Page 25 of Prince of Storms
I grunted. “You’re talking about Rica.”
Ty shrugged. “Yes, I am. She was exiled for a good reason, Tor.Verygood reason. Who knows what she’s been up to since we left. What I do know, though, is that she’s highly likely to hold a grudge.”
“My father should have killed her when he had the chance,” I said, gritting my teeth together. “That would have made this all so much easier.”
“Well, he didn’t, and now, we’re back on Earth. Where she’s had almost two decades to get comfortable. I highly doubt she didn’t do any preparation in advance of the day we returned. Do you?”
“Honestly, I was stunned she hadn’t burned this place to the ground or at least trashed it,” I admitted. “When I came through, I expected to be trapped in a room underground with the house melted around me. Imagine my surprise when it was still fully intact, untouched for all these years.”
“Yes, but ask yourself this, Tor. If she didn’t take out her anger on the house, whathasshe been doing with it?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Yet another reason we should never have left Earth.”
“What other reasons?”
“We’ve fallen behind the other clans here,” I said. “They have significant business presences in town. They’re making money without trying now. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“You’re intending to stay here, then?” he asked.
“Yes, why wouldn’t I?”
“Your sister …”
“I’m not a young teen anymore,” I said. “She doesn’t scare me.”
Ty gave me a look. “Nobody ever saidshescared you. Just what she did, Tor. Remember, a lot of peoplediedbecause of what she called a ‘prank’ on you.”
I shivered. “I know,” I said. “She almost killed me with it, too. If it weren’t for my father’s timely arrival, she would have. But I’m a full dragon now. My powers are as his were then. I no longer fear what she unleashed.”
“Maybe not,” Ty said. “But those of us not of noble blood still have to worry.”
Fuck. There I went again, not thinking of anyone other than myself. Yes, I could stand up to the threat my twin had unleashed. But those around me could not. Not Ty and definitely not Mia.
“If it comes to it,” I promised, staring at him, “I will deal with her the way my father should have.”
“I hope so,” Ty said. “‘Cause I really don’t feel like dying.”
I nodded. I’d promised him, and I would have to follow through. Somehow.
I wished yet again that my father had killed her instead of exiling her. But now, I did so because if he had, I wouldn’t have to. Because I wasn’t sure that Icouldkill family. No matter how evil she was.
Chapter Eleven
Mia
“Fucking hell,” I cursed, reaching for another paper towel. “This is ridiculous.”
The entire house was coated in dust. Every surface. Gunk and grime had accumulated in the corners and around the legs of furniture, meaning I had to get down and scrub the floors with a brush before I could mop them. Of course, I had to clean every other surface first before I did that because, otherwise, the floor would end up with another layer of dirt on it by the time I was done.
I’d already revised my estimate from two weekends to at least four based on my progress. Or lack of progress. I’d been at it for several hours and was just—just—finally reaching the point that I could call the first bedroom clean. All that was left was the floor. A few more hardened piles of gunk, then it could be mopped.
“Just nine more bedrooms after this,” I muttered angrily, the words echoing in the empty room. That was a saving grace, at least. They’d removed it all to make way for the new stuff Tor had bought. If I’d had to clean all that, too …
Footsteps in the hallway caught my attention. I quickly swiped the clean edge of the paper towel across my brow before returning to digging at the hardened dirt on the floor. Just how long had the place been abandoned?
“Looks great in here.”
“Oh, hi, Ty,” I said, looking over my shoulder and forcing a smile.
