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  Seductive Solutions

  Others of Seattle Novelette

  Brandy L Rivers

  Copyright 2015 Brandy L Rivers

  Smashwords Edition

  http://brandylrivers.com

  Cover Design by Brandy L Rivers

  Edited by Shaner Media Creations

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Also by Brandy L Rivers

  Box Sets

  Others of Edenton – Series Volume 1

  Others of Edenton – Series Volume 2

  Others of Edenton – Series Volume 3

  Others of Seattle – Series Volume 1

  Others of Seattle – Series Volume 2

  Others of Edenton

  New Beginnings

  In Too Deep

  Shadows Fall

  Shadows of the Past

  Falling Into Place

  Fated Love

  Breaking Free

  Mending Scars

  Labor of Love

  Light in Darkness

  Blissful Agony

  Entangled Darkness

  Deadly Design (Coming 10-24-16)

  Untitled: Declan’s story (Coming Summer 2017)

  Others of Seattle

  Nights Embrace

  Storm Mistress

  Accepting Fate

  Red Queen

  Seductive Solutions

  Changing Destiny

  Coming Together

  Storm Wrath

  Twisted Bonds (Coming Spring 2017)

  Nights Embrace Spin Off

  Summer Rhythm

  Stand Alone Contemporary Romance

  Heart on Fire

  Falling Star

  Sweet Tooth

  Backburn (Coming 1-6-17)

  Pine Barrens Pack Co-Written with Rebecca Brooke

  Cursed Vengeance

  Vengeance Unraveled (coming 2017)

  To keep up with upcoming releases and news visit me at my

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  Or join my newsletter or reading group Rivers’ Shenanigans

  Chapter 1

  The nightmare still gripped him as he jolted off the bed and started for the shower. Every damned night it was the same shit. Dreamed memories of his time with his twisted mate plagued him. He loved her, but hated her more.

  Scotty couldn’t get his breathing under control. His stupid cock wanted to find its way back into the conniving bitch who’d ruined his entire fucking life. He despised the incessant need, and fought himself with every ounce of his will.

  He slammed his palm against the wall and screamed.

  Over a century he’d lived on Earth and Saressa still held him prisoner in another plane.

  One answer broke their corrupted bond.

  Death.

  Either his or hers, it didn’t matter.

  Only it did. If he got anywhere near her, she could control him all over again. Forcing him to do her bidding—things she knew he loathed—was her favorite past time.

  He stepped into the shower, cranking it to cold as fuck, and prayed his dick would deflate. His mind’s eye tortured him with images of her scarlet hair, emerald eyes, and pale diamond-crushed skin as she rode him.

  “No. I won’t be your tool, I won’t be your fucking toy!” he cried, though the rant was as useful as the traitorous appendage between his legs. If she were before him, he would be in her in an instant, fucking her until she couldn’t take anymore, knowing she would torture him soon after.

  He slid to his knees, letting the cold water batter his will as frustrated tears ran down his face. His heart thumped in his chest. Getting this worked up made his weakness more obvious. His body now deteriorated exponentially faster than ever before.

  As a nymph, he needed intimacy to survive. His magic revolved around love, sex, and intimacy. Never had he gone this long without sex. True intimacy was impossible, and love wasn’t even on his radar with this fucked up bond holding him hostage. His artificial peace with the situation shattered when Toryn finally formed his mate bond. Watching the man who didn’t believe in love fall hard, and successfully claim Isadora against the will of her family’s powerful men, drove reality home.

  He’d certainly not wanted to mate Saressa. Being subject to her perversions was never his plan. She seduced him, and the next thing he knew, he was trapped in the fucking oxymoron of the millennia. He loved her with every fiber of his being. His hate festered a hundred times stronger.

  Depression didn’t begin to cover his downward spiral into despair.

  Finally numb from the cold, his body gave up on a sexual release. Taking a deep breath of momentary relief, he cranked the water to scalding. The ritual of temporarily scrubbing the memory of Saressa from his mind could begin.

  * * * *

  Toryn sat at his Ward Tower Security desk. Lonny, Scotty, and Toryn opened the firm to help protect Others, providing more safeguards than human security could manage.

  His office was modern and state-of-the-art. Lonny’s décor choices perfectly reflected the occupant’s tastes. His desk, big, black, and shiny, the computer high-end with dual monitors. Leather executive chair behind the desk, and two leather armchairs across. Against the wall, a matching couch for less formal discussions. Abstract paintings of Faerie hung throughout.

  Lost in thought, Toryn traced the picture of Isa and him dancing at her bar, Shenanigans.

  Lonny, Scotty, and Toryn started the company six years before, when Toryn first moved up to Seattle with Isa. Originally, he’d been sent to watch over and protect her. He wasn’t supposed to fall in love, but one look and he had. He’d spent ten years, and countless one-nighters, doing his damnedest to hide not only his growing feelings, but also who she was, from her.

  As a changeling, Isadora didn’t know her mother was queen of the Air Kingdom, or that her supposed father was king of the Earth Kingdom. Until the time was right, she couldn’t know who or what she was, according to the king.

  And then everything went sideways. The truth came out, he had to choose sides, not that he could have chosen otherwise, and ultimately he protected her from the king, and the queen’s brother.

  Six months have passed since she learned her true nature, five since Toryn rid the universe of her uncle, a sadistic monster. She’d even helped to mend his relationship with his mother. Isa was everything he needed and craved rolled into the perfect package.

  There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” Toryn invited, standing. He shoved one hand in his pocket to make sure the ring was indeed still there. Not that the small velvet pouch containing a gem-studded platinum circle had left his person since he picked it up from the jewelry smith that morning.

  Reance entered with a radiant smile on his face. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, old friend.” He drew a slow breath. “We need to talk.” Toryn winced. The most gifted seer in all the realms, Reance had to know why he was there. Didn’t make Toryn any less nervous.

  “Relax. You’ve never had cause to be nervous
around me.”

  “You’re right.” Still, he stalled. “Can I get you anything? Water, tea, maybe coffee?”

  Amusement danced across his regal face. “No, thank you. Though I’m curious why you brought me here.”

  Toryn closed his eyes, shoring up his courage. “I want to marry your daughter. I’d like your and Aeryana’s permission to marry Isadora.”

  Reance nodded, his eyes twinkling. “Of course. I wondered when you would finally ask. Aeryana also sends her blessing.”

  “Always thinking ahead.” Toryn chuckled, a rush of happy adrenaline surged through him. “How’s living in the palace?”

  “It’s been a long time since I had to deal with politics and I’ve not missed the frustration. However, it’s worth it to have Aeryana in my arms every night. Finally. No more lies, no more secrets. I’ve never been happier.”

  “And you? Are you going to marry her?”

  Reance nodded. “We’re planning the wedding already. Aeryana hopes her daughter will consider the benefits of a double wedding.”

  He couldn’t hold in a chuckle. “I need to ask Isadora to marry me first. Would you bless the ring?” He pulled out the green velvet pouch, handing it over with an uncharacteristic tremble in his hands.

  Reance removed the fold of silk cloth and unwrapped the band. He inspected the center stone. It was the most precious of fae jewels. Prismatic like a diamond, but the stone shone with the colors of the wearer’s aura.

  “She’s going to love it. Where did you find the rock?”

  “My mother found it while walking the day she learned she was pregnant. She gave the raw stone to me, and I had the ring crafted.”

  Setting the pouch and cloth aside, Reance cupped the ring in his hands. His eyes closed. Magic flowed from his soon-to-be father-in-law, swirling around the room in tiny golden embers. After what felt like an eternity, but probably less than a minute elapsed, Reance opened his eyes, and silver flames faded from his irises.

  Reance took Toryn’s hand and placed the ring in his palm. The metal was warm, the stone nearly too hot. Toryn grabbed the band, wrapped it in the silk, then placed it in the pouch before tucking the small velvet bag back in his pocket.

  “Thank you Reance. This means everything to me.”

  “No, that’s Isa’s role, as your mate should be. And eventually your children.”

  “Children?”

  Reance smiled. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “I’ve seen my son, no others,” Toryn admitted. “Though I don’t believe he’s coming anytime soon. For now we are content to enjoy each other.”

  “I cannot tell you what I’ve seen, other than to say you will always have Isadora, and she will always have you.”

  Toryn grinned. “That, my friend, is an amazing relief. I don’t believe I possess your strength.”

  To protect the secret of their relationship and Isa’s eventual conception, Reance had stayed away from Aeryana for most of the last hundred and fifty years, and then disappeared from her life completely for thirty years.

  “You’ll never have to find out,” Reance nodded to the door. “I’ll be in touch. I’m anxious to share the happy news with Aeryana.”

  “I’ll contact you when I have Isadora’s answer so that, hopefully, wedding plans can begin.”

  Reance dipped his head, and left the room.

  Scotty came in before the door shut. He slid into one of the leather guest chairs and tossed a couple folders onto the desk. His long time and trusted friend looked worse than he’d ever seen. There were dark circles beneath his eyes, and beard growth, not merely stubble.

  “What’s going on, Scotty?”

  He rubbed his hand over his face, mumbling, “Nothing.”

  Contradicting Scotty’s words, Toryn saw the evidence of his body’s decay. After knowing him for centuries, the decline would be hard to miss.

  Toryn stalked closer, moving to sit on the edge of the desk directly in front of him. “Bullshit. How long since you’ve been with a woman?”

  Scotty shook his head. “Doesn’t matter.”

  “Fuck that. Of course it does. How long?”

  “Don’t do this. You don’t know what I’m going through, Toryn.”

  “Shit.” Toryn walked toward the window to stare out. Last time he saw Scotty with a woman was… fuck… before everything went down with Isa. At least six months. Likely more.

  He spun back around and shook his head. “Damn it, Scotty, you need to be with someone. You need to get laid.”

  Shaking his head slowly, Scotty clenched his jaw, his hands gripping the armrests. His eyes looked dull. “Why? What good does it do? I can’t have the same connection you have with Isa. I can only be with someone in body, never more. Fucking only goes so far. There’s so much more, but not for me. Leaving Faerie wasn’t enough, and it’s painfully obvious it’s never going to get better now that I see how content you are with Isa.”

  Toryn pinched the bridge of his nose. He threw his hand down, shaking his head. “There has to be a way. Fuck, there’s got to be something. Anything.”

  “Death, that’s it.”

  “Not yours. And I can’t watch you deteriorate anymore. Hold on a bit longer. There has to be another way. I’ll find it.”

  “There’s no other way, and I’m not going back to Faerie to kill her. She’d re-enslave me and torture me for running. Death is my only escape.”

  “I can’t accept that.”

  Scotty shrugged. “Don’t you think I’ve searched?”

  “Give me time. I’ll find a way.”

  He drew in a breath and stared up at the ceiling for a moment. “I don’t have much left to give.”

  Toryn slumped into his seat. There were no words.

  “What was Reance here for?” Scotty asked, his voice dull.

  He shook his head, briefly fingering the warm piece of velvet in his pocket. Answering seemed like a bad idea.

  “That’s what I thought. You make her happy. And you… she’s the one you need. Don’t let my mistakes hold you back from the woman who completes you.”

  “You’ll have your happy ending, but you’ve got to hold on.”

  He blinked back tears. “I don’t have any fight left, Toryn. I’m too far gone for meaningless fucking to work, and honestly, I don’t have the will to carry on knowing there will never be more. Never be what you have with Isa. There’s no more hope. I want an end to the torment.”

  “There’s always hope. Means I got to work faster, that’s all.”

  “Shit, Toryn, let it go. There’s nothing left to save.” Scotty stood and walked out of the room, shoulders slumped, feet heavy.

  There’s got to be a way.

  Chapter 2

  The music thrummed against Isa as she moved with Toryn on the dance floor. Tension poured off Toryn but he smiled and danced as if nothing was wrong. She knew better.

  Has he seen something? Do I need to be worried about the next crisis? Why isn’t he talking to me?

  She leaned back and met his gaze. “I need a drink. You?”

  He nodded, and followed her to the counter where Scotty sat, drinking. Toryn sighed loudly, his head jerking slightly. A million questions spun through her mind.

  Scotty had been distant lately. He showed up to events but hardly interacted. She couldn’t remember the last time he noticed a woman, any woman, even her. The flirting had dried up shortly after Toryn and Isa came back from San Francisco. She thought it was respect for her and Toryn’s relationship. Until she realized Scotty stopped flirting with everyone.

  Wrapping her arm around his broad back she sidled up next to Scotty and laid her head on his shoulder. “Hey, hon. Want to dance?”

  Without looking up from the empty tumbler cupped in his hands, he shook his head. “Think I’m going home. Another time, perhaps.”

  She glanced over at Toryn, who shrugged and averted his eyes. He looked pissed, and she knew it wasn’t from jealousy.

  “Want a rid
e?” she pushed gently.

  “Nah. Thanks, though.” He turned to the other side, avoiding eye contact with her, and quickly walked to the door.

  She turned to Toryn, crossing her arms over her chest. “What’s up with Scotty?”

  “Not here.”

  “Then let’s go.” She tugged him to the street and started for the Jitterhouse.

  He pulled her to a stop and she spun back to him. “What’s going on with you?” Toryn asked softly.

  “You didn’t want to talk there, and you’re starting to freak me out. I get it, it’s Scotty that’s worrying you. I want to know why.”

  Toryn started walking, dragging her with him this time. “It’s complicated.”

  “When isn’t it?” Isa asked.

  He didn’t answer.

  “Is it Saressa?”

  “Sort of?” Toryn glanced over. “She’s not here if that’s what you’re wondering. Though it would make the whole damned situation a hell of a lot easier if she were. I could kill her and be done with it.”

  “But she can’t control him here, so what’s the problem?”

  Toryn rubbed at his neck, clearly unprepared to answer.

  They stepped inside and ordered their drinks before going upstairs to their favorite perch. She faced Toryn and decided to take a stab in the dark. “Scotty doesn’t look well. I thought fae didn’t get sick.”

  Brushing his hands down his thighs, Toryn stared over the balcony. “He’s not taking care of himself. He’s purposely avoiding anything that would give him the energy he needs. His fight is gone, he wants to fade away.” His eyes closed and he shook his head.

  Her mouth fell open. “You mean if a nymph doesn’t get busy, they die?”

  Toryn snorted. “Doesn’t have to be sex. Any intimacy helps. He’s avoiding it. He’s doing this to himself.”

  “Because of Saressa?”