Page 1 of Wind and Water (Reign of the Witch Queen #2)

The night before the oracle sends the sons of Riordan to the human world

Liam

B ecause the prophecy has been found, and the oracle is deciphering it, my brothers, the bulk of our army, and I have been ordered to remain in the city in case we need to deploy.

Other than locking myself in my rooms, the garden is the only place I can find some peace in the bustling castle.

Lounging atop the high garden wall gives me some privacy.

It’s a clear night, and the stars are bright before the second moon rises.

I should be strong-minded enough to sit still and wait, but I’m bored and anxious. It feels as if I’m standing on the brink of something, and I don’t like not knowing my future.

Sensing my older brother’s approach, I jump down. It’s a little reckless, but my magic and my elven strength allow me to land with ease. Behind Aaran, our younger brother, Raith, jogs awkwardly to keep up.

Our father often yells at Raith to be more disciplined like me or studious like Aaran, but Raith is his own person.

He’s kind and funny but not suited to soldiering or command, at least not yet.

As unpredictable as Raith is, it’s impossible not to like him.

Even Aaran, who is most like Father, sees that there is something special about our little brother beyond his lack of control with his magic or what falls from his lips at any given time.

“You’re looking for me?” Since this is the place I often go for solitude, the answer is obvious, and I see no point in them pretending they didn’t wish to disturb me.

Aaran nods and steps through an archway made of shrubbery to the seating area beside the wall. “The prophecy has been deciphered.”

Tripping over the flagstone, Raith leaps in the air, does a flip, and lands on his feet between Aaran and me. His long red hair flops into his face, and he brushes it back. “Oops.”

With a shake of his head, Aaran sighs. “Try not to hurt yourself. We have orders.”

“What orders?” My heart speeds, glad to have something to do besides wait.

“We are to go see the oracle in the morning.” Aaran sits on the bench to my left. There are three in the small court, and it’s familiar for us to meet here as we did when we were younger.

“Why not now?” I sit.

Raith lies on his back on the third bench, and his long legs drape over the armrest. “Who knows why the oracle decides one time rather than another?”

Laughing, Aaran says, “He’s right. They have their reasons even if we can’t fathom them.”

“What time do we go to the mountain?” It’s a weakness not to be patient, but one I’m constantly working on.

“The mystery continues.” Raith makes a spooky sound. “We’re to go separately and in the order of our birth. Woooo.” He wiggles his fingers in the air and laughs.

Unable to resist his enthusiasm, I chuckle too. “You should take it more seriously.” I turn to Aaran. “What about the army?”

He shakes his head. “They only called for the three of us. I will go after we break our fast. Then they will send for you and Raith.”

“I have a serious question.” Raith points to the other side of the garden without rising from his reclined position. “Why is Dierdre hiding in the bushes?”

It’s not that I didn’t know that she was there. I just hoped she would leave when I didn’t acknowledge her presence for long enough. “I assume she wishes to speak with me.”

Aaran shifts to his side, leaning on his elbow. “I thought that relationship had ended.”

“Months ago,” I confirm, and a long sigh follows that I hadn’t meant to share.

Raith’s grin is sinister, which doesn’t suit him. “Do you want me to scare her off?” He rubs his hands together, and a blue light sparks between his palms.

Laughing, Aaran lifts his hand and sends a spell to quash Raith’s magic. “Leave her be. You and I will go inside and let Liam deal with his former lover.”

With an unnecessary leap, Raith gets up and hugs me. “I think we should have a drink together tonight, but if”—he twitches his head at Dierdre’s hiding place—“is going to take all night, we’ll see you in the morning.”

It’s impossible not to be amused by him, but I force a scowl. “I’ll meet you in the library shortly.”

Aaran slaps my back and pushes Raith down the path toward the house.

When they reach the doors, I walk in the other direction. “Come out now, Dierdre.”

Undeniably beautiful, Dierdre has long brown hair and bright hazel eyes. Her body is full and curvaceous, and she’s a generous lover. She saunters toward me. “I thought your brothers would never leave.” She wraps her arms around my neck.

I remove her arms and move back. “Why are you here? Our business together ended months ago.”

“Business.” She stomps her foot. “Is that what our love was?”

Stepping back, I cross my arms. “What we had was not love, Dierdre. You made that very clear when you began your affair with Kyle Mahony. Does he know you’ve come here tonight?”

“You should have proposed, Liam. If you had given me the position I deserve, I’d never have strayed.”

“That was never going to happen,” I say gently. “You will be happier without me.”

Making a sour face, she pulls her shoulders back, which forces her breasts forward, calling into question whether her tunic can contain them. “My father said you would go to the oracle tomorrow. He wouldn’t tell me what they’ll ask of you. I was worried for your safety.”

“You worry only for your own position, my dear. You should focus on Kyle. While what we had was a good deal of fun, it is in the past and was never going to give you what you wanted.”

In two steps, she reaches me and slaps my cheek, digging her nails across my flesh. “You are a pig.”

When her hand goes back for another swipe, I grip her wrists. “Go home before the guards are called to drag you home.”

Softening, she drapes her body along mine. “You wouldn’t call the guards on me.”

I touch blood dripping down my cheek and send magic to heal the scratches. “I would and I will. Go now before I also send a letter to your current lover explaining your betrayal.”

Narrowing her eyes, she growls. “I would have been a good wife to you. We could have ruled this land.”

It’s not as if I needed confirmation that I’d done the right thing in ending our arrangement, but her last sentence is perfectly telling. “My brother is the oldest. I am a simple soldier, and that is all I will ever be.”

“Anything could have happened in the years of your mother’s rule.” Dierdre’s beauty is soiled by the ugliness festering inside her.

“Go.” I send a bright yellow light into the sky to alert the guards that there is an intruder.

Boots sound on the path.

Eyes wide, if she were a snake, venom would shoot from her mouth. “You really are a pig, Liam Riordan.”

“I am. You are better off without me.” When the three guards arrive, I say, “Please see the lady safely back to her father’s house.”

She stomps off with the guards behind her.

I make my way to the library.

At the cave, I ring the bell and wait for the portal to open. Once its swirling light appears, I step through to the antechamber.

My mother waits on the other end. She looks at my pack, weapons, and gear. “You’ve come prepared, I see.”

“Father bid us all farewell when we broke our fast this morning, and Aaran didn’t return. I assume I will be sent somewhere.” I kiss her cheek. “You wouldn’t want to tell me what this is all about, would you? Father said he knew nothing other than to make his goodbyes.”

“Your father does not have the information, and I will let the oracle explain the needs of Domhan.” Worry creases her forehead, and dark rings are under her eyes. She hands me a roll of green paper. “This is human currency. You’ll need it.”

Offering a short smile, I tuck the bills into my pack. “We’d better let them tell me my mission.”

Side by side, Mother and I walk into the oracle’s chamber. With only the dais lit and the rest in darkness, the room is hard to make out. Ten elves, all dressed in white robes, sit on a dais. A light shines from above me where I stand before them.

“What is it you would have from me?”

They speak as one voice, though none of their mouths move.

“Second son of the Riordan. You must go to the world of humans and find one of the three prophesied to save our world. You will bring the woman back here, and six will travel to the Watcher’s Gate.

There, the prophecy declares you will find the means to defeat the witch queen and break the curse. ”

“I’m to grab a human woman? I thought humans had no magic. Why send me? Any elf could capture a human.” Admittedly, I’m a little disappointed the task isn’t more difficult.

Mother says, “I don’t think we’ll get much help from her if you force her to come to Domhan, a world she knows nothing about. You’ll have to ask her to come.”

“Why would she do that if, as you say, she knows nothing of our world?” I’ll simply bring her here and convince her by any means to do as we say.

One of the oracle members blinks off the dais and lands in front of me.

“The woman you seek has magic, but it lies dormant. She knows nothing of our world, and she will only help us if you can convince her our need is great. I offer you the song of her soul to guide you to Wren Martin. See that no harm comes to her, or all is lost, and we’ll have to wait for another to come forth. ” She touches my temple.

The melody that enters my head is soft, sweet, and full of passion. It blends and balances with my soul’s song in an alluring way. I have no idea who Wren Martin is, but her soul sings to mine in a way that is unsettling and appealing at the same time. I push the oracle’s hand away. “I hear it.”

She cocks her head. “The gate we create will stay open for a few minutes. It would be best if you could bring her back through right away, but if you cannot, I believe you have the knowledge of the old gates in the human world.”

“I do.” My brothers and I were all educated in the ways of humans and the history between elves and their magicless race. “I will bring her through.”

The oracle closes their eyes and mutters words in the ancient tongue. A few feet in front of me, a pinpoint of purple light spins.

Turning to my mother, I give her a quick hug. “I will not fail.”

She cups my head and brings my forehead to her lips. “I know.”

The vortex widens and the portal opens. Through the small hole, I see her in a reclining chair with two people hovering over her.

Her song is louder, and she stares at me as she jumps from the reclining chair. The other two are frozen, and I know Wren and I are no longer existing in normal time. I step through the portal. “Wren Martin, by command of Elspeth Riordan, you must come with me.”

“Who or what are you?” Her eyes sparkle the bluest blue, and her figure is petite, lush, and full. It seems impossible that this small human can save my world. Still, I was given a task.

“I am Liam. Come with me now.” I step close and offer my hand to pull her back through the portal.

She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, but she looks at my hand as if I’m a viper. “No. Get away from me.”

Frustrated and unreasonably hurt, I step closer to her and grip her shoulder. “I don’t have time for this. You will come with me now.”

Her foot connects with my balls faster than I have time to react. And I hit the floor hard enough to smash my kneecap.