Twisted Bonds Read online

  Twisted Bonds

  Others of Seattle: Book 7

  Brandy L Rivers

  Copyright 2017 Brandy L Rivers

  http://brandylrivers.com

  Cover Design by Brandy L Rivers

  Edited by Emily A. Lawrence

  www.lawrenceediting.com

  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

  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

  Nights Embrace Spin Off

  Summer Rhythm

  Combustible

  Heart on Fire

  Falling Star

  Sweet Tooth

  Backburn

  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

  Website – Facebook - Twitter

  Or join my newsletter or reading group Rivers’ Shenanigans

  Dedication

  To my hubby. We’ve been through a ton, but I still love you. More now than ever. We can get through anything.

  Chapter 1

  The dress was gorgeous.

  Not at all what Isadora would choose for herself. Still, the gown was absolutely stunning.

  Isa took a slow breath before facing Toryn. “She really wants me to wear that?” She referred to her mother. Aeryana had chosen a gown made of golden fabric that resembled sheer silk, beaded with iridescent gemstones. “It’s too much.”

  Toryn chuckled, his hands closing over her shoulders. “You’re a princess. What did you expect the queen of the Air Kingdom to choose for your wedding?”

  “Not that.” Isa motioned at the dress. “The train is three miles long. I’m going to fall on my ass. And it’s so regal.” Her mouth twisted in a sneer.

  He lifted her chin and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. “You can be very regal when you want to be. And the dress is going to look amazing on you.”

  “A public wedding is a bad idea while Saressa is alive. Besides, you already told me some Fae are worried about the soon-to-be crowned princess.” Her shoulders dropped. “I never asked for any of this.”

  “No, but you’ll do fine. Besides, we’ll be enjoying our honeymoon on this side of the veil. And until you change your mind about living in Faery, it’s only a title.”

  “Yeah, but most of the Fae will know. I like the anonymity I have now. Everything will change once they realize who I am.”

  “Doubtful. Especially if you don’t present yourself as a princess. Trust me. There have been plenty of royalty who have come to Earth to be like everyone else. Most will realize that’s why you’re here and they’ll leave you alone.”

  “Yeah, most. Not all. We still have Saressa to watch out for, and who knows who else once they know who I am.” A sigh escaped as she took another look at the dress. “I suppose I need to try this monstrosity on?”

  He ran a finger across her collarbone. “You said it was gorgeous.”

  Her brow furrowed. Had she actually said that out loud? She moved her head back and forth, somewhere between a nod and a shake. “Could you see me in something like this in a million years?”

  A sexy smirk stretched across his lips. He dipped his head in a nod.

  So not comforting.

  “Fine.” She whipped her mini-dress over her head and smoothed down the bra, transmuting the garment into a strapless one, then pulled the wedding gown off the hanger.

  Toryn took the dress from her, opened the zipper, and held it out for her to step into. He pulled it up her body. “These dresses are made to be worn without undergarments.”

  Rolling her eyes, she unhooked the bra and tossed it aside. “Of course.”

  He grinned and ran his hands up her sides as he zipped it.

  “Now that’s a sight,” Toryn murmured.

  She closed her eyes, attempting to relax. The dress appeared corseted, but there were no ties or anything to restrict her. The moment he closed the tiny clasp at the top of the zipper, the dress molded to her body of its own accord.

  She twisted around, trying to look at the spelled fabric. “What the fuck is that?”

  “The dress was enchanted by your mother’s personal designer. The magic fits the fabric to your body.”

  Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Well, isn’t that great.”

  “Better than his hands on you while he fits the dress. This way you don’t have to deal directly with him.”

  Her brow arched. “Jealous?” Not his normal state of mind. No, he seemed to like men and women looking at her.

  “No, but he loves beautiful women. Most are appalled by his antics.” A chuckle escaped. “However, I never trusted the guy.”

  “He can’t tempt me from you. No one can.” She leaned up to nip his lip. “And I can handle him.”

  “Never said you couldn’t.” He nodded to the mirror. “Check out the dress, Isa.”

  Turning to the mirror, she smiled. Okay, it was beautiful. Her skin glowed. She couldn’t tell if magic brought out the Fae in her. Either way, gorgeous as the gown was, it left a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something about it tripped her warning senses, but she couldn’t place what.

  “Makes me look—”

  “Enchanting.” He turned her face and took another kiss. “Relax. You only have to wear it for one night.”

  A tight smile graced her lips. “Okay, I saw. Help me out of it. I’ll wear it for the ceremony.”

  “And the reception. Don’t worry. Canton enchanted it so nothing will stain or mar the dress.”

  “Doesn’t mean I want it on any longer than I have to.”

  Amusement danced through his azure eyes. “All right, Princess. We’ll take it off.”

  He spun her around and removed the dress.

  It slid down her shoulders and to the floor. His hands caressed down her arms. “I need to have you before I go t
o meet your father.”

  She laid her head back on his shoulder and pulled his arms around her. “Rather skip work and steal you away for the day.”

  “Soon,” he promised.

  Something was coming. Big, bad, life-altering. She could feel it in her bones. Whatever it was, it threatened to bring her whole world crashing down.

  Toryn kissed her shoulder. “Let me love you,” he whispered against her skin.

  “Forever,” she answered.

  Toryn lifted her off her feet and carried her to the bed. He tossed her and removed his jeans, the only thing he’d been wearing. Then he climbed over her in graceful movements that promised slow, exquisite lovemaking.

  She needed hard, passionate, full of fire.

  Rolling him to his back, she threw her leg over his hip and took him in.

  “Oh, fuck, Isa, you’re ready.”

  “When aren’t I ready for you?” She rose up and slammed back down.

  He sat up, threading his fingers into her hair, and brought her lips to his.

  Gripping his shoulders, she rode him hard. Pleasure rocked through her with every stroke.

  Silver flames danced over her, lightning flowing over him. Their magic collided, starting ripples. Light danced through his skin and hers as he lifted her up and pinned her against the headboard, where he wound up kneeling, drilling into her with force.

  He screamed her name as he came undone, shooting her over the edge.

  She wound her arms around him, clinging to Toryn. “Can’t we run away and get married in private?”

  He kissed the shell of her ear. “Is that truly what you want?”

  Her eyes slid closed. She didn’t want to disappoint her parents, but she couldn’t shake the worry.

  “Just want you,” she whispered before gently pushing him back to climb from the bed.

  * * * *

  Toryn stared after Isa as she stepped into the closet. Sitting back on the bed, he pushed his fingers through his hair. When she didn’t come out, he followed her.

  She faced away from him, pulling on a Shenanigans shirt to go with her leather pants and boots. He wrapped her in his arms. “Isa, talk to me. What’s going on, Princess?”

  “Getting ready for work,” she answered with a smirk over her shoulder. She’d locked him out of her emotions again. He couldn’t even find her aura, she was blocking so hard.

  Now he wished he hadn’t taught her that trick.

  “Isa…” He turned her around and stared into her emerald eyes. “Do I tell Reance we aren’t getting married Saturday? I will in a heartbeat.”

  Her chest rose and fell before she answered. “No. We’ll be there. I want to be your wife.” A smile graced her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She spread her hands over his pecs and leaned up to kiss him. Then she slipped past him and grabbed her purse. “Now, I really need to get to work.”

  “Love you, Isa.”

  This time she really did smile. “Love you more.” She left with a bounce in her step, and he almost believed everything was all right.

  Almost.

  He knew her better than that.

  His phone rang, and he picked it up. “I’m coming.”

  Reance chuckled. “How is Isa? She seemed distant when she drove away.”

  “We’ll talk when I get there.” Toryn hurried into his clothes before walking across the street, to the home Reance had purchased so he and Aeryana could visit Isadora more often.

  The more she got to know them, the more nervous she became about the wedding. And maybe she was right. Things would change. The Fae would know who and what she was. Not only a princess, but a Storm Mistress.

  Honestly, he would be more worried if he hadn’t seen the two of them happy in Faery with their son, among other things.

  Toryn didn’t bother knocking, just let himself in.

  Reance walked into the living room, worry creasing his brow. “Talk to me, Toryn.”

  “She’s stressing out about being introduced as a crowned princess.”

  One scarlet brow lifted. “You do realize she has every reason to be worried.”

  “We’ll be fine.”

  His head leaned to the side. “How much have you seen, Toryn?”

  Shrugging, he snorted. “Maybe not enough.”

  “Well, you’re right, you both come through this, and stronger than you go in.”

  “That’s comforting.” Toryn blew out air. “Why did you insist I come over?”

  “Want to work on your resistance.”

  Toryn paused a second. “What in the abyss have you seen?”

  He offered a tight smile. “You know I won’t answer that.”

  “Fine, what kind of resistance?”

  “Mental. And I need you to drink something that will be rather unpleasant, but you need to do it.”

  “What?”

  “That I can’t say.”

  Toryn glanced at his old friend and his lip curled. “Fuck, okay. I know I can trust you, but with the way Isa’s freaking out, you’re not helping.”

  “Sorry, my friend.” He clapped a hand on Toryn’s shoulder.

  “Right. Let’s get this over with.”

  Reance walked to the kitchen. “Trust me, you need this.”

  He followed and watched Reance pour something from a pot into a mug.

  “Drink up.” Reance held out the concoction.

  The stench hit him first. For nearly clear liquid, it shouldn’t be so pungent, but it was.

  A grimace pulled at Toryn’s face. “That’s horrendous.”

  “You haven’t tasted it yet,” Reance offered lightly.

  A snort escaped and Toryn threw the drink back. His hand landed on the table, then the glass. Fire coursed down his esophagus, followed by a trail of ice. “Oh fuck, Reance, what in the abyss is this?”

  “The thing that will save your life.”

  “What?” he gasped, then slid to his knees before going flat on the floor.

  Chapter 2

  Pain shot down Isa’s throat. Her hand slammed down on the table as her breath caught in her chest.

  Toryn. He’s in trouble. What the fuck did my father do?

  Their mate bond had some interesting side effects. Most of the time, feeling what Toryn did was exhilarating. However, at the moment she thought he was dying.

  Her eyes closed and she reached for him. She’d seen visions of her mother doing something similar to check on Reance. She had to try.

  She slammed into Toryn’s body but couldn’t see a damned thing. His muscles spasmed as pain spread throughout his limbs. Cold, hot, racing, chasing, and flipping back and forth.

  It reminded her of the chimera poison’s antidote. Crazy, definitely crazy.

  “Just relax, Toryn. Not much longer and the ichor will take hold.” Her father seemed unconcerned, but when you knew pretty much everything that would ever take place no matter what, you had a plan.

  What the hell is the plan?

  Opening her eyes, she found herself back in Shenanigans. Her bar.

  Luckily, only Mike sat at the counter.

  “Everything okay, Isa?”

  “No. Hang tight. I’ll get Lana out here. I need to make a call, maybe a trip.”

  “All right. You need me, you know I have your back.”

  She managed a smile before hurrying down the hall and slipping into the office. “Lana, might want to watch the front. I need to check on my father and Toryn. I have no clue what happened, but Toryn is in serious pain and lying on the floor.”

  Lana’s eyes widened as she lifted a hand. Then she shook her head. “Um, all right.” She took off for the front.

  Not wasting time, Isa waved her hand and opened a portal to her father’s temporary home on Earth.

  Reance looked up with a sheepish smile. “Felt that, didn’t you?”

  “Yeah. Now what did you give him? And what will take hold?”

  H
e sighed. “Trust me. You need him to be immune to something that might actually tear the two of you apart.”

  Shock and anger boiled up. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”

  “Well, he’s building the immunity now. There will be no tearing you apart. Take a deep breath, Isa.”

  Wind whipped around her, the temperature rising as her hands balled into fists. “Stop with that bullshit. I’m so tired of you always assuming I’m going to roll with whatever idea you have without explaining a damned thing. I’m not letting this go. What the fuck did you give him?”

  He rattled off a list of ingredients that she committed to memory.

  “Are you going to tell me what all that does together? Or are you going to force me to find out on my own?”

  “Not sure you’ll find it, but I’m most certainly not telling you, Isadora. You’re already worried about the wedding, and you should be, but that’s not where the problem lies.”

  “What problem?”

  “You’ll see soon enough. Now aren’t you supposed to be at work? I need to talk to Toryn. Alone.”

  “He’s my fiancé, my mate, my everything. Not yours,” she growled.

  “I have every confidence he’ll tell you everything I tell him. However, this will be a lot easier if you don’t interfere.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You realize I can eavesdrop if I so choose?”

  His jaw clenched, then he answered, “I’m teaching him resistance.”

  “Resistance to what?”

  He sighed. “Mental magic. Trust me, he’ll need it.”

  The visions she’d had more than a year before sent a shot of dread through her, leaving only one outcome she could think of. Saressa took him, and she went after him. If that bitch had him, the spider from hell had access to him. “That shit you gave him gives him immunity to an Arachnian’s bite, doesn’t it? What the hell do you think is going to happen?”

  “Honestly? I’m not completely sure, but I believe in preparing for the worst.”

  “Fucking hell, why can’t you tell me anything useful? Like what is going to happen to Toryn?”