Ryder on the Storm (18 page)

Storm stood and made for the door but Ryder took her arm and spun her around. “I will get it. You should rest, it has been a long day for you, Miss Sullivan.” He looked down at her meaningfully, his eyes flared silver for a moment and she remembered the dining room. Dammit. How could she stay mad at him when he looked at her like that? Storm forced a nod and Ryder released her arm. He strode out of the study and she sat back down on the sofa beside Dan. Again the room fell to silence. Storm tugged on Shane’s arm, urging him to sit down, in an effort to diffuse some of the tension while they waited.

“He cares for you deeply, child.” She felt Roane studying her again. As an afterthought, he added, “As do the seraphs.” Storm felt her face flush. Dan reached over and squeezed her hand. Apparently things could get worse. Mortification abound. Fortunately, Ryder returned with a glass of water and thrust it unceremoniously at Roane before settling on the arm of the sofa next to Dan. A few drops spilled out onto his pants but Roane paid them no attention. He simply took a gulp of water and returned to looking at Storm.

Roane took another drink before continuing, “The Seer’s name was Celine O’Sullivan, a fiery redhead with four young girls when I first met her. She had three more and a score of granddaughters before her death. I am certain you see where this is going. Your ancestor predicted the birth of the Emerald, a Seer of the Sullivan line with unusual power and enough talent to end the line of Immortals. Celine predicted that the Emerald would come from my son and a Sullivan woman. Unfortunately, my familiar was outside her cottage and heard that part of the prophecy. He raced off to the council and told them about my son and the Sullivans.” Roane hung his head. Storm wanted to comfort him, she couldn’t pinpoint why, she just had the overwhelming urge to do so. Shane placed a hand on her leg and squeezed. The urge passed and she listened as Roane continued. “The council couldn’t prove I had fathered a child or exile me for any wrong doing, but they wanted me close after that. I was unanimously voted into a seat on the council and removed from the traveling lists. Of course, at that point I knew my child survived and I had heard the entire prophecy. I did not trust anyone other than the monks who were bound to the brethren so I went to live among them spending my days and nights in the archives researching the Tuatha De and Morgaine’s magic. I visited Celine a few more times before her death and I smuggled her daughters out of Ireland. Since then, I have been secretly helping the line of Sullivans, waiting for my granddaughter.”

“That is an excellent story, but I am afraid it is simply not possible.” Ryder stood and glared at Roane, if looks could kill, well, more like, if Roane could die. Storm’s mind reeled with the onslaught of information. Questions formed and then were replaced with new questions, so many that she didn’t know where to begin. Her head hurt all of a sudden and she really needed time to process this. It felt true to her. But Ryder seemed skeptical. Even Dan and Shane were eyeing the Immortal suspiciously. She really wished their lie detection worked on Immortals.

Ryder

Ryder could not believe his ears. No way had Roane been aiding the Sullivans this whole time, not once had Ryder come across him on any of the assassinations. He never even heard of Roane having a child, an utter impossibility for Immortals, and this Damarra woman, how convenient that she went missing hundreds of years ago.

“It is true. And, there is more. It would not make sense without the history, but I know so much more. I can help.” Roane looked from Ryder to Storm and back again. “Ryder, I swear on the brethren that what I tell is true. I have been cursed for my knowledge and I came to town the instant I heard of Trin Sullivan’s death.” Roane seemed to be doing a smashing job of playing to his audience. Ryder folded his arms over his chest. He stared down Roane who looked, well, he looked sad. No, not possible. This could not be possible. Ryder looked to Lucian who met his eye and seemed just as suspicious. Kell and Pollux shrugged when he looked to each of them in turn.

“Why?” Storm’s voice broke through the tension. Ryder turned to her, confusion and frustration marring her lovely face. Her eyes blazed and her fingertips glowed just slightly. Not a good sign. Ryder sat back on the sofa arm and nudged Dan who then noted Storm’s fingertips as well. He took one of her hands and began massaging the pressure points in her wrist.

Roane finished off the last of the water and looked back to Storm, “Because, Trin Sullivan bound your emotions and with them your powers rendering you useless as the Emerald and deflecting the brethren’s assassin, that would be you Ryder. She was very good, the best of your line since Celine. Unfortunately, my son grew up with the Tuatha De and possesses some of his mothers’ powers. Your aunt was never meant to carry your power, though, she was merely mortal and her shell could not take it. Even the small portion she could use ended up being too much for her. In the end, it was rendered useless and Trin Sullivan knew it. She destroyed her would be assassins in one fell swoop, disintegrated them actually. I saw the wreckage. I cleaned up the mess to protect our world. To the police she was just another victim of gang violence.” Roane continued to study Storm. Ryder watched, alert and ready to move if necessary. He stole glances at Storm from the corner of his eye. She chewed on her lip for a few minutes and blew that stubborn strand of hair from her eyes. Ryder clamped down on his arousal and focused on Roane.

“So I am part goddess and my magic is what killed my aunt because she tried to use it to protect me from my father who is trying to capture me to kill me for some reason. Is that what you are telling me?” Storm looked so small sitting on the sofa between the seraphs. Ryder wanted so badly to carry her away from all of this until the others could dispose of Jasper. He sighed. She would never leave. His stubborn Storm. His. Gods he wanted her to be his. Every part of his body wanted her.
Have to save her first though.
The words popped in his head and he looked over to Lucian who smiled knowingly.
Gotcha.
Lucian winked and turned back to watch Roane.

“For the most part, yes. Your father wishes to harness your abilities to rule the supernatural world. He thinks it is his true place, the son of an Immortal and a Goddess. I believe that he has gone a touch mad.” Roane trailed off and then focused back on Storm, “wait, how did you come to think he wishes you dead?” Roane actually seemed perplexed. Something the mighty Roane had not figured out? Ryder wanted to interject a snide comment but thought better of it when he chanced another glance at Storm. Her brows were furrowed and she seemed just as confused.

“Well, when he had me earlier I told him about why I left home at seventeen and he became real interested in it. I actually used it to anger him enough to break down his magic. I am not a complete idiot so I put two and two together and voila! My father wants me dead.” Storm sounded so matter of fact. Ryder marveled at how collected she remained under the circumstances.

“You told him why you left?” Ryder could not be sure which seraph asked since his eyes remained on Storm, but it did not really matter he supposed. She turned to Dan, must have been him.

“Yes, I couldn’t help it. Honestly, I couldn’t stop myself. The words just came out.” She looked ashamed. Ryder wanted to comfort her, tell her it would be alright. He did not quite understand what the big deal was but apparently it had been bad for her to reveal that to him.

“You never told us. You never told Trin.” Ah, that was the reason. Ryder felt himself growing increasingly irritated with the seraphs. They clearly wanted her. He would not share her. Ever. A strand of hair fell in Storm’s face. He wanted for her to blow it backward as she had before. Instead, she glanced at him briefly, pain in her green eyes.

Storm looked at Dan, then Shane, then lowered her eyes and answered; her voice barely audible, “I saw my own death.”

Ryder had not seen that coming. He moved to kneel in front of her, “Storm?” She did not respond. He lifted her chin with his finger, a jolt of electricity ran through him the instant he touched her, but Ryder kept his voice soft and steady, “Storm, when does it happen? How?”

A tear rolled down her cheek, “I don’t know. It keeps changing now. The first time I saw it, I just saw my face, eyes wide open and staring at nothing with a trickle of blood at the corner of my mouth. Now, well, it changes.”

Roane spoke up again in that soft voice that Ryder had never heard before today. “Do you see it often? When did you last see it?” He moved to kneel beside Ryder, “I promise you, Storm, we will save you.”

Ryder looked at his fellow Immortal, nothing but love in his face for Storm, but not lust or want, true paternal affection. The kind Jasper should have shown her. Maybe Roane had told them the truth. It did not matter so long as he pledged to keep Storm safe, if he swore on the Immortal code. That would convince Ryder.

“Swear on the Immortal Code that you will keep her safe.” Ryder heard the words out of Lucian’s mouth as if they were his own. He turned to face Lucian, searching for the flicker in his eye but saw none. “Roane, if you are speaking truth then swear on the code and we will trust you in this.”

Roane stood slowly. “If I must, I will. Ryder will you do the honor? I seemingly have you to convince most of all in this.” Ryder nodded. Lucian flipped a lighter at him. Ryder caught it and flicked the flame. Roane put his hand directly over the flame, the scent of burning flesh began to seep into their nostrils. Storm began to protest but fortunately the seraphs silenced her. Ryder could not break eye contact. Roane spoke slowly, “I swear that all I have said is true as I know it, I swear on the code of the Immortal Brethren that I will protect my granddaughter, Storm Sullivan, always and I swear that I will do all in my power to help her find happiness in this world.” Ryder nodded tightly and released the flame. Roane held his palm up to Ryder, then Lucian, Kell, and Pollux. They all nodded.

“That was barbaric. And, completely unnecessary.” Storm folded her arms over her chest and glared up at Ryder. He would never win with this woman. How could she not see that he merely wanted to make sure everyone involved remained honest.

“Storm, it is our way. You have traveled; surely you have seen worse things?” Roane defending him. Ryder never thought he would live to see the day. She paused to think about it but the scowl remained.

“Perhaps we should figure out why Jasper wants her dead and how we intend to stop that from happening. Everything else becomes moot if we can’t figure that out, right?” Ryder knew he owed Lucian in a huge way for his aide on this, he’d become exceptionally skilled at redirecting dangerous conversations since this whole thing began. Perhaps he could round up a few gremlins for the training room. Or maybe a special lady, somebody with a little more fire than Angeline and a few kids less than Rosalee. That too would have to wait. Ryder felt a lengthy to do list growing in his head.

“He goes by Jasper these days? Interesting choice.” Roane shrugged, “It matters not. Based on what you have told us, I believe he has changed his plan. Rather than rule with you as his prisoner, my son intends to bind your powers to his own and then have you killed so that he can take permanent control of them. With your power he could certainly take over the supernatural world and of course, end me.”

Storm

“Why would he want to harm you? How could he? I thought it against supernatural law to harm your kin?” Storm felt the situation spiraling out of control in the worst way. Something seemed to be escaping her, something that would tie everything together. She looked up to Ryder. He smiled at her, his eyes flashing silver again. Storm looked away quickly.

“It is against supernatural laws to harm your kin, but he believes himself to be above our laws. He believes himself to be divine.” Roane’s voice had regained that flat, eerie tone again. It sent chills down her spine. He seemed to notice her reaction and lowered his voice again, “He blames me for abandoning his mother and wishes to take my immortality for himself. I am sure you have noticed that he has aged somewhat.”

“I don’t understand. If you are Immortal and his mother is a Goddess, how can he age? That doesn’t make sense.” Storm had recognized the crow’s feet and graying hair which now seemed odd given her father’s lineage.

“It is part of the magic. He is not supposed to exist therefore he has a finite time to live. While his life has been long, my son has begun to show the signs of age, more so since your birth. I have come to believe that he feels you stole some of his longevity.” Roane looked apologetic, sad even, “He wanted you to harness the power of the legendary Emerald but I do not believe he intended to bargain away any of his mortality in exchange.”

“Will I live longer than usual? Do you know what I am capable of?” Storm had so many questions, now that she could put a history to her life and sit in a room of people – okay, very gorgeous males – who accepted her, life seemed far better than it had in a long, long while. Somehow, it would all work out. She looked at her grandfather, studying his smooth face and marveling at how he could be her grandfather, they could pass for the same age.

Roane shrugged, “I cannot be sure about your longevity as I am not sure of your father’s, as for your power and what you are truly capable of, I would guess you have a fair combination of all of your ancestors. I am forbidden from sharing my unique talents, as is our way, but I am sure that with time you will figure it out. Your grandmother, as you know, is a fertility goddess. She had some other minor talents and history is filled with quarrels over her true abilities, but instinct remained her greatest asset. Damarra had a gift for the arts as well, I would guess that passed to you as well.”