Free Storm On The Horizon, a paranormal Regency romance novella (Vallen) by Meredith Bond

gentle, seeping into her mind.
    A ground-shuddering roll of thunder followed the lightning, before another bolt hit no further away, on Lord Durrington’s other side.
    “ I know nothing of duty?” she asked.
    “You would take my son,” Lord Durrington started, oblivious to the danger he was facing.
    “Tatiana, stop now!” The command in Mr. Vallentyn’s voice was stronger this time. Not only did it slither into her mind, but it grabbed a hold of her magic and cut off the next bolt of lightning that was about to come even closer to Lord Durrington.
    She spun to look at Mr. Vallentyn, her fury directed now at him. “Don’t you dare stop…”
    “You cannot kill my father,” Mr. Vallentyn said, lacing his words such strong magic that Tatiana wasn’t sure she could break through them. Her confidence wavered.
    “And clearly with you here, she wouldn’t be able to, would she?” a new voice said, coming from the direction of the house.
    Startled, they all turned to face the newcomer.
    “Mother!” The word popped out of Tatiana’s mouth. Her fury was gone, blown away in her astonishment.
    “I believe the word your grandmother wished me to say was, ‘surprise!’” Her mother turned toward Mr. Vallentyn, and said, “Bravo to you, sir,” as she joined them beneath the trees.
    “I assume that you are Mr. Vallentyn, the man Lady Southburn has been so pleased to tell everyone is now engaged to my daughter?”
    Mr. Vallentyn seemed to be trembling as he bowed in acknowledgement. “And this is my father, Lord Durrington,” he said, indicating his father, who was still scowling, but seemed unsure of himself. Had he noticed Mr. Vallentyn’s nervousness or could he sense her mother’s power?
    “I assume, my lady, that you are here to inform your daughter that you will not stand for this ridiculous proposal?” Lord Durrington asked.
    Tatiana’s mother turned to him, taking a moment to size him up. She raised an eyebrow as she folded her arms across her body. “I admit that I had come out here to do exactly that. But now that I’ve seen what your son is capable of, I believe I’ve changed my mind.”
    She turned back to Mr. Vallentyn. “You will do very nicely. Well done, Tatiana.”
    “You cannot be serious!” Lord Durrington exploded.
    Lady Ashurst turned back to the man, giving him a look that made him take a step back, away from her. “I am always serious.”
    “Mother? You approve of my marrying Mr. Vallentyn?” Tatiana asked, just to make absolutely sure she understood.
    “I did just say so, did I not, child?” her mother asked. “You are an extremely lucky man, Mr. Vallentyn, you do realize this? It is quite a responsibility you are taking on here.”
    “The responsibility is mine, Mother,” Tatiana protested, “not his.”
    “What responsibility, ma’am? There is something very important I’m missing here,” Mr. Vallentyn interrupted.
    “What are you two going on about?” Lord Durrington echoed his son, looking from Tatiana to her mother and back again.
    Lady Ashurst looked at Tatiana. “I can see that you’ve hidden yourself well, child. So I assume that you’ve not told either of them.”
    “Told us what?” Lord Durrington asked again.
    Tatiana let her magic fall away. “No. I haven’t…” She could hear Lord Durrington gasp, but Mr. Vallentyn seemed to be expecting it.
    Her mother tsked. “Really, Tatiana, you cannot agree to marry someone without informing them of what they’d be getting themselves into. That’s not right.”
    “But I didn’t really think you would allow us to marry. You said that you would be choosing my husband,” Tatiana argued.
    “Excuse me,” Lord Durrington broke in again, his voice slightly cracking now with nervousness.
    Mr. Vallentyn, too, looked expectantly between Tatiana and her mother.
    Tatiana stayed quiet and allowed her mother to do the explaining. Lady Ashurst just shook her head before turning to the two men.
    “Tatiana is of the