in the waistband of her pants so she could feel it at the small of her back, Storm gathered her power and allowed the glow into her hands. “Ryder? What are we having to eat? She focused on keeping her voice neutral as she entered.

The kitchen was empty but for a note stuck to the cabinets with an athame. Storm’s breath caught in her throat. She recognized the dagger and the writing on the note. Dammit. Her father took Ryder.

Storm removed the athame from the note. She read it quickly and screamed for Dan and Shane. Then the vision hit, blinding pain seared behind her eyes. Everything went black.

Ryder

His head throbbed. Ryder half opened one eye, just to be safe. A light flickered somewhere above him and a strange buzzing sound droned in the distance. His hands were tied. He moved a leg and realized his legs were chained. The chair he sat in felt cold and hard, like an old metal office chair. He sniffed at the air, a combination of rotting flesh and mildew flooded his nostrils. An old meat packing plant, smart. There were two defunct plants, one located just two miles from Willow Wood.