Gale Season

Storm Lords - 3

by

Marie Harte

Prologue

Checking up on her charge, a brooding prince and Storm Lord who had no idea she existed, the last thing Alandra le Aelle expected to see in the grimy little Seattle apartment was bloodshed. She stared at the ongoing fight in shock, safely concealed by the shadows of the dingy room.

Several Light Bringers, Tanselm’s fierce Storm Lords, duelled with ‘Sin Garu, a malevolent Dark Lord and sorcerer who was seriously beginning to piss her off.

She had missed the signs that ‘Sin Garu would attack this soon, and worse, that he’d have the audacity to steal one of the Storm Lords’ mates, the River Prince’s beloved affai. Only three of the four Storm Lords were fighting back, and Marcus’ affai lay unconscious on the ground. Prince Darius, the fourth member of the legendary Royal Four, had returned to his homeworld of Tanselm with his new bride a month ago.

From what Alandra had observed, Darius’ marriage would be a strong one, one that would bode the land of Tanselm well against ‘Sin Garu and his Netharat, an evil scourge that no one, not even her family, found promising.

“Tessa! No!” Marcus cried from a large pool of red contaminant that chuckled gleefully in a language only Alandra could hear. Staring at the red goo, Alandra took a deep breath, frustrated that her intention to remain invisible, and thus effective, would have to change. The red goo, an immature youngster known more commonly as a Nocumat, clung to Marcus, his brother Cadmus, and even her charge, prince and Wind Mage Aerolus Storm.

She knew the youngster, Oxcen, would not relent until he had devoured them all. A Nocumat’s appetite was well-known for being one of the most voracious of the Shadren.

By the Shadow’s Curse, she hadn’t wanted to meet Aerolus like this. Damn Oxcen! She glared at his spreading substance, at the many hands and mirrored form of Marcus that moulded from his red being. How one of the Shadren came to be in this place, a world with so little magic as to be nonexistent, boggled the mind.

She shifted her gaze to ‘Sin Garu, who struggled against Marcus’ impressive defence. A thin sheen of water encased the sorcerer from head to toe, slowly suffocating him to death.

Good. A fitting end to the Dark Lord, considering his quest to subjugate not only the Storm Lords and their people, but all who opposed his future rule over Tanselm. To that end, he employed ice wraiths, the rebellious Djinn, and a handful of ignorant Shadren willing to believe in his obscene plans.

And speaking of ignorant Shadren…she glared at Oxcen as he toyed with Marcus and his brothers, and deliberately stepped closer to Aerolus.

Her Wind Mage, as she’d expected, had Oxcen’s appetite in hand, but even he could not hold the Nocumat back forever. Neither, for that matter, could ‘Sin Garu. What had he been thinking to bring a Nocumat here, of all places?

While ‘Sin Garu wrestled with Marcus’ magic, Alandra noted yet another complication, and her head began to throb. Cadmus, the Earth Lord, began flashing as if under a spell. She rubbed her temple, grimly wishing she had never heard of Tanselm and the Storm Lords. By all that was Shadow, the four identical princes are more trouble than they’re worth. She eyed Aerolus. Well, almost.

A movement to his left caught her attention. As if Cadmus’ odd shifting weren’t enough, the white-gold fiery form of a man covered in otherworldly black flames low-crawled towards ‘Sin Garu with his dark hand outstretched, threatening under his breath. A Djinn, a stupid, haughty, trouble-making Djinn, interfered openly in the presence of the narrow-minded Light Bringers. Had he no concept of what the Storm Lords would do with him once they rid their world of ‘Sin Garu?

Similar to the Shadren, the Djinn were widely regarded as evil, simply because they preferred, and even lived in, the dark. But like Alandra, this Djinn appeared to believe in the Storm Lords’ dynasty, knowing that only with their powerful leadership could the possibility exist that someday, somehow, the Djinn and Alandra’s people, the Aellei, might be allowed to return to Tanselm, a land of celebrated prosperity, wealth, and magic.

Tessa, Marcus’ affai, diverted her attention by rising to wield an incredible amount of elemental and psychic energy at ‘Sin Garu, draining some of Alandra’s psychic energy in the process. Extraordinary, she thought, staring at the warrior-like redhead with a hint of envy.

What she wouldn’t give to be that tall.

‘Sin Garu faltered, and in that moment, the Djinn grasped his ankle, merging his Dark energy with the sorcerer’s. Moved by his efforts to free his people, even at the cost of his own life, Alandra sent him a hint of her magic, pushing him and ‘Sin Garu towards a dark welling in the floor.

A moment later, a loud boom sounded, the noise made by their clumsy re-entry into the pathways between worlds. She had no idea where the Djinn would take ‘Sin Garu, or if the two would even survive the trip. But she had given the Djinn a chance, one he wouldn’t have had if he’d used his remaining energy to expel the sorcerer from this world.

“Marcus,” Tessa cried before falling to the floor.

Quickly noting what she’d ignored in her attempt to aid the Djinn, Alandra made a sudden decision to make her presence known. Aerolus couldn’t hold Oxcen back any longer, and her red kin was slowly consuming one Storm Lord while easing his way up Aerolus’ knees. And that would definitely not do.

Shimmering into the image of her aunt, the Aellein queen, Alandra assumed ‘the royal presence’ she’d learned through her miserable years spent at court. She decided to give young Oxcen a piece of her mind.

It would be too much to hope that he’d keep the tale of the queen’s visit to Seattle to himself. No doubt by this time tomorrow everyone in Aelle would know someone had impersonated the queen, yet another sin to add to Alandra’s lengthening list of crimes against her world and the royal family, of which she was no longer considered a part.

But she would at least have the chance to meet Aerolus face to face and give him the opportunity to see who’d been watching over him during his pressing time in this world. She hungrily studied him from head to toe, from his dark hair and glinting, silver eyes filled with power, to his broad, muscular chest, and lower, to that other impressive part of him.

She couldn’t help the naughty grin that escaped. Time to show Aerolus her patience had worn thin. And when she was done with him, maybe, just maybe, she’d finally get the irresistible Aerolus Storm to herself. What she wouldn’t do for five minutes alone in the dark with the Wind Mage…

Chapter One

Three weeks later

A little to the left, no, stop, don’t move. Okay, two more steps, ah,…there. Now, slowly, one button at a time. Yes, yes, that’s right.

Alandra, magically disguised as plain, middle-aged Trudy Warner, stared through the telescope carefully positioned in the corner of the bedroom, obscured from view by shuttered blinds and a large, potted fern should the male under scrutiny decide to give her window a second glance. She felt ridiculous having the fern near with closed blinds, but she knew better than to underestimate a Storm Lord.

“Oh yeah, baby,” she uttered on breath and a prayer. “I love that chest.”

Helplessly fascinated and growing steadily more aroused, she watched her tall, strapping neighbour lose his shirt as he readied, she assumed, for a bath—the light in his adjoining bathroom was on, and steam fogged the bathroom mirror.

She swallowed around a dry throat, wishing for a glass of water, but refused to leave the sight of Aerolus Storm stripping down to nothing.

Long fingers reached for the snap of his jeans, his hands graceful and sure as they unzipped the denim, allowing a brief thatch of dark hair to appear.

Mother of all that was holy.

She stopped breathing, anticipation making her almost dizzy. Come on, Aerolus. Drop them, already. I’m dying here!

Jeans slid slowly to his knees before he kicked them off, giving her an uninhibited view of sizzling male perfection. Golden skin rippled as he moved under the sunlight streaming through his room, casting beautiful shadows of a warrior in his prime. A sprinkling of dark, silky hair covered his upper chest, tapering over a taut abdomen packed with clearly delineated muscle. The hair trailed lightly down his belly to frame a thick, mouth-wateringly large shaft that whispered yours the longer she stared at it.

Shadows, how she wanted to touch that part of him.

She swallowed loudly, her heart hammering like a ringing alarm clock that refused to turn off. Trying to rein in her boiling needs, she took a deep breath, then released. Repeating the process several more times, she finally admitted she was hopelessly in lust with the god-like image before her.

Aerolus was so beautiful, so very desirable, and so utterly slow.

Her hands gripped the base of the telescope as she watched him stretch and rub his chest, a motion she could have been performing had the stubborn man answered her summons.

Instead, Aerolus Storm, both warrior and sorcerer, Storm Lord and Wind Mage, acted as if he had nothing to fear, as if she hadn’t rescued both him and his brothers from sure death just a few short weeks ago.

She huffed, perturbed that apparently she’d been so easy to forget, all the while her eyes remained glued to the naked mage rotating his neck and shoulders, which only emphasised the abundant physical strength he possessed in spades.

Aerolus appealed to her on more than a visual level, regrettably making her attraction all that harder to shake. The man’s extraordinary grasp of sorcery, especially considering he was really just a novice, and his potential for power thrilled the heart of her that pulsed with magic.

She itched to be near him, to stroke his warm skin and feel the energy that coursed in his blood. Scowling, she cursed the day Aerolus had sealed his house from all but the Light Bringers. Now, as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t simply phase into his home. Despite her pixie-like size when observing, she couldn’t pass the spelled shield he’d erected around the house. Even in the guise of an ant, she’d be expelled from the premises.

Thus her masquerade as Trudy Warner, the nosy neighbour.

Aerolus finished his stretch, capturing her attention once more. He did the oddest thing. Staring down at his shaft, he grasped it in a firm hand, then began rubbing it and closed his eyes. The action seemed at first clinical, but then his face changed, became charged with a raw intensity that caused an instant throbbing between her legs.

His fingers stretched his flesh, pulling almost viciously as his breathing quickened. Sweat beaded on her brow, and she licked her dry lips, wishing he were here with her, thrusting not into his hand, but inside her with that massive cock. Into her body and out of her system, ending this annoying craving she had for his touch.

His biceps clenched, and his forearm strained. She could see his nipples standing erect, as much from arousal as from the breeze that lifted his hair. Her breath caught as she saw his elemental nature freeing itself from its usual constriction.

Wind whipped at the sheets on his bed, at the papers lying atop his dresser, at the curtains framing his window, interrupting her scrutiny as dark fabric swirled against the panes. Glimpses of Aerolus showed him building towards climax, his neck muscles prominent, straining as he gritted his teeth and pumped faster.

Then suddenly the curtains dropped, the wind ceased, and Aerolus turned his head, blinking directly at the hidden telescope, at her. He should have been embarrassed. Shadows knew she would have been. But Aerolus stood uninhibited, still gripping his cock, his face an almost expressionless mask, unless one knew where to look.

She did. And the slight tightening around his eyes showed a muted frown. He released himself—a damned waste, in her opinion—and took a step towards the window, his eyes glowing with unfettered anger.

With a curse she flew back, knowing he couldn’t possibly have seen her, yet he had. She felt both annoyed and embarrassed to be caught peeping and sank heavily onto the bed. Well, really, it wasn’t as if he was around to cure her of this insatiable desire.

She shook her head, muttering under her breath and returned to the telescope. “Damn.” He’d disappeared, and the bathroom door had closed.

Alandra toyed with the idea of marching over there and asking for a cup of sugar, an egg, anything just to get inside that house again, a step closer to the man who, for reasons unknown, filled her every waking thought. Her growing obsession with Aerolus was irritating, alarming, and disturbingly arousing.

The last she’d seen, only Aerolus, his brother Cadmus, and that unpredictable sorcerer of Tanselm, Arim, were in residence. None of them would recognise her in this guise.

But did she want to take the chance she might be wrong?

Walking to the dresser mirror, she stared at the likeness of Dr. Trudy Warner, a nice, if boring, forty-nine year old woman currently on sabbatical in Europe. House-sitting for Professor Warner had been a no-brainer, a fortuitous circumstance she’d been hoping for when she’d first begun observing Aerolus a year ago.

To Trudy, she’d looked like an eager, naïve college student needing some extra cash. But to the Storm Lords, she remained Trudy Warner, an average neighbour who never attracted attention, the same dull professor day in and day out.

The month she’d been here had been hell, but so worth it if only to see Aerolus naked. Her lips quirked. This job had definite perks. And a killer downside. With the source of her attraction so close, it should have been easy to fulfil her needs.

Unfortunately, Aerolus felt no compunction about ignoring both her and the dire situation encroaching steadily nearer.

The doorbell rang, halting her indignation, and she hurriedly adjusted her attitude and mindset to match Trudy’s. As she slowly trudged down the steps, Alandra focused on recalling Trudy’s monotonous voice. Appearances were easy to assume, but voices and mannerisms took skill and practice—both of which she was working to improve.

She reached the front door and drew in a deep breath. She exhaled evenly as she opened the door with a pleasant if dim smile on her face. “Yes? Marcus, isn’t it?”

Aerolus frowned, his silver eyes glinting with suspicion. Oh, yes, he’d definitely noticed her watching him. “Actually, I’m his brother, Aerolus. We’ve never met.”

Thank the shadows. Now, how to play this to her advantage… If Arim weren’t in residence, she would have knocked on Aerolus’ door and demanded his cooperation weeks ago. But with the formidable Light Bringer at the house, maybe even spying on Aerolus as they spoke, she didn’t want to chance being recognised. Who knew what repercussions she’d suffer at his hands? And if word got back to the Aellei of what she’d been doing before she was ready to face them, she’d be better off dead.

Aerolus stared down at her curiously, and she realised she’d been staring as she thought. She flushed and tried to act intimidated, as Trudy would have.

“I’m so sorry, please, come in.” She stepped back and waited until he entered before locking the door behind him.

An idea firmed in her mind, one she’d been toying with for weeks in the event she was caught. Lies and deception worked so much better when a hint of truth worked into the mix.

“I know why you’re here,” she said in a strangled whisper, peering through her front window nervously before turning back to him.

“Excuse me?” His deep voice sent shivers through her that she worked hard to suppress. Why this happened only around him she had no idea. He was just a man, albeit the best looking one she’d ever seen.

“It’s that woman,” she whispered dramatically, pleased when he actually frowned. “I’ve seen her hanging around your house the past few days. I had a feeling I should have told you sooner.”

“A woman.”

She nodded.

His eyes narrowed. “Describe her.”

“She has white hair, stands a few inches shorter than me, and I guess you could say she’s quite pretty.” Gorgeous, really. As soon as she thought it, she wanted to smack herself in the head. Vanity at a time like this?

The Aellei wanted her dead, Arim would transform her into a spotted lizard if he knew she interfered with one of his precious Royal Four, and by now, Oxcen had told everyone the queen had ordered him away from a Storm Lord, the same queen who’d been in council for the past few weeks. One guess as to who had the gall to impersonate Her Royal Bitchiness and they’d be inscribing ’gorgeous‘ on Alandra’s burial marker.

Oh, what the hell? She might be on death’s door, but at least let her be pretty. “Yes, she was especially attractive and just lovely in white.” Alandra frowned. “She had the most intriguing eyes.”

“Violet eyes, a sensual, lustrous lavender,” he muttered, his words complimentary though his manner was anything but.

“Yes.”

“And you didn’t mention a woman stalking my house because…?”

Alandra blushed and looked down. “You and Marcus are grown men. It would have been silly to presume a woman who looked like that wasn’t invited to your home.”

“Then why the telescope?” he asked wryly, still not believing her story.

“Because she started acting strange.” Alandra licked her lips. “I know it sounds crazy, but she seemed to shimmer, to almost fade in and out. Must have been a trick of the light, I know. But then, I thought I saw her inside your room the other day, and again just now.”

She didn’t explain why her telescope was fixed on his room, or why she’d been watching. Hopefully, he’d be too concerned with an invading Aellei to focus on her voyeurism.

He rubbed a hand over his stubbled, clenched jaw. “Damn, she has no patience,” he said softly, then stared unblinkingly into her eyes. “I appreciate your thoroughness.” His gaze darkened most threateningly. “I’ll keep an eye out for her, and any other trespassers invading my privacy.”

She blinked, deliberately looking guilty. Irritated, was he? About time. Maybe now he’d move his tight, sexy, sorry ass between planes for that overdue visit he owed her.

“Er, sorry for any misunderstandings. But if you don’t mind, I have some work to do.”

He left with a grumbled thanks, leaving Alandra in a quandary. Should she stay and continue to observe, though inconspicuously this time, or should she phase between planes? She could tell she’d irritated him with mention of ’the woman in white’, but had she lit a big enough fire to head him in her direction?

Bored with being Trudy, she decided to venture back into the shadows when a knock at the door sounded. Most likely Aerolus with more questions. Damn, just when she thought she’d convinced him to seek her out.

She opened the door with a polite smile and froze.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I had a few questions of my own about my nephew’s visitor.” Arim, Tanselm’s legendary sorcerer and Killer of Shadow, stood on her doorstep with black, burning eyes that saw too much, looking every inch the dangerous Light Bringer she’d been warned to avoid since the day she could walk.

Aerolus re-entered his house with a dozen screaming warnings in his head but shoved those concerns aside when he noted Cadmus coming out of his bedroom. His brother’s face was pinched, his eyes wounded and dark with anger as he stared blankly ahead.

“Cadmus?” he asked softly, startled when his brother arched a shock of energy in his direction. Mentally calling forth a flat wind to shield him, he felt the jarring crash of elemental power a split second before it vanished.

Cadmus paled noticeably, his eyes like black sinkholes in his face. “Shit. I’m so sorry, Aerolus. Damn it.” He thrust a shaky hand through his hair and bent over, taking deep breaths to calm himself. After a moment he glanced up with a half grin. “Hey, don’t tell our watchdog about this, okay? Arim’s driving me nuts as it is. The last thing I need is him hounding my ass about my lack of control.”

Aerolus nodded and studied his brother. “You look terrible,” he said, stating the obvious. Over the past week, subtle changes had begun to affect his brother, the least of which was his preference for sleeping until late afternoon.

In tune with the earth, an Earth Lord at his core, Cadmus normally relished the predawn hours, getting his sleep later in the day before leaving to bartend at Outpour in the evening. When the sun rose, his brother could often be found outside walking around GreenLake and breathing in the rich scents of earth and pine dotting the exercise trail.

Lately, however, he’d been living almost like, well, like a Djinn. Aerolus paused, recalling the moment a few weeks ago when his brother had burst into Djinn flame, or as the Djinn referred to it, burst in truth—an unholy white blaze engulfed by a black, powerful aura.

Storm Lords didn’t burn true, not even Darius, who controlled fire. And the Royal Four depended upon one another, yet lately Cadmus had been shutting everyone, including Aerolus, out of his life.

Like you’ve been shutting out your family at the behest of a pesky, erotic Aellei? his conscience prodded, though he felt too out of sorts to be appropriately guilty over his secrets.

The minute he recalled her face he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He still couldn’t believe she’d had the nerve to appear in his house last week, disguised as a pixie, no less. Had Arim seen her, he’d have demanded an explanation Aerolus instinctively knew would bring doom to the sensual woman with wings.

By the Light, he’d had no idea the Aellei could do what she did. What the hell was she? A malevolence manipulating him to turn on his brothers, an insidious part of ‘Sin Garu’s dark plot, or an incredibly sensual woman with absolutely no patience?

Much as he’d promised her he wouldn’t tell his brothers or Arim about her aid in warding off the Nocumat, he would have liked his brothers’ advice on the matter. But with two of his siblings in Tanselm with their affai and Cadmus looking like the walking wounded, he kept his secrets to himself.

Focusing again on his brother, he covered his heart as he had when they were children and pledged, “I promise not to tell Arim a thing.”

Cadmus chuckled, lightening Aerolus’ heavy heart. So it was with no small regret that he pushed for answers he knew would send his brother crashing again. “My lips are sealed, if you tell me what’s been bothering you lately. And don’t tell me it’s nothing,” he added in a clipped tone, one that had his brother blinking in surprise.

“You’ve never explained how you lit into Djinn fire, and you’re obviously troubled by something you don’t think I can handle.”

“It’s not that you can’t handle it—”

“You don’t trust me.”

“No.” Cadmus shook his head, frustrated. “It’s not that, it’s just that I—”

“Think I’m a pale substitute for a real sorcerer, when Arim—”

“Dammit! Stop interrupting me. I can’t tell you, because then you’ll know how badly I screwed up.” Cadmus flushed as the truth poured out. “I made a mistake, a colossal one. Shit. You might as well know.” He ran a hand through his hair in agitation. “I slept with a woman, a person I thought was a woman, and found out she’s Djinn. The enemy.”

Aerolus blinked. “A Djinn, you’re sure?”

His brother nodded. “You don’t know how hard it’s been to resist her, even suspecting she was more than she claimed.” He hung his head low. “But I was weak, I admit. And dammit, she seduced me. I found myself telling her about us, about Samantha and Tessa, about our need to find our supposed affai.” He clenched his jaw tight, shame filling his gaze as he forced himself to meet Aerolus’ eyes. “I’ll never forgive myself for betraying our family.”

“What?”

“I said I betrayed us. By the Light, Aerolus. Don’t make me repeat myself,” Cadmus spat, disgust with himself audible.

“I’m shocked, give me a minute.” Aerolus pondered his brother’s words, trying to fit the pieces of this growing puzzle together. “I’ve been giving our battle with ‘Sin Garu a lot of thought. And I don’t think the change that came over you was a bad thing.”

“Huh?”

“I discussed some of this with Arim, and would have with you if you hadn’t bolted from the room anytime the subject arose.” A disapproving look at Cadmus had his brother scowling. “The fact is, you suffered almost no injury from the Nocumat. Unlike Marcus.”

“And you,” Cadmus grumbled, his gaze knowing. “Don’t think I didn’t notice your exhaustion and weakness the days following that battle.” He huffed. “Why do you think I hung around you, as upset as I was? To protect you. I could easily have sulked in my room that week, avoiding Arim in the process.”

Aerolus had wondered about that, but the Aellei’s interference with the Nocumat and Arim’s continued presence had proved inescapable distractions.

“Yes, well, I’m better now. But you’re not.”

He murmured under his breath and watched as his brother began to glow—a faint illumination that showed the Djinn’s aura interwoven with Cadmus’. Yet instead of dimming his brother, the Djinn’s power, while visibly subduing Cadmus’ aura, boosted his energy. As Aerolus studied the glow, he easily distinguished the difference.

“Incredible.” He stared in wonder, enthralled with the raw magic.

“What?” Cadmus asked gruffly, trying not to sound worried. “What do you see?”

“You’re stronger now than you’ve ever been, Cadmus. I can’t believe you don’t feel it.”

Startled, his brother closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them, frustration lining the brown depths. “I don’t feel it.”

“Probably because your Djinn doesn’t want you to. My guess is you’ve been under her protection for quite some time. Her hold on you is fairly strong.” That worried him, but Aerolus kept his thoughts to himself. If the Djinn had managed to get that close to Cadmus, by rights she could have killed him. But instead she had used her powers to protect him? Even enhance him?

Coupled with the male Djinn’s selfless attack on ‘Sin Garu, the female Djinn’s actions spoke of another force at play in the Storm Lords’ fight against ‘Sin Garu and the Netharat.

“Cadmus,” he said, coming to a decision. “I’m going to need you to keep Arim occupied for a while. I have somewhere to go, somewhere between.”

Cadmus nodded without hesitation, unquestioningly accepting. As if unloading his internal guilt to Aerolus had incurred a debt to repay, he seemed ready to do anything Aerolus might ask.

Not wanting to take advantage, Aerolus nevertheless had to leave this world, and Arim would not be pleased. But Aerolus couldn’t accomplish what he needed with his uncle breathing down his neck. And he was loath to put the Aellei—my affai, he forced himself to admit—in deliberate danger.

“Good luck, Aerolus,” Cadmus said softly, the beginning of a sly smile curling his lips, making him look like the charming, carefree Cadmus of old. “If you need me, I’m here. And I, for one, am glad you’ll be the target Arim turns to when you come back. Frankly, I’m tired of being on his irritate-the-hell-out-of list.”

Shaking his head, Aerolus returned to his room to pack a few things he thought he might need. As he did, he glanced through his window facing Trudy Warner’s house. He wondered what she’d thought of his exhibition earlier.

He flushed, unable to believe that he, of all people, had been so carried away by lust that he’d masturbated in front of an open window. By the Light, where was his head?

Lost in thoughts of his affai, in her alabaster skin, snow-white hair and voluptuous little frame. His body clenched at thoughts of entering her heat, of merging with the woman who would satisfy the ache of loneliness clawing at his heart, an ache he hadn’t been aware existed until he’d met her.

His affai, a woman who hailed from Aelle, a place known for its treachery and danger, and for its path into Shadren lands.

He sighed, then frowned at the hint of telescope he could see winking between closed blinds. Hell, Trudy Warner needed to get laid as badly as he did. With a small wind, he closed his drapes and gathered a small knapsack of belongings.

Shelving a brief moment of regret that he was leaving Cadmus to deal with Arim, an uneven match if ever there was one, he teleported into the waiting void between worlds, seeking a tendril of his affai’s energy.

Catching hold of what felt like her, he flew on dark shadows of magic to his unknown and unruly future.

Chapter Two

Alandra swallowed loudly and tried to break eye contact the minute she saw Arim’s fathomless gaze trying to pierce the illusion she’d so carefully crafted.

“I’m, ah, sorry. I don’t believe we’ve met?” She mentally curled in on herself as he stepped closer, trying to hide her magic under a blanket of Seattle’s mundane reality.

Fortunately, she didn’t have to feign the fear he surely sensed. Good night, but he was an impressive sorcerer. He fairly dripped with dark, menacing energy. Like most sorcerers from his world, he’d been taught from an early age to revere his power, exalting himself above those with little magic. Similar to the Dark Lords, many of the Light Bringers thought themselves better than those outside of Tanselm.

Considering what she knew of Arim the Sorcerer, she figured he would view tricks and spells against the Trudy Warners of this world not worth his time. With his obvious arrogance a factor, he would no doubt think her too much a xiantope—a being without magic—to be much of a threat, so long as he accepted her Trudy Warner act.

“No, we haven’t met.” He forced her to move back as he advanced. “Now what exactly did my nephew want with you?”

She felt a subtle mental pull and blinked at him in surprise. It took all her will to protect herself from his penetration spell. Having to hide from her people for a year had given her a lot of practice in living incognito, and she finally had a decent reason to thank her annoying aunt for forcing her to flee.

Straining under Arim’s fierce magic, she blanched but managed to look anxious at his nearness. Unfortunately, he looked less than pleased with her nervousness.

“Aerolus didn’t want much.” She tried a small smile. “Look, Mister…?” He didn’t fill in his name, and she sensed he wasn’t buying her version of Trudy. Shit. Time for a diversion. “I told him about the woman hanging around your house, and he—”

“What woman?”

Arim looked ready to bite her in half, and his tone was clearly superior, demanding her immediate response. His manner made her think of the noble Aellei, and she inwardly bristled. Even as she formed the words, she called herself five kinds of stupid. But then, she’d never known when to back down, hence her sojourn to this realm.

“Excuse me.” She glared loftily up at him and assumed Trudy’s best professorial tone. “But I don’t recall inviting you in here. Just who the hell are you?”

Arim didn’t blink, but she could see a subtle tightening of his brow, a telling reaction that in Aerolus signalled puzzlement. Studying the sorcerer, Alandra noted the many similarities between uncle and nephew and wondered if all Storm Lords had that same arrogance, and that same potent, sexual allure.

“My name is Arim,” he bit icily. “Now, about that woman you mentioned?”

He withdrew his spell, and she could almost hear him debating whether to pry it from her psychically, making her wonder about his people. In Aelle, when a body threatened the royal family, as occurred on a daily basis, the order was action first, questions second. Apparently, the Storm Lords had a better grasp of the intelligent way to ferret information.

It took way too much effort to make the dead speak.

Arim’s gaze began to burn. Alandra hastily focused and told him what she’d told Aerolus, sensing she’d worn his patience thin.

As she’d planned, her description of herself set him on edge.

“You say she had a glow to her skin, white hair and violet eyes?”

“Yes.”

“How could you tell her eye colour from here?”

She flushed. “I have a telescope I use for star watching. It must have been pointed at your nephew’s house the other day.”

“I see.” He eyed her up and down, and she sensed he did indeed see. Thank the shadows for Trudy’s physical mantle of desperation. “I should be grateful you have an appreciation for heavenly bodies.”

Though he spoke plainly, his words dripped with sarcasm. And despite the danger of the situation, her Aellei blood clamoured for some fun while pushing him into leaving. “You know,” she said with a slow, hungry smile, one that had his face clearing of all expression. “You could thank me over a light dinner, and perhaps, some wine?”

He simply stared, and she could tell she’d discomfited him.

“Actually, I have to get back.”

“What’s your rush, Arim?” She blinked and pouted, and he took an actual step back.

“Why not stay a little longer,” she paused and stroked the upper slope of her breast suggestively. “Make it a real date, and I’ll cook you breakfast tomorrow,” she teased.

“I’m sorry to have taken your time, Professor.”

She tried to look forlorn, but wanted to laugh when she felt a large mental shove to forget all about him.

“I’m sorry, but what was I saying? Ah, I forget your name.”

He shook his head. “I was never here.”

He vanished in the blink of an eye, and had she been of this world, she surely would have forgotten all about Arim the Light Bringer. As it was, her kind loved Dark magic, and the anger burning brightly in Arim tainted his energy just enough to empower Alandra.

Brimming with good cheer, that she’d managed to fool the powerful sorcerer and that she’d soon be returning to the shadows in the spaces between, Alandra shimmered back into herself and left Trudy’s house.

The minute she entered the pocket of space between worlds, she felt Aerolus’ draw. She’d left him a subtle trail—one only he would be able to see—weeks ago, having assumed they’d have met again before now.

Sensing tendrils of elemental magic, Alandra nodded grimly and sought the source of her frustrating desire.

She entered the small, floating structure that served as her temporary home. Made of an alien rock, one that both protected and contained her magic, the cottage felt more like a small part of a larger estate, much like the tower room she’d left in Aelle. In this place she’d gathered enough odds and ends to remain comfortable, if not content.

A large bed, a small desk, and a table and odd chairs sat in various spaces in her open living area. One aspect of this new home pleased her tremendously. Light never seemed to go very far in the between, and the glorious darkness was filled with the untapped potential of great magic.

Untapped potential, she thought, searching for her reason behind this visit. There, in the richness of shadow and surrounded by her powerful protective energies, waited Aerolus Storm. He sat at her desk, studying the hastily ‘borrowed’ scrolls she’d recently added to her growing collection.

“Well, well, well,” she murmured as she set foot on the smooth patch of carpet that served as the flooring in her comfortable shelter. “Aerolus Storm, as I live and breathe.”

He glanced up from her desk, a pinch of annoyance barely visible on his exotic face. His eyes glowed bright silver, and as if she were back looking through the telescope, Alandra felt the heat of lust sear her soul as she stared at him.

“The woman in white,” he said softly, rising to a height that easily surpassed hers. “It’s time I stopped avoiding you, hmm?”

Hearing him admit his avoidance annoyed her. “Yes. It’s time we talked, Wind Mage.”

“My name is Aerolus, which you already know.” He circled her desk and approached until he stood a few feet away. The fact that he towered over her irritated her further.

“By what name are you called, purie?”

Purie. Little one. She scowled. “I’m no child.”

“I can see that,” he murmured.

“And I’ve been waiting for quite some time. Have you any idea what kind of trouble you’re in?”

He shook his head and stepped closer. “We’re always in trouble.”

“I’m sure you are.” She sniffed, wanting to be appeased. “I’d like to know why it took you so long to find me.” She crossed her arms, waiting.

He simply stared at her, studying her like an intriguing species he’d recently discovered. She wanted to throw something, stamp her foot, scream in frustration, but knew she’d only look childish—the last thing she wanted to appear if she were to hold the upper hand.

For the past year she’d watched Aerolus and knew his many moods. Right now, if they were back in Seattle, she had no doubt he’d do his best to pin her under a microscope for dissection. What a wonderful way to establish dominance, she thought with disgust.

“You’re here,” he said bluntly, his voice a raspy seduction in itself, one she had to force herself to ignore. “You’re real.”

She frowned. “Yes, I’m here, and I’m real. Honestly, Aerolus, I’ve been waiting a long time to have this discussion, and I still have doubts you’re worth the trouble.”

He was worth the trouble, and that was the problem. But what truly concerned her was her growing desire that showed no sign of abating. The way he looked at her made her heart race and her womb clench. Unfortunately, knowing Aerolus, he suffered not from lust, but from an overabundance of scholarly enthusiasm. The man had shown little to no interest in sex for an entire year, at least, until his performance this morning.

She flushed, hoping he credited her colouring with anger.

He stepped closer, no more than a few inches separating them. “You have no idea how much I wished I’d responded sooner.”

Aerolus stared at her hungrily. If she bit her lip one more time… She chewed the soft pink flesh in puzzlement, and he nearly growled with need.

“You asked for it,” he muttered before sampling what he’d been dying to taste for weeks.

Startled, she froze, and he had to work to relax her. The minute they touched, his body tightened, wanting her with every nerve ending he possessed. Damn she was hot, so small and fragile under his looming strength, but so sexually intoxicating she made him fevered with lust.

She smelled like wild iria, the elusive yet invaluable poppies that grew in Tanselm’s most prized valleys. The flowers were deadly if sampled without the proper spells, and despite the similarities of flower to woman, his mind blanked to all but her touch, ignoring the whisper of self-preservation that begged to be heard.

The roaring in his blood swelled, and he deepened the kiss, slipping past her soft lips to sample the sweetness of her mouth. Her tongue met his almost shyly, then demanded equal access, searing his soul with a hunger so intense it was a miracle they were both still vertical.

She shifted in his arms, pressing his needy cock with her belly as she did so. He groaned, unable to resist her. It was as if someone had cast a spell over him. He was thoroughly bewitched. As he stared down at her, he could see a light sheen of energy leaving her to twine around him, binding them. Instead of worrying about it, a sense of rightness engulfed him and made him that much harder.

“Aerolus, what--” she began breathlessly before he sealed her question with another kiss.

Unable to do more than experience his affai to the fullest, Aerolus intended for the first time in his life to let go of his intellect and allow the warrior within him free reign. Just once, he wanted to experience the passion and emotion a man felt when he mated with a woman like—hell. Much as he needed her delectable body, he refused to make love to his affai without knowing her name.

Trying to ignore his engorged cock that demanded satisfaction, he couldn’t help rubbing against her as he nibbled at her neck.

“Purie, I have to know your name.” He nipped at her pulse and slid his hands to her perfect breasts, groaning at how much he needed to come within her.

“My,” she paused as he pinched one nipple. “M-my name?”

He kissed her, persuading her with his body to answer and quickly. Continuing to fondle her breasts with one hand, he lowered his other to cup her hot mound, glorying in the wetness he felt seeping through the silk.

“My name,” she said again, gasping as he rubbed between her thighs, seeking the very core of her pleasure. “It’s Alandra,” she clutched at his arms, making him aware of how very slight she was in contrast to himself.

“And you need to, ah …” She looked dazed, disoriented as she focused on his mouth. “We really need to talk.” She licked her lips, her hands clenched around his arms.

“Later, Alandra,” he murmured and kissed the hollow of her ear, blowing softly into it, describing in detail just what he intended to do to her. He pushed her dress up her hips and feathered his fingers over her creamy white skin, seeking her bare flesh that was so responsive to his touch. He soon found what he’d been seeking between her legs, and he rubbed harder in response to her quickening breathing, the silk of her dress flowing over his arms like a streaming wind of pure, unadulterated sex.

Lord, but the feel of her was sheer heaven. Hot and wet, and so very, irresistibly erotic. Had the need not pressed him so much, he would have liked to taste her. But he knew he wouldn’t last much longer. A raging tornado of lust whipped through him, eroding his better sense the longer he touched her.

“We should stop,” she managed, her eyes closed, her head thrown back as she clutched as his forearms. “I need to—” She jerked, her body trembling, on the verge of climax.

Aerolus stared down at her, aware he’d never witnessed so beautiful a moment as this.

“Come for me, love,” he whispered before he kissed her and pressed hard against her clit.

She moaned into his mouth as she shuddered, her orgasm nearing, her quickening female energy a balm that both soothed and further aroused him.

Unable to stop, he ground his pelvis against her, thrusting his cock against her firm body. Impatient, he spelled his jeans open, unzipping his fly to grant her access. Grabbing one of her hands, he thrust it inside his pants, more grateful than words could say when her small hand clasped tightly around him and began pumping.

He thrust a finger inside her, then another, and feeling her slick walls closing around him as she came pushed him into a raging climax in mere moments.

He groaned as he spurted over her hand and against her belly, thrusting inside her with his fingers like he wanted to thrust with his cock.

Some time later, as he began to regain his bearings, he realised his was the heavy breathing in the otherwise silent room.

Alandra could only stare up at him, in awe of what she’d just experienced. Never, not once in her life, had she ever felt so consumed by another. The meaningless, pleasurable trysts with the oversexed males in Aelle had left her physically satisfied, for a brief time, but never mind-numbingly limp.

And to think she could have succumbed so easily, put up so little resistance to the man she’d been guarding for so long, made her feel all of three inches tall. Damn it, she was Aellei, a creature of magic, and one who should have felt both superior and mentally stronger than the male she’d protected. The male who even now remained buried inside her, having overridden any and all thought to deny him.

He slowly withdrew his hand from between her legs and righted himself, making her flush from the sudden desire that flared for more of him. Good night, but if he was that good with his fingers, she could only imagine how his large, pulsing shaft would feel inside her.

She bit her lip and tried to force the lascivious images from her mind. But the more she tried to ignore them, the harder the images hit her.

Passing a hand over her eyes in an attempt to stop the tide of lust building in her again, she surprised herself by feeling the one thing she’d never thought to feel. Regret. She deeply regretted the fact she’d been intimate with Aerolus Storm, when for months she’d relished the idea of finally sating herself with him.

One orgasm from the Storm Lord and she was turning into a splay-legged nymph. Much as she’d always disdained Shadren’s native fey, she could now understand their addiction to the base experience of uninhibited sex. Whereas she’d once been selective and sparing in her lovers, she couldn’t help wanting to glut herself with Aerolus Storm until she could no longer function.

A glance at him saw him staring at her with curiosity and a haze of hunger that made hers throb in response. Shadows, but he was more than dangerous. All her fantasies couldn’t come close to the potent reality of his unleashed sensuality.

The illusion of light in the chamber flickered, bringing with it the reality of where they were and why they were here. Worried that he could make her forget herself, for even a brief time, Alandra knew she needed to regroup and revise her strategy.

Clearing her throat, she pushed, shoved and wrangled her libido behind a wall of common sense and sobriety. Taking control of the meeting, as she should have from the beginning, she breathed deeply.

I am in charge. I am in control. I am Aellei.

“Aerolus Storm,” she said in a regal voice and nodded respectfully, completely disregarding their previous intimacy. “I am Alandra le Aelle, the woman who not only saved your life several nights past, but who has kept a close watch on you from the moment you stepped in this plane.”

He didn’t so much as blink, but a subtle tightening in his body told her she’d surprised him. He studied her, as if debating what to say. Hoping he would take his cue from her, she was more than glad when he focused on the true reason behind his visit, and not what they’d just shared.

“Why do the Aellei concern themselves with the Storm Lords?” he asked quietly.

Good question. Now how much to tell him? “Actually,” she paused and stepped back, managing not to grimace at the wetness between her thighs. Unfortunately, his silvery gaze positively gleamed as it darted towards her groin, making her clit throb with feeling. Damn it.

“What the Aellei do is not your concern.” Not yet. “For now, know we are weighing our decisions. Your fight with ‘Sin Garu grows, spreading like a disease throughout worlds.”

He nodded. “Obviously it has, or we wouldn’t have fought a Djinn and a Nocumat.” He crossed his arms and widened his stance, as if bracing for battle. “If I’m not mistaken, the Nocumat is Shadren, is it not?”

“Yes, he is.” With just that one question he subtly reminded her just how far apart their worlds really were. What he considered a monster, she considered a friend. Well, maybe not Oxcen, but his sister certainly.

“You controlled it—him—easily.”

“Actually, the threat of his mother controlled him.” She couldn’t help a satisfied smirk at Oxcen’s worry. The little creep. Maybe next time he’d think before offering to help a Dark Lord.

“I fail to see the humour in the situation.” Aerolus spoke softly but his body was rigid. “Oxcen nearly killed my brother.”

She waved away his anger. “A childish prank. Oxcen was only being himself. You want to blame someone for the River Prince’s near miss, blame the Dark Lord.”

“’Sin Garu.” He stared at her from that impressive height, his brows drawn in thought. “The Aellei fought alongside the Dark Lords in Tanselm.”

“A thousand years ago.”

“Together, nonetheless. Dark Lords and Shadren, and now Djinn and wraith as well.”

“Now hold on a minute.” She glared at him. “My people may have fought with the Dark Lords in the past, but a lot has changed since then. I don’t dispute that the Dark Lords grew tainted under too much raw magic.”

“And the Aellei and Djinn?” The hard, judging look in his eyes had passed, replaced with a tangible curiosity and interest in their shared history.

This Aerolus she knew very well, the scholar and sorcerer in training. She gave him an approving nod. “In our past, many cultures clashed, many worlds collided. What you Light Bringers failed to understand was that as a result of so much upheaval, the Dark Tribes split.”

“I know that, Alandra.” Her name on his lips made her blood tingle. “The Aellei vanished, rarely heard from anymore. However, your brethren, the Shadren, turned against all things Light, as did the Djinn and the wraiths.”

“Technically, you’re not talking about the wraiths, but the ice wraiths. And no, the Shadren didn’t turn against all things Light.” She walked uncomfortably towards a small cabinet in the corner of her sanctuary and removed a clean dress.

Without regard to Aerolus, she slipped easily out of her soiled clothes, murmured a spell to clean herself, and slid into a new white dress with a sigh. “That’s much better.” She turned to face him. The odd look on his face stopped her. Surely he wasn’t going to act funny about a little nudity, not after what they’d just shared? “What?”

He cleared his throat. “Nothing.”

“Where was I?” She strolled to her most comfortable chair, an overstuffed ball of nor seed covered in a soft, brown alien hide she’d found in Seattle. With a nod to the small ring of stones on the floor, she watched a green blaze appear, soothing as well as warming her tired mind and body.

Aerolus simply stared, lowering himself into a similar chair that suddenly appeared across the fire from her with a small wave of her hand. “Thank you,” he said courteously. Aerolus was never less than a gentleman, which made his earlier behaviour intriguing.

Stop that train of thought. Right now.

“You were talking about how I was wrong about the Shadren, and I suppose, the ice wraiths and Djinn?” he encouraged, as if talking to a child.

“Don’t patronise me, Aerolus.” She sighed, wanting to snuggle into her seat. She felt so relaxed, so at peace here under the warmth of Aellein fire, with him by her side. All the restless nights of the past few months, the lack of sleep, the large energy expenditures transporting between worlds, despite the Mir charm, they all seemed to come crashing down on her as she struggled to focus on the here and now.

Aerolus stared at her, his face inscrutable. Then he smiled, an honest, open expression of emotion that would have jolted her heart had she not reminded herself to remain detached.

Distance, I must remain polite, but distant. No more sex, and definitely no more shows of vulnerability in front of the Storm Lord.

“What?” she asked suspiciously as he continued to grin.

“Nothing. Just that purie seems even more fitting now. That chair fairly swallows you whole.”

She grimaced, once again feeling as if he’d somehow gotten the upper hand in a game she thought she was winning. “I’m going to forget you said that. Now do you want to know the truth about your supposed enemies or not?”

She yawned, awaiting his answer as she stared sleepily into the fire. When had she last slept? A few weeks ago? At least not since her interference with Oxcen and ‘Sin Garu.

Aerolus rumbled something, and she had to blink several times to put him in focus. Then she felt herself being lifted.

“No, no, purie, lie still.” Despite her plan to remain aloof, she couldn’t help curling into the warmth beneath her, the steady pounding of his heart more soothing than anything she’d experienced since being forced from her world.

“Shh,” he whispered. A soft stroke grazed her cheek. “Sleep, Alandra. I’ll be here when you wake.”

Hearing the truth in his words, she tangled her fist in the magic of his being and held tight, at peace as she hadn’t been for a very long time.

Chapter Three

“What exactly do you mean you don’t know where he is or when he’ll be back?” Arim stared through the disturbingly sincere brown gaze of his nephew, clearly seeing untruth in the making.

Cadmus shrugged, spurring the niggle of irritation in Arim threatening to break free. First the academic voyeur next door, now his nephew. Did no one in this plane tell the truth? And how convenient his other recalcitrant relative, the normally steady Aerolus, just happened to disappear moments after Arim’s discovery of an Aellein presence.

If he hadn’t known better, Arim would have thought to question ‘Sin Garu’s involvement in this mess. Yet his intuition told him otherwise.

Having successfully pushed both Darius and Marcus to their respective brides, he’d thought the most difficult portion of his job done. Who knew Aerolus and Cadmus would prove to be the more difficult of the Royal Four?

Having to remain in Tanselm to help drive the remaining Netharat back into the darkness from whence they’d come, Arim had been too busy protecting the Storm Lords’ latest additions, namely Samantha and Tessa, to keep an open eye on Aerolus and Cadmus.

But with ‘Sin Garu apparently sucked from earth into Light knew where, he’d thought he had time to settle the Prince of Fire and the River Prince into their new kingdoms before venturing back to Seattle. He was beginning to wish he’d never heard of this dreaded city.

Arim glared at Cadmus, not amused at the slow grin that curled his nephew’s mouth.

“I’m sorry, Uncle. Have I said something to irritate you?” he asked innocently.

’Innocent‘ my ass.

With a burning need to destroy something foremost on his mind, Arim took a deep breath and forced his destructive tendencies away, focusing on Cadmus. At his stare, his nephew’s cocky grin wavered, and finally seeing the crack in Cadmus’ defences, Arim plunged deep.

He was soon drowning in dark, seething energy. Black waves of cold fire sucked at his power, threatening to break his hold on Cadmus’ mind. It was an incredibly potent protective spell, one too advanced for a young Earth Lord to have developed by himself or with his fledgeling sorcerer brother.

As Arim struggled to make sense of the images stuttering in Cadmus’ thoughts, he continued to be plagued by bright blue eyes and a sultry smile. Flashes of heat, of seductive arousal, and strong untainted power lanced through him until he felt as if the very earth shook beneath him.

Stunned, Arim relinquished his hold on Cadmus and sat dazedly in a nearby chair.

“Ah, Arim?”

What the hell had Cadmus delved into here? Light and Shadow, but he’d sent the remaining Storm Lords to this plane to keep them safe, not to serve them into the hands of their enemy.

“Who is she, Cadmus?”

He saw a subtle tension envelop his nephew, but to his credit, the crafty Earth Lord smiled, his mouth wide with mirth.

“She? Don’t you mean, who are they?” Cadmus chuckled and leaned close. Ticking off his fingers, he named several women. “First, there’s Sherry, pretty, but not too bright. Then there’s Maggie, intelligent, but standoffish out of bed. Jean likes a lot of men, so she’s out unless I need to unwind. Beth can’t get enough of me, so I’m keeping my eye on her. And then there’s—”

“Enough.” Arim glared, wishing he had Aerolus here, that the two might break Cadmus’ resistance with affectionate concern—something he wasn’t at all comfortable projecting—rather than sorcery. As much as he’d like to, he couldn’t use magic to break his nephew.

To shatter Cadmus’ mental walls, he’d be forced to exert real force, potentially harming and even killing him. Unfortunately, the brown-eyed member of the Royal Four had a well of incredible mental power, not to mention stubbornness in spades. That strength made Arim pause and had him easing back. By the Light, Cadmus seemed a lot more like him than any of his brothers, including Aerolus.

Cadmus, the resident charmer and rogue, possessed hidden depths that might just be his undoing. Behind his laughter lurked an ache, a sweltering vulnerability that was surprisingly lessened by the temporary aid of Djinn power.

“You know, Uncle,” Cadmus said with a smirk. “I’d just love to stay and chat with you about that stubborn brother of mine, but I can’t. I simply have to find my affai, or I’ll just die.” He put his hand over his heart dramatically, and Arim couldn’t help smacking him in the back of the head.

“Ouch! What the hell was that for?”

“Your mother should have done that more when you were younger.” Arim couldn’t help the jolt of amusement that warmed him at thoughts of his sister. “The Light knows your father doted on you too much.”

Cadmus smiled, his expression a mixture of fond remembrance and grief. “Yeah, he did, didn’t he? Loved to laugh at all my jokes. Said I’d be king of the castle one day.” At his words, his eyes widened, and he turned positively white. “Oh, shit! Please tell me he didn’t mean overking of the castle.”

Arim studied him, still unable to foretell which of his nephews would one day assume lordship over all of Tanselm. Though the terror on Cadmus’ face seemed real, Arim couldn’t be sure. He shook his head. “You’re good, Cadmus, really very good. But all this inane chatter won’t detract me from the Djinn energy seething inside you. Or from looking for your overeager sorcerer of a brother.”

Cadmus clamped his mouth shut and shrugged, the apology not reaching his eyes. “Sorry, Uncle. I really wish I could help.” He looked to the front door, then back to his room. “I’ve got six hours before I’m due at Outpour, shuffling drinks while I pretend to be Darius,” he added tightly. He smiled, though his eyes remained dark. “Have I thanked you yet for sending us here? Well, thanks, Unc, from the bottom of my heart.”

He opened his mouth to say more, eyed Arim’s glittering gaze, and shook his head.

“Fuck it. I’m not letting you turn me into a rock because I’ve got a temper. I’ll see you later. I need my sleep before I hit the fucking bride circuit again. And yes, ‘fuck’ is my official word of the day.” He stomped off to his room, pausing before he went in to glare back at Arim.

“And just so you know, I’ve been working to strengthen my mind and my clairvoyance. Don’t come to Outpour unless you want to see her again. And you know exactly who I’m talking about, so don’t bother asking me anything more. You know I don’t know.”

Arim stared in shock as Cadmus closed his bedroom door behind him. He was dimly aware Cadmus had diverted him from Aerolus, as no doubt the sly prince had intended. Not much threw Arim, but mention of her had.

Much as he needed to find his Wind Mage, he couldn’t help lingering on his last glimpse of Lexa, and on what part she could possibly play in Tanselm’s future, or his, if he indeed had one any longer.

Alandra woke from her sleep feeling more refreshed than she had in months. As she stretched, she pushed against a solid chest, one warm and pulsing with energy that tempted her on every level.

“Damn,” she muttered, completely embarrassed she’d fallen asleep on him. Pray Shadows she hadn’t drooled. She discreetly glanced up at Aerolus and sighed with relief that he still slumbered. At least she could gather her bearings, and her dignity, before facing him again.

Slowly easing herself up, she sucked in a breath as he grasped her hips and draped her legs so that she straddled him. He murmured something low, then relaxed back into sleep, his hands cupping her thighs. Blowing out a soft breath of frustration, she debated whether to jump off him or stay still so as not to wake him. She needed to appear in control of the situation, to wrest from him his illusion of power over her.

Glancing down at her bared thighs straddling his warrior-hard body, she felt a renewed surge of lust for the silver-eyed mage. For a woman who prized herself on knowing her limits, she couldn’t for the life of her turn off her desire whenever he neared. Her body never cooled around him. It moved from simmer to boil in a flash.

Grimacing down at her vulnerability, she realised how very hard it was going to be to remain aloof from the man she should have considered beneath her. Staring down at him, she couldn’t help the smart-ass in her that added, literally.

Aerolus sighed and rolled into her hips, making her bite her lip to keep from groaning at the sensations he aroused. How could a man in sleep be so incredibly enthralling? Vibrant shades of gold and silver entwined in his aura, a clear sign of latent power that drew her like nothing else could.

Her eyes narrowed in study. Nothing about Aerolus Storm was weak. After a year spent observing him, the only possibility of vulnerability he seemed to possess was the deep love he had for his family. Though the Aellei considered any show of open emotion a risk, Alandra couldn’t help admiring Aerolus for his feelings. On a deeper level she couldn’t ignore, she felt a tug of envy, wishing she had as much care for her blood kin as he did his.

Unfortunately, if she knew the Aellei royals, they were probably signing a blood oath to rejoin the Dark Lords while she sat here with a Storm Lord, intimately close.

Thoughts of the Dark Lords made her frown, and she unconsciously began tapping her fingers against Aerolus’ chest as she once again pondered ‘Sin Garu’s connection to the hint of unrest in the royal court.

Her exile hadn’t exactly been a waste of time. Though only a few weeks had passed in Aelle, here in this plane she’d had an entire year to gather information—a quirky time differential that worked to her advantage. While dodging the occasional Aellei search party and staying one step ahead of the Storm Lords, she’d heard things. Whispers of astonishing organisation in the wraith community. Rumours of the Aellei queen’s strange, insatiable sexual appetites, of her odd reluctance to share her Dark Lord lover with anyone else, a state completely contrary to Queen Lidra’s aloof desires.

The search parties thought it strange indeed that he’d never given his name. Considering how well ‘Sin Garu liked to brag of his conquests to anyone who would listen, Alandra thought that quality in the queen’s lover most curious.

An answer to all her questions hovered just out of reach, and had she not been so distracted with Aerolus she felt sure she would have figured out ‘Sin Garu’s plan by now. Obviously, he wanted Tanselm. But why that particular land when there were others with as much, if not more magic, and how did he think to gain lordship over the Storm Lords and their omnipresent sorcerer, Arim?

A hand caught her tapping fingers, and she blinked in surprise into Aerolus’ intense gaze. Staring into his awareness, into the central focus of his power, was like looking into the vortex of a storm—one that could kill or pass over calmly in the blink of an eye.

“Purie?” he murmured and brought her palm to his mouth. He studied her through half-lidded eyes, his tongue licking hungrily at his lips as he waited for her answer. Reconciling this Aerolus with the academic mage who’d done without sex for a year had her blinking in confusion, and unwanted erotic responsiveness.

“My name is Alandra,” she answered breathlessly, irritated at how easily he made her forget her resolve to stand firm against his attraction. “Look, Aerolus,” she began, only to stop when something nagged at the back of her mind—an unpleasant tingle that made her shiver.

“You’re bossy for such a little thing,” he said with humour, his voice a husky rumble that distracted her long enough to allow his tug-of-war with her hand. A quick jerk had her off-balance and fully in his arms, her breasts kissing his chest, her needy sex plastered over his rock-hard arousal.

“There’s something going on here,” she tried again, needing to listen to her instincts instead of her libido.

“There sure is.” He dragged her to him for a kiss that sent gales of desire coursing through her blood. The wild taste of him had reason retreating behind a storm of lust so intense it shook her with its power.

A small part of her thrilled that he was just as caught as she was. Tendrils of energy wrapped around them both, his latent elemental energy feeding her shadowy nature, increasing her ardour until she was ready to strip him naked and ride him until neither of them could walk again. She squirmed on the ridge growing between her thighs, and he groaned and deepened the kiss, one hand wrapped in her hair as he angled her mouth over his, the other on her lower back, edging her harder over his erection.

When his tongue stroked hers, she moaned in pleasure, surprised at how addictive she found his taste. The sheer magic of the man, amazing for a Light Bringer, called out to her Dark energy, to the Shadow that dwelled within her.

“So sweet, so hot,” he murmured against her lips, leaning back to stare at her. “Your eyes are like stars, your lips like wine.”

She flushed, pleased to hear such flattery. But when he stopped simply to stare at her, she prodded, “And my skin? Like pure-white marble? Or how about snow-spun down, maybe?”

If he knew how easy she was to seduce with words, she’d never be in control of him, so she hurriedly shut up and pressed her mouth to his again, sighing under his caresses.

“Like thick, sweet cream,” he murmured, running a finger down her cheek to her neck, resting above her fluttering pulse.

Her insides melted at the sultry gaze he passed over her breasts and lower.

“Cream?”

“Hmm.” His hand travelled lower, slipping between her legs to cup her mound. He rubbed his palm over her dampened curls, teasing her by brushing his knuckle against her full clit. “Sweet, milky cream that just keeps coming and coming,” he whispered as he stared into her eyes while his hand grew wet with her arousal.

She gasped and couldn’t help riding his hand.

“That’s it, love.” He nuzzled her neck and licked her pulse, making her shudder at the effort it took not to come from his erotic caresses. “I want you to come again. And this time I’m going to come inside you.”

He finally stopped rubbing her to release the snap on his jeans.

Unfortunately, before he could tug at the zipper, Alandra’s inner senses cried danger, causing her to shiver so violently Aerolus couldn’t mistake it for passion.

“Alandra?” He stopped moving and stared at her. “Love, talk to me.”

She tried to speak, but couldn’t seem to catch her breath. The room seemed so cold, so devoid of life.

“Something’s coming.” Her teeth began chattering, and she widened her eyes at the taint of evil energy filling her small haven. Dark blue light surrounded the malevolence, making her toes curl in dismay. “Ice wraiths. A lot of them.”

As if saying the words had conjured them, a dozen ice wraiths suddenly appeared. Tall and thin, the creatures lived in the Dark, hungering for the Light in others to bring them some reprieve from the eternal cold hammering their bones. Alandra stared in morbid curiosity. She’d seen normal wraiths and was familiar with the Shadren, but none of them came close to possessing this kind of Darkness.

Brittle skin spotted with black and blue bruises marred the sickly yellow of the ice wraiths’ rotting flesh. Lumpy, hairless skulls sat atop obscenely thin necks, their gangly bodies incredibly strong despite their frail appearance. A dozen pair of white eyes searched unblinkingly for their quarry, and the ice wraiths laughed and shrieked in pleasure upon seeing Alandra and Aerolus together in the chair.

At the typical behaviour befitting a wraith, Alandra relaxed.

“They could do with a toothbrush,” she muttered, disappointed that this was the best ‘Sin Garu could do. At least a Nocumat showed some creativity. Then several of the wraiths hissed, each exposing three rows of black teeth and a forked tongue that sparked blue when it met the air. Upon closer inspection, she noted bloodied entrails hanging from several mouths, and her first impression that the wraiths were more fool than threat faded under a growing alarm.

“’Sin Garu has much to answer for,” Aerolus said stoically as he studied the invading danger. Alandra silently agreed, stunned as much by Aerolus’ calm heartbeat as she was by ‘Sin Garu’s monstrous army. Did her Storm Lord not understand what the ice wraiths’ blue sparks meant?

“Um, Aerolus, I know you’ve dealt with wraiths before, but these are a different breed than the ones you’re used to.”

“I know, purie.” He tightened his hold around her waist and looked into her eyes. “We’re going to have to fight our way out of here. I’d teleport us to freedom, but I have no doubt they’ll follow our trail the minute we leave.”

The ice wraiths circled, keeping a small measure of distance between themselves and their prey, toying with them to increase the pleasure in killing. If Alandra hadn’t been their intended victim, she might have found a small measure of respect for the wraiths’ attempt at fun in battle. As it was, she could only hope her organs wouldn’t soon be dangling from one of their prickly mouths.

In agreement with Aerolus’ prediction that they needed to stay and fight, she nevertheless instinctively reached for the small charm of Mir she wore around her throat. She froze in shock when she found it missing. Without it she couldn’t travel between planes or space.

Her eyes flew to Aerolus, noting his silence and the slight tightening of his lips as he glanced at her neck and away.

“Where is it?” she growled through clenched teeth, watching the wraiths behind the chair with distaste. “You bring this mess to my door, and you steal from me? Your own protector?” She smacked his chest and his eyes narrowed, a huge indicator he wasn’t pleased with her accusation. “I’ve been here for a year without incident. You visit and within hours I’ve got pests.” She glared over his shoulder. “I don’t suppose it occurred to you to conceal your mask.”

At his confusion, she sighed. “You masked your trail here, but did you cover that mask with a mislead? A good hunter looks for what isn’t there as much as what is.”

He kept his eyes on the circling wraiths.

“You covered your magic when you flew here, yes, but you covered it with a huge ball of nothing, clearly announcing your trail.”

He remained silent, but she could see a faint flush on his cheeks. Despite the dire situation they faced, she couldn’t help the tremendous pleasure she felt in instructing an arrogant Storm Lord, her Storm Lord in particular. The Light Bringers always thought they knew everything. Ha. When it came to raw magic, Aerolus was a novice.

“I apologise,” he said stiffly, his eyes darkening as he looked over her shoulder. “Follow my lead and hold on.”

That had to be the briefest apology she’d ever received. “What—”

A dense pressure invaded her body and mind, a subtle popping in her ears breaking the void where thought had once been.

As she blinked to regain her bearings, she watched Aerolus teleport back to the opposite side of the room, drawing most of the Netharat in his direction. Amazed, she could only stare, stupefied, as he turned from a calm, together sorcerer into a savage warrior bent on the decimation of their enemy.

Winds howled, and small swirls of air sucked the creatures in and crushed them into nothing. He muttered spells under his breath and some ice wraiths began melting, while others imploded, screaming bloody hell all around her.

Shocked at the actual violence pouring from the man she thought she knew, she was unprepared for the blast of blue fire from a nearby wraith.

At her small shriek, Aerolus shot a funnel of sheer Light at her attacker, shoving it into the wall, splattering wraith blood and guts across the stone. He flashed to her side and flashed away again, taking her with him into Trudy’s house.

“Are you okay?” He sounded breathless, his gaze bright with concern as he ran his hands over her abdomen where the blast had hit.

She looked down and saw the large, seared hole in her dress and cursed. “Do you have any idea how much this dress is worth?”

He blinked in disbelief as her skin absorbed the faint cast of blue surrounding the burn, healing as if she’d never been marked. Touching her stomach, he caused knots of need to develop within her. That he did so and didn’t seem to know it irritated her all the more.

“Take us back there, right now.” She glared and shoved his hand from her stomach, barely easing the ache within her. Sexual frustration, need and anger warred for dominance, and she defensively let go of her rage. “I’m not happy with the Netharat at all. And you left four of them alive.” When he only stood there staring at her dumbly, she grabbed him and wrapped her arms around his middle. “Well? While we’re young, Aerolus.”

Shaking his head, he squeezed her tight. “We’re going to talk about this when it’s over.” And suddenly she was dizzy and back in her gory refuge again.

“You leave them to me,” she ordered, hurrying to shake off the lingering fog from her mind.

“Alandra—”

The remaining four wraiths screeched with outrage and surprise when she and Aerolus reappeared. Before the creatures could do any more damage, she threw a spell of shadow over them, clouding their vision.

Immediately running into their midst, she ignored Aerolus’ shout and shimmered into the form of an ice wraith. Entering their small group, she began sucking the energy from the two behind her, invisible wisps of their power diffusing into her core. She could see the transfer easily, a being one with magic. She wondered if Aerolus saw anything other than shadow.

Clearing the obscure spell from the wraiths, she watched as they realised five, and not four of them, now stood together.

“How?” one asked.

“Trickery,” another shrieked as it felt its power being drained. She deliberately fed its power to the wraith across from it.

“That one,” she cried, pointing to the brightest of the lot. “It is the Wind Mage’s pet, an illusory Aellei! Kill it!”

The healthy wraith in front of her began raining slashing blows upon the accused wraith, which floundered for freedom as it died. Alandra felt more than saw the creatures behind her emptying of the pitiful force they called life, and would have felt sorrow had she not learned in the past that most wraiths warranted such retaliation. Two low thumps told her they too had crossed to the Next.

Only two wraiths remained now, Alandra and the enemy. They looked at one another before shifting their focus to Aerolus, who stared at them with an inscrutable look on his face.

“The master wishes him dead.”

“But can we not play a bit?” she whined, enjoying her deception. She couldn’t help it. Fooling the wraith was child’s play, but thoughts of tricking Aerolus made her giddy with joy. Games and trickery were better to an Aellei than chocolate, and she didn’t make the analogy lightly.

Aerolus stared at the two of them, no doubt wondering which of the wraiths was real. As the creature next to her took a step towards him, heavy winds whipped at her mage’s hair and tore at his clothes, as much a shield as an awesome weapon of attack.

His defensive posture made her sigh. He wasn’t going to be sporting about this. So much for playing with the last one. “Oh, hell, you can have him,” she muttered and shimmered back into herself.

He didn’t so much as blink as he wiped the remaining wraith into oblivion with a wave of his hand—right into the only unsoiled section of her room.

“This is going to take forever to clean.”

His eyes refused to leave her, the intensity of his stare making her uncomfortable.

“What?”

“I think it’s time you told me more about the Aellei and just what you’re capable of. Because until today, I’d have sworn the only beings impervious to blue fire were the wraiths and their evil kin, the Dark Lords.”

Silver eyes burned through her, lingering on her unharmed stomach. “Tell me again how the Aellei and the Dark Lords split all those years ago.”

She didn’t care for the accusation in his tone and crossed her arms over her chest. Reaching for her missing charm, irritation turned to anger. This on top of all she’d done for Tanselm, for him.

“I don’t have to explain myself to you of all people, Light Bringer.” She sneered, glad to feel angry instead of constantly in lust with him, for a change. “What’s wrong, Aerolus? Did I insult your manly pride by not needing you in there? Or is it that I’m obviously stronger than you when it comes to magic? I would never leave a trail so bright a wraith could follow it.” The disdainful glance she passed over him had him clenching his jaw. “I still have trouble reminding myself why you’re worth the effort, so back off before you truly offend me.”

Oh, that was nice. She mentally patted herself on the back. Damned if she hadn’t sounded exactly like the queen. Much as she loathed her aunt, Queen Lidra had her uses.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding here,” Aerolus said quietly, his face ominously devoid of any expression. Even his body language was too still, and that spoke volumes.

Feeling a stirring of unease, Alandra took a small step away from him, disguising her subtle retreat by turning her back on Aerolus as if to study the mess on her walls and floor.

A costly mistake.

Before she could take a second step, hard arms wrapped around her and whisked her back to Seattle, not into Trudy’s house, but into Storm Lord central next door.

Chapter Four

The little witch.

Standing squarely in the middle of his bedroom in Seattle, Aerolus stared at her, aware he’d never before felt so charged about anything. When his father passed into the Light, he’d been sad but steady, a rock for his mother to lean on. When the Netharat had invaded his homeworld, he’d felt anger, but beyond that, a calm that kept him focused on what to do.

Now, however, he seethed with resentment, frustration, and unrequited lust. The conniving, scheming Aellei glaring at him made him feel like half a man. And no one, no one talked to Prince Aerolus Storm like that without dire consequences.

He said nothing, merely stared at Alandra until she blushed angrily and thrust her chin out, as if daring him to take a swing. But underneath her bluster, he sensed arousal and a wind of nerves. Her nipples poked through her silken dress. The pale skin of her belly shone like a beacon, arresting his attention and making her decidedly skittish.

He took a step closer, and she backed up. Grimly smiling at her unease, he brought her to him on wings of air, alarming her at the ease with which he controlled her petite frame.

“Let me go,” she growled and pushed at his constraints, at the bands of wind holding her hands to her sides, her legs apart and still before him.

“Not yet, princess,” he murmured, intrigued when she stared at him in shock. Seeing his interest, she swallowed loudly and assumed a pose of casual concern.

So, his affai had royal blood. Wonderful. They now had something in common besides lust.

His cock pressed harder against his jeans, begging for a chance to feel her slick heat around him. Eyeing her sumptuous breasts, he licked his lips, hungry to enjoy what rightfully belonged to him. Just thinking about what he wanted to do to her made him ache.

“You see, I’m suddenly curious about what you can do, purie.”

Her eyes narrowed, and he grinned, making her blink in surprise. He didn’t care. He had no intention of keeping his emotions in check around her. With her, he intended to behave as savagely, as passionately as any Storm Lord warrior with his bride.

“Aerolus?” she asked, hesitantly. He rubbed at the fly of his jeans, immensely aware of how much he needed her right now. Her eyes burned with desire as she noted the heavy bulge between his legs, but she said nothing more than his name.

“It seems to me that if you can assume any shape you want to,” he paused and looked at the curtained window of his bedroom facing Trudy Warner’s house. “And if you couldn’t simply pop in to see me without my direct assistance,” he referred to the protective spell around the house, “then maybe before, when I was jerking off in here thinking about you, I was pleasing not only myself, but you as well.”

She stared open-mouthed, the rosy tint on her cheeks answer enough.

Needing her more than breath, he reached for the snap of his jeans, extremely satisfied when her gaze followed the motion with more than interest. Her breath sped as he unsnapped and lowered the zipper of his pants.

“This is what you do to me, purie,” he murmured and withdrew his cock, grabbing tight and drawing the flesh up and down, imagining her doing this for him. “And I can see I do something to you as well.”

She licked her lips and tried to look away, but her gaze came back to him again and again as he thrust into his palm.

“Wouldn’t you rather I came in you, instead of for you?”

“Dammit, you can’t control me with sex!”

And yet she was breathing hard, her body tense with desire, her eyes glowing with lust. Pleased beyond measure, he increased the pressure on his cock and stood so close his cock brushed the white skin of her belly exposed by her burned dress.

She gasped and closed her eyes, trying to push her legs together. But he wouldn’t let her.

“If I touched you right now,” he gritted, his orgasm rising dangerously close, “you’d be wet, wouldn’t you? Wet and hot for me. You want this, don’t you, love? Tell me how much you want this.” He dragged his cock against her skin, groaning at her exquisite shudder of need.

“Alandra?”

“Yes, yes, alright! I want you so bad I can taste it. Is that what you wanted to hear?” She tossed her hair angrily out of her face, his arousal causing the air around them to stir. “Aerolus, I want you. I admit it. Whatever you want, I’ll do.” She stared at him in challenge, her dare arousing him further. “Tell me what you really want. Your darkest, deepest fantasy.” She closed her eyes and leant towards him, her breasts pushing through the silk, twin globes of femininity stoking his arousal.

“On your knees,” he growled.

She opened her eyes, a sultry smile curving her lips. “I don’t know…”

“I want you supplicant, before me, on your knees,” he demanded, shocking himself with how much he wanted this. Something about Alandra brought out the dominant in him, a dominant he never knew he’d had. “I want you to make me come, in your mouth.”

“Oh,” she breathed. “I—” She stared at his cock, no doubt surprised at his size and the precum glistening at his tip. “Yes,” she whispered, sounding not ashamed, but excited.

He eased her to her knees before him and let the winds fall away into the room. “Did you like watching me through the window, Trudy?” He held his cock to her, desperate to feel her hands on him. He remained still, however, waiting for her answer.

“I did,” she admitted without pause. “I wanted so badly to be with you. You’re so beautiful,” she whispered and reached out a hand to touch him.

“Do it.” He gritted his teeth as she closed a small fist around him. “More.” She brought both hands around him, pumping him while she watched. “No, purie,” he said, stopping her hands. He reached into the silky, white mass of hair framing her perfect face and pulled her to him. “Suck me, hard. Now.” He uttered his demands in a harsh voice, but he wanted it his way. With Alandra he intuitively knew he would have to assume sexual control for them to meet even halfway in their relationship. A mental show of force with his affai would go a long way to showing he wouldn’t be pushed.

She protested half-heartedly. He could see the gleam in her eyes. She loved this game.

“Now,” he grated and shoved past her parting lips.

She consumed him as if he were a feast. Once he’d touched her lips, Alandra eagerly welcomed him. His hands knotted in her hair, thrusting boldly as she accepted him deeper and deeper into her throat.

“Ah, yes,” he sighed, captivated by her skilled tongue and heated mouth. He was so close to coming, too soon, yet he didn’t want to wait. Didn’t have to wait. She cupped his balls and sucked harder, running her tongue along the sensitive underside of his crown, and the decision was taken out of his hands. He shot, unable to stop the stream of cum filling her mouth.

“Alandra,” he groaned as he shuddered. His climax lasted longer and was more empowering than any other he’d experienced. When he finally caught his breath, he noted a taint of gold in the white nimbus around her normally pale skin.

Though she’d milked him of his seed, she continued to tease him with her tongue, lapping his shaft with a comforting warmth that was slowly, surprisingly making him hard again.

Stunned, he began to thrust in time with her sucking, needing to taste her, to fuck her, to cement their soon-to-be unbreakable bond.

“No more,” he rasped and yanked her to her feet. Before she could say anything, he sealed her mouth with his and teleported them, naked, to his bed.

She gasped in surprise when the hair on his chest brushed her full breasts, but her gasp turned to a moan when his lips left hers to engulf one cherry-red nipple.

Her mouth tasted of him, and the thought made him just as hard as he’d been earlier. Thrusting against her thigh, he was lost in the sensual maelstrom of his affai. By the Light, she was rich, an erotic bounty of need, sex and magic that made him lightheaded.

She moaned his name when he nipped and sucked hard on her breasts, her pelvis thrusting against him, wanting what he needed to give her.

“I want to fuck you,” he murmured against her breast. Nipping the other one, he teased her nipples with firm fingers, squeezing with just enough pressure to make her beg for mercy.

“Aerolus, please.”

“Please what, Alandra? Tell me, love. Tell me exactly what you want.”

He pressed his mouth to her abdomen, using his elemental magic to caress her breasts and throat, kissing her with wind as well as his lips. He trailed lower, closer to the sultry scent and heat of her pussy—his pussy.

She moaned and jerked, her white curls meeting his mouth in perfect timing.

“Tell me.” He grasped her hips firmly, holding her still while his wind continued to caress her.

“Shadows, Aerolus! Fuck me! Take me.”

“How?” he asked softly, licking between her folds, lapping at the creamy honey flowing between her thighs.

“I want your cock in my pussy, your hands, your mouth all over me. I need you, Wind Mage, please,” she cried in a husky voice.

Her passion set off his own. Sucking deep, he drew her clit into his mouth and licked until she was bucking and begging for him to end it. Almost to the point of pain, his cock wept with desire, with the utter need to come inside her.

“I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll come again and again,” he promised, meeting her desperate gaze. She looked beyond caring, beyond anything but raw lust.

Sliding up her sleek body, he gave her no gentle touch, no graceful easing to allow her familiarity with him. He thrust deep and hard through her slick sex, pumping with such force the bed knocked against the wall as he took her.

“Oh, yes, yes,” she cried and wrapped her thighs around his waist. The movement drew her clit against his abdomen as he rode her, and within seconds, she was climaxing.

Sobbing his name, she pulsed around him, her tight heat urging him to join her. But he needed to push her harder. He continued to plunge, deeper and deeper as she contracted, until she began climbing another peak and another. As multiple orgasms ripped her apart, he succumbed to his body’s demands and shouted his release.

“Alandra.” He closed his eyes and continued to come, this orgasm as fierce as the last. They tensed and gripped one another, her body draining him of his last vestiges of energy. Climaxing so hard he saw stars, Aerolus was sweating and panting for breath before he could again think rationally.

Rising up on his elbows above her, he lifted his forehead from hers and paused at what he saw.

“Alandra?” he asked, alarmed at the glaze in her wide eyes. He hadn’t been gentle… Oh, shit, what have I done?

“I can’t believe how hot you are in bed.”

He stared for a minute as her words penetrated, then let out a relieved sigh. She looked absolutely stunned, not harmed, and he couldn’t help feeling a bit peeved that she sounded so surprised.

“Alandra—”

“I had no idea you had that in you.” She glanced down to where they were still joined. “You were celibate for so long,” she said softly, staring up at him with awe. At the look he began to grin. “I can’t believe you are so, so…”

“Incredibly talented? So large and so skilled?” he added, taking a turn at being the vain one in their relationship.

She frowned. “Large is right. You really let me have it.” A sigh replaced the frown, and with it, her pussy clenched around him.

“And I’ll do it again and again, whenever I want,” he said coolly, aware he ventured easily into sexual dominance. Surprisingly, for a man given to plain-speaking, he enjoyed their penchant for bedplay. Damned if he wasn’t growing hard again. He felt as if he’d used a replenish spell. What was the vixen doing to him?

“Alandra, what—”

“Shh.” She placed a finger over his lips and smiled. “I’m giving you what you demand, my prince,” she purred and rotated her hips to push him halfway out, only to draw him back in. “You’ve made me so wet. Your cum and mine, sliding together.” Her breathlessness was not an act, nor were the beading nipples scoring his chest and the glazed look in her now grey-violet eyes.

Something was happening between them, something magical and extraordinary, but Aerolus was too busy thrusting inside his affai again to give it the due attention it deserved.

First Aerolus, and now Cadmus was missing. Outpour had yielded no answers except the possibility that he might see Lexa, so Arim sought the one other lead he had on the unusual.

He stared suspiciously at Trudy Warner in her living room, just knowing the woman had played some part in his nephews’ disappearances. Today something about the woman was decidedly off. She gave him no hint of the desire she’d professed yesterday, nor did she possess any of the timidity she’d had in dealing with him. No, today Dr. Trudy Warner was all icy bitchiness, and that faint glow around her said it all.

He didn’t think she’d been shining the last time he’d seen her. But now he couldn’t be sure of anything. If the Aellei were involved, he might very well have met with an imposter yesterday, one that at least had the sense to mask herself better than she was now.

Studying the luminescent glow around the taller but still stout woman, he noted the abrupt way she stood, her legs splayed slightly wider than a woman’s stance, the archaic dialogue spewing from her mouth an obvious blunder. And the way she looked at him…‘she’ was most likely a ‘he’.

Who the hell had taught this young whelp to transform?

“Well, Mr. Arim? I suspect you’d best take your leave before I call upon the appropriate authorities.” Trudy crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a glare that promised grim retribution if he didn’t leave her alone.

Arim sighed. “I can kill you, or you can tell me what’s really going on. I’m feeling generous, so it’s your choice.”

Trudy stammered. “I-I don’t know what possessed you to say such a thing, but if you take one more step I’ll call—”

“The appropriate authorities. I know.” The thin tether on his patience drew taut. “Your speech is pathetic. I thought your kind visited this plane rather frequently.”

Trudy blanched and looked beyond Arim, giving him just enough notice to narrowly avoid a blast of green fire from his immediate left. Stabbing his fingers towards the source of the attack, he heard a muffled cry before the figure turned to stone.

In a lightning move too quick to actually be seen, Arim had Trudy by the collar and dangled her in the air in a grip too powerful to escape without incurring tremendous damage.

“Change back, now,” he ordered, his voice a silky threat.

The young Aellei shimmered back into his original shape. Long, light-brown hair glittered around a sensual, almost feminine face. Like his kind, this Aellei was exotic enough in looks to never pass for human. He was tall, his feet now reaching the floor, and his eyes were a pale, almost colourless blue. But it was his bright white skin that set him most apart.

Arim shook him. “Let’s cut the crap. You know who I am.”

The young male nodded, trembling like a leaf in heavy wind. A streak of world-weary satisfaction hit Arim, that his reputation as a sorcerer and Killer of Shadow was as strong in Aelle as it had been hundreds of years ago.

Unfortunately, he’d had to earn that reputation. It had taken the Dark Tribes centuries to truly divide, and he’d had little choice in the matter to either accept death at the hands of Darkness, or fight back with the Light.

He stared at the young Aellei. “What should I do with you now?”

His words had the male shivering, his gaze darting to his companion frozen by the kitchen. “I-I wish, I, ah, don’t know what—”

“Tell me why you’re here, or your death will be very long in the making.”

The Aellei swallowed loudly. “We’re just here to get one of our lost.”

“A lost Aellei?”

Nodding furiously, the Aellei explained, “Our people thrive on change. Several times a year, mostly during festival season, we travel to other places to play, for fun.”

“But the earth realm was declared off-limits centuries ago, when the humans started seeing strange things. Puck and his under-appreciated sense of humour,” Arim added sarcastically.

The male nodded and flushed. “Right, well. So we’re—I’m here to gather one of our lost ones back before the queen has to explain why we broke the boundary again.”

Arim stared. Something about the youngster was decidedly wrong. Altering his perception, Arim growled low in his throat and threw the young Aellei so hard he broke through the wall.

“Enough, young one. I tire of these games.” His mood darkened as the Aellei snickered. “Tell me what I want to know, or I’ll feed you to the Light, one piece of flesh at a time.”

The male sneered but shimmered into another form, this one of a much more mature Aellei, his hair reaching his hips, his eyes a bitter blue and full of deceit. “Took you long enough, oh, great Light Bringer. I fear rumours of your greatness have been exaggerated.”

Arim arched a brow, and the male’s foot turned to stone.

Shrieking and swearing in several languages, the Aellei pulled frantically at his foot, but could only move it a few inches at a time, as if the appendage weighed several hundred pounds.

“That’s Noraevian rock. It responds strongly to the gravitational force in this plane. Now try again, before I forget myself and leave you here to rot with your friend.”

“I’m here for a traitor. It’s Aellein business, nothing to do with a Light Bringer.” The Aellei looked like he wanted to weep as he stared at his foot, no doubt more concerned at how his foot looked than how it felt. An odd vulnerability, the Aellei clung to vanity almost like a religion.

In his upset, the male’s colouring grew so brilliant Arim had to shield his eyes. He cursed and allowed half of the male’s foot to return to normal.

“The traitor?”

“She’s not here, obviously.” Even under Arim’s power the Aellei had the nerve to sound disdainful. “Look, this really isn’t your business.” The man’s cocky tone dimmed somewhat, and he looked almost apologetic as he stared from his foot to Arim. “I am sorry you witnessed this. I don’t want any trouble. Just—”

Sensing another presence, Arim ducked and rolled behind Trudy’s couch. Several more Aellei arrived to join their friend. Archaic spells, green fire and a sudden slowing of time twisted Trudy Warner’s house into another plane altogether.

Familiar with Aellein tactics, though he hadn’t faced them in years, Arim cast a quick protective spell, enabling him to deal with the Aellein attackers, shattering their time warp.

“Shit, it’s not working,” one swore.

“My dark cloud isn’t working either,” another muttered.

“Meha! Ah ele feal rul tser.” Another cursed. Grab him, staffs at the ready.

Arim teleported into Trudy’s kitchen, only to find himself facing nearly a dozen wary Aellei. All appeared to be seasoned warriors, their marked battlestaffs and calculating expressions indicative of harnessed malevolence.

“Ah, the infamous Killer of Shadow, Tanselm’s much-feared sorcerer.” The tallest of them spoke, his eyes a luminescent green. “I’ve been wanting to do this for the longest time.”

He pointed his staff, which began to shimmer into a hazy grey, at Arim’s middle. A stream of dark energy flew from the staff into Arim’s shield. But instead of deflecting away, the burst of energy melded with his defence, channelling through Arim’s rage until the shield disintegrated into a neutral layer of magic.

Once the shield fell, others began firing at will, the seething, shifting pulses of Shadow like an icy burn, striving to invade and take hold of his person.

As they held him within their small half-circle, the Aellein warriors laughed, their scheming cheer brimming with anticipation. Arim remained calm, fighting the incessant clawing at his mind and magic. He defended himself with Tanselm’s Light and the spells he’d been born knowing, realising the fight with these warriors would not be as easy as defeating mere wraiths.

The Aellei and those who lived in Shadow were far more dangerous than they appeared. Shadow dwellers possessed characteristics both Light and Dark, making them resistant to many spells and able to penetrate energy barriers with ease.

Arim chanted a spell in his mind, pleased when a few of the warriors began to blink in discomfort. Several dropped their staffs and began to squirm, the Light within them threatening to break free.

“Rainku.” The leader cursed him and clenched his mouth shut, fighting the effects of the spell. In a garbled voice, he added, “Fian, take him.”

Arim stood with his back to the refrigerator, keeping himself safe on at least one front. Or so he thought. A shimmer of magic kissed his neck, and he whirled to meet the threat from behind, but wasn’t quick enough. Where the appliance once stood, a giant ogre lumbered. It threw him across the room like a javelin in Tanselm’s summer games. He landed in a heap against Trudy’s entertainment centre, smashing his right arm against her plasma screen TV before crumpling into a bruised heap on the ground.

“Son of a bitch,” he swore, one of Cadmus’ new phrases coming in handy as he stumbled to his feet. He gingerly cradled his arm and cast a healing spell before confronting the ogre. Staring at the decidedly ugly Shadren, he wondered if he might talk it out of this battle.

Large and slow, ogres were nevertheless quick of mind, contrary to those who thought them as dim as they were ugly. Its skin a lacklustre, scarred green, this ogre was surprisingly clean and dressed in fine cloth, a different type of foe from the ogres Arim had long ago battled. Its eyes were large, black and clear, unusually sober. Dangerous, but interesting.

“If I might ask a question,” Arim said formally, nodding in respect to the creature that trudged closer.

“Kill him, Fian,” the leader demanded, rubbing at his burning eyes. “Do it before he ensorcels you.”

The ogre blinked and stopped several feet away. “Question?” It grunted and motioned for Arim to continue. Behind it several Aellei burst into bright light while others phased away, leaving only four remaining who appeared to be overcoming his Light spell.

“Why do you do that one’s bidding?”

The ogre looked over its shoulder at the leader. “Zartic not so bad. He promise ‘Landra’s secret ‘lixir.”

“Fian, shut up and kill him. I’m not paying you for your conversation, you ill-mannered cretin.” Zartic had apparently recovered and gathered his three remaining warriors near the kitchen island.

Fian turned its homely visage back to Arim, a thick, red band of coarse hair framing its face like a lion’s mane—only this ‘lion’ looked more like a rabid baboon. The ogre appeared irritated, sparking in Arim a lick of hope.

His elbow still throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the fire burning in his gut. Shadow magic didn’t mix well with Light, and Arim hadn’t yet been able to deal with the murkiness travelling throughout his body. He needed a distraction, or at least help in dealing with the Aellei.

“Fian, is it?” Arim bowed but kept his eyes on the ogre. “I am Arim, a Light Bringer from Tanselm. I have no discord with you, friend ogre, but with the ones there who think so little of manners and honesty.” He glared at Zartic and his cohorts. “’Landra never had the elixir, Fian. I have it, and they want it for themselves.”

Fian stared hard at Arim, making Arim wonder if this ‘Landra really did have an elixir the ogre wanted. From what he knew of their breed, ogres would do almost anything for fine, aged cinarum.

“As a matter of fact,” he bluffed, subtly rubbing at the pain in his sternum while he stood firm and tall. “I’ll give you a barrel of the stuff right now if you dispose of those rogues for me.” He waved his hand and a barrel of royal cinarum appeared, the finest ‘elixir’ in all of Tanselm. Queen Ravyn would have his head if she knew, but her celebrations could make do without one more barrel of the stuff.

“You shoddy fuck.” Zartic glared at him, thrusting his staff in Arim’s direction, which, unfortunately for the Aellei, also pierced the ogre. The Aellein warriors took their cue and turned their weapons on Arim as well, making it look as if they had turned traitor to their ogre.

Fian took the insult and the threat to heart. “Not like tricksters. Want payment. Want apology,” it said in a clear, angry voice. “Now.”

“Shit. Just kill it and the sorcerer,” Zartic huffed.

But the ogre didn’t fall under their steady blasts, and soon it was upon them, its meaty fists clobbering the first warrior it reached.

“Dammit, Zartic. Control it!” The warrior under attack sounded strangled, his throat wrapped by the ogre’s fist.

“Fian, stop! You’re mine, I own you!”

Arim shook his head and began to heal the burn pervading his body. “Tsk, tsk, Zartic. For a leader, you know precious little about those you command. Ogres are a proud race. And you Aellei know all about pride, don’t you?” he asked softly. “If not for your sorry conceit, you might still be in Tanselm, hmm?”

Knowing the jibe would further irritate the Aellei, he was pleasantly surprised when the warrior neatly bypassed Fian, who was now making a mess out of the remaining Aellei, and moved in for the kill.

The minute Zartic’s staff made contact with him, Arim closed his hand around it, skewing its polarity.

Zartic screamed in dismay and watched helplessly as the staff burned into a pile of ash before his eyes.

“Come now, before me,” Arim murmured and enslaved Zartic with a mind spell.

If only I’d been able to do that to Cadmus. Arim grimaced. He glanced distractedly at the ogre. “The cinarum is yours, Fian. And good health to you.”

Fian grunted that he’d heard and continued to smash his fists into the barely moving Aellei.

“Now unless you want to join in your brethren’s fate, perhaps you’d best explain why you’re here. Tell me all about this traitor, and unlike Fian, I might let you leave with all your limbs intact.”

Zartic gasped as one of his men screamed, the sucking sound of flesh parting from bone a heady enticement to talk. He spoke quickly, his words making Arim’s already bad mood steadily worse.

Chapter Five

Alandra stared down at Aerolus’ face, which even in slumber appeared sharp, ready for battle. She stroked his cheek, feeling safe to show such affection now that he lay asleep beside her. Unconsciously, she’d absorbed a massive amount of his energy while the two made love, putting her Wind Mage into an almost trancelike rest. She grinned, not sure why she found the thought of Aerolus snoozing so funny.

Her grin faded as she stared at him, and heat welled within her again, only hours after they’d revelled in one another’s bodies. She trailed her hand over his stubbled cheek and marvelled at his natural splendour. What a sensual creature. She couldn’t help an escaping sigh as she stared at the rest of his delectable body. And all mine.

She giggled and clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. Having sex in Aerolus’ room was not the smartest move for an Aellei determined to avoid Arim the Light Bringer. But Aerolus had dragged her here, after all. And as she lingered with him in bed, the hazy, drug-like stupor that muddied her mind left her wondering what was truly safe and what might be harmful.

Shrugging, she petted her Storm Lord, running her fingers over his ripped abdomen, fiercely attracted to his unfettered eroticism. He moaned softly and curled towards her, stirring an unusual welling of emotion she normally kept banked.

“Too much power,” she slurred, knowing she was not in her right mind but helpless to prevent another giggle. “I need some water. Or chocolate, that might help.” Alandra fell off the bed onto her butt, her less than graceful fall making her laugh even harder.

Grabbing the first piece of clothing she saw, she donned an overly large black T-shirt and stumbled to the door.

“Alandra?” Aerolus murmured.

“Just grabbing a glass of water, Aerolus le Aelle,” she teased, imagining him all too easily in Aelle by her side. Shadows, but he was so incredibly beautiful. Staring at him, she noted how lovingly the shadows played over his frame, how the light knew just when to leave him. Blinking at the sudden overlay of his magical aura over his physical body, she noted the slight curl of Shadow, her Shadow, that now clung to him like a second skin.

Pleased beyond measure and ignoring the inner warning that shrieked at her to pull back, she hummed softly and closed the door behind her as she skipped down the stairs.

“Ah, blessed life.” She felt so unencumbered by all the problems she’d faced since she’d first overheard Queen Lidra’s plot against Tanselm. Loving with Aerolus left her absolved of worry and guilt, of the nagging sensation that doom lay just over the horizon.

As if all her troubles had been solved, she basked in the elemental energy that filled the empty spaces within her. Right now, as the sun rose to signal a new day, the world seemed brighter, the air sweeter, and sound richer than even that heard in Aelle.

She grinned at the comparisons and entered the kitchen seeking something to drink. Before Aerolus had cast a furious protective spell over the house, she’d been a regular visitor. She knew the layout of the grand three-story like the back of her hand, though from the perspective of a pixie.

Reminded of that part of herself she was forbidden to reveal when offworld, she closed her eyes and tried to focus. A mistake. She tripped and chuckled, her balance definitely off. Once her laughter had spent, she frowned at her lack of coordination, a definite sign she teetered on the verge of inebriation.

On the verge? Try way over the edge. “Crap. I’m toasted. Might as well enjoy myself.”

Knowing she probably looked like an idiot, Alandra threw caution to the wind and relaxed the hold on her magic. A sense of freedom filled her as she felt the familiar stirring of wings at her back. A mystical presence, her wings were the purest part of her magic that could manifest physically.

Increasing the desire to fly, to lose herself in feeling, she flexed her back and knew the pleasure of creation. Glancing over her shoulder, she noted two fine, down-like wings that shimmered as if covered with glitter. From several inches above her head to her calves, her wings had been likened to angel down and butterfly silk by even the haughtiest of the royal Aellei.

Needing to express her complete delight with her life at the moment, she flapped her wings and rose off the floor. The rapid movement stirred the air, fanning the unrefined magic she saw lying about the house like small piles of gold in forgotten corners. As her wings moved, the magic gravitated to her, increasing the beauty of her newfound liberty.

“I do so love the wind,” she said on giddy breath and twirled around. Unbidden came the thought that she’d chosen the right Storm Lord to watch. Aerolus controlled the winds, and he had an obvious talent for stirring trouble as well as air—a talent her rule-abiding Wind Mage would no doubt deny.

Smiling, she toyed with her dimensions, shrinking to the size of a sprite, then growing back into her normal frame. Shadow’s Mark, but she hadn’t felt so carefree in years! Visions of Aerolus naked and in bed lifted her higher, making her long to recreate last night.

“Aerolus Storm,” she said with a smile, lusting after him anew as his name rolled from her lips. She shrank to the size of a walnut. “I could really grow to lo—”

“What will it take to convince you creatures to leave well enough alone?” a gritty voice rumbled before smacking her into the refrigerator door with enough force to snap the magic in her left wing.

She cried out and fell, the attack stimulating her reserve to fight. Instinctively growing to her normal size and losing the wings, she turned and glared at her attacker, rage at his intrusion ridding her of the fear she should have felt.

“Well, if it isn’t Arim the mighty.” She swore heatedly as clarity descended with a sharp twist under the sting of his soundless assault. That bastard! She tried flexing her magic and grew dizzy, the pain unbearable. That he had literally clipped her freedom made her see red, and she felt an astonishing urge to do him physical harm.

How typical of a Light Bringer to taint the simple pleasures in life. Glaring, she threw her hands in his direction, her fingers splayed wide, and demanded recompense for his detestable presence.

A blast of wind suddenly shot from her fingertips, the fury of air growing until the kitchen filled with several mini-tornadoes destroying everything in their path.

Arim smashed into the ceiling, three walls and the floor twice before he could shield himself, incurring several bruises and a bloodied lip when he fell to the floor. The way he looked at her from beneath his dark black hair gone askew reminded her of Aerolus, and as quickly as her anger had flared, it faded.

Though she liked to play games, she didn’t like causing undue harm. Arim had instigated trouble, certainly. But from his perspective, she was the intruder. No doubt she’d feel aggravated were their positions reversed.

However, her spontaneous reprisal had stoked an unnecessary and dangerous response from the one person she’d been taught never to confront. Stupid, stupid, stupid. When would she learn to think before she acted?

She could see red pulses of rage burning in Arim’s aura, and her worry grew. He meant to destroy her. She still couldn’t believe she’d knocked him around, and with wind, no less. Where the hell had that come from? Alandra was no warrior. She was, truth be told, a scholar with a penchant for mischief.

Hurriedly constructing a shield of Shadow, she gasped and jerked under Arim’s massive jolt of Light. Seething in a quiet that alarmed her more than if he’d shouted and threatened, he pummelled her with too much magic to absorb, overwhelming her senses with the sheer rage he projected.

Weakened to the point of panic, she understood, too late, just whom she had dared attack: Arim the Light Bringer, Killer of Shadow.

Arim raised one arm, his hand spread as he gathered the latent magic around him. His eyes were no longer black but swirling in myriad colours, so totally foreign from anything she’d ever seen that fear bloomed and took root as she stared into the face of her death.

“What’s going on in here?”

She spun around to see Aerolus and noted that Arim turned as well, his eyes still doing that funky kaleidoscope thing. Not sure if he was fully in control of himself, she instinctively lowered her shield to dart between him and Aerolus, her impulse to protect her lover greater than her need to protect herself.

In that instant Arim attacked.

The pain was intolerable. She could barely think as ice burned a hole in her chest and spread to her limbs, freezing her attempt to flee, to fear, to even care anymore. Her bones stretched, and her flesh began to sink, the cold drying her from the inside out. Cracks fissured the skin around her eyes and mouth and beams of light speared through.

Yet amid the pain and the fear, thoughts of losing Aerolus tortured her more than the knowledge she was dying.

“Arim, stop!” Aerolus tried, but his uncle was oblivious to everything but destroying Alandra. Her face twisted in pain, and her eyes sought Aerolus’, not with a plea to make it stop, but with a strange regret.

“By the Light, Uncle, cease!”

Arim blinked, a sign he’d finally heard Aerolus, but did not stop his attack.

“Shit.” Making a snap decision, Aerolus stepped between Arim and Alandra, freezing as Arim’s power sought a hold into his being. Under the magical onslaught, he recognised the spell and tried to relax. His uncle used a counter-Shadow spell, one that shouldn’t have caused too much pain, a bit of discomfort perhaps, but no more.

Yet Aerolus’ anguish grew as the Light actually hurt him. Instead of the heat he would have thought to feel, a frosty fist of cold made his breath catch and his body stiffen. Pain enveloped him, freezing everything but his mind.

“Aerolus,” he dimly heard Arim shout. “What are you thinking?”

Arim pressed a hand to Aerolus’ heart, increasing the ache in his chest. Gradually, the pain stopped throbbing, and the aggravating prickles of ice faded into a comforting warmth.

“That really hurt,” Aerolus mumbled before shaking his head and turning to Alandra. “Purie,” he said sharply, alarmed at her lack of colour. He scrambled to her side and reached the spot below her heart to feel for her aura’s pulse, swearing when he felt nothing.

“What are you doing with an Aellei?” Arim asked, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. He stared from her to Aerolus, and a flare of heat lit his gaze. “Don’t tell me you slept with her?” He stared hard at Alandra, exhaling with an odd sound of relief. “At least she’s female.”

“I’ll ask you just what that means later. Now I need you to heal her. Tell me what I can do, and I’ll help.”

“Aerolus—”

“Just do it!” Air seethed and shook the cabinets left hanging in the kitchen as Aerolus’ stress hit the breaking point. Churning energy broke what dishes and glasses remained intact. But the air around Alandra fluttered gently, stroking with warm laps of wind.

Arim muttered something under his breath and squatted down. Frowning, he placed a hand on Alandra’s forehead and began a healing chant. Aerolus joined him, willing her to get well, praying for her to wake so he could shake some sense into her.

Moments passed. “She’s not moving,” he said stupidly.

“I know that. I just spent the last few minutes trying to ensure she never would again, and I’m still not sure I should have stopped.” Arim glanced at him, waiting for an explanation he wasn’t ready to give.

Staring down at Alandra, seeing her lying so still and unresponsive, finally broke the silence Aerolus had promised her. She might not trust the Storm Lords, but he did. And it was high time he remembered just who and what he was. He would use everything at his disposal, all his strengths and assets, to save his affai.

Guilt swarmed him. Had he confided in his family about her sooner, this would never have happened. Arim may have harmed her, but the blame lay squarely in Aerolus’ hands.

“She saved Marcus from the Nocumat during our last battle with ‘Sin Garu,” he explained quietly. “Apparently she’s been watching out for us—for me—since we stepped into this plane.”

Arim’s eyes darkened but he said nothing.

“She’s mine, and if you cannot save her, you cannot save me.” So saying, he did the only thing he could think of to help her. He merged his magic with Alandra’s to give her the strength to fight back and was surprised at the depth of her energy. He heard Arim curse, but his body and mind shut down as he toppled next to her.

Cold numbed him to all but the feminine ball of magic he surrounded. Joined as he now was to Alandra, he felt what she felt. She had gone beyond pain and would no doubt have died had he not merged with her. Aerolus forced her to relinquish the numbness, to feel the pain again, jolting her back to awareness.

Aerolus?

Yes, love, I’m here. I’m waiting for you, Alandra. I’ve always been waiting for you.

I’m cold. So cold. What happened?

It’s over now, he forced out. By the Light, the pain was excruciating. He could barely focus on anything but the sheer will to escape such anguish.

It’s not as bad if you let go.

Don’t do that. Reach for me. I’ve come to take you home.

He expected her to fight, to resist at the very least. But she surprised him. Her essence opened, filling him with warmth. Then suddenly, as if a blowtorch had been lit, the ice surrounding him melted, to be replaced by pinpricks of sensation that blazed a trail of fire throughout his body.

He knew she felt the same, but she didn’t complain or shudder from the extreme heat. Instead she embraced it, growing stronger with him as they rejoined the living.

Blinking into Arim’s glowering face, he could do little more than groan before his uncle hauled him to his feet. Glancing down, he noted the now peaceful look on Alandra’s face as she slumbered, her breathing deep and even.

“And I used to think you were the smart one. Don’t pass out,” Arim growled and shook him before reaching for Alandra. Unlike his previous dealings with Aerolus’ affai, Arim took extreme care to be gentle, folding his arms under her slight frame and cradling her to him. He turned from the kitchen and strode with her to Aerolus’ bedroom, depositing her with care on the bed.

He kept his eyes on her sleeping form as he interrogated Aerolus. “What, by the four corners, is happening around here? I’ve just spent the past hour battling with a dozen warrior Aellei and an ogre, only to find another Aellein threat within what should have been a Storm Lord sanctum.”

His words were gruff, but Aerolus could hear the apology amid the explanation.

“I would never have harmed her had I known she was yours.” Arim ran a hand over his face. “I thought she was another of them.” He nodded in the direction of Trudy Warner’s house. “Trust me, dealing with those warriors was no picnic. But none of them gave me half the surprise she did.”

“Alandra?” Aerolus stared at his affai lying peacefully on his bed. She looked so small, so fragile. And yet her magic was stronger than his. Joined with her, he’d felt her tremendous power. It intrigued him as much as it unnerved him.

“Can you tell me how an Aellein royal managed to get her hands on elemental powers none of her kind should possess?”

“What?”

“She loosed your winds on me, Aerolus.” Arim turned, eyeing Aerolus carefully. “And you pulse with Dark energy. First Cadmus, and now you.”

“Cadmus?”

“Never mind.” Arim sighed, his breath heavy. “With a little persuasion, I managed to ferret some information from one of her kind. Apparently, the Aellei are on a mission to find Alandra le Aelle, heir to the Aellein throne.”

“I knew she was royalty,” Aerolus muttered.

“Don’t worry,” his uncle said caustically. “She’s only sixth in line. To the Aellein throne.” He groaned and rubbed his eyes. “You boys really know how to pick them. Couldn’t you have found a nice girl from Tanselm? Or even a woman from this plane, like Darius and Marcus? No, not our Wind Mage. He has to do everything the hard way.” Arim let out a string of curses in a stream of languages. “And don’t get me started on Cadmus, who’s missing, by the way.”

“Missing?”

“I was hoping you’d know something. But I can see you don’t. No doubt he’s being held by the Djinn that taints his power. Djinn, Aellei, xiantopes. What is the Tetrarch coming to?”

“Xiantopes? Oh, you mean Samantha and Tessa. I don’t know I’d call them that, considering the powerful magic both possess. About the Djinn, though,” he began, his mind moving at light speed as concern for Cadmus filtered through. Recollections of their battle with ‘Sin Garu, the Djinn’s sacrifice and what little information he’d gathered from a few sources beyond started to make sense.

Arim interrupted his train of thought. “How long have you known she was yours?” He nodded to the bed.

Aerolus glanced at Alandra, her scent and the feel of her ingrained in his memory. “I’m not really sure. The moment I first saw her something in me came alive. On one level I’m sure of her place in my future, yet on another, I have so many unanswered questions. So many reasons not to trust…”

“Hmm.” Arim studied him, staring in the same manner he’d watched Darius and Marcus before they fell prey to the mating noose. “So what do you intend to do about her?”

“Keep an eye on her.” He began to pace, his gaze resting on Alandra as much as he sought to look away. “I watched Darius and Marcus make so many mistakes concerning their affai. They refused to admit their brides’ place in their hearts.”

“So you won’t make that same mistake. You’ll tell her the truth of who she is to you.” Arim’s eyes glinted.

Aerolus frowned. “Are you laughing at me?”

“Of course not,” his uncle said smoothly, amusement plainly visible in his face. “You seem to have this all figured out. Who am I to interfere? So what, you’ll simply tell her she’s your affai, and then the two of you will return to Tanselm?”

Aerolus scowled. At times his uncle was a real pain in the ass, as Cadmus liked to put it. Trust Arim to make this more difficult than it had to be. “Yes, I’ll tell her she’s my affai. I haven’t worked far enough through the situation to decide when we simply return to Tanselm.”

Unlike his brothers, Aerolus could return to his homeworld at will. He’d never told them, knowing they would have demanded he return them the minute they stepped in this plane. The long talks with Arim had convinced him he and his brothers were better off here, finding mates to strengthen the Storm Lord line, before returning home.

“Let me give you a spot of advice,” Arim said quietly and stepped in front of Aerolus to halt his pacing. “Before you bombard your woman with her responsibilities to you and Tanselm, find out what her heart holds. I’m not telling you not to trust her,” Arim said quickly to forestall Aerolus’ objection. “But you have a future planned out for a woman you barely know. While your heart may recognise her, your mind does not. And if you want any chance at happiness between you, trust me, don’t force it upon her.”

Aerolus stared thoughtfully at Arim. Something in his uncle’s tone told him he spoke from experience. Curiosity blossomed, but he knew now was not the time.

Alandra moaned softly and shifted, capturing his attention once more. He mentally recounted what he’d seen and knew. A large ball of pale-blue energy. Aellein royalty. Wings. He paused and stared down at the petite whirlwind of energy. His affai had wings. And she could increase and decrease her size at will. It seemed every time he turned around he learned something new about her.

“I will think on what you’ve said,” he told Arim, his voice low, thoughtful. “Now if you don’t mind, I’d like some time with Alandra, alone.”

Arim nodded. “I have to reconstruct the house’s protection spell anyway, that and put out more feelers for your brother.”

Aerolus shook his head. “The protection spell is fine. I shielded her through it, purposefully. And Cadmus,” he paused, not wanting to tell Arim what he suspected just yet. “I think Cadmus has a few issues to resolve before he returns.” He met his uncle’s gaze with a steady one of his own. “I don’t believe the Djinn taint you sense in him is what it seems.” At least I hope it’s not.

Arim paused, his gaze oddly piercing. Then he turned his stare to Alandra, a thoughtful look on his face. Expecting him to demand answers, Aerolus was surprised when his uncle turned and left the room.

Letting out a breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding, Aerolus approached the bed and glanced down at his affai. A slow, winding warmth lit in the vicinity of his chest.

So beautiful, so sweet, and all mine.

He lay down beside her on the bed. She stirred, and he placed a kiss on her lips, lulling her back to rest.

“Aerolus,” she mumbled and smiled, curling towards him. Her T-shirt—his actually—hampered her mobility. With a wave of his hand he made it disappear, and before she could tempt him beyond reason, he closed his eyes.

“Affai,” he replied and tucked her close, pleased when a touch of her magic wrapped around him. He could literally feel her aura fitting itself to him, moulding and merging with his. Oddly enough, he didn’t feel the least threatened.

Despite being used to his brothers’ constant presence in his life, Aerolus rarely felt at peace with anyone outside of his family. Yet within just a few days of being with Alandra, he felt comfortable, even safe, with her.

To a point, his conscience demanded.

Sighing, not wanting to dwell on their trust issues he had yet to address, not to mention the ‘small’ matter of her being his affai, he settled her closer to him. If only love and trust went hand in hand.

He drifted off to sleep debating how soon, if at all, to tell her what was growing in his heart.

Chapter Six

The Aellein court was in session, beauty abundant in the pale-haired, magic-blessed, striking nobles of the shadowed race. Amidst a flowered clearing surrounded by massive green-and blue-leafed trees, whose canopies interlocked to provide shelter from the warm sun, the slender, devious nobles of the Aellei gathered. A horseshoe of rilk-wood tables surrounded a small stage in the middle of the grassy clearing, and all attention was centred there.

Queen Lidra occupied the throne on the large dais, upon which several tomes sat, volumes dedicated to preserving the Aellein way of life with rules, laws, and, being Aellein, the varied loopholes designed to avoid such legalities.

B’alen Van Nostren stood in an obscured section of trees as he watched the treacherous creatures debate with a zeal that made their work appear as play. They cursed one another, danced merrily with words and continued to skirt the one issue he’d been called to witness. Had he not been pressed to resolve the matter, he might have enjoyed their banter instead of viewing it with annoyance.

At least two dozen men and women from the ancient houses of Aelle occupied the court, a dazzling spectacle of blinding white magnificence, outshone only by Queen Lidra, the most glorious Aellei of them all.

He eyed her hungrily, knowing that soon he would have her again. Such a vain creature, like most of her kind, yet she truly deserved the banquets and statues made in her image, or at least the image she preferred to show her subjects, he reminded himself. The Aellei were, as he well knew, master illusionists.

Long, white hair fell to her hips, hips that swayed with a latent sensuality when she moved. Lidra was slimmer than those he normally used, but she was so very talented with those hands, that mouth. Her eyes were glittering blue gems, similar to the blue fire his kind could harness and shape to whatever suited them.

Her magic pulsed like a second skin, drawing him further into her trap the longer he looked at her. Clever girl, he thought, a twisted grin curling his lips when she subtly glanced over her shoulder and winked at him.

He appreciated a mature woman, one who knew her worth and that of those around her. Lidra might appear a young beauty without a care in the world, but B’alen knew better. She was in fact a thousand years old and had plenty of worry at her door. She’d seen her captain, Zartic, before the man had had a chance to drink from the healing well. Though he’d tried to mask his bruises, the Der warrior was in no shape to fool his queen, or her Dark Lord.

Not pleased that his efforts to regain what he needed continued to fail, B’alen sent an internal warning to the queen that had her shifting uneasily in her seat.

“That is enough for today,” she said, holding up one hand. “It is obvious none of you understand the harm her disappearance may cause. Alandra must be handled, and it must be done immediately.” She glanced at Zartic, who stood straight, a shadow of guilt in his gaze.

“We’ll reconvene when the moon rises. If you haven’t collectively decided on a course of action by then, I’ll make the decision for you.”

A tall, older-looking nobleman stood scowling. Surprising for one of his kind, Lord Sava apparently didn’t mind looking his age, and his lined face and thinning hair only added to his air of wisdom and uniqueness among the Aellei.

At a glare from Lidra, Lord Sava shut his mouth and surprised B’alen by glancing knowingly at his hiding place. Then Sava regarded the gathering with a huff of irritation.

“Well, Aellei, let us adjourn to my tower to discuss our best chance of getting Alandra back.” He shot Lidra an angry look. “Shadow knows what will happen to the young ‘criminal’ if we don’t come up with a means to return her home.”

Small popping noises sounded as one by one, the council teleported to Sava’s tower. B’alen, finally seeing the queen alone but for Zartic, exited his hiding place.

“I must say, I don’t think Sava likes you, sweet.”

She tossed her head, her hair waving behind her in a stream of white gold. “Sava’s a thorn in my side, has been for centuries. For some reason he’s taken a liking to Alandra, refusing to believe she’s turned traitor to Aelle.”

“Then perhaps Zartic could show him the harm she can cause.” He waved his hand, and Zartic’s healed face reverted to the bruised flesh from before.

The Der warrior winced, his throbbing cheeks and split lip bleeding as if he’d just encountered Arim. “Your Majesty,” he said in a cold voice. “Though I agree Alandra’s place is here, I cannot see how she could be at fault for what the Light Bringer did.”

“B’alen?” Lidra murmured, stroking her lip idly.

“She is in league with them, you fool,” B’alen snarled, aggravated the queen would have him explain himself to a mere soldier. “Why do you think she left Aelle? Because she attempts to rally your kind to aid the Light. The Light, captain,” he said with disdain.

Zartic frowned, staring from B’alen to his queen. “If that is so, why was the sorcerer not tainted with her energy?” His eyes narrowed. “And why does my queen appear so Dark of late?”

B’alen thrust his will through Lidra’s mind and took control, infuriated she’d let the upstart warrior speak to him thus.

“Zartic,” she said sharply. “Watch your tongue. Because of you we have lost another opportunity to return Alandra to her rightful place. What she has done could cause harm to all our people. Trust me, her punishment at my hands will be a kindness.”

“Is not living in that hideous world torture enough?” Zartic murmured.

“Zartic!” She stood, glaring down at him with fiery blue eyes that took on the brilliance of Netharat flame. “Show Lord Sava what our Light Bringer empathiser has done to you.” She glanced at B’alen, as if waiting for his help. He was happy to oblige. Crushing his fist, he mentally increased pressure on Zartic’s face, breaking his nose and cracking his left cheekbone.

The warrior cried out and staggered, unable to brace himself from the overload of pain B’alen poured over him.

“Failure is not to be tolerated,” B’alen said in a low voice, pleased when the warrior finally showed a lick of sense by kneeling in deference.

“Once Sava and the others take note, hie yourself and two dozen of our men back to the xiantope plane,” Lidra ordered. “Do not return until you find her. If you step one foot on my soil again without her, I’ll give you to the Dark Lord to do as he pleases.”

Zartic, wisely, said nothing. He slowly rose but kept his head bowed.

“And Zartic,” she added with a cruel twist to her mouth. “B’alen doesn’t like you. So pray you return with the girl quickly.”

Zartic paused, then reached for the Mir charm at his throat and vanished.

Alone with the queen at last, B’alen sealed the small clearing with a privacy spell and waited for her to come to him.

He saw the resistance she tried to hide behind a wide, sensual smile and laughed low in his throat. He did so love the games the Aellei played, and none were as skilled as their queen.

Each time he took hold of her mind, he enabled her to see what he did, showing her his immense power while she struggled to be free. Obviously she was no match for his sorcery, but unlike his brother, B’alen would not underestimate his allies.

Aellein magic, he knew, ran deep. And though Lidra gave him plenty of energy to further his plot against the Storm Lords, he knew only with Alandra, the only living Aellei with ties to the Storm Lords, would he have a real chance at ending this farcical battle for Tanselm.

His brother had started too early. ‘Sin Garu hadn’t listened as he should have, convinced of his right to rule, and that he could overtake both B’alen and the Storm Lords at the same time. Unfortunately for him, their sister had decided to share his intentions.

Lidra moved, and he watched, his desire growing, as she played with her gown, toying with the fastenings holding her dress closed. As the silken fabric slithered to the ground at her feet, shadows played over her skin, like dark hands inviting B’alen to join them.

Instead of going to the queen, however, he sat down in her throne and watched her touch herself as she encouraged him to participate without actually approaching him. Ah, brother, he sent the mental taunt to ‘Sin Garu, who according to B’alen’s last report, lay near the Aellein healing pool, trying desperately to steal some of its healing properties. You could have been with me, brother, experiencing this lusty queen side by side. But greed made you clumsy.

Lidra’s hands cupped her breasts before sliding down her stomach and between her legs, her breath catching as her fingers delved into her slick, hot folds.

B’alen shed his clothes with a thought, his needs growing as the shadowy royal lit his desire like flame.

“Come, sweet,” he murmured and began stroking his cock. “Come sit here.”

She grinned, no doubt thinking she’d won their little game because he asked for her first. As if she could hold sway over a Dark Lord as powerful as he. B’alen smiled, his lids heavy as his hunger increased. Blessed Dark, she was lovely. The pulse in her neck beckoned, and he licked his lips, aware she desired him as well, though she didn’t want to.

Sauntering to her throne, she allowed a flash of glittering annoyance to show at his indolent slouch. “This is my land, B’alen, though I have given you leave to play here.” She glanced meaningfully at her throne. “Kindly remember who I am.”

Straddling his lap, she sank over him with ease, engulfing him in her magic and desire. He couldn’t help the groan that escaped and merged his will with hers.

He gripped her hips and began controlling her movements, plunging her up and down over his weeping cock. Her eyes locked on his as he fucked her, the pleasure of their game making her skin flush, her nipples hard and throbbing. He could feel her heat, her need to dominate and to win.

“Oh, Lidra, I know who you are.” He roughly yanked her down and shuddered when her walls closed around him. She came hard, squeezing him into a powerful orgasm that drenched her womb with sorcerer’s flame. As she gasped her pleasure, he twisted his hand in her hair and yanked her head to the side. Exposing her smooth, white virgin neck, he prepared to feed.

Baring his teeth that had lengthened with each pleasurable cock-stroke, he grinned. “But do you know who I am?”

Sinking his teeth in her neck, he stifled her thrashing, his cock twitching and hardening as one hunger fed another. And as he drank liquid life from her veins, he thought her aged magic as fine as any Aellein wine.

Moments ran together as he feasted, awash in her sensuality and submission. Swallowing her cries and terror, he swelled and came again, drenching Lidra with the Dark. She shivered in his embrace as he withdrew his teeth, the taste of her tender flesh making him wonder what other delights he might partake of the exotic queen.

She lifted her head, her eyes wounded as she stared fearfully at him for the first time. “Why, what—you took my blood.”

“I did.” He smiled, knowing he looked like the monster she thought him to be. Dark red blood stained his teeth and ran down his chin to his chest. He was still firmly embedded within her, his cock not realising it should have been flaccid by now.

Pleased at the discovery, he decided to share with the queen his plans for her young niece. Having correctly gauged her selfish tendencies, he murmured encouragement when she let go of her fear and began riding him again, stirring his lusts anew.

Lidra wanted Alandra dead, but more so, she wanted the young princess to suffer, an unlikely feeling for a shadowy Aellei. Pleased he’d had some influence over the lovely monarch, he proceeded to fuck her until she could no longer function, the beauty of her pain and pleasure too tempting to ignore.

As he watched her magic dim under his Dark presence, he wondered, not for the first time, how Alandra would taste when he finally brought her to heel.

On her side, Alandra snuggled closer into the warmth, seeking solace. In dreams she had seen her aunt being mauled by a Dark Lord, a being very like ‘Sin Garu, yet her aunt’s Dark Lord was not the sorcerer Alandra had sent into the beyond.

The queen had a reputation as a woman who liked her passion rough, but never before had she been known to cater to blood drinkers. And something about the Dark Lord with her had seemed familiar.

A hand stroked her belly, and she lost her hold on the dream to a sudden flare of desire.

“Alandra, love. Wake with me.”

Aerolus ran his hand over her stomach, up her breasts and over her shoulders to her arms. She opened her eyes, shocked that no clothing impeded the magic in his touch.

“Are you feeling better?” he asked, stroking her back with a touch so light she might have imagined it.

“Yes,” she whispered, amazed at the power he wielded over her.

He smoothed his hand over her muscles and rubbed her back. Hard, yet soft, his touch was like magic, a seduction by the very fact it asked so little, yet demanded everything.

“Where did your wings go?” he murmured and ran his hand down her flank, teasing her sensitive thigh.

“They’re always with me, inside me,” she said softly, staring at his grey eyes that smouldered with heat. Shadows, but she wanted him. “Aerolus, I…”

“Hmm?”

She held her breath as he gently pushed her onto her back. He toyed with her belly, and she couldn’t help a soft exhale when his hand drifted to the top of her pubic bone.

“I, ah…” His hands rubbed circles through her curls, making her dizzy with need.

“Yes, love?” His fingers moved downward, parting her folds to graze her hard and aroused clit. He slid them easily through her wet sex.

“Shadows, but I can’t think when you do that,” she blurted, then flushed as she realised what she’d said.

He laughed, a husky chuckle that shot arrows into her heart. “So open.” He kissed her neck, nipping lightly at her pulse. “Yet so closed in other ways,” he murmured and pushed her thighs further apart, burrowing his hand between them.

She stiffened as two fingers thrust through her channel while his thumb flicked her clit, which was growing fuller and harder the more he teased.

Focus, Alandra. Remember, you’re in charge here.

“Mmm.” Her body overrode her mind’s commands. “You kill me when you do that,” she moaned as he began thrusting his digits in and out of her. Arching into his touch, she couldn’t stop the small protest that slipped out. “I’m in charge here,” she tried, knowing she should have protested his amusement, but was unable to summon the will.

“We need to talk,” she gasped as he thrust particularly hard, finding the soft spot inside her that shrieked with pleasure.

“We should.” He trailed his lips from her neck to her mouth, nipping at her lower lip. “We will.” He blew in her ear, and she couldn’t stop the shiver that took her. “Just as soon as I’ve taken my pleasure, purie. Then we’ll do things your way.”

She should have taken affront at the command in his tone, but his hands and mouth completely obliterated all thought to protest.

“And it pleases me,” he paused in his conquest over her mouth, “to please you.”

He shifted and trailed his mouth from her neck to her breasts, stirring new currents of need into a frenzy of hunger.

She cried out his name, pulled at his hands and head to cease his torment, yet he continued to suck her nipples, his fingers pushing her into a climax she wasn’t ready for.

Colours burst behind her closed lids as she cried out his name and arched into a taut bow. She felt his heavy erection against her thigh and marvelled at his restraint. Despite her orgasm, she needed more. She wanted him with her, inside her, giving her his essence and sharing his soul, a special magic only he possessed.

Aerolus ignored her pleas and continued to torment her. Withdrawing his talented fingers, he kissed his way down her belly to the apex of her thighs.

“Light, but I love your smell.” He inhaled and closed his eyes, then opened them to show sparks of lavender amidst the grey. “And your taste is divine.”

She opened her mouth to stop him but could only feel as his mouth covered her clit. His tongue speared her sex in a heartbeat, her body coiling all over again as it raced to rapture.

“Aerolus, please. I need you in me.”

He would not be rushed, but she could feel the tremors that shook him.

“Let me ease you,” she tried again. “Turn around. Let me taste you as you do me,” she rasped.

He stilled for a moment, then glanced up at her. Need and something more lit his eyes, and he stared at her like a predator eyeing its next meal.

“I love your honey,” he rasped, licking at the shine on his lips. “You’re so wet, so hot and waiting, aren’t you, love?”

She could only stare, mesmerised by the sex in his voice.

He licked her clit, and she arched uncontrollably, spiralling towards climax yet again. “Answer me, purie. You want me, but more, you need me, don’t you?”

Sensing he played a game he intended to win, her blood rushed hotter and she moaned. “I don’t know what you mean.”

His eyes darkened and wind ripped through the room, caressing her heated flesh until she became a writhing, mindless creature wanting only one thing—him.

“Tell me, love. Tell me you need me.” He slowly eased up her body, his cock like a pike as it stroked her thigh when he moved.

He loomed over her, his biceps straining, his chest heaving. But he waited motionless above her, waiting for victory.

“I need you,” she surrendered, widening her thighs. “I need you in me. To be a part of me,” she couldn’t help admitting.

“Now?”

“Now.” She twisted, rubbing her thighs around his rigid arousal.

“And forever?”

“Forever,” she agreed, anything to get him to save her.

“Pledge it,” he demanded, his voice raspy. “Pledge your forever, and I’ll give you what you need.”

Wind rippled over her body, a cool breath over her clit that came not from his mouth, but from his element, and she trembled, on the verge of something wondrous.

Nothing existed for her but Aerolus, but his body and heart that pulsed with her needs and wants.

“I pledge my forever, Aerolus, to you.”

He thrust deep and hard, and she immediately climaxed, clenching around his cock instinctively.

“Aerolus!”

He continued to thrust, his cock pounding as he grasped her wrists and held them over her head on the bed, his domination pure and even.

“You’re mine,” he growled, a spark of rainbow showering in his gaze. “And you belong to me.”

He thrust once more, his tip touching her very womb, and he exploded.

Magic and wind and feeling flooded the room, surrounding the two in a haze of ecstasy that overpowered them both, putting all sense aside as bliss reigned over thought.

Alandra tried to catch her breath as she stared up at Aerolus, a look of worry on her face. What had he done?

Her body tingled and her mind buzzed, but her magic… Shadows, it flickered with winks of light that should have burned, but didn’t. She could see her aura and Aerolus’ intertwined around her arm, even after she lifted it from his waist.

“We’re joined,” she said blankly, not understanding how it was possible.

“I know.” He flexed within her, amazing her that he could still think about sex when it felt as if her head had blown clean off with that last climax.

“No, Aerolus, we’re joined,” she said, urging him to look beyond what most could perceive. She cupped his chin in her hand and turned it to her arm, sharing with him her ability to see.

He stared, his handsome face curiously relaxed. “We’re joined,” he repeated. “As if our two halves are now whole.”

“What?” Alandra didn’t feel his calm. Far from it. She could feel an almost masculine energy pulsing within her, and the sense of intrusion, of overwhelming intimacy, spooked her.

She took advantage of his preoccupation with her aura and wriggled out from under him. Their bodies parted, and she waited for her aura to clear, to return to the playful peace that was Alandra le Aelle.

Shocked, she could only stare as she and he remained blurred, combined, imprisoned.

Chapter Seven

“Alandra, wait.”

She ignored him and raced into the adjoining bathroom, slamming the door between them. Frantically searching her image in the mirror, she studied her reflection now glowing with a strange light. Running her hands over her body, she was relieved not to feel anything physically out of place.

Testing herself, she shimmered into the images of Trudy Warner, Queen Lidra, even Arim the Light Bringer. Each persona looked like the real thing, and she breathed a loud sigh of relief that her magic seemed not to have diminished. To all outward appearances she was the same Alandra le Aelle. And yet, clearly, something had changed.

After a few moments her racing heart began to calm, the fear that she was somehow in mortal peril beginning to wear off as she noted, surprisingly, that the Light in her aura was actually becoming.

Fascinated, she couldn’t help reaching for the strands of Aerolus’ force. What should have hurt her didn’t. His energy soothed, strengthened, and surprisingly, aroused her simply by being there.

She stared at her reflection, turning left and right, looking over her shoulder to view her perfect backside still as lily white and round as before. She turned to the side again.

Peering closer, she thought she looked…taller. She beamed, a broad smile replacing the look of horror she’d shot Aerolus. She’d have to apologise to him for that.

She winced, knowing her actions weren’t exactly the stuff of romance. The sex with Aerolus had been indescribable, but her sudden panic at still being linked with him made her wonder just how she felt about him.

For a year she’d watched, studying him like a complex puzzle that wouldn’t quit her mind. No doubt one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen, he also possessed an intellect and an overt curiosity about everything that made her feel as if they shared several traits in common.

Alandra was curious, smart, and studied with a veracity that had surprised her fellow students. Unlike Aerolus, she enjoyed life openly, unafraid to show her emotions, risking a bit of pain in her quest for the ultimate pleasures life had to afford.

Funny how she’d almost thought herself in love with him. But seeing their auras entwined felt so…permanent. Though he wasn’t like most of his kind, she was a creature of Shadow. And what being of Shadow wanted to cling to the Light, especially since the Light Bringers were so intent on erasing anything with a hint of darkness from Tanselm?

Aerolus wasn’t like that. He was special, no matter the circumstances of his birth. Her damnable conscience, that irritating speck that had taken her from Aelle and made her the self-appointed guardian to Prince Aerolus Storm, refused to leave well enough alone.

Light and Shadow aside, Aerolus made her feel things she’d never felt before. He made her laugh. He aroused her beyond normal, into an entirely different realm of passion altogether. When they physically joined, she felt as if she’d come home, and the longing for Aelle didn’t hurt so much.

Startled to feel so deeply for him, when she really hadn’t even talked to him until a few weeks ago, she could only stare at her perplexed reflection shimmering with too much Light.

Their magic mingled, still flowed together seamlessly, as if neither had a beginning nor ending without the other. How could this be possible? She’d studied and knew why the Storm Lords had been sent to this world. To find their affai, brides of the Royal Four, to complete the Tetrarch necessary to the magical, much sought-after world of Tanselm.

Where would a disgraced, hunted, royal Aellei fit into Aerolus’ Storm Lord lineage? Hell, rumour had it that his people still battled the rebel Shadren lingering in the shadows of Tanselm’s MornMountain.

A foreign sense of sorrow hit her as the truth of her situation penetrated. There was no future for her and Aerolus, except for their attempt to rescue Tanselm from ‘Sin Garu’s threat. And she still didn’t completely understand why she cared so much about Tanselm, a world from which her kind had been banished over a thousand years ago.

Her aura sparkled like Christmas tree lights, and she couldn’t help admiring Aerolus’ magic—her magic now. But mingled magic could be remedied. A broken heart, on the other hand, she couldn’t handle again. Sadness was not a natural state for an Aellei.

Alandra lived with joy, humour, suspicion and frustration on a daily basis. But she couldn’t cope with true sorrow. When her parents had died many years ago, she’d grieved so hard her magic had all but consumed her. Only her parents’ good friend, Lord Sava, had helped her through the darkness.

Since in Aelle matings of the heart were readily discouraged, most Aellei felt only a passing sadness for departed mates and friends. Alandra, however, felt too much. She clung to loyalty when most Aellei considered fidelity to be a liability.

Already she cared way too much for the domineering Wind Mage. And that worried her.

Though they now stood apart, she could see him in her mind’s eye. He would be standing in the bedroom glancing at the bathroom door, a hint of worry around his eyes, while a burning intelligence lit his face as he calmly studied his own aura. He’d be processing and cataloguing all sorts of ideas about their change, and she couldn’t help admiring that about him.

Much as she knew this new malady she suffered could only lead to further intimacy with Aerolus and eventual heartache, she didn’t think she could ignore the temptation of being so near him. For a year she’d watched and waited for her chance to finally meet him, to feel the raw power he emanated from every pore.

Shadows, but when he’d finally entered her, the pleasure had been so intense she’d never wanted it to end. But the feelings, the raw emotion she felt between them, it made their relationship tangible, almost as if they had a future together.

She could still feel him in her, could still remember his concern and gentleness after Arim’s attack. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had come to her defence since Sava had taken her in a hundred years past. Certainly no one in the past five decades had interceded on her behalf for anything.

Frowning at the morose thoughts that began gathering like a dark cloud, she deliberately turned her mind to happy thoughts, that of pissing off Lidra by continuing to aid Aerolus. She started the shower and let the water soothe her. It was a secondary substitute for the balmy air that had lifted her earlier, but she was in no hurry to flex her wings again.

Just thinking about the crippling pain of losing a wing made her cringe. Closing her eyes, she faced the spray of warm water sluicing over her body and tried to figure out how best to tell Aerolus what he needed to know.

“Want me to scrub your back?” he asked quietly, startling her into a shriek.

She jerked around and slapped his naked chest with the soap. “Will you please stop doing that?”

His eyes darkened as he stared at her tightening nipples, following the trail of bubbles down her front.

“By the Light, you’re beautiful,” he said, his voice thick. Oh, he was getting to her. He really was. She hardened the heart that throbbed at his nearness.

“I don’t know why this is happening, Alandra.” He lifted her hand, staring at the magical shades of Light and Dark pulsing in sync, an identical match to the energy covering his own frame. “But it’s nothing to fear. My Light will never hurt you. On this I swear.”

Her heart melted though she tried to remain annoyed.

“I can’t explain it, but I want you again.” His voice sounded strained as he stared, helplessly fascinated, into her eyes. “I can’t stop wanting you. You’ve bewitched me, and I don’t even know the first thing about you.”

She scowled, bothered by his honesty. It’s not as if they were complete strangers. By Shadow’s Bend, she’d watched him for over a year. “You know I’ve protected you.” She batted his large hands from her shoulders, not wanting to be appeased and wishing she didn’t desire him so much. “You know I’m from Aelle, and that I could have left you and your brothers to ‘Sin Garu and Oxcen weeks ago.”

He nodded, reaching and drawing her against him. She lost her breath as his chest rubbed against her breasts, stirring new longings she should have been too tired to feel. Yet he did no more than hold her, providing comfort when she needed it, and she finally conceded defeat, sliding bonelessly into his embrace. She’d never felt so safe, so cherished, and though she knew he presented more a threat to her well-being than any Dark Lord or Aellein warrior, she succumbed to his touch.

“Shh, love. It will all work out.” He massaged shampoo into her hair, releasing knots of tension in her body with a soapy massage. “Just leave it all to me,” he murmured, making her body sing as he brought her to climax with strong, sinful hands. But he made no move to ease his own needs, proving himself a devoted, unselfish lover.

They rinsed and dried off together, and he wrapped her in his robe that dragged along the floor when she walked. She felt as if she could sleep for a week, completely eased by his tender treatment and by the uncanny way he had of making her body hum.

She saw him stifle a smile and sighed. How could she fault him for anything when he acted like this? So caring, so protective, so…oh! He watched her knowingly, the gleam of satisfaction in his silvery eyes a dead giveaway.

“You underhanded Light Bringer!” She glared, suppressing the ridiculous urge to commend him on his craftiness.

“What?” He tried to look bewildered, but a small spark in his eyes told her he knew he’d been found out. She should have been annoyed that he tried to control her with sex, yet unwanted pleasure lit. Aerolus was every inch her match.

“You know.” Woo her with kindness, with flattery. Distract her with pleasure, and she’ll be as pliable as a dish rag, she could almost hear him thinking. It was ingenious really, something an Aellei would have done, and she felt her heart take a suspicious tumble over the cliff she’d been steadfast in her refusal to crest.

Losing herself in his gaze, she wanted to curse, to confess, to make love with him all over again. “Hell,” she mumbled under her breath. She flushed and ignored his raised brow. “Forget it. We’ve more pressing matters to deal with.”

“I suppose,” he said on a sigh and sat on the bed, the simple towel around his waist driving her to distraction. “Why don’t you tell me about your dreams?”

Alandra’s eyes widened, and Aerolus fought not to smirk. Bonding with her had brought them together, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. He’d been in her dreams earlier, an observer watching the fascinating world of the Aellei, and the Dark Lord insidiously worming his way towards their queen.

Whoever the Dark Lord was, he brought another dimension into Tanselm’s battle with the Netharat, a precarious playing field growing more and more crowded as unknown foes were flushed from other worlds.

Aerolus stared at Alandra, sidetracked from thought at her utter loveliness. The Light only enhanced her soul, pure at its core, yet surrounded by adversity and a devious strength.

As Trudy Warner, she’d tricked him and Arim. But she could never pass for a mortal in Seattle without a glamour. She was as comely as her kin, though far less conniving. Oh, he knew she could lie and deceive like the best of them, but there was no real evil within her. She liked her fun, but had no inclination to unduly harm anyone not deserving it.

Staring at him suspiciously, she frowned. “What’s going on in that mazelike mind of yours?”

Interesting that she pegged him as the trickster, her paranoia stemming from her own quirky morality. He still felt unsteady after she’d accused him of being an underhanded Light Bringer. How could she so easily read him? Even his brothers, with whom he’d lived for thirty-four years, couldn’t predict his actions, at least not without using the gift of clairvoyance. Her uncanny ability to read him simultaneously stunned and pleased him.

He’d thought hard on Arim’s words and knew the key to handling Alandra was to always have the upper hand, or at least, be perceived as having it. He had been sincere in the shower, offering compassion and comfort, despite his cock’s ache to part her thighs and plunge in.

Her confusion after they’d made love had torn at him, and he’d reacted naturally, wanting to soothe and reassure his affai. Pretending it was all a game made her feel safe. Games and competition were familiar to Alandra, and by playing by her rules, it was as if she still controlled their relationship. Light forbid he actually confess what he was starting to feel about her.

Though come to think of it, when she’d perceived his intent—way sooner than he would have expected—she’d groused but hadn’t been angry. Instead, she’d seemed almost impressed. There had been a gleam of emotion he hadn’t seen before in her face, a hint of what he thought might be growing affection. Trust Alandra to make life complicated.

But just the thought that she might care deeply for him blew life into his tired body, and much as he wanted to lose himself in her magic again, in her sultry scent begging for loving, he knew he needed answers only she could give. He just hoped he’d be able to recognise the truth when she said it.

“I want to know about you, Alandra.” He stared up at her, disconcerting her with his stare. He wanted to smile when she kept glancing at his erection, poorly concealed by his towel. “Tell me more about the Aellei. And tell me about the queen and her new lover.”

Alandra blinked, focusing on his face. “I only know what I dreamt, and I’m not entirely sure how that happened. I’m not exactly clairvoyant.”

He cleared his throat and spoke softly, not wanting to alarm her again. “Actually, I believe you tapped into my abilities.”

“Excuse me?”

“I can sometimes view another’s dreams. This perception is rather new, and until now, it’s only extended to my brothers and Arim.” His uncle didn’t know that, nor would he, if Aerolus had his way. “But I don’t think you had a dream, more like a vision.”

She stared at him, her head cocked to the side in thought. “It did feel real, didn’t it? That was my aunt, Queen Lidra. Though she doesn’t really look like that. She deliberately projects an air of…,” she paused, trying to find the right word.

“Sex?”

She scowled at him, her jealousy more than welcome. “Yeah, sex. Lidra’s actually a thousand years old, and in reality, looks like a stately matron.” The glee in her voice told him Lidra would rather die than be referred to as a ‘matron’.

“The Dark Lord with her, though, reminded me of ‘Sin Garu. There was something about him, I don’t know. But that answered my question about more than one Dark Lord involved in this mess.” She frowned. “I have to say, I don’t like the idea of Lidra encouraging a blood drinker. They’re way too dark and unpredictable.”

“Unpredictable?” His curiosity stirred. The familiar anticipation of learning something new sharpened his faculties. He’d been interested in the blood drinkers for some time, but had thought them more myth than real.

“Most creatures of the Dark are, well, they’re into pain and anger, deep emotions that normally debilitate the one feeling them. The magic resulting from absorbing negative emotions is powerful, too powerful. I mean, I got a kick out of Arim being annoyed, even a bit angry, but real rage burns. It’s too hard to handle. And the Dark Lords play too freely with rage and pain for my tastes.”

Aerolus pondered that. “So is it just you that avoids negative energies, or do all the Aellei subscribe to that philosophy?”

She looked uncomfortable, and after several moments passed he wondered if she would answer. Then she cursed under her breath and met his gaze, her eyes troubled. “You have to understand, every race has its good and bad elements. Even you Light Bringers have your fair share of fanatics.”

He opened his mouth to object, then thought of the Church of Illumination, or what he and his brothers called, the Congregation of Idiots. She had a point.

“Most of the Aellei are content to play amongst themselves, from time to time toying with the humans on this plane and the occasional Light Bringer.” At the tightening of his mouth she hurriedly continued. “But Queen Lidra is the only Aellei I know of to openly encourage a blood drinker.” She shivered and looked at him for understanding. “Something’s not right there. Aunt Lidra’s selfish, vain,” she paused and blushed at his look. “Okay, we’re all a little vain, but she takes it to the extreme. My aunt’s a bitch, to put it bluntly, but she’s always put Aelle before her needs.”

“Then something’s changed if she’s consorting with a Dark Lord. His like will only bring Aelle to war, if not with Tanselm, then with Kreer or Gralt. Dark Lords are a destructive, chaotic race. And their rule over Tanselm over a thousand years ago almost tore the land apart.”

She rolled her eyes. “I know. Believe it or not, Aerolus, I was a scholar before I left Aelle.”

He stared in surprise. Alandra, a scholar? She stood with her arms akimbo, the robe gaping at the collar to reveal the upper slope of her full breasts. Her full lips parted in wait. Between one breath and the next, he hardened like iron.

“I can see you as a revolutionary, easily as a seductress.” He lifted his gaze from her mouth to note the darkness of her eyes, the uneven rise and fall of her breasts. Damn, they were going to have to speed this discussion so he could have another round with his affai. “But a scholar? You have the brains, but the discipline I’ve yet to see.”

He wanted to laugh when he saw the pique on her face. She clenched her fists and leant forward, the robe parting more to reveal a tantalising view of her nipples. He felt his towel slide as his erection grew, but Alandra glared into his eyes, unaware of his reaction.

“I’ve been studying Aellein history since before you were conceived.” She smiled slyly at his surprise. “That’s right, Aerolus. You’re a babe in the woods to a veteran of magic like myself.”

He eyed her up and down, his focus lingering on her breasts. By the Light, she made him so hard. He needed to know more about her. But damn if he could think of anything but licking her until she cried his name.

“You’re saying you’re an older woman, then?”

She grimaced and opened her mouth to speak when her gaze slid down his torso, noting his arousal. “I think you’re the one with the discipline issues,” she murmured, her voice husky.

He knew he wouldn’t get a better chance to find the truth and unashamedly used her sexuality to his advantage. He grasped the root of his cock and began sliding his hand up and down, creaming his palm with the need that continued to build after bringing her to orgasm in the shower.

“Tell me why you’re really here, love,” he murmured and groaned when she licked her lips.

“You can’t think such a blatant attempt at seduction will break me?” She sounded incredulous, indignant, and definitely turned on.

“I want to fuck you so badly I ache. But I need answers, answers you’ve been avoiding.” He stared through shuttered lids and saw her take deep breaths for calm. “You need me, love. I can see the hunger in your aura.” He grinned at the muttered cursing under her breath. “There’s no point in hiding how you feel. Just tell me what I need to know, and we’ll be together again.”

She bit her lip and frowned. The robe parted completely as she took a step closer, and it was all he could do to slow down his fist. Her breasts swayed as she moved, her hips begging to be held down as he took what was his by right, by law.

“I’ll tell you, Aerolus.” She held up a hand. “But not because of this.” She swallowed loudly, a testament that his seduction had not been in vain. “But because it’s time you knew what you were up against.”

“I’d much rather be up against you,” he murmured and grinned at the exasperated sigh she sent him.

“You’re making this hard, no, don’t say it! Just let me explain as quickly as possible. Much as I hate to admit it, I’m so hot for you right now I feel like I’m going to combust.” She sounded disgruntled, but her gaze caressed him like winds of Light.

“Talk fast, purie.” He groaned and deliberately held his hand away from his cock. “I’m so hard and so close to coming it won’t take long before I’m filling you with my seed.”

She swallowed, her eyes fixed to his erection. “Right. Well, it goes back a year, when I overheard Lidra and her Der captain in a private conversation…”

Chapter Eight

Arim stared at the outside of the club like an enemy he had no choice but to vanquish. Despite Aerolus’ words, he had a feeling Cadmus was out of his depth. The Dark magic seething within his nephew worried him, too much to sit back and wait for the little schemer to reappear at his whim.

A sudden elbow to his side caught his attention, and he glared at the hulking bruiser intent on shoving his way through the crowded line.

“I’m on the list,” the man slurred, his breath like a vat of soured ale.

With a disdainful frown, Arim relegated the xiantope to a non-threat and turned his attention back to the throng of overeager men and women dying to get into Outpour.

For once the club’s namesake didn’t forecast the weather. The chill in the spring air felt refreshing, despite Arim’s longing for the warmth of Tanselm. For all its quirks, this particular plane amused him more than any other world he’d found in years.

Passing his gaze over the crowd, he wasn’t surprised not to see Cadmus—or Lexa. Thoughts of the woman made his heart race and his palms sweat. Bitter amusement washed through him. How sad that just the thought of the traitorous female could still reduce him to a nervous lad of a few decades.

Steeling his reaction, he took a deep breath and headed to the alley behind the nightclub. Once assured of his seclusion, he used an omniscience spell to quickly scan inside the club. Spying an unoccupied corner draped in shadows, he teleported inside.

Exhaling heavily, he gathered his bearings and looked around. The omniscience spell certainly came in handy at times, but it took too much energy, and he couldn’t hold it for long.

He stepped out of the shadows and began weaving in and out of the crowd, his height giving him a clear advantage to scope the gathering. Had Cadmus not mentioned Lexa’s possible presence, Arim would have used a locator spell. But he wanted to keep his presence here fairly discreet. Of course, his physical presence would be noticed, but by toning down his aura, he would seem more a human look-alike than the great Arim, Sorcerer of Tanselm.

He planned on taking Lexa by surprise, and not the other way around.

Glancing about, he noted a familiar woman serving drinks at one of the bars. She was surrounded by men clamouring for her attention.

“Ellie,” he murmured, studying the woman who’d so captured Cadmus’ thoughts. If she was Djinn, she didn’t show it. She was certainly the loveliest woman in the club, but she didn’t possess the Djinn’s spark, that outer flame of darkness that crackled when it met the Light.

Ellie was, however, a sensual woman a man would be hard-pressed not to immediately desire. She was tall and slender, with an athletic frame that pleasingly carried full, rounded breasts. Her skin was not as pale as Alandra’s, but rather that of a woman who liked the sun. He mulled the thought, another detail that made her less a Djinn and more a xiantope female.

Long, blond hair was pulled back from her face, framing sculpted cheeks and a strong chin that hinted at stubbornness. Her full lips parted in a smile as she looked to her co-worker, and as the lights flashed over her face, he saw her eyes were a bright, burning blue.

She rose on her toes to reach for a glass above her and something twinkled from her abdomen. She’d had her navel pierced, and a sudden recollection of Cadmus’ feelings about the ring made Arim’s pulse race.

His nephew was obsessed about the woman, no doubt. But was she the Djinn Cadmus had encountered? Was the Djinn his nephew had met truly evil?

For all that Aerolus seemed sure the Djinn influence over Cadmus wouldn’t harm him, Arim had his doubts. Ellie might be innocent and she might not. But until he dealt with her one on one, he wouldn’t know for sure.

He started forward with the express intent of taking the woman for questioning when a sudden stillness settled over the club.

“Dammit.” He seethed as he watched the people around him slowing, the beer at the taps moving like heavy syrup until it stopped flowing altogether. Another time distortion, courtesy, no doubt, of the Aellei.

“Don’t you Shadren ever learn?” he snarled, not about to let his only lead to Cadmus slip away. As he combated the affects of the time warp, he noted slithering creatures clinging to the dark mingling amongst the frozen club patrons.

Great. He not only had Aellei to deal with, but wraiths as well. And he had to do his best to kill them without harming the innocent xiantopes around him. What else could go wrong?

Much later, he had disposed of the wraiths and all but two of the Aellei. He scowled when he noted Zartic was one of the surviving warriors.

“Didn’t learn a thing from our earlier encounter, hmm?” he asked, making his tone as menacing as possible. His ribs hurt, and he had to wipe at the blood from a cut above his eye. The slight burning in his side reminded him he wasn’t yet immune to the wraiths’ blue flame, despite the measures he’d been taking to withstand it. He felt tired but otherwise fine, and his anger grew as he realised Ellie had disappeared while he’d been battling to protect the crowd and himself.

“My lord, please,” Zartic begged, his face smeared with blood. He lay propped against a wall, his legs at an odd angle from his torso. His gaze darted beyond Arim, and he blanched. “So many dead, and for what?” he asked bitterly.

“Yes, for what?” Arim asked quietly, wanting an answer. Why the show of force? Why come after him in such a public forum, or had they been after someone else, Ellie, perhaps?

“For me,” a hard female growl answered before Arim felt himself shoved from this world to the space between.

Alandra rubbed at her forehead, a sudden shifting of Shadow making her wince.

“Alandra?”

She waved away his concern as the throbbing in her head faded. “I’m fine. Probably tension from thinking about this mess.” Her eyes fell to his impressive erection, and her loins quickened. “Of course, I’m certain you’ve a cure-all just waiting for me.”

He grinned and her heart turned over in her chest. She cleared her throat, squirming against the moisture pooling between her legs. “As I was saying, Lidra and Zartic, her Der captain, were lovers on and off again for several years. I’d learned growing up that knowledge was power, and if I truly wanted out of the royal courts, I’d need something really good to escape.”

Aerolus shook his head. “You’re talking about blackmail.”

“Of course.” She frowned. “Don’t even try acting holier-than-thou with me. You don’t grow up in a castle without being familiar with politics and intrigue, Prince Aerolus.”

He sighed. “Point taken.”

“I knew Zartic was Lidra’s current lover, so when they’d meet, I’d give them a few moments to do their thing.” She ignored his slow grin. “Then I’d listen in. And it usually paid off. On one particular night, I overheard Lidra talking to Zartic about Tanselm.”

Aerolus stilled.

“I hadn’t thought about Tanselm in ages, not since I studied your world in our battlements class. But I still grow tingly when I think about the power resonant there. Tanselm teems with magic, from the soil to the animals to its people.” She stared at him, suddenly aware of his close ties with the land. “Tanselm is part of who you are, isn’t it?”

He nodded. “Our elemental magic is tied directly to our world. My winds are Tanselm’s, Darius’ fire her fire, Marcus’ water her waters. And Cadmus, he is perhaps the closest to her bounty.”

“The Earth Lord,” she murmured. “It’s funny how alike you all are, but I don’t see any of them as powerful as you.”

“You’d be surprised.”

“Maybe.” She stared at him, seeing the sensual magic that flared as he watched her, a tangible energy reaching out to her, and she hurried her explanation. Shadow’s Bend, but if she didn’t take him inside her soon, she was going to die of frustration.

“When Lidra mentioned Tanselm, I listened. I couldn’t believe what she meant to do. She ordered Zartic to take several dozen of the Der to meet and escort a Dark Lord, one of Lidra’s newest friends, into Aelle. The Dark Lords are greedy. Aelle is a land of Shadow, yes, but we’ve kept them out of our world for centuries because we know they aren’t to be trusted.”

“They’d take Aelle as surely as they’d try for Tanselm.”

“Yes. So I was shocked when Zartic nodded and left to do Lidra’s bidding. I was further stunned when, after he left, ‘Sin Garu appeared at her side.”

“He was there, in Aelle?”

“Yes. And none of us had known.” Her thoughts turned to Sava, who, contrary to his assertive nature, had begged Alandra to keep quiet about what she’d seen. Perhaps he’d been more aware of Lidra’s schemes than she knew. Glancing at Aerolus, she noted his eyes blazing with curiosity and continued.

“The Dark Lord began applauding, causing Lidra to burst into eerie, high-pitched laughter. I was creeped out, from ‘Sin Garu’s presence as much as Lidra’s apparent insanity.

“I stuck around for a while, until they continued where she and Zartic left off.” She could still see ‘Sin Garu’s bone white skin, the blue fire tattoo covering his lower back swirling and glowing as he mounted and thrust the Aellein queen into Darkness.

“Must have been a sight, ‘Sin Garu and Lidra.”

She shivered and grimaced. “You have no idea. I left as fast as I could, racing to Sava to tell him what I’d seen—”

“Sava?” He frowned. “Who is Sava?”

Alandra stared. Aerolus sounded jealous. “He’s a friend,” she said slowly, wanting to smile when an obvious frown darkened his face. She could feel his anger slowly licking at her magic and was thrilled at the notion he cared enough to feel that possessive. “He was a good friend to my parents. And he took me in when they died.”

The anger immediately left him and waves of compassion reached for her. “I’m sorry.”

She shrugged, not wanting to think about how much she still missed them. “Life ends in death, and that’s a fact no amount of wanting can change. My point is that I confessed what I’d seen to Sava, and he warned me to stay quiet. And that’s very unlike him. I was furious. I, ah…,” she paused.

“Didn’t listen,” he said dryly.

“No, I listened. I just didn’t have the patience to wait for Sava to take action. That man is so completely slow, so methodical about every little thing…,” she drifted off as she understood that those very traits existed in her Wind Mage.

Stunned, she wondered if that was part of what drew her to him. Could it be the comforting qualities of Sava, her foster father, had attracted her to Aerolus Storm, a Light Bringer?

She stared at Aerolus’ sultry face, at his perfect, muscular body that even now burned for her. He afforded comfort, no doubt, but Aerolus made her burn with lust and lo—like, extreme like, something only a lover could do.

“So, ah,” she floundered, feeling a blush creep over her face.

“He’s methodical,” Aerolus reminded her.

“Right, methodical. So I couldn’t wait a few years to see what he might do. I had to act now, to take Lidra in hand before she did something so stupid as to aid a Dark Lord.” She scrunched her face in distaste. “Did you know the Dark Lords make sport of the Shadren? They’ve taken Nocumat and loosed wraiths and demons in them merely to watch as the Nocumat die from engulfing so much tainted prey.

“I’ve seen them enslave Aellein females to use as toys, inflicting pain the likes of which threw the poor women into madness.”

“How were you exposed to such sights?” Aerolus sat up straighter, his tone grim.

“From studies. Our ‘Great Hall’, which we call Gray Keep, houses thousands of altee scrolls. They’re each spelled with illustrative text.”

His eyes widened. “You possess that many scrolls of enactment?”

She nodded, proud of her home. “It’s as if you’re actually there, watching the events unfolding before your eyes.” She waved her hands excitedly. “Can you imagine witnessing ancient battles fought by your forefathers? Seeing the Dark Tribes as they once were, before the Light split them?”

“Incredible.” He sighed, closing his eyes in pleasure. “What I wouldn’t give to hold an altee scroll in my hands. We have five at the Great Hall, but you have to be an elder sorcerer to touch one. That you have seen history unfolding, spellcasting from its very source, it’s remarkable. What else have you seen?”

Their conversation digressed from there, as each expounded upon the delights of history, from both Light and Shadowed perspective. Alandra had so much fun talking with Aerolus it came as some surprise to realise she and he were still practically naked, though both aroused now by academia instead of each other.

Aerolus must have noted the same thing for he shrugged with apology. “I’m sorry. I tend to get carried away when talk of scholarly pursuit arises.”

“No, I brought it up. Though I have to say I’ve never seen you so excited as you are right now.”

“Never?” he murmured and let his gaze roam her body. Immediately his flagging erection returned to full attention. “The only thing more exciting than learning about other cultures is learning about your body and what it does to mine.”

She grinned as he tugged her closer to him on the bed, forcing her to straddle his lap.

“So the reason they banished you from Aelle was because you disagreed with Lidra’s takeover plan against Tanselm?” he nipped at her earlobe, making her gasp.

“There’s more to it,” she paused as a moan worked its way past her lips. “But that can keep.”

Words were lost as sensation overcame them both. Aerolus wasted no time and shifted Alandra’s body over his, sliding her over him until he filled her with desire. Their coupling was rough, needful. He sucked at her breasts, gripping her thighs and buttocks hard enough to leave bruises.

She clutched at his shoulders, hugging him so tightly it was a wonder he could breathe. And all the while he rocked inside her, his massive shaft pressing deeper and deeper, rubbing against her clit with a tumultuous pressure that brought her to climax seconds before him.

“Alandra,” he growled and thrust up, almost unseating them. She was gradually aware of the wind caressing her, holding them steady as Aerolus continued to shudder within her. “Ah, love, at this rate I won’t have the strength to move from you, and we have much to do.”

She sighed, wishing they could avoid any unpleasantries for a while. “I know. Where should we start?”

He hugged her to him, lowering his mouth to capture hers in a soul-stealing kiss. “First we start in the shower, and then we find Arim. There are a few things he needs to know.”

She flinched hearing Arim’s name. Shadows, but she didn’t want to face him again anytime soon.

“Trust me, Alandra.” Aerolus gave her an intense look that made her wish she could read minds. Instead, she ignored her secret hopes for the future and focused on the practical. Aerolus might be a Light Bringer, but he was honest, loyal and compassionate. And he’d never intentionally hurt her.

“I trust you,” she said quietly, knowing she meant it, and that she hadn’t said those words in nearly a hundred years.

Arim swore as fire burned along his side. The ache in his ribs intensified, and the blue flame he’d been trying to master felt as if it had grown into a bonfire. The smell of stale nothingness told him he floated somewhere between, in the spaces connecting worlds.

A sudden flash threw him off balance, and before he could blink he was pinned to a cold wall, manacled and blanketed by a magical buffer. Surprisingly, the chill surrounding him felt natural and not at all Dark, as he’d expected.

“So predictable,” a husky voice drawled, capturing his attention.

He stared, his gaze stony though his heart stumbled, at Lexa Van Nostren, the woman he’d hoped never to see again, at least, not alive.

“Still the same old Lexa.” He gazed at her without expression, taking in her denim jeans and casual silk T-shirt. She’d obviously just been at the club, and despite his precautions, she had taken him by surprise. Anger surged, and he had to force himself to remain calm. “Slumming again, Blue? Or are you just desperate enough not to care who you fuck?”

Her lips tightened at his deliberate use of a nickname she’d been given in friendlier times, and he could see his insult hit home. “Well, rest assured I’m not so desperate I’ll fuck you.”

The blow hurt, more than it should, but he merely raised one brow and waited.

She glared, the pale blue of her gaze like an icy dagger. “Leave well enough alone before you do more damage than even you can possibly repair.”

“Oh?” She had the nerve to dictate his actions? He studied the spark in her eyes. Despite the inanity of her claims, she was indeed fully sane. Sane and tired, by the look of her. She still appeared a veritable beauty, but Darkness now clouded her ethereal splendour.

Where once innocence and integrity had been her course, in the end, her blood had run true. The Van Nostren line of Dark Lords continued with its most promising son, ‘Sin Garu, and now, its menacing daughter.

“I,” she paused, her mouth pursed in what promised to be an interesting lead. The paleness of her features only emphasised the full, bloody-red pout of her mouth. The dark shadows under her eyes made her gaze that much more piercing, the light blue so pale as to be almost ashen, but striking set against the inky blackness of her hair.

“Yes, Blue, you what? Wanted to see me again? Wanted to talk? Wanted me to forgive you? Take your pick.”

He stood against the wall, his arms and legs splayed, unable to do more than stand there. Yet his words had scored their intended damage.

“You forgive me?” She slapped him hard across the face, her slender palm shooting pulses of blue flame where it touched. “I hope it burns,” she seethed, glaring like a she-wolf prepared to strike. “You weren’t worth the effort then, and you sure aren’t worth it now.”

He sighed. “I’m shocked. After all this time, that’s all you’ve got?” He knew pushing her wasn’t smart, but he couldn’t help wanting to hurt her as much as he possibly could. And given her powerful magic and his inability to strike using his, words were all he had. “Sweetheart, you used to beg for my affection like a stray dog. So weak at heart, while so strong in Dark magic. But at least you left on a grand scale, killing Muri and her kin, a fitting tribute to your real family.” He shrugged, as if reminders of the thoughtless deaths hadn’t wounded him a thousand times over.

“I never killed Muri,” she said in a low growl, her eyes almost wraithlike in blinding white brilliance.

“And you never knew who your real parents were, right?” He stared with apparent disbelief. “Don’t tell me your intelligence has gone the way of your looks? Give me some credit for knowing you back then.”

She trembled, her fists clenched as she leaned so close their breaths mingled. “Your time is coming, and sooner than you think.” She kissed him softly, the cold of her breath scalding his throat and lungs. “I can only hope Cadmus isn’t as pathetic as you were when I left. That boy’s got potential.” She licked at his bottom lip. “Now I have better things to do than play with you. Thanks for the memories.”

Rage, the likes of which he’d only once before felt filled him, burning through the buffer and the manacles at his wrists. He balled his fists to gather a fuelling storm of violence when a sudden flash of light filled the room, then…nothing. Lexa had vanished, and with her the restraints holding him back. It was as if she’d never been there at all.

Her threat about Cadmus worried him, so much so that he teleported back to his room in Tanselm in the western kingdom. Disregarding his various wounds and the blue flame licking its way towards his core, he teleported Darius and Marcus to his quarters at once.

They blinked at him in surprise, no doubt taken aback by his rough handling and ragged appearance.

“Cadmus is missing, the Van Nostrens are aligned, and the Djinn are pushing closer than ever. I need you to return with me. Now.”

Chapter Nine

Aerolus and Alandra stood in the kitchen over the centre island, sipping coffee and making plans as if the day was like any other in Seattle.

For a moment Alandra wished it were. How novel to imagine that she and Aerolus were xiantopes, a couple preparing for a day’s work, chatting about mundane matters. Groceries, errands, who would cook dinner and what would they do that night.

Aerolus stared at her strangely.

“What?” she asked defensively, hoping she hadn’t been obvious in her daydreaming.

“Is it me, or is your glow completely gone, and you’re three inches taller?”

She smiled. She’d toned down her skin’s brilliance in hopes of fitting in with the inhabitants of this world. But the height stemmed from Aerolus’ gift that morning. Now standing, she could stare at his throat instead of the middle of his chest. “I’m taller!” Whirling around on a pair of black leather Nine West boots, she posed for him. “Do you like them? They’re really me, aren’t they?”

“Where did they come from?” He looked puzzled. “I set out a pair of jeans, sneakers and a sweater for you on the bed.”

She rolled her eyes. “Thanks for conjuring me some of the ugliest clothes a woman could possibly wear. I just did a little fiddling.”

He scowled, surprising her. More and more he lost his control around her, showing her what he felt instead of masking his expressions. Excitement surged within her at her mage’s temper. Storm Lords were an intimidating lot, and Aerolus’ grey eyes snapped like lightning when he was irritated, as he was now.

“Change back.”

“What?”

“I said, change back. I like the way you look, the real you. Now change back.”

She grumbled to contain the smile that threatened to spill. Imagine that. Aerolus Storm liked the way she looked, short stature and all. With a shimmer she reverted to herself.

“Well, here I am, in all my ‘off the rack’ glory.”

He sighed but lost the scowl. After planting a quick kiss on top of her head, he stepped back and drained the rest of his coffee. “Purie, I forgot something. Wait right here and I’ll be back.” With a silent stealth she admired, he flashed out of sight before her eyes.

The Mir stone made a popping noise when the Aellei teleported. At the thought, she frowned, reminding herself to demand he return the charm. Without it, she couldn’t skip worlds at all.

“Must be nice to have teleportation at the tips of your fingers,” she murmured. “Control freak.”

“I heard that,” he whispered in her ear and nuzzled her cheek, half scaring her to death. “And no, you can’t have it back until I’m sure.”

“Sure?” she breathed, clutching her chest.

“Sure that you won’t leave until we can talk, really talk,” he said quietly.

An undercurrent of unease rumbled through her, and a feeling not unlike that she’d experienced when the wraith had invaded struck her.

“Thank the Shadow,” she murmured. She wanted to delay the conversation, hoping they could avoid it altogether until she returned home. She didn’t want to hear all the reasons why they’d never work as a couple. Talking about it would only depress her.

A shudder grabbed her, refocusing her concern. “Something’s coming.”

Without hesitation he thrust her behind him and erected a shield of frothing wind in seconds.

“I can’t see,” she complained.

“Alandra,” he growled. “Stop being a pain in the ass and stay the hell back.”

“Nice language. I bet you wouldn’t say that to your affai, now would you?”

Silence met her taunt, and she wanted to kick herself for blurting what she’d just managed to avoid. Wasn’t it enough she’d been dwelling on his affai all night? So what that they didn’t have a future? They had right now, and reminders that Aerolus had an unknown bride waiting for him somewhere weren’t conducive to hot, heavy sex.

He held up a hand. “Not another word.”

Thankfully— how desperate am I to view a threatening intrusion as a thankful delay?—a dark void appeared on the far wall of the living room. Keeping the kitchen island and the wall of wind between them, Aerolus pressed Alandra back until only the dishwasher stood between her and the wall.

“Aerolus, I can’t breathe,” she huffed, only slightly appeased when he gave her half an inch.

Peering to his side, she watched as Arim stepped through the black hole in the wall, followed closely by two more Storm brothers. They looked hearty and healthy, and intimidating as all get-out. But Arim, she swallowed nervously, Arim looked like he’d fought the hounds of the Next and barely survived the victor.

Tanselm’s legendary sorcerer had blue marks of the Dark upon his cheeks, burn holes in his tattered clothing, and blood streaking his forehead. His hair was mussed, clumps of black strands stuck to the dried blood on his face. But his eyes, Shadow’s bend, his eyes were swirling with colour the way they’d been when he attacked her.

Unconsciously, she clung like a burr to Aerolus’ back. She knew Arim wouldn’t harm his nephew, but her last interaction with the Light Bringer had been decidedly deadly. A new worry hit her hard. What if he’d somehow learned what she hadn’t yet had a chance to tell Aerolus?

“I take it your brother hasn’t returned?” Arim said quietly, his voice reverberating throughout the room.

She felt Aerolus tense, but his shield remained strong. “No.” She peeked around him, annoyed at not being able to see anything.

Arim stared, Darius and Marcus behind him exchanging long, thoughtful looks. Then Arim took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “You can release your shield, Aerolus. I’m not going to hurt her.”

“Not until you calm down.” Aerolus spoke soothingly, his wind stirring warmth through the room. Pressed against him and sharing his aura, she could feel his magic touching the cold on Arim’s face and healing the ravages of Dark violence.

“Good, you heal him. He wouldn’t let us help him,” Darius growled, his red eyes burning like flame. “So how’s it going, Aerolus? I see you have a woman with you.”

Marcus grinned. “It’s a miracle, truly.”

Darius nodded. “Gotta watch the quiet ones.”

“Enough, you two,” Arim snapped. “I’m calm, damn it. Now lower the shield.” He still sounded aggravated, but his eyes slowly returned to a shiny black.

Aerolus waved his hand, and the air in the room settled. “What happened, Uncle?”

“Uncle?” Alandra stepped around Aerolus and stared in shock from him and his brothers to Arim, seeing for the first time what had always been there. “It’s not just an affectation. He really is your uncle. Wow. It’s obvious, now that I see you all together, standing so close. I can’t believe I was observing you for so long and never picked up that juicy tidbit.”

“’Juicy tidbit?’” Aerolus raised a brow, acting very much like Marcus just then.

She shrugged. “While you were sleeping, I peeked at the Soap Channel early this morning. I was surprised it didn’t wake you.”

Darius elbowed Marcus, who promptly told him to grow up.

Arim rubbed his neck tiredly and sighed. “I appear to be the only one concerned about Cadmus. Will you three shut up and listen?”

“Don’t you mean four?” Alandra added, trying to be helpful.

The brothers chuckled, and Aerolus placed an arm around her shoulders, hugging her tight. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Arim stared with speculation, and she wondered if he planned to share with Aerolus one of those ‘don’t buy the bee if you can get the honey for free’ references Sava tended to make when eager Aellein males bugged him about marrying her.

As if I would try to trap a Storm Lord in marriage.

As soon as the thought surfaced, the intrigue and trickery required to make such a thing happen grabbed hold of her mind and refused to let go.

“I keep telling him that if Cadmus were hurt we’d know.” Darius glared at his uncle.

“But can you sense his thoughts?” Arim asked.

“No, and I never could.” Darius’ eyes blazed, and the coffee cups she and Aerolus had left on the counter suddenly steamed. “Aerolus, you tell him.”

“I tried. The Djinn presence in Cadmus’ aura is protective, not to mention female. It’s odd, but not in the least harmful. She’s actually increased his strength, and if Cadmus weren’t so busy feeling sorry for himself, he might sense it.”

Alandra nodded absently, scheming at a dizzying rate to trap a royal Storm Lord in matrimony. It would be the coup of a lifetime. Not to mention unspeakably romantic to marry for love, her heart clamoured.

“Alandra?” Aerolus asked softly.

She felt nervous enough, only to note three other pairs of eyes on her as well. Alandra forced a smile and tried to put them all at ease. “Ellie would no more hurt him than she would herself.”

The sudden stillness in the room told her she’d said something wrong.

“I never said her name.” Arim’s eyes were intent as he focused his will on her mental walls.

“You didn’t have to,” she snorted, thinking rapidly to cover her blunder. “I’ve watched your Tetrarch ever since they stepped foot in this plane, remember?”

“What’s she talking about?” Darius frowned.

“What do you mean?” Marcus’ smile faded, and his glare grew cold.

“Alandra.” Aerolus pulled her to face him, staring her squarely in the eye with that charged silver gaze that made her heart flutter. “Tell us the truth, please.”

She swallowed loudly, wondering if she should have mentioned this to him earlier. But he hadn’t seemed too anxious about his brother’s disappearance, and frankly she’d been too concerned with other things to talk about her newest friend, Ellie.

“Okay,” she said slowly, gauging the distance to the nearest exit. The window wasn’t open, but the front door would do. If she had her damned Mir charm she could have already been gone.

Aerolus saw her finger her throat, and his expression darkened. He grabbed her firmly by the arm and waited.

“Relax, he’s fine if he’s with her.” She tried to edge away from his hold, but at a glance at his relatives, figured she was safer where she stood. Aerolus, thankfully, released her when he realised she had no intention to escape.

“Please explain.”

“Yeah, explain why you know about a Djinn in this world, and why you’re starting to glow,” Darius growled.

“Not one step closer,” Aerolus said quietly to his brother. A sudden impenetrable shield surrounded her.

“What the hell?” Marcus narrowed his eyes.

“Your telekinesis won’t work, Marcus, nor will your attempts at stealing into her thoughts, Arim. If you give her a minute, Alandra will tell us what we wish to know.”

She simply stared at him, her heart pounding as she watched him protect her from his family, men he loved, men he would die for. She stared at the flow of magic between them, consumed by tenderness for him, and had to blink at the strange moisture welling in her eyes.

“Alandra?”

“Sorry, something in my eye.” She looked down to compose herself and cleared her throat, knowing now was as good a time as any to unburden herself. Maybe if she played it right, she’d get the help she needed to save not only the Storm Lords and Tanselm, but Aelle as well.

She glanced up, staring each Storm Lord in the eye. Fascinated by the differences in the identical brothers, she couldn’t help seeing their auras as quite separate. Aerolus’, she noted clearly and with no small amount of satisfaction, was mixed with hers.

“Okay, let’s get this over with,” she said with a sigh and allowed herself to be overcome with latent magic. She glowed a bright white, her hair and skin shinier, more alluring, her features beyond pretty to an unearthly beauty. “I’m Alandra le Aelle, an Aellei currently out of favour with the royal court and the queen, my aunt,” she said with apology to Aerolus. He simply nodded, not surprised. How very like him, all-knowing and unflustered. Irritation washed through her. She felt nervous, why couldn’t he for a change?

“I openly disagreed with my aunt over the matter of conquering Tanselm, an act that resulted in my being here.”

“She banished you to the very place the Storm Lords had gone?” Aerolus stared thoughtfully.

“Ah, no. Actually, the queen had planned on torturing me in Aelle in a manner I really don’t want to think about, let alone describe.” She shuddered at the thought. “I overheard their conversation about you four, and that ‘Sin Garu meant to follow you here.”

“Wait, wait,” Marcus interrupted. “Explain the part about the Aellei wanting Tanselm. Until today I thought the Aellei had all but vanished.”

“We had—vanished from Tanselm that is.” Alandra sighed and leant back against the counter. “Over a thousand years ago, when the Dark Tribes split, the Aellei, the Djinn and the Dark Lords still occupied portions of Tanselm. Though Dark Lord control was steadily waning as the Light Bringers fought to regain the land, there was enough darkness in Tanselm’s soil to sustain us all. There still is,” she added quietly.

She glanced at Aerolus to see if he caught what she was subtly implying. His gaze sharpened, and he nodded for her to continue.

“You know the history. The tribes split, the Light Bringers, Storm Lords in particular, routed the Dark Lords and every other Dark or Shadowy race from Tanselm. Since then, the Djinn found refuge in Foreia, the Aellei in Aelle, and the Dark Lords in Malern and the Isle of Frigia, where they met their best buddies, the ice wraiths.”

“No, the ice wraiths were created by the Dark Lords,” Arim stated.

“No, they weren’t.” The intellectual banter lessened her worry and increased her pleasure in the discourse. “Despite what the Dark Lords would have you believe, the wraiths existed prior to Dark Lord intervention. Now, I will agree the Dark Lords have shaped the wraiths into their own powerful tool, but make no mistake, the wraiths were once something quite different from what they are today.”

“How can you know this?” Arim asked suspiciously. “I sense you are little more than a century old, if that.”

“They have a Great Hall full of altee scrolls,” Aerolus answered, pride in his voice as if the scrolls belonged to him.

Darius and Marcus stared, open-mouthed. Even Arim looked stunned. “Really?” he asked in a low voice.

She nodded. “Open for all to see in the Gray Keep. I’ve seen every battle and scrape related to the Tribe Division, and the magic that encapsulated those records is completely impartial to anything but truth. No Aellein, Dark Lord, or Light Bringer magic taints those accounts.”

“I would greatly like to see that of what you speak.” Arim was quiet, his tone no longer hostile, but still not completely friendly.

“If I can arrange it, I will. But like I said, I’m not exactly welcome in Aelle right now.”

“Tell them about ‘Sin Garu and Lidra,” Aerolus prodded.

“I’m getting there.” She frowned at him to be patient and turned back to his brothers and Arim with a huff. “I spied a Dark Lord and my aunt plotting and planning together. It’s a funny thing though. ‘Sin Garu is the Dark Lord I saw a year ago. But yesterday I had a vision of sorts, and I saw another Dark Lord. One very like ‘Sin Garu, but not him.”

“Two of them?” Darius asked.

“Three,” Arim said grimly. He muttered under his breath, and his clothing suddenly went to rights, his bruises and bloodied skin fading into the picture of perfect health. He seemed as if steadying himself for something coming. “’Sin Garu, his brother B’alen and his sister are all involved, it seems.”

“A real family affair,” Alandra said with an exasperated groan. “Great. You Light Bringers really know how to piss off everyone you meet. You’ve got Djinn, Aellei, Dark Lords and wraiths on your collective asses.”

“Tell us something we don’t know,” Darius growled. “Like how involved you are in all this.”

“Well, fire-breather, I can tell you that in addition to the Dark Lords, you’re fighting only a handful of Aellei and Djinn set on reclaiming Tanselm. The majority of Aellei are ignorant of what the queen plots. And if they knew what I do, make that when they know, there’ll be insurrection in Aelle.”

“So you say.” Marcus stared at her with a strange kind of curiosity, his gaze shifting from Aerolus’ still-protective stance to Alandra.

“So I know.” She stood with her arms across her chest, glaring at Aerolus’ irritating brothers to be quiet. Shadows, but as much as she actually admired them for their closeness, they could be an irritating lot.

She turned to Arim, the one person besides Aerolus she definitely needed to convince. “I know my people, and I know the Djinn who is helping Cadmus. I’ve been watching Aerolus—ah, you all—for a year in this plane. And in that time, a small faction of Djinn have been aiding your cause. Yes, aiding. One Djinn took ‘Sin Garu between, possibly at the cost of his own life. And Ellie Markham, the woman Cadmus can’t keep his hands off of, has been shielding and empowering him ever since Darius left.” Though Alandra had a feeling Ellie didn’t exactly know how much she was really helping Cadmus.

“Ellie Markham? Outpour Ellie?” Darius sounded dumbfounded. “But she’s so normal.”

“What, Djinn can’t be normal?” Aggravated at his bias, she glared and shook her finger at him. “You Light Bringers are so narrow-minded! Just because a being lives in Shadow or Dark, you immediately associate her with evil. Well, that’s just wrong.

“My kind live in Shadow, in both Light and Dark, and we aren’t at all evil. Ellie and the Djinn are Dark, not immoral, yet because they cannot live in the Light, you condemn them in the same breath you use to denounce the Dark Lords. Without Dark there can be no Light, did you ever think of that?”

She was breathing rapidly, anger making her want to break something, namely a few Storm Lord skulls. Without thinking about it, she stirred a thickening air in the room.

“Alandra?” Arim said quietly. “You might want to rethink your attack.”

“Attack?” She didn’t understand until she glanced behind him at the swirling mass of magazines and throw pillows decking the living room. Once again wondering how she was able to tap into Aerolus’ elemental power, she glanced at him and saw him take back control.

He subtly closed his fingers over his palm, and the air settled everything gently back to its place.

“Nice,” he murmured, making her blush. “I think you made your point.”

“How the hell?” Darius stared.

“You’re kidding me.” Marcus gaped at her, then looked to Arim who nodded. “And you complained about Tessa. At least she’s human.”

“Excuse me?” Alandra still couldn’t think past the feel of wind surging through her body.

“Not now, Marcus.” Aerolus shook his head.

Arim chuckled, startling everyone into staring at him. “You know, Aerolus, I seem to recall you saying something about not making the same mistakes as your brothers. That you were smarter, yet you still have not claimed your affai.”

Alandra glared. “Is this really the time to be bringing that up?” Did she need to hear about Mrs. Wind Mage just now, when she was still spitting mad over their obvious prejudice against her kind? It was like a huge slap in the face that she and Aerolus never would be together. He might not mind those not of the Light, but his family didn’t share his sentiments.

Darius chuckled with his uncle. “This is priceless. After all that tripe you spouted to me, to Marcus, and you’re afraid of a little spitfire who—”

“That’s enough,” Aerolus warned, wind taking the words from Darius’ lips. “I’m warning you that now is not the time.” He glanced at Alandra and his eyes softened. “We’ve sidetracked, purie.” The apology in his voice soothed a part of her and she nodded, albeit stiffly.

At least he had a sense of propriety. She felt slightly better that maybe he didn’t like hearing about an affai either, that maybe he wanted their time to last as long as it possibly could, as she did.

“You know, I’ve watched you two flounder to get home for some time,” she directed at Darius and Marcus. “And just when Cadmus finally has a chance to return, you’d—”

“What are you saying?” Arim asked with an intensity that took her aback.

“I’m saying that Ellie is trying to help Cadmus return home to expose the Djinn threat there, but in order to get to Tanselm in one piece, he’s going to need power, a lot of power.”

“But a Djinn can’t cross the shields,” Arim said, clearly alarmed. “Surely even he knows that.”

“Yes,” she said slowly. Was she the only one able to read between the lines? Maybe if they distrusted the Djinn less, they’d be able to appreciate Ellie’s cunning. “But Cadmus isn’t Djinn. Despite the sheen of Djinn flame, he’s a Light Bringer at heart. And Ellie’s not exactly a Djinn, either.”

“You just said she was.” Darius frowned.

“Now I’m confused.” Marcus rubbed his eyes, and she wanted to grin at the headache she was causing.

“She said ‘not exactly’, which for an Aellei means pay attention,” Aerolus drawled. “My guess is that Ellie is part Djinn, and part something else.”

“At least one of you has the brains to go with the looks,” she muttered, pleased to see identical scowls on Darius’ and Marcus’ faces.

“Even so, she won’t be able to penetrate the shields,” Arim said thoughtfully.

“Sure she will. She and Cadmus are sharing energies, at least for now. And the Djinn have had someone on the inside for quite some time, tampering with Tanselm’s protective spells. How do you think ‘Sin Garu breached the shield in the first place?

“The only question is, does your Djinn traitor know where Ellie’s true allegiance lies, and if so, what do you think he’ll do about it when he finds out?”

“We have to let Cadmus know the truth.” Arim began to pace.

“He already knows.” Alandra recalled her last conversation with the frustrated Ellie. “He may be infuriating, but he’s quick to have answers. Besides, from what Ellie told me, she’s been trying to delay Cadmus’ return for some time.”

“Why?” Arim stared hard at her.

“Because she sensed something not right with her father’s contact there weeks ago. I’m thinking she already knows to be wary of your traitor. Ellie wants the Storm Lords to maintain leadership over the land, and she’s been tasked with keeping Cadmus in one piece by a rebel band of Djinn. You see, Arim, not all the Djinn want the Dark Lords in power over Tanselm. ‘Sin Garu will not only kill as many Light Bringers as he can, but all those who oppose his rule.”

“Yeah, if the asshole’s even still alive,” Darius muttered, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

“Oh, he’s alive,” Arim said with assurance. “The question is, where is he, and how do we handle this new Dark Lord threat?”

Alandra glanced at Aerolus, uneasy at the intent look he was giving her. She dimly recalled she had something important to tell him, but the intense focus of his stare shook the important worry from her mind.

“I have some thoughts about where we should go.” Everyone turned to Aerolus, who kept his gaze on Alandra. “I say we take Alandra back to Aelle and get the answers from those that know.” Before she could stammer a firm refusal, he latched onto her arm. “Meet me back here in three hours,” he told his brothers and uncle. “There’s something we need to do before then.”

He teleported with Alandra out of the kitchen before anyone could speak, Alandra included. When next she could catch her breath, she found herself in the most beautiful shadow she’d ever seen in her life.

Rich with vibrant colour and magic, the grey cloak of shade fell from a mountain of rock so full of energy she had to blink to make sure it was real. Aerolus gave her a small smile and brought her hand to the smooth surface of stone.

“Welcome to Tanselm, Alandra.”

Chapter Ten

Alandra stared at MornMountain in awe, and it was all Aerolus could do to stand still and not gather her in his arms. As he’d known, Tanselm had reached out and accepted the slight Aellei with open arms, the land’s rich magic delving into Alandra’s being and bonding with her as if she’d been born to the land.

His eyes misted, the sight of his affai too beautiful to behold, as she caressed the pure energy of his world with reverence.

“This is the most wondrous place I’ve ever been.” She tore her gaze from the rock to stare at Aerolus, her smile a mile wide. “It makes Aelle pale in comparison.”

Mention of her homeworld eased him into a quest for answers he desperately needed to know. “I saw a glimpse of Aelle in your dream, but I’d like to hear you describe it to me.”

She shrugged, her hand petting the rock like a lover, and his body hardened at the carnal images flashing through his mind. “Aelle is filled with the splendour of the Aellei, yet its magic is not even a quarter of what Tanselm possesses. Thank you for showing it to me,” she said soberly, her heart in her eyes. “I know it can’t be easy bringing a creature of Shadow into your world.”

“You don’t know anything,” he murmured, the need to touch her overwhelming. He stepped closer and stroked her cheek. She blazed a brilliant white in the shadow of the mountain, and he had never seen her look so lovely. “I trust you, Alandra. I know there’s more you haven’t yet said,” he paused, seeing the telling shift of her gaze. “But I know you’d never see the Light of this world extinguished. And I know you would protect me with your life, as you did when you thought Arim meant me harm.”

She blushed and looked away, towards the thick forest beyond the kingdom. “I overreacted.”

He said nothing, studying her for the best way to proceed. “I know you miss Aelle, Alandra, and that my family is the reason you are no longer there.”

“True,” she agreed. “But I don’t miss Aelle as much as I used to.” She stared at him, her violet gaze intense as if trying to see inside him. “But you, I don’t understand how being away from this place isn’t tearing you apart. I knew you were strong before,” she said quietly, frankly admiring. “But I’m in awe of your commitment to saving this world.”

He caressed her jaw, her cheek, sliding his hand to cup her face. “I give everything I am to those I love.”

Leaning forward, he kissed her softly, thoroughly, on the mouth. Like petals of silk, her lips parted on a sigh.

“You are so damned sexy,” she groaned. “And your energy is so much hungrier here.”

“Hungry, yes,” he said, holding her to him with a force that told her just how much he wanted her. “Hungry for the truth, for peace, for your l—” He interrupted his admission, worried that saying the word ‘love’ might spook her.

“For what?” she asked coyly, her hands lowering from his chest to his groin, lingering over his throbbing cock. She rubbed him through his trousers, and her eyes sparkled, pleased at the obvious control she had over him.

Dammit, why must everything be about control? His blood heated as he stared at his affai, wishing, almost, that she was a normal woman with whom he could have a genuine conversation without worrying about losing at some mysterious game they apparently played.

As she continued to caress him, she bit her lip, her eyes shining and her aura pulsing with…love.

His eyes widened, and he wondered if he truly was the idiot Arim had accused him of being. All this time he’d been playing word games and second guessing both himself and her, when all along the answer had been right in front of him in their tied magic.

Still joined, with Tanselm’s boost he could now see the love bonding them together. His Light and her Shadow forged into an altogether different energy, one vastly more accepting, and one that made use of everything around them, giving Aerolus nearly the power his uncle wielded.

Her grip tightened over him, and his excitement increased, both at the physical pleasure and at his important discovery. “Ah, love, you are a treasure,” he said on a sigh as he rocked into her.

“I am, aren’t I?” She laughed, her joy a part of their connection. “And I want to see you come, my little Wind Mage.” Her eyes twinkled.

“Little, eh?” he grumbled and carried them both to the ground on a pocket of wind. With a thought, he spelled their clothing gone and shoved her thighs wide.

“Aerolus?” she questioned, her voice high with excitement.

“Quiet, purie. Let me love my affai as a true Storm Lord should.”

He stared into her eyes, waiting as the carefree joy in her expression changed to one of shock and disbelief.

“Affai?” she squeaked.

“Well, maybe,” he teased, coating his cock in her moist sex. “I’m willing to make a bargain with you. But it’s on my terms, take it or leave it.”

He leant down to suck her nipple, groaning at how sweet she tasted. Such a petite frame with such generous curves, and so incredibly delicious. Licking and nipping at her breasts, he brought her to near-orgasm with his mouth and tiny hands of wind that stroked her heated skin.

“Aerolus,” she gasped. “What are you doing to me?”

“I’m loving you, affai,” he said, liking the sound of it more and more. ‘Affai’, in conjunction with Alandra, sounded magical, but more, it sounded right. He moved lower, trailing his mouth over her taut abdomen and through the silky curls covering her mound. Nosing through her hair, he licked at the ambrosia glistening between her thighs and parted her folds with his fingers.

He stared, enthralled, at her sex. “Don’t you want to know what I want out of the bargain?” he asked in a thick voice.

Her breathing heavy, she tried to draw her thighs closed. “If you’d give me a minute to think—”

“Now we can’t have that,” he said wickedly and closed his lips around her clit. “So fucking sweet.” He nipped and pulled, teasing the flesh into a ripe nub near to bursting. All the while, Alandra squirmed and begged, pleading for him to enter her.

“Tell me you want me,” he said, thrusting a finger inside her.

She arched into his touch, her body coiled like a bow about to release. “I want you,” she gasped.

“Now and forever.”

She moaned as he pumped another finger inside her, thrusting his digits harder and faster. “Now and forever.”

“And admit you’ve known for some time that you love me.”

He stopped all motion and waited as she quivered beneath him. Her eyes opened, and within their depths he noted silver striating the lavender in her gaze. He truly was a part of her, and she of him. But he had to hear her admit it.

“Aerolus.” She squirmed, her cheeks flushed. She tried to move closer to his mouth and fingers but he held her still, his winds more powerful now than they’d ever been.

“Tell me, purie, how much you long to be my wife. How the thought of another woman clenching me, taking my cock and my seed, makes you rage.”

She shuddered, Dark waves of energy emanating from the passion that dwelled within her. “Dammit, Aerolus!” She struggled but remained in his hold. “You’re mine,” she said rebelliously. “You’ve been mine for a year. My charge, my responsibility.”

“Your what?” he asked coolly, keeping his affai in check. Did she really think they could continue by ignoring the truth? By the Light, he wanted her so badly he was near to coming just from her taste. His cock ached as much as his heart, and he strained to hear her admit what she deep down knew to be the truth.

“My mate,” she said with a disgruntled sigh. “My love,” she repeated on a sultry note, soft moans trickling from her lips, and he buried his face between her thighs once more, his fingers working magic in her warmth.

He was completely out of his mind, drugged on her taste, her scent, her feel. He rubbed his swollen shaft against her leg when he really wanted to drive inside her. He quickly climbed over her, blanketing her smaller form with his own.

“You and I are in this together.” He paused at the entry to her sheath, waiting until she opened her eyes to meet his gaze. “Make no mistake, we are one.”

She nodded, a sly look on her face. “We are, once I agree to your conditions. So what are they, my prince?” she asked and shifted, taking the head of his cock inside her.

He caught his breath, fighting the urge to plunge deep. Damned if she didn’t bait him, and damned if it didn’t make him want to master her all the more.

“You will become my affai, live with me here in the kingdom over MornMountain. You’ll bring a handful of loyal Aellei you deem worthy of Tanselm to live here, a bridge to gap our worlds of Light and Shadow. All this can be yours, if you do one small thing.”

Her eyes widened. “What small thing?”

“You must never, ever lie to me again.”

Before she could answer, he thrust deep, groaning at the incredible satisfaction rumbling through him. A tightening at the base of his balls warmed, bliss spreading throughout his entire body as he pounded into her, bringing her with him body and soul into a mesh of existence too pure for words.

“Aerolus, love, more,” she cried, locking her thighs around him as he thrust deeper and harder.

Her voice, her touch sent him spiralling out of control, and the light breeze covering them turned into a massive vortex of wind and energy that swirled around them, leaving them in the centre of the storm’s heart.

“Promise me, Alandra,” he gritted as he thrust, a heartbeat away from coming.

“Yes,” she cried, clamping around him and pulling him into the cataclysm with her. “I promise.”

They remained locked, each one firmly tied to the other, heart to heart, mind to mind, as he poured his love into her.

Magic unfurled, a dance of winds and a wave of the mountain’s shadow caressing two lovers with loving acceptance.

“I am finally home,” he breathed, struck by the truth of his words. Tanselm, Aelle, Seattle, none of it mattered if Alandra was not there to share his life. His dissatisfaction with Tanselm vanished. In its place was a desire to share with his affai, to watch as she experienced every breath of Tanselm’s vast beauty and magic.

“You tricked me,” she murmured and brushed back a lock of fallen hair from his eyes. “I can’t believe an inexperienced Wind Mage, a snotty little Light Bringer, tricked me.” She sighed and stretched, tightening around him again and making him groan at the exquisite feel. She stroked his cheek and grinned into his eyes. “It must be love.”

Joy spread through his soul, radiating from their joined existence. Where the shadow of the mountain met the ground around them, dark flowers sprang, the sultry scent of new life blossoming with wonder.

“Aresla,” Alandra murmured in surprise as she stared at the sight. “They only bloom in Aelle, and only in the presence of Shadow.”

“But that was before.” He kissed her cheek tenderly, toying with her shining hair.

“Before?”

“Before your randy efforts nearly ruined everything,” a hard voice sneered, blasting Alandra from Aerolus.

Bellowing in anger, Aerolus leapt to his feet and commanded the air to aid him. Mage fury consumed him, reflecting in the whorls of raging wind and bolts of electricity filling the once-blue sky. The spells he immediately triggered bounced harmlessly off his opponent, a large male with disturbingly hazy features and a hint of Djinn dark flame. He held Alandra effortlessly, jerking her around by the arm in a punishing grip. Then the very air stilled, everything coming to a complete halt as a great blanket of darkness descended.

“Enjoy the Night, Wind Mage.” Evil laughter covered Alandra’s shrieks, and as Aerolus struggled to free himself from the malevolence suffocating him, he could only pray Alandra would not be further harmed. “Come and get her when you’ve got the rest of your family to back you up.” The intruder snickered. “We’ll be playing in the shadows.”

A pop sounded, and Aerolus recognised the sound of the Mir charm at work. Alandra was gone, captured by the enemy using Aellein magic.

Sudden worries of his affai undergoing torture by her own kind, and all because she’d helped protect him and Tanselm from the worst kind of evil, stirred the terrible rage within him to a Dark, thickening mass of power. The lingering darkness over him vanished. The air hissed its displeasure as trees and grasses were torn from their roots. Clouds gathered and a funnel of bleak wind loomed while boulders flew as if weighing nothing.

Alandra was gone. Taken from him as easily as if he’d given her away. He’d been unable to protect her in his world, a land that used to stand for peace and prosperity. Another tree cracked and protested its ripping from the ground, and Aerolus struggled to focus his rage on the ones responsible, on the Dark Lords behind this abduction. He deliberately allowed his storm to build in containment, feeding it with the retribution he owed the Dark Lords and the Djinn traitor who’d put them all at risk.

Aerolus quickly spelled himself clothed in battle dress, armed with a sword strapped to his back and a mage staff in hand, and studied the area for telling signs. The kidnapper was the walking dead, as far as he was concerned, but he further pledged should one more mark befall his beloved, he would not allow any of the enemy to live. And the Light bless those who thought to stand in his way.

“He said three hours.” Darius frowned, glaring at Marcus and Arim talking calmly on the couch.

Arim wanted to groan. He’d seen the impatience on his nephew’s face edging into anger. By the Light, it wasn’t easy for him either. It was all he could do to wait when two of his nephews were suddenly involved with the Dark side of creation—not only the Aellei, but the Djinn as well.

“Dammit, I was two seconds away from convincing Samantha to leave well enough alone with our defensive perimeter when you ripped me out of there. Do you have any idea what that woman is capable of when I’m not around?” Darius threw up his hands.

Marcus lifted an arrogant brow that had Darius curling his fingers around a fireball. “Perhaps if her mate had any semblance of understanding when it came to women, she wouldn’t feel such a need to interfere with warrior’s work to get his attention.”

Snarling, Darius let loose his fire, only to find his efforts countered by a wave of Marcus’ hand. Water suddenly doused the fireball, somehow managing to drench Darius in the process.

“Darius, Marcus, please,” Arim nearly growled. His patience had worn thin an hour ago, and the worries these two carried weren’t helping. He knew neither liked leaving his affai and kingdom while the Netharat circled Tanselm like hovering vultures. But they simply could not leave until he had all four Storm Lords together. He knew with a certainty that all four brothers must work together if there was any hope at all for Tanselm’s future.

“Ah, Arim? Your eyes are doing that weird thing again.” Darius coughed and grudgingly backed down.

“Then distract me before I turn one of you to stone,” he snapped. “What do you think of Alandra?”

He’d told them what he knew of her and her kind, of her participation in the last battle with ‘Sin Garu, and how Aerolus had nearly killed himself trying to save her, after she’d done the same trying to save him.

“I don’t know,” Marcus said thoughtfully, tapping his lower lip. His blue eyes darkened, his words both cool and surprisingly fair, not at all like the man who’d once considered himself better than the world around him. “I kind of liked her. She snapped at Darius quick enough, and looking at her is no hardship. Interesting that the most unassuming of us picked such a striking female.”

Darius growled, “Trust you to go straight to a woman’s looks.”

“I’m married, not dead. What, like you didn’t notice her appeal? Please.” Marcus snorted. “That face? Those curves? You’d have to be dead not to notice those, ah,” he paused at the hard look Arim gave him. “I was going to say eyes, those beautiful violet eyes.” His lips quirked.

“And that great rack,” Darius offered with a chuckle. No subtleties there, not that Arim would have expected any from him. “Damned nice to know Aerolus is as normal as the rest of us. Hell, the entire time we were here he lived like a monk, never even looked twice at a woman.” His eyes danced as he glanced at his brother. “Oh, wait. He saw Tessa naked as the day she was born, didn’t he? And from what I heard, he liked her well enough.”

“You’re such an asshole.” Marcus’ words were cool. “Who told you about that?”

Darius shrugged. “I know everything, little brother.”

“Not that again.”

Arim didn’t bother to hide his amusement. Surprisingly, the familiar sibling squabbling eased some of his tension. “If I didn’t know you two were brothers, I’d think you were married.”

“Ha, ha,” Marcus muttered.

“Personally, I’m not sure how I feel about Alandra.” He thought about the mischievous creature that had so captured Aerolus, and Darius and Marcus turned to him as one. “She is an Aellei, a creature of Shadow, and though she’s done much for Aerolus, I still don’t understand why she left her world in the first place.”

“She told us. She didn’t like her aunt’s play for Tanselm.” Darius shook his head.

“Yes, but why?” That still bothered him. Arim knew he was missing something, but what? “She’s an Aellei, of a race known for their devious nature. I don’t know if you noticed, but she’s pure magic.”

“Pure? I thought you said she was ‘of Shadow’?” Marcus asked.

“She is. But magic, at its core, is neither good nor evil. And I’m beginning to wonder if being aligned with Shadow isn’t necessarily a bad thing.” Though somewhat suspicious of her motives, Arim couldn’t justify reproaching Alandra for saving his nephews. Nor could he condemn all the Djinn when Jonas Chase and Ellie Markham had done much to aid Tanselm’s cause. To hear Aerolus and Tessa tell it, without Jonas’ help, ‘Sin Garu would have killed not only Tessa, but Marcus and his brothers as well.

“The Aellei are different from us. We Light Bringers are human, men and women that wield magic, a people in tune with our homeland and the elements, but human nonetheless.”

“And Alandra…?” Darius prodded, standing with his arms crossed.

“She’s not human.” Arim smiled grimly. “Oh, thousands of years ago her ancestors might have been, but in the interim the shadow dwellers, or Shadren, began to change.”

“I thought the Shadren and Aellei were two different races.” Marcus sat, puzzled.

“Actually, they’re the same,” Arim explained. “The Aellei refuse to acknowledge closer ties because of their curious penchant for being surrounded by beauty—which much of the Shadren do not possess—or so I was once told. I’m sure Alandra can explain it better, but that’s not really important right now.

“In the beginning, Tanselm was home to many of the Dark Lords, the Djinn and the Shadren. But when the Dark Tribes split, we noticed how different the tribes had become, not only from each other, but from the Light Bringers as well.

“Alandra’s roots may have started out human, but over the years her people became more and more fused with both the Light and the Dark, creating a new race of beings, a people of magic.”

“I don’t get it.” Darius frowned. “Aerolus’ affai isn’t human? She looked human enough to me.”

“Let me put it this way. I wield magic, as do your brothers. Each of you have touched a spell or two in your time, but the elemental magic you reap is a part of you. In that sense you’re like Alandra. Being a Storm Lord is not just a calling, but an existence apart from other Light Bringers.

“The Aellei, on the other hand, are magic. I call it forth in spells, she herself commands it as an extension of herself, like breathing.”

“Interesting,” Marcus murmured. “Which leads me to something I’ve been thinking about for some time, the magic of our affai. Both Samantha and Tessa are human, but powerful humans with an exceptional call to magic. Their Light calls to the elemental in Darius and myself. Even in Tanselm they stand out more for their powerful energies than their foreign birth.”

“This is so,” Darius agreed. “Samantha’s powers have grown significantly since arriving in Tanselm. And believe it or not, I’ve taught her a few useful spells. Just basic stuff we learned when young, but she casts them like a sorcerer.”

“Spells?” Arim didn’t like the sound of that, especially coming from Darius. Aerolus was the only brother of the Royal Four with the capacity to wield mage energy properly.

Darius looked uncomfortable and unintentionally projected a series of thoughts to his uncle.

Relieved, Arim nodded. “Ah, spells. As in, a speedy way to dispense clothing, increased stamina for lovemaking, the ability to do what with wax, exactly?”

“You get the picture,” Darius growled, his cheeks flushing. He glared at his uncle, then at his chuckling brother. “I don’t know what the hell you’re laughing about. Samantha talks to Tessa daily so I know you’ve taught her the same things.”

Arim raised one brow at the guilty look on Marcus’ face.

“Now hold on,” Marcus said defensively, his voice crisp. “Tessa’s a siphon. I didn’t teach her the spells.”

“No, you used them around her enough that she eventually absorbed them from you,” Arim said sarcastically, deciding to needle his nephews. When they snapped at one another or at him, they weren’t so focused on the worries at home. “It’s good to know the Storm Lords are making good use of their time waiting for ‘Sin Garu and the Netharat to reappear.”

Both brothers scowled, their energy in tune and growing as they turned their hostility from each other towards him. Pleased at how much they’d grown since meeting and loving their affai, Arim hoped Alandra would not be a disappointment to Aerolus. With her magic and her love, he could only imagine the strength Aerolus might one day wield. And that edge might be just the push the Royal Four needed to oust the Dark Lords from Tanselm once and for all.

“Relax, you two. Your affai do you both credit, and I’m pleased that you both found exactly who you needed.”

Marcus nodded, his tension visibly leaving him. “Tessa is perfection. I couldn’t agree more.”

“Yeah, she’s the only woman who can stand your attitude,” Darius murmured, shooting his brother a smirk.

“Like you can talk. It’s a wonder a woman who looks like Samantha can be such a pain in the ass.”

Darius brightened. “She is a handful, Marc.”

Marcus exhaled heavily. “Talk to her about that, would you? It’s Marcus. Not Marc. Marcus.”

“Sure thing, Marc. So back to your original question, Uncle.” Darius grinned, ignoring his brother’s threatening glare. “I like Alandra. I know what the Aellei are capable of, but in my opinion, a woman who risked her livelihood and life to save Tanselm can’t be too terrible. And from the way she looked at Aerolus, I’d say she’s got it bad.” His red eyes glowed with approval.

“Much as it distresses me, I have to agree with the fire-breather.” Marcus arched a thumb in Darius’ direction. “From what you’ve said, she saved my life and Tessa’s, no question. I have no doubt the Nocumat we encountered would have devoured me whole. And if she’s been here for an entire year watching us, she could have done us harm at any time, yet she didn’t. I can only be thankful she’s here, helping us. And to have captured Aerolus’ heart, that in itself is no mean feat.”

“True enough. And yet,” Arim paused, unable to put into words the feeling that wouldn’t go away. When he’d attacked Alandra, he’d felt her vast magic, had sensed something familiar about it. The woman was of Shadow, this he knew. But why would an Aellei fight to save Tanselm when her kind might have it at their fingertips?

He’d been to Aelle. Though beautiful and spacious and full of interesting areas where Light met Darkness, Aelle’s magic was nowhere near as powerful as Tanselm’s. Had he been in the queen’s position, he might very well have schemed for their land.

The Aellei drew much of their energy from Aelle, from its majesty as much as from its well of power. But drawing from Tanselm would be like exchanging moonlight for sunlight. Why then would Alandra willingly leave her world of beauty for a magicless plane of existence, what the Aellei would undoubtedly categorize as an unsightly world? And to babysit a dread Light Bringer, one of the Royal Four, no less?

His instincts were never wrong, almost never wrong, his conscience prodded as an image of Lexa intruded. Frowning the thought away, he focused on the here and now.

“Alandra has Aerolus’ heart and loyalty.” He weighed his decision. “Since your brother has never before failed us when we most needed him, I suppose we should support him by giving Alandra our loyalty as well.”

“Nicely said.” Marcus smiled.

“Not bad, for an old man,” Darius chimed in, grinning when Arim narrowed his eyes. Old man?

“I can’t say I’ve ever met a sorcerer who’s older,” Cadmus added from the hallway, staring without surprise at his brothers. “Well, well. Leave the door open and see what comes wandering in.”

Chapter Eleven

Darius and Marcus immediately stood, moving to greet Cadmus when Arim held up a hand, stilling them.

“Where have you been?” he asked quietly, aware something about his nephew seemed decidedly off.

“Just…around,” Cadmus drawled, staring at his brothers without a hint of welcome. His expression was strained, his eyes burning with what looked like malice. And the strange Dark aura that had possessed him for some time was gone.

Arim stared hard, then sent up an immediate shield over Darius and Marcus. “How did you get through?”

Cadmus shrugged. “Your boy’s been leaving holes big enough to jump through.” He smiled then, a direct look of hatred that made the hair on the back of Arim’s neck stand on end. “We’ve got the girl, you know. It’s almost over.”

“Son of a bitch,” Darius growled, fire flaming from his fingertips as he pointed them at Cadmus.

“An Aellei or Djinn?” Marcus asked calmly as he stared at the image of his brother, power vibrating off him in waves.

“Or neither,” another voice added from behind them. Strong winds surged through the room, surrounding Cadmus and pinning him in place.

Arim stared in surprise as the normally even-tempered Aerolus seethed with battle-lust. Dressed in dark trousers and a red tunic, signifying his status as a warring sorcerer, he looked wild, dangerous, and perilously close to losing control.

His grey eyes snapped with lightning, and his wind seethed through his hair and clothing, stirring Arim’s concern at the darkness of his power. For once the level-headed Wind Mage was angry—deeply, truly angry.

Alandra’s absence was most telling.

“Aerolus,” Marcus tried.

Aerolus walked around his brothers and glared at Cadmus. His stare intensified, running over Cadmus’ head to his feet, and he literally snarled. A staff suddenly appeared in his hands, and he shot a huge beam of Light into his brother.

Cadmus should have been fine, but as Arim suspected, the man posing as Cadmus squirmed in pain and tried to curl into a ball. Aerolus wouldn’t let him.

“Easy, Aerolus,” Arim said evenly, aware his nephew was as out of control as he’d ever seen him. “We need answers—”

“About where she is, and why he thought he could get away with it.” Aerolus murmured under his breath, and the imposter began to glow, so brightly they shielded their eyes. When next he appeared, he resembled one of the head servants from Tanselm’s western castle.

“Benold?” Darius stared in shock. “What the hell are you doing? You’re the traitor?”

“The Djinn traitor,” Aerolus said through clenched teeth. “He’s been with us for over thirty years, and in all that time he’s been waiting.”

“Yes, just burning for the chance to get even. The Light I’ve had to endure…” Benold clutched his abdomen and glared at them all, lingering on Aerolus. “Your girlfriend is the answer to everything.” He smiled despite the light leaking from his eyes. He had to be in considerable pain, yet he taunted Aerolus, as if wishing a quick death. “I can’t wait to see what Lidra does to her before the Dark Lord takes her. He’s going to fuck her until she screams. And then he’s going to cut her into little pieces, feeding them to the wraiths burning for her taste.”

“Aerolus, hold,” Arim said, knowing what was coming. Darius and Marcus sensed it as well, and even as they stepped closer, Aerolus forced them back with a firm wind.

“No, I’m not so naïve I can’t see what he wishes me to do.” Aerolus’ eyes burned, his gaze blinding with anger and with a strange violet glitter.

“Do you see that?” Marcus murmured.

“He’s tied to Alandra,” Darius answered. “Like Samantha was tied to me after our brush with the Wraith’s Kiss.”

Arim recalled the incident that had occurred months ago. After he’d cured Darius and Samantha of the Wraith’s Kiss, an insidious Netharat spell, Samantha had apparently wakened with red eyes, holding enough of Darius’ latent power to withstand his elemental fire. That in itself was a sure indicator of her future in Darius’ life.

To see Aerolus looking similarly fixed to his affai, Arim felt both pleased and dismayed that his nephew was so closely tied to Alandra. He only hoped Aerolus hadn’t found her only to lose her to the Dark. What that could do to a man didn’t bear thinking about, or reliving.

“Benold, I have time enough to make you suffer for your crimes,” Aerolus said quietly, the glowing fire raging from his mage staff disputing his calm. “But I won’t have my brothers overly disturbed by your presence. Tell me exactly where Alandra is and why the Dark Lord wants her specifically.”

Benold scoffed. “You’re going to kill me either way. Do what you will.”

Aerolus’ gaze narrowed, and Arim was suitably impressed at the hard warrior eyeing the enemy. This Aerolus would not bow to anyone or anything until he claimed his bride. And Dark Lords bedamned, they had done what Arim could never have hoped to with his training.

With one calculated move, they had turned Aerolus from a young sorcerer into a hardened mage unwilling to bend to anyone or anything.

Aerolus stared at Benold and threw down his staff. “Do what I will, hmm? I hope this hurts,” he growled and thrust a hand directly into Benold’s forehead.

Shadow shimmered around the connection between Aerolus and Benold, as their bodies seemed to have merged. Benold’s bloodcurdling shriek grew louder and harsher as Aerolus stood unmoving, staring firmly into his eyes.

“By the Light, that’s scary,” Darius said, staring unblinkingly at his brother.

“I knew he was powerful, but this goes beyond anything I’ve ever seen.” Marcus looked to Arim with concern.

“Watch.” Arim felt his worry and shared it, but he waited patiently, hoping Aerolus had more control than he seemed to possess.

A few ear-splitting moments later, Benold’s cries turned into desperate moans.

“You see, there is a huge difference between dying quickly and dying slowly. You, my friend, will continue to linger for days.” Aerolus refused to let Benold drop, and the sight of his fist in the man’s head caused Benold to begin pleading.

“You have what you need, now let me die already,” Benold begged.

Aerolus shook his head. “What you have done justifies no less than this. And perhaps more.” Withdrawing his hand, he muttered a spell and traced symbols into the man’s flesh, on his head, chest and hands. “Enjoy the Light. And tell Oxcen I said hello.”

Shoving Benold hard, Aerolus caused the traitor to glow in truth, but instead of a Djinn’s normal fiery man-shape surrounded by black fire, this Djinn glowed like a burning moon. Bright Light pierced the creature throughout its body, and its aura was a sickening orange.

Then Benold cried out as he faded into nothingness.

“Where is he?” Darius asked and cleared his throat.

Arim stared hard at Aerolus, impressed and even awed at the talent pouring through his nephew in currents of Shadow and Light.

“He’s visiting Marcus’ Nocumat friend Oxcen, who just so happens to be sitting in the Aellei queen’s dungeon just now. It’s fortunate Benold knew where Oxcen was, or I wouldn’t have been able to send him there.”

“Very fitting,” Marcus said with a nod, satisfaction glinting in his gaze. “That will hurt worse than anything more you could have done.”

Aerolus smiled darkly, a grim reminder all was not yet right. “You think?”

“Scary, brother.” Darius shook his head. “But impressive. I like this new you.”

Aerolus stared at Darius and sighed. “You would.” His tone relieved Arim more than words could have. “Now I’m glad to see you all here, but we have a situation. Alandra’s in Aelle in the very place where they threatened to torture and kill her. And according to Benold’s perfect memory, B’alen and ‘Sin Garu are currently waiting with Lidra and her council to judge Alandra’s crimes against the crown.”

“Let’s go get her.” Marcus stepped forward, through the band of wind that faded into warm air.

“I’m with you. Let’s go.” Darius stepped forward, his eyes fiery with anticipation, flame curling around his hands.

“Not yet,” Cadmus said, appearing out of nowhere into the living room, gripping his head.

“Not this again.” Darius frowned.

“You have to get back to Tanselm,” Cadmus gasped, clenching his eyes shut as he leaned against the wall. “I’m not shitting you. This is all a big distraction. As we speak, the Netharat are planning an attack on…” he paused and sank to his knees.

Arim and Aerolus rushed to help him to the couch.

“So it is him,” Darius said with surprise. Marcus gave him a disgusted look and knelt by Cadmus’ feet near the couch. “Well, how the hell was I supposed to know?”

Marcus ignored him and gripped Cadmus’ hand. “It’s about time you showed up. Tell us where to go.”

“West,” Aerolus interrupted as he held his brother up on the couch. He turned to Darius. “Samantha’s on the southern wall of the castle with a squad of guards. They’re going to aim the attack there.”

“And Tessa’s going to be ambushed by two serving maids, Djinn sympathisers and trained assassins,” Cadmus said in a weak voice. “You need to find them before all this unfolds. I’m not sure how much time you have, so hurry.”

Arim stood and held out his hand, his palm open facing the wall. Two growing dark portals appeared as he chanted. “Darius on the left, Marcus on the right. Go, and summon the royal guard as well. That dozen can be trusted. Give warning to your mother. She’ll summon the other kingdoms.”

They nodded and ran. Darius disappeared, and Marcus turned quickly to ask, “What about you?”

“I have to help Aerolus first. Now Marcus, Tessa needs you. Go.” Before Arim could finish, Marcus vanished.

After they departed and the gateways to Tanselm closed, Arim turned to Aerolus. “We need to go to Aelle. I have a friend there who may be of some help.”

“Good, because if you don’t, I’ll kill the Aellei, one by one, until I get my affai back.” Aerolus spoke calmly, but the murderous lust in his voice was readily apparent.

“Damn, I’m gone for a little while and Aerolus turns into a bloodthirsty warmonger. What else did I miss?” Cadmus chuckled weakly, then groaned. A moment later, he stared at Aerolus in shock. “Did you say affai?”

“Yes, I did.” Aerolus stared at him before shaking his head, seeing something Arim couldn’t.

“What?” Cadmus sounded defensive.

“Nothing. Just be glad Arim is so pure of Light he can’t see what I now can.”

“Aerolus? Cadmus?” Arim stared at the two of them with growing irritation. It still baffled him that these two were so much more difficult to handle than their brothers. Darius was a hothead, Marcus an arrogant and dangerously crafty Storm Lord.

Aerolus, though powerful, was the quiet, obedient brother. And Cadmus used to be the light-hearted, comic relief. Why, then, was Arim having such a headache handling these two?

“I’ll deal with you later.” He scowled at Cadmus. Shaking his head, he stalked to the centre of the room. “Okay, then.” He grimaced. “I never thought I’d say this willingly, but let’s go to Aelle.”

Alandra groaned and rubbed her temple, the familiar smell of white lily stirring her unease. As her awareness returned, she glanced down at her nudity and quickly fixed an illusion of Aellein garb, a flowing white dress, to cover her body.

Her head throbbed, but she felt for the most part unharmed. She prayed Aerolus was all right, not knowing what had happened to him after the nasty Djinn threw her at two Der warriors and disappeared.

Unfortunately, nothing she’d said had convinced the Der to release her or send for Sava. One minute she stood in Tanselm, the next the Der had her back in Aelle. They’d thrust her into this dingy dungeon, its only concession to Aellein standards that it was one level below ground, with a small barred window that allowed a hint of air and light through.

Throwing her so hard she’d hit her head, the Der had left her alone while she’d moaned for help before blacking out. And now she was left to face…this.

She glanced around her and noted the cleanliness of the place and the cool feel of rock beneath her body. She should have felt chilled, but the warmth outside made the cell surprisingly temperate.

The entire room was made of blue rystone, impervious to Mir charms and time stamping, from the walls to the floor and ceiling, to the hard bed and stone table and stools fixed to the floor.

Grimacing at the ache in her back and head, she sat up slowly and swung her feet to the ground, made even more conscious of her vulnerability by the bareness of her toes.

“Oh, good, she awakens.” A slick voice immediately froze her.

Glancing to the source, she paled, seeing ‘Sin Garu, the Dark Lord who’d almost killed Aerolus and his brothers not so long ago.

Unlike the diminished sorcerer she’d helped fling out of Seattle weeks ago, this sorcerer stood tall and straight, both pale and beautifully masculine. Long, blond hair, not as light as hers, but more a gold in colour, shone with good health. Damn it. His thin lips curled as he stared at her, making her feel like a deer in a hunter’s sights.

“How are you feeling, purie?” he asked, the copied nickname making her feel ill. “Oh, yes, I watched you with your Storm Lord lover, you delicious little creature.” His navy-blue eyes darkened to black as he neared and loomed over her. “For a petite female, you have the most remarkable figure. What wonderful breasts, and such a tiny waist.”

He licked his lips, and she stared, wondering if she’d see fangs like his brother had, praying she could escape this mess whole, without bite marks.

Seeing her attention, he smiled, showing sharp, white teeth. “Have no fear, Alandra. I’m not a blood drinker,” he said with disgust. “Their kind, frankly, sickens me.” His eyes burned, and she knew unrest existed between the Dark Lords.

Maybe she could use that to her advantage.

“Why are you here?” she asked in a polite voice.

“Such fine manners.” He chuckled and sat next to her on the hard bed. His knee brushed hers, and she was vividly reminded the dress she ‘wore’ was only an illusion.

“I’ve come because you matter, my dear. The magic within you is one of the keys to unlocking control of Tanselm. But of course, you knew this.” He eyed her shrewdly. “Were you hoping for a deal from B’alen? You must know he’ll take what he wants, regardless. I, on the other hand, am not so foolish to think I can control an Aellei possessing Storm Lord blood.”

She blinked, her heart racing, but remained composed. What, by Shadow’s heart, was he talking about? “No, you’re not a foolish lord. A bargain, perhaps?” She stared at him, wishing she were anywhere but here.

“You’re much more intelligent than your aunt gives you credit for.” He nodded with approval. “Then again, you can’t afford to be choosy in here, can you?” he asked with a perceptive grin.

She’d have to be careful. He was no one’s fool. “As you say, I have a limited venue of choices just now. What did you have in mind?”

He stared at her, his gaze roaming her body and making her feel as if he saw through the illusion. But he didn’t move closer to her, for which she was decidedly grateful.

“My brother will come to claim you soon. When he does, go along with him. He’ll try to drink your blood, but you mustn’t let him.”

She gave him a look that had him grinning, and for a moment she wondered at his sudden likeability.

“That was a stupid thing to say, wasn’t it?” He shook his head. “Look, Alandra, I know you’re fond of Aerolus. Truth be told, of all the Storm Lords, he’s the least offensive, in my opinion.

“You, my dear, can love him all you like. But in the end, you are of Shadow, and he’s not. Like me, you crave the Dark. And while we may not see eye to eye about Tanselm’s future, you at least agree that the Dark should be able to coexist with the Light.”

She nodded, wondering where he was going with this.

“Good.” He seemed pleased. “Then you, too, stand against B’alen, whether you want to or not. My older brother,” he sneered, “would have you believe he means to wed you and make you his queen. But he wishes only to drain you of your power and ascend Tanselm’s throne with Lidra by his side, under his thumb.

“And once Lidra gets hold of you,” he said, surprising her at the speed with which he moved to grab her throat, “all this pretty glamour will be for naught.”

Her dress shimmered and vanished, leaving her naked and vulnerable in ‘Sin Garu’s grip.

“You are such a delectable treat,” he said softly, his teeth looking all too sharp the closer he brought his head.

“You said you’re not a blood drinker?” she asked quickly, startling him out of his lust-inspired trance.

“No, but I like to eat sweets,” he murmured and brushed his lips along her cheek, tightening his hand around her throat.

She forced herself to remain still.

“Such tender flesh,” he whispered directly into her ear, his cool breath shockingly arousing. She didn’t know what to do, confused by her body’s traitorous response. “So bright and full of vigour. I wonder how you taste when you come?” His hand moved disturbingly near her belly, and she couldn’t help an instinctive flinch.

Immediately he stopped and moved away from her, his arousal clearly visible in the tight fabric of his trousers.

“You’ve untapped power.” He stared at her, and suddenly she was again clad in a white dress from neck to mid-calf. “Be mindful of what you are,” he warned and stroked himself with a shuttered glance at her breasts. “And use your gifts wisely. They just might be your salvation.”

He abruptly dropped his hand and turned to the door.

“But what do you want from me?”

He glanced over his shoulder, the menace back in his eyes. “Isn’t it obvious, Alandra? I want you at my side when I retake Tanselm. You will help me defeat B’alen, and when your Storm Lords come, you’ll help me defeat them, too. For your help, my shadow, I’ll let Sava live.”

Fear robbed her of speech, of her very breath.

“I know how attached the two of you are, my dear, and despite his rebellious nature, I like Sava. He and I will come to an understanding. I’m sure he’ll see the ‘light’ once he knows the role you’ll play in Tanselm’s future.”

He licked his lips. “The xiantopes would have been fun to fuck, but not to keep. Destroying them would have destroyed their Storm Lords.” He sighed. “Alas, it was not meant to be. You, on the other hand, Alandra, are a worthy mate.” He paused, his gaze glowing with dark power. “But whether you want to or not, you know dealing with me will be your only means to escape my brother. Trust me, purie,” he mocked, “one taste of your blood and my horny brother won’t leave you alone until he has drunk you to death. Don’t believe me? Look at what’s left of Lidra.”

He departed on those words, making her shiver at the truth in them.

Pacing to conceal her agitation, she knew she needed to make a plan. Anything had to be better than B’alen. She’d seen a lot more in her dreams than she thought Aerolus knew. What B’alen had done to her aunt would kill her, if not physically, then emotionally. After the beauty of making love to Aerolus, she would never willingly lie with a monster like B’alen, not even to save her own life.

How much better B’alen’s brother would be, she couldn’t tell. But, as they said in Seattle, and how true it was, better the devil you know.

Chapter Twelve

Arim took Cadmus’ face in his hands and with a burst of light healed him. Aerolus watched, pleased, as his brother’s watery gaze again appeared normal.

“Are you sure you feel up to this?” Arim stared with concern.

Cadmus nodded.

“I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me where you’ve been for the past forty-eight hours.”

“Ah, actually, someone at work got sick, and I—”

Arim held up a hand. “Forget it. I’ll worm it out of you when you’re asleep.” He chuckled at the look of horror in his nephew’s face.

Cadmus turned to Aerolus. “He can’t do that if I maintain my safeguards, can he?”

“Why ask him?” Arim drew a circle in the floor using a bowl of ash that suddenly appeared at his fingertips. “Where do you think he got his ability to read dreams? Not from your mother.”

“From you?” Cadmus croaked, staring from Aerolus to Arim with bug eyes.

“Ignore him.” Aerolus shot Arim a dark look. “We have more important things to do than worry about what floats and sinks in your shallow mind.” Cadmus looked affronted. “Alandra is sitting in Aelle somewhere, and pray the Light she’s well. Because if she’s not, my vengeance will be swift.” And deadly.

He could feel twin storms behind his eyes, winds and thunder begging to be let loose. Lightning burned in his belly, the need for justice like a hunger that gnawed for sustenance.

A darker, deeper void than the one leading to Tanselm appeared on the floor.

“Step through it,” Arim ordered, waiting for Cadmus.

Cadmus took a step forward, then he swore and shook his head. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can,” Arim said heatedly, his patience seeming at an end.

“No, I honestly can’t. Something won’t let me leave.” He took another step forward and stopped, as if pulled back by a string. “Damn him!”

“I thought it was damn her, as in Ellie Markham,” Arim said dryly.

Cadmus stared at Arim in shock. “You know who she is?”

“Yes, and I’m surprised she’s not here with you now.”

Cadmus swallowed. Aerolus ached to find his affai, but concern for his brother reared. “What is it, Cadmus, that you’re not telling us? Quickly, brother. My future hangs in the balance here.” He stared at the floor.

“As does mine. I can’t leave earth without, ah, protection.”

“Protection? What the hell am I here for?” Arim’s voice rose.

“Djinn protection,” Cadmus muttered, a scowl growing on his face. “Dammit, I pledged my oath I wouldn’t leave this plane without them. It was the only way I could get away to let Darius and Marcus know about the attacks.”

“And when we leave, the Djinn will come for you?” Arim wanted to know.

“I assume.”

“Then let them show themselves now. I’m not leaving until I know you’re not alone.”

Cadmus swore, in several languages. “You can’t do that! I’m not a child. I don’t need a keeper. Fuck! I want to go with you, but I’m bound by my oath. I can at least create a diversion here to distract ‘Sin Garu. I’ll—”

“Be right here, with me.” A voice whispered from Cadmus’ back, and the three Light Bringers threw up shields as they watched Cadmus’ shadow lengthen and stand, turning from shade into a man.

Jonas Chase blinked at them and shielded his eyes. “Nice to see you all again.”

“Not you.” Cadmus groaned. “I thought I’d left you with the others.”

“Glad to see you too, Earth Lord.” Jonas glared at Cadmus but held a hand out to Arim. “Go ahead, sorcerer, verify for yourself your nephew will come to no harm in my care.”

Arim reached out and took Jonas’ hand. Time seemed to stand still as Aerolus’ uncle stared into Jonas’ gleaming amber gaze. Surprised and pleased to see Jonas, the Djinn who’d aided them weeks ago by thrusting ‘Sin Garu into the between, Aerolus knew his brother would be safe while they battled to free Alandra.

“We must hurry.” Aerolus stared at the floor, ready to leave with or without Arim. His senses were telling him Alandra was in danger, more than at any other time since she’d been abducted. “Cadmus, remain strong. And try not to irritate the Djinn as much as you do the rest of us.”

Cadmus scowled. “Sure thing, windboy. A word of advice,” he said, reaching out to stop Aerolus before he could step through the floor. “Keep clear of Lidra. The battle for Aelle must be waged between her and Alandra alone. Do not interfere, no matter what you see.”

Aerolus paused and nodded slowly, not sure he could keep such a promise, but knowing his brother cautioned him for a reason. Cadmus squeezed his arm tight, then released him and stepped back from the shrinking gateway.

“Good luck, Aerolus. Sava’s waiting for you in his tower, Arim. Find him, quickly.”

Arim nodded and looked one final time at Jonas, who nodded, bowing respectfully.

“May your battle be filled with Dark measures, and even darker victory.” Jonas wished them well and jerked Cadmus back from the void in the floor when he would have stepped into it.

“Dammit, get your hands off me, you piece of—”

“And good luck to you as well,” Arim said with a knowing glance at Cadmus. He nodded to Aerolus, and they stepped down together, both ready to fight for what might be the last time.

“What do you think, Lexa, is she or is she not a suitable queen for the Dark King of Tanselm?” B’alen nodded to Lidra lying still beneath the dark canopy of leaves in her inner court. The dais and several tables still stood where they had only hours ago when the council had debated Alandra’s homecoming. He still found it intriguing that only weeks here had passed while an entire year flew by in the magicless plane where the Storm Lords had hidden.

“You’re kidding me, right?” His sister sounded amused. At least she’d lost that rosy glow of innocence that had been so vexing when they’d first found her.

B’alen sighed. “She is pathetic, isn’t she?” He and Lexa studied Lidra, aware an Aellein blood drinker, while rare, was not entirely a new creation.

“What did you do to her?” Lexa stared at Lidra dispassionately, no fan of the Aellei in the first place.

“A bit of this, a bite of that,” he mocked, grinning at the sight of Lidra’s glowing form bathed in darkness. He’d fed too long, had ingested too much of the Aellein queen’s magic. But she’d been so very tempting. Even in her downward spiral towards madness, she retained her beauty, her need for youth and grandeur her last handhold to sanity.

“Next time finish her off so I don’t have to witness such waste.” Lexa looked peeved, her pale eyes blinking like stars in the shadows. “I have a feeling we’ll be seeing the Light Bringers soon.”

“But of course, sister mine,” B’alen said with a buoyancy he was far from feeling. Much as he longed to finally kill Arim and his hated kin, he couldn’t quite extinguish his fear of the notorious sorcerer. “I look forward to dealing with them all, especially with you by my side.” He laughed as her face darkened, and watched her walk away without another word.

He knew Lexa well enough not to trust her. Oh, she’d told him what ‘Sin Garu had been doing, but not until the last possible moment, when it seemed his brother had lost his way.

Her allegiance shifted with the wind, floating one way then another. The key to Lexa was knowing what made her tick. Unfortunately, he wasn’t so sure anymore. Once he’d commanded her obedience to the letter. But now, now he didn’t know where she went when she left their stronghold on Malern. He would have asked his brother, but he hesitated to give ‘Sin the impression he wasn’t as in control as he ought to be.

He still held sway over the queen, however. He toyed with her, sending her a command she readily obeyed. Both appalled and aroused, he glared at Lidra’s sultry face as she played with herself for any passerby to see. He saw Lexa shaking her head from the queen to him before she disappeared into the woods. Disapproved, did she?

One thing he did know about his uptight sister, she had a history with Arim, one that he intended to use to his advantage should the damned sorcerer finally show his face.

B’alen watched Lidra bring herself to orgasm and nodded to several of his wraiths standing in the shadows. They dragged a hapless Aellei with them, an immature Der still sparkling with the bloom of youth. The young warrior stared with helpless fascination at the writhing queen, forced to lie prostrate beneath her as she wormed atop him.

Watching with amusement as she fucked the pretty, younger man, B’alen waited for his favourite part of the act to unfold. The young man cried out and spent himself inside the queen, and as he caught his breath, he closed his eyes. Not seeing the sharp treat Lidra held within her gums, he shot up and flailed when she took the first bite out of his neck.

A sloppy blood drinker, Lidra ate as much flesh as she drew blood, a disgusting combination that drew delighted laughter from the wraiths as she ate her lover to death.

B’alen sighed and shrugged, this enjoyment growing tedious while he waited for Alandra to be brought to him. Tired of Lidra, he wandered away towards the Aellei’s dungeon, an ostentatious display of how prettied up a dungeon could be.

Just as he approached the entrance, the doors opened to reveal Alandra le Aelle guarded by half a dozen Der warriors led by Zartic.

Zartic’s eyes widened when they met his, and the captain bowed his head, causing his men to do the same.

Pleased, B’alen bowed back. “Captain, were you perchance escorting the princess to see me?”

Zartic nodded immediately. “Yes, my lord.”

“Then it seems I’ve saved you a trip. Take a few of your men and clean up the queen and her new plaything. The council should be gathering in a few hours, and we want Queen Lidra to look her best.”

Zartic’s lips pressed tight, but he said nothing, acquiescing to B’alen’s demeaning task. Well, wouldn’t the Der captain be in for a surprise. B’alen smiled wickedly. Normally her majesty’s ladies took care of the queen, but in Lidra’s current state of mind, she’d see the help as no more than dessert. At least Zartic knew to keep his mouth shut, and he’d treat his former lover with care enough to preserve her illusive dignity.

“And speaking of queens,” he murmured as he stared at Alandra, who was studying him as intently. By Dark’s own breast, she was stunning, a paler version of Lidra, but one more lively, absolutely vibrant with a winsome grace and deep-rooted sensuality.

“B’alen Van Nostren, I presume?” she asked softly.

Staring at her mouth, he wondered how soft her lips would feel around his cock, if she would milk him as hard and as often as her aunt had before he drank her blood.

“In the flesh.” He walked around her, taking in the power that fairly thrummed with each breath she took. Excitement flared within him as he realised how very close he was to finishing with this mess and recapturing Tanselm.

She was a small thing for such a powerful creature, but she had a woman’s body. Full breasts and a round backside made him ache to take her now, to fulfil the destiny to which he’d been born.

He reached out and would have grabbed her to him when she danced out of reach. Grinning, he bared sharp teeth accentuated with eight sharp fangs, four on top and four on his lower jaw. The trepidation he expected from the frail girl didn’t appear, making her that much more interesting.

“So, you’re familiar with my kind?”

“With what? A blood drinker? A Dark Lord? Or a morbid, pathetic sorcerer so afraid of his own brother he tried to have him killed?”

B’alen blinked, astonished at her lack of respect. “I think there’s been some mistake,” he growled, grabbing her by the hair and yanking her to her knees. “I am B’alen Van Nostren, your future king and ruler of Tanselm. Beg for mercy, that I allow you to show me the respect I am due.”

She looked bored, stoking his anger. “Respect you’re due? How can I possibly respect a male who cannot stand up for himself? You used your brother’s small setback as the bottom rung in your ascension to power. And what strength is there in a man who cannot beat a simple Storm Lord?”

Her words kindled his fury. “You should be asking ‘Sin Garu that very question. He had his opportunity twice, first with the Prince of Fire, and again with the River Prince. But both times he failed to do what I have done with one simple mind leech.”

“Who, Queen Lidra?” she asked with humour, as if the pull on her neck didn’t pain her, when by rights he knew it did. “She’s been in thrall to her sex for a millenium. Nothing you’ve done thus far is impressive in the least.” She shimmered and an image of Lidra took her place.

“So, you would turn me into a blood drinker?” she said, and if he hadn’t known better, he would think he held the queen. “I can fuck for days without end. What more is a bit of bloodletting? It’s only a matter of time before my true heirs succeed me.”

“That’s enough, Alandra,” he said, jerking her to meet him eye to eye.

She shimmered back into herself, her violet gaze filled with disdain. “As if your strength wasn’t already in question, there’s also the fact you’re not nearly as attractive as your brother.”

He gritted his teeth, determined to make this little bitch pay for what she said. Lidra had mentioned how disagreeable Alandra was, and now that he’d witnessed her offensive nature, he had less interest in bedding her for pleasure than to show her who was in control.

Freeing himself from his trousers, he felt his body freeze when she began laughing.

“Please tell me there’s more than that to play with.” She glanced at his turgid length with amusement. “At least the Storm Lord had a cock to make me whimper.” She glanced up at him with smoky eyes.

B’alen had heard enough. He no longer knew why he’d sought out Alandra. All he could think of were ways to make her pay, and dearly.

“The council won’t start for a few hours yet,” he said quietly, his anger palpable. Her lack of reaction completely baffled and frustrated him. “We’ve gotten off on the wrong foot, Alandra. I think it’s time I showed you just what you don’t understand about me. I’m not as nice as you’d think.”

Alandra kept her cool when inside, her heart threatened to burst from her chest. This had to be the most outrageous bluff she’d ever pulled in her life, and though the danger brought it to a new level, she couldn’t help feeling a tad amused at the Dark Lord’s obvious vanity. And they said the Aellei were too proud. Ha.

She glanced subtly at the weapon between his legs, dismayed to find it so hard, and so near her. Sweat trickled down her back, and she prayed she could continue her glamour. That B’alen hadn’t yet realised she was without clothes was something in her favour, at least. But she had no idea how much longer she could maintain a carefree face, not when she could feel his anger leeching into her being like venom.

The power in her grew exponentially, but it was so Dark, so negative. She had to fight to hold onto herself even as she drew the tendrils of strength she would need to fight this bastard and live.

Aerolus would come for her, that she knew. But she needed to do her best to smooth his way. He had no idea all three Dark Lords were in attendance in Aelle, and she clearly recalled how difficult just ‘Sin Garu had been to defeat.

Thinking of B’alen’s brother, she only hoped he hovered nearby and had heard her comment about B’alen trying to have him killed. It wasn’t true, not that she knew of, but then, ‘Sin Garu didn’t know that.

As B’alen shoved her to the ground and bared his fangs, ‘Sin Garu appeared, thank the Shadows. And she never thought she’d thank her maker for a Dark Lord’s help.

“Brother, what are you about, you rascal?” ‘Sin Garu grinned, and Alandra distractedly noticed there was little difference between the Dark Lords. As they stood close, she could see ‘Sin Garu was slightly taller, his skin a touch more white. But they both possessed the same colour eyes, the same facial structure, and the seething, malevolent energy that showed them for the demons they were.

B’alen refastened his breeches and gritted his teeth, ignoring Alandra, as if she didn’t lie just underfoot. “Teaching a sorry melea a few manners.”

“A sorry whore, hmm?” ‘Sin Garu leant down and lifted Alandra gently to her feet. Doing so put that much more negative energy rushing into her. “A royal whore at that. Sorry, Princess, but your aunt requested your presence in the courtyard. A dozen of the Aellein council members have rallied early.”

He turned to B’alen with a questioning look. “Seems there’s a rumour the queen’s gone mad. The Aellei have gathered to hear her out, and to investigate Alandra’s previous claims that Lidra has sold out her people to the Dark Lords.” He laughed. “A ridiculous notion, hmm?”

B’alen finally looked worried. Apparently, Lidra was much more important in his scheme of things than she’d gathered. “Fine. Take her back to the cell and keep a steady guard over her.” He glared suspiciously at his brother. “No, have Lexa do it. I’ll deal with Lidra and the others.”

With a backhand so sudden she was caught full in the face, B’alen forced Alandra to stumble back, away from him. She would have cracked her skull had ‘Sin Garu not held her arm.

“Easy, brother. No reason to hurt your future bride, now is there?”

B’alen grinned, and Alandra knew real fear. The monster was strong enough and enraged enough to kill her and half her people before anyone could counter him. And ‘Sin Garu only added fuel to the flames.

“I apologise if I offended you,” she said stiffly, cradling her sore jaw. Her hands met blood, and she prayed he hadn’t knocked out a tooth. Just the thought of appearing gap-toothed before the council was enough to make her feel faint. But the brutality she’d face if B’alen actually won his battle scared her silent.

He leaned closer, his anger somewhat tempered by her sudden apology. “You’re right, Alandra. I’ve been way too lenient for too long.”

He rubbed at the blood on her cheek and brought it to his lips. The minute his tongue tasted the red liquid, his eyes lit like blue flame. “We’re going to be together soon, Alandra. Never fear,” he mocked and disappeared with a soft whoosh.

“That wasn’t pleasant,” ‘Sin Garu murmured and dragged her back into the dungeon. She stared, bemused, as she noted his looks sliding into Zartic’s image.

“What? Zartic?”

“Keep it down,” he said in a muffled voice as he reached behind him into a small bag. He tossed her a thin, light brown shift. “Hurry up and put that on.”

She sighed as she did, glad to finally free some of her magic from that ridiculous glamour of clothing. “Are you really Zartic, or is this another Dark Lord game?”

He shrugged. “Look at me and see.”

Focusing easily, she noted the Shadow caressing his aura and knew him to be an Aellei. His true face appeared, a mess of bruises that had yet to heal, and she knew he’d deliberately shared the sight with her.

“B’alen’s work?”

He nodded. “As we speak, he’s on his way to meet his brother for some much needed family time. Sava’s waiting for you. And if you don’t hurry, we’ll have a major war on our hands.”

“War with Sava?”

“He mentioned Light Bringers have been spotted in Aelle. And I don’t think they’re here for me.” He frowned and rubbed his tender chin. “At least, I hope they’re not.”

“I’d go with you, but I’ve lost my charm.” Aerolus, you maddening man, when the hell do you think I might get that back?

“Use the back trail to find Sava and your Light Bringer allies. I’d go with you, but Lidra will get suspicious if I’m not back right away. I left for a brief call of nature, and she’s exceedingly difficult to please of late.”

Alandra nodded, too grateful at her chance to escape to question him further. Aerolus was here, for her, and he was walking into a trap. She had to warn him.

Concern for her love blocking all else from her mind, she fled the dungeon and immediately shimmered into a pixie, flying along the path to freedom.

“That was almost too easy,” Zartic said to the woman gliding out of the dark corner of Alandra’s cell.

“Desperation will do that.” As will love, Lexa thought bitterly. “So Lidra’s waiting for her, as we planned?”

He nodded. “And your brothers are gearing up for a major face-off in the clearing. I dropped a few hints to the most intelligent of the wraiths I could find.” He grimaced.

Lexa laughed. “I know that was hard. But you gave them enough evidence to point both ‘Sin Garu and B’alen at each other, hmm?”

“Yes, mistress.” He bowed his head respectfully and started when she cupped his chin in her hand.

“Take your reward, then, Der captain,” she said huskily, looking deeply into his face. With a breath she took away his pain, his scars and bruising, leaving him untouched, at least physically, from her brothers. “You’d best disappear, along with the rest of the Shadren, until the Dark Lords finish killing one another.”

She smiled, aware Zartic stared at her as if entranced.

“What of Sava and the Light Bringers?” he murmured, staring at her mouth.

Arim’s haughty face lingered in her memory, and her eyes lit with anticipation. “Leave them to me.”

Chapter Thirteen

Sava didn’t take surprises well, Aerolus noted.

“You’re lucky I didn’t do more than steal a bit of energy,” he growled at Arim from a face and body completely different from the Aellei Aerolus had been expecting.

Alandra had mentioned Lord Sava as a friend of her parents, and he knew she thought of him like a father. But this man looked as if he would have been more at home as her lover. The thought irritated him as much as it disturbed him. The constant worry for her gnawed at him, and he knew the irrational jealousy was another result of the negative energy amassing in Aelle.

The minute they’d stepped into this plane he’d felt it. Having Alandra’s magic meshed with his was both a blessing and a curse. He felt the Dark more deeply, able to accurately sense Aellei and Dark Lords alike, but was also more susceptible to the Dark’s pull.

“Damn me, Sava,” Arim said with surprise. “Last I’d heard you were a weakened, scarred old man. What happened to the wise old Aellei determined to end his people’s vain fixation on surface pleasures?”

Sava sat back on a plush, oversized couch with a loud exhalation. “Anything worthwhile eventually grows old.” He smiled at his pun. “Do you like the real me? I decided to go back to my roots. All that aged wisdom was getting on my nerves. The Aellei took me more seriously, but then I started taking myself too seriously.”

“Maybe that was a good thing,” Aerolus said quietly, his gut churning. “Remember Alandra? I’m sure she could use your help about now.”

Sava stared with pale grey eyes. “This is the pup my niece has chosen?” He stared at Aerolus with dismay. “He’s barely a man, and a Light Bringer at that.”

Aerolus seethed. They sat in Sava’s tower exchanging pleasantries and insults while Alandra was out there in a fucking dungeon, alone. “Look, you arrogant prick, I want my affai. And if you don’t tell me where she is in two seconds, I’m going to feed your eyes to you on winds of Light.”

The air seethed and sparks crackled in the air as Sava regarded Aerolus steadily.

“One, two—”

Arim stepped between them. “He’s testing you, Aerolus.”

“Not bad. A little overly dramatic, but I like the ‘arrogant prick’ comment.” Sava grinned and grabbed a sword that suddenly appeared on a nearby stone table. “Alandra’s safe in the dungeon. I had one of my men impersonate ‘Sin Garu. As we speak, events are unfolding.”

Aerolus shifted nervously. His skin prickled as if someone had recently enspelled him. Calling forth the latent energy of his affai, he stared around him using Alandra’s senses and saw Darkness creeping through Sava’s windows.

“Arim, we’re under attack.” He withdrew his staff and allowed a beam of Light to pierce the shadowy interior of Sava’s tower.

“What are you doing?” Sava asked, shocked. “You would come into my home bearing arms against your host?”

Arim shook his head. “No, Aerolus is right. There’s something wrong in here.”

Sava opened his mouth to argue, then closed it as his eyes widened. “Lexa,” he murmured and shook his head. “I think it’s time I took my leave. Aerolus, come with me, and we’ll go to my niece. Arim needs some space to greet an old friend.”

Aerolus stared from his uncle’s clenched jaw to Sava. Arim’s gaze suddenly focused on the far wall, and as Aerolus watched, the shadows in the tower grew and coalesced into a woman’s shape.

“Go, Aerolus.” Arim’s eyes gleamed. “Tanselm needs you and Alandra. I can handle this.”

“Yeah,” Sava said sarcastically. “Just like you handled her at the Great Hall.” He shook his head. “Come on, pup. We’ve got better things to do.”

Aerolus wanted to argue, but one look at the mysterious Lexa told him the history between these two was far from over. Something about her reminded him of Alandra, yet the icy fury in her gaze ended the subtle resemblance.

“Uncle—”

“Get moving.”

“Why not let him remain to play,” Lexa murmured, her sensuality a weapon in itself. Her words lashed around Aerolus like a leash pulling him close.

“Not your type, Lexa,” Sava said and yanked Aerolus to his side. In a blink they flashed to the dungeon. “Your uncle and that woman have a history they need to discuss. You and I aren’t welcome to interfere.”

“How do you know?”

“I was there when it all happened.”

“When what happened?” Aerolus asked in a low voice as they entered the stone building.

“It’s a long story, and one Arim needs to tell.” Sava pulled out a long stick, thinner than Aerolus’ staff but just as powerful, if the grey mist of energy around it was any indicator. “What, by Shadow’s fall?”

They stared at an empty cell.

“Zartic was supposed to keep her here until I arrived. Damn it. He’s playing with things better left alone.” Sava’s eyes glowed, but Aerolus had no patience left.

His elemental magic thrummed to be released. Using his anger to strengthen his power, he slammed Sava against the nearest wall. “If you don’t produce Alandra le Aelle, right now, I’m going to kill you.” He felt calm, too calm. “It’s not a threat, but a promise.”

Sava glared. “She’s not here, Light Bringer. Zartic is working for another.” He closed his eyes and frowned. “You’ve got one of two choices. I feel a distinct disturbance in the council field, and another to the south of the dungeon. Take your pick.”

Aerolus focused and felt a flutter of what he recognised as Alandra. “I’ll take the south.”

“I’ll take the field.” Sava cleared his throat. “As soon as you release me,” he added icily.

Aerolus did so and left without apology as worry overcame good sense. He didn’t bother to hide his presence from the inhabitants of Aelle, and though he travelled along a rather isolated trail, he quickly noted the many eyes in the woods that followed him.

“Well, well, well.” A large male flashed ten feet in front of him, halting his progress. Aerolus could feel the energy ahead of him, bright with streaks of Shadow—Alandra’s marker.

“Not now,” he growled and forcibly thrust the man from his path. Unfortunately, the tall Aellei had friends, a lot of them. They left the forest on silent feet, a formidable enemy should they prove antagonistic. The ice wraiths soon intermingling with the Aellei warned him they weren’t friendly either.

“Don’t worry, Light Bringer,” an ice wraith said and cackled. “I know you’re in a hurry, so we won’t keep you long.”

A flash of blue fire struck him from behind, bringing him to his knees. Instinctive rage struck back as lightning flew from his wound into his attacker, searing the wraith to a crisp in seconds.

Finally able to let free his anger, Aerolus released a storm into Aelle that would be remembered for years to come.

Alandra looked for Sava everywhere, but to her dismay saw nothing but Shadren glaring at her invasion into darker territory. Morphing back into her original form, she readied herself for anything.

“Sorry,” she murmured as she stepped over a young Nocumat. “Have you seen Lord Sava?”

The creature grumbled a few unsavoury remarks and sludged across the narrow trail. She ventured deeper into the woods, the feeling of doom growing steadily worse. She finally stopped in a small, dark clearing, conscious of the silence around her.

“Sava?” Why she bothered calling for him she wasn’t sure. Zartic, and it had been Zartic, obviously hadn’t sent her to Sava. She glanced around, unease crawling through her. She took two furtive steps forward and swallowed around the lump in her throat. Queen Lidra, in all her Dark glory, waited with a smile. Splotchy black marks streaked her once white flesh, and blood dripped from her fanged mouth down her chin.

‘Sin Garu’s words came back to her. “Don’t believe me? Look at what’s left of Lidra.”

Shit.

“My little niece, come to her auntie at last.” Lidra smiled, her pointed teeth offensive in a face once so very averse to the Dark pleasures.

“I guess it’s pointless to expect you to renounce your throne?” Alandra sighed, trying to appear cool while her heart thundered. Lidra had passed beyond reason, beyond the Shadow into death’s keep. Blood drinkers were one step from pure evil, and Lidra now shared more in common with the Dark Lords than her own kind.

“You little slut.” Lidra’s eyes flashed, their blue now clouded with sickly yellow. “Our kingdom needs the magic Tanselm offers. Dammit, I was born there, you ignorant sheel. I know very well what we’ve been living without for over a thousand years.”

She sneered, cloaking her body in the illusion of an elegant red sheath that lit her curves to perfection. Her skin was once again brilliant, and the blood disappeared from her mouth. Her hair lay in soft waves of gold over her back.

“I am a queen, the highest of the Aellei, and I would have my people where they deserve to be, at the very top of the multiverse.”

Alandra couldn’t help frowning at Lidra’s melodrama. “And you think Tanselm is the best so many worlds have to offer? No offence, Lidra, but I’ve been there. And as beautiful and magical as it is, Tanselm surely pales to other places in existence.” And if I live long enough, I promise to travel to as many of them as I can with my Storm Lord.

“Heresy,” Lidra hissed. Lifting her arms above her head, she linked her hands together and began to absorb the surrounding Darkness.

Alandra stared nervously, wondering how she might evade her aunt long enough to get some help. Sava would know how to handle Lidra, but Alandra wasn’t so sure.

“B’alen wants you. I know he does. But it’s for no more than your power, you stupid chit. I’m the one he desires. I’m the one he drinks from when he hungers.” Lidra licked her lips, and Alandra felt an odd surge of pity for the selfish queen.

“What has happened to you?” she asked softly. “You were once Lidra the White, the Queen of the Aellei, and now you’re reduced to a Dark Lord’s nymph?”

Lidra’s eyes flashed, and she directed a large stream of negative energy through Alandra.

Stunned at the brute force of the attack, Alandra stood in shock like a statue, trying in vain to rethink her strategy. There was no time to wait for Sava. She had to rid Aelle of Lidra now. The raw hatred seething inside the queen was a danger to anyone she encountered. Unfortunately, Lidra was beyond saving.

“Why have you always hated me?” Alandra asked, drawing Lidra into her haphazardly constructed plan. “Even as a young child, I was the one you teased unmercifully. Great queen, I loved you. What have I done but be your niece above all else?”

Lies, but they sounded suitably pathetic uttered in a capitulating voice.

“Stupid as well,” Lidra muttered, glaring. “I’m your aunt in that your great-grandmother Nara was my sister before she died, not so very long ago. She made the mistake of lying with a Storm Lord. A Light Bringer,” she spat in distaste. “Knowing Father would kill her for such perfidy, she tricked your Aellein great-grandfather into marriage. He cared little for his other progeny, siring a multitude of Aellei with dozens of females more worthy than my sister,” she said as insultingly as possible.

A sudden flash of insight took Alandra aback. “You were in love with him, weren’t you?”

Lidra shrugged. “Rovu was the most handsome of our kind. Unlike Sava, he knew my worth, and sadly, my wrath. The minute he set eyes on your mother, some odd sense of paternal fondness hit him. It made no sense whatsoever, yet he refused to let her go. He even began doting on you.”

Alandra recalled her Pare Rovu, remembered his kind eyes and the sticky taffy he brought whenever he visited between his jaunts abroad.

Lidra shrugged, her beady eyes glued to Alandra’s face. “Because of you and your mother, I had to kill him. Such weakness in a male is not worthy of a queen.”

Alandra stilled as a sudden suspicion dawned. Her parents had been killed together, supposedly caught in the crossfire between warring Djinn and Aellein outcasts.

“Yes, you stupid girl.” Lidra rolled her eyes and sent another blast of Darkness through her, one that did substantial damage this time. “I killed your father, your mother, hell, I killed my own sister as well. How could I let her live, hanging onto my lover as she did? Rovu never really loved her. He just wanted her because he thought she was prettier than me. Than me!”

She plumped her lips, and her brilliance flared. “You are the spitting image of Nara, Alandra. And every day you’ve taken breath, I’ve been just waiting for the opportunity to rid myself of your presence.” Lidra’s face turned ugly, her features twisted with hate, and Alandra wondered how much of it was the Dark and how much was Lidra’s unruly jealousy.

“How fortunate, then, when I openly accused you of allying with the Dark Lords,” Alandra said stiffly, still trying to sort the awful truth Lidra had spouted that she, honestly, wished she didn’t now know.

“Oh, yes.” Lidra shot at her again, but this time Alandra managed to avoid the blast by ducking behind a nearby boulder. Pain from her other wounds throbbed in her side, where the numbing Darkness coalesced. Her mind, however, ticked at a record pace, trying to figure out how to do the most damage to Lidra as possible. “Your accusations did more than open the door to my vengeance. You see…”

As Lidra blathered on about one corruption after another, Alandra continued to dodge her advances. Shoring the Light within her, borrowing from Shadow as much as she dared, she knew she’d never have a better chance.

“You poor, sad cow of a woman,” she said with false compassion and stepped out from behind the boulder. She needed nothing standing between her and Lidra when she attacked. Lidra stopped mid-sentence and stared open-mouthed. “How terrible to live in my great-grandmother’s shadow all these years. That even after killing her, my mother and my father, you still are not the prettiest Aellei in the land.” With a blinding brilliance, Alandra released the Light within her. “Rovu could never want a thing as ugly as you.”

Lidra shrieked and returned fire with everything she had. The pain was terrible, akin to the agony Alandra had suffered under Arim, but worse, as Lidra used the Dark to aid her.

Not willing to go the way her unfortunate parents had, and unwilling to allow Aelle to suffer the fate of the many dead worlds the Dark Lords raped and tore to pieces, Alandra allowed the love she felt for Aerolus to fuel her righteous anger.

As Dark met Light, showers of fire lit the grey sky. Cries and shouts feathered into her consciousness, but as their energies met and clashed, something had to give. A loud boom rent the air, and she and Lidra were thrown back. The sick crack of a broken spine made her look to Lidra, only to see her twisted body curdled with age, lying lifeless under a large tree now scarred by Light.

A constant buzzing filled her ears, and the taste of blood made her stomach sour, as did the smell of burnt hair. Glancing at the blurring image of Lidra once more, she saw her aunt’s once bright hair curling with flame. Then a seething, ripping pain tore through the Dark numbness that had settled within her. Agony, the stinging of a million needles piercing her brain, her magic, began to invade the places of Light within her. Her vision darkened, and she prayed Aerolus would find her.

He’d brought her back from the Next once before, but she feared if he didn’t find her soon, she wouldn’t wake to see his face for a very, very long time, if ever again.

Tired and sick of fighting these cretins when his every cell called him to join his affai, Aerolus focused on the well deep within himself for ancient power. Winds and lightning raged, pouring from his eyes and mouth. Torrents of static flew from his fingertips, riding the same air that threw his enemy into a great vortex of wind so vicious that nothing survived in its path.

A sudden explosion in front of him told him to move, and quickly. Ignoring the burning in his body, the myriad cuts and blows he’d received battling an enemy that clearly outnumbered him, he rushed through the same winds that crushed his opponents, only to see Alandra and another woman shuttling through the air away from each other and him.

Alandra landed with a solid crash, jarring her slight form into a moan but not sending her unconscious, for which he was profoundly grateful. The other woman faired not so well. Her body snapped as she hit a massive tree at an odd angle, and as she fell to the ground, her body decayed into a decrepit creature more pulpy flesh and blood than whole.

Not wasting any time, he quickly reached Alandra as her eyes slowly closed. He called her name, stroking her head and cradling her to his chest, but she didn’t give him the slightest response. Worried, he tried to see her aura, but found, to his shock, he could no longer feel her power within or around him. Clinging to her, he began to waver, and finally realised what terrible shape both of them were in.

He was bleeding from more wounds than he’d ever had in his life. Darkness clawed at his core, breaking the Light within him into small, useless pieces. His head throbbed, and he kept seeing spots that he had to blink away to maintain focus. Yet he was awake and moving, while his affai was not.

Studying the face more precious to him than life itself, he saw her perfect cheeks bruised, her lips bleeding and her left eye slightly swollen. She had been struck, battered, and even now lay perilously close to death. He turned away from the thought she might already be dead, unable to accept even a hint of such truth without losing his tenuous hold on life itself.

Knowing of only one thing that might cure his affai and bring her back, he used every last reserve of energy he possessed and teleported them into Tanselm, into the shadow of MornMountain. Finally at his end, he laid her down as gently as he was able and toppled next to her. He reached out and clutched her hand, willing her to recover even as his soul struggled to separate from his body and seek the Next.

Chapter Fourteen

Arim worked to escape the whip of Darkness lashed around his throat, his eyes watering with the effort. He’d been fighting Lexa for nearly an hour, getting no closer to defeating her than she was to defeating him. Oddly enough, he sensed she meant to keep him at arm’s length, as if she had more in store than this simple battle.

“What do you really want?” he asked for the fifth time. He saw her eyes flash, a sight that never failed to stir him. At that moment he wasn’t sure who angered him more, himself for still being attracted to the traitorous witch, or her for being so…Dark. She smiled slowly, toying with him again. Annoyed he’d let his irritation with her show, he deliberately grinned at the pain in his neck, disconcerting her before she slipped her mask of hatred firmly back in place. Interested despite himself, he wondered just what lay beneath Lexa’s cold exterior.

Where had the shy, sweet girl he’d once known gone, or had she never really existed at all?

“Hmm, what do I want, you ask?” Her lips curled though her eyes remained flat. “I want you to die like a man, instead of the snivelling Light Bringer I know you to be. What a poor excuse for a mage.” She sneered and shot blue flame from her fingertips, scoring marks across his cheek.

He retaliated with a burst of Light, almost hitting her full in the face had she not dodged at the last minute. A sudden and foreign sense of shame hit him as they fought, an unfamiliar feeling that he was fighting a losing battle against a woman not his enemy. From where the thought had sprung he didn’t know, but a painful spear of Dark through his thigh cleared the notion in a heartbeat.

Ice burned at his legs, middle and arm, and while he struggled to undo the noose at his throat, he waited stiffly for another blast of blue flame to hit him. Surprised she would hesitate to take advantage of his weakness, he glanced at her face only to see her fierce expression now serene, her eyes closed.

Recognizing a vision when he saw it, he hurried out of her clutches and would have turned the tables on her when she vanished without a sound.

Shocked, he instinctively encased himself in a powerful shield and waited. The Lexa he knew had never fled from a fight, and he wondered what she meant to do next. Attack him from behind, draw him into the open searching for a vulnerability he didn’t intend to give? She’d caught the one weakness in his shield earlier, but he’d fixed that problem and—

“You have to see this,” Sava blurted from his right, ducking the ball of Light Arim instinctively threw. “Shadows, man, get a grip. You’ve obviously finished playing with Lexa. You need to see this, and tell me what it means.”

Grabbing Arim by his uninjured arm, Sava flashed them behind a large verum tree.

“Watch,” Sava whispered.

There, in a clearing littered with scarred tables and chairs, two Dark Lords battled viciously. Stunned, Arim could only stare as ‘Sin Garu and B’alen tore into each other.

“This makes no sense. They know we’re here. Why turn on each other when the smart thing would be to exterminate the Light Bringers?”

“I don’t know,” Sava murmured. “But they’ve been at this for some time now. Lidra’s dead,” he said grimly. “And Alandra and Aerolus are missing.”

Arim stared into his eyes, sensing no trickery, only worry for his niece. “You’re sure they’re not anywhere, their…remains not in the trees or over the ground in any way?” he asked in a gritty voice. The thought of Aerolus dead turned him cold, but he had to know.

Sava’s face softened. “No, friend. I swear by my sight they are not here. In fact,” he said, closing his eyes, “I can’t sense Alandra or Aerolus in this plane at all.”

Breathing a small sigh of relief, Arim turned his attention back to the Dark Lords, watching with fascination as they grappled and fought. Nothing was out of bounds as they clawed, fired blue flame, and brought pawns into their battle. Several decapitated and dismembered wraiths and Aellei lay scattered about the clearing, quickly joined by another two scorched Der warriors.

“Come, Brother, let’s end this now,” ‘Sin Garu said, sounding not at all tired.

B’alen, on the other hand, looked to be breathing heavily. “Fuck you, meh fre ak nahl sur.” He flashed his teeth and spat at his brother, the sting of acid landing on ‘Sin Garu’s cheek and making him howl with rage.

“That had to hurt,” Sava muttered.

“Look at his face.”

“No, I meant the ‘nahl sur’ comment. B’alen basically called ‘Sin Garu a creation of incest.”

“Nice.” Arim shook his head. “This is all well and good, Sava, and I can’t say I don’t enjoy watching our enemy take themselves out, but I need to check on Aerolus.”

“Lexa told me everything, you know,” ‘Sin Garu mentioned casually, drawing Arim’s attention. The wily Dark Lord avoided B’alen’s enraged attack to his throat. “Lidra would only have been convincing as Ravyn if you’d not turned her into a blood drinker. Haven’t you learned by now to think ahead, big brother?”

Arim stiffened. Lidra as Ravyn? Alandra hadn’t mentioned that. Imagining Lidra pretending to be his sister made him cringe, but knowing the Aellei might have succeeded had Alandra never made herself known to Aerolus had him rethinking any doubt he might have had about his nephew’s affai.

“Ingenious, really,” Sava said, echoing his thoughts. “If Lidra had succeeded, you would have had a Dark Lord imbedded in Tanselm before you knew what you were dealing with. It’s one thing to distrust the Djinn, but your overqueen? Hmm, why hadn’t I ever thought of that?” he asked lightly.

Arim shook his head, his immediate concern for his sister cooling at Sava’s humour. Lidra was dead now. But Ravyn would need to be told. Bad enough she’d lost her husband to the Next and her sons to a foreign land, she now also needed to worry about internal threats to Tanselm. Wonderful.

Weary, Arim rubbed at his neck. “I’m going back to Tanselm. Let me know what—”

He stopped as ‘Sin Garu suddenly impaled his brother with a spear of blue flame. B’alen gurgled and black liquid ran from his mouth. It appeared the Dark Lord threat had just taken a turn for the better.

“What’s that, Brother?” ‘Sin Garu asked softly. He leaned closer to listen to what B’alen said and narrowed his eyes. “She’ll pay, dearly.” Then, gathering several wraiths still alive and surrounding the fight, he drew a circle in the air. A blazing inferno appeared above him in a circle big enough to fit the small gathering of Netharat.

He gathered B’alen in his arms and vaulted into the maw, his wraiths in trail. The portal closed as quickly as it had opened, and the air settled into stillness.

“Helluva day.” Sava breathed deeply and made a face. “We really need to clean this mess up. Already the stench of rot is clogging my sinuses.”

“Not to mention so much death is unsightly,” Arim said sarcastically. “Glad you have your priorities in order, Sava.”

Sava glared. “I love Alandra, you sheel. But she’s on her own path now, one that takes her from Aelle into a greater Shadow.” He smiled, his eyes dark with threat. “Have no fear, old friend, I intend to visit her often in Tanselm, to make sure she’s treated well, as she deserves.”

“Save it, old friend.” Arim blew out a breath in disgust. “Alandra will be treated like a queen, as you well know. Aerolus would rather die than let anyone, including me, harm his affai. Not that I would,” he said quickly to forestall more fighting. The anger in the depths of Sava’s normally good-humoured gaze began to fade. “Trust me. Alandra will be most welcomed in Tanselm. And knowing my sister, Alandra will soon have a mother again, whether she wants one or not.”

Sava visibly relaxed. “Well, then.” He cleared his throat. “I’d ask you to stay, but you make my people nervous. They only know of the horrors you perpetrate, and not of your giving nature to us of Shadow.”

Arim snorted. “On that note, I’ll leave. Let me know when you’re coming to Tanselm,” he warned lightly. “I’d hate to kill you before greeting you properly.”

Sava nodded, a light in his eyes. “But of course. Must follow society’s dictates. And the next time you show up in my tower, you’d better have several gorgeous women on your arm, or at least a treasure in gold. No offence, but Aerolus isn’t exactly a valuable commodity here.”

Chuckling, Arim nodded. He gripped Sava by the forearm before taking his leave. Teleporting back to Tanselm, he searched for Ravyn to see if Aerolus had returned. He found her with Darius, Marcus and their respective affai in her personal chambers. She glanced up, hope in her eyes, in her wary smile. But seeing him alone caused her face to fall.

“Aerolus is in trouble,” she said, tears falling from her dulled gaze. “You have to find him, Arim. Find him and save him. I can’t lose my son. He’s not ready to see his father again. Not yet, not like this.”

She cried harder, and Tessa and Samantha pulled her close. Darius and Marcus ushered him from their mother’s chamber.

“We’ve searched the kingdoms with spells, a scrying tablet and on foot. We can’t find him, or Alandra.” Marcus spoke stiffly, worry leeching from his voice.

“He’s hurt, bad,” Darius growled, frustration lacing his words. “I’ve never felt so much pain. If we don’t find him soon—”

“There won’t be an Aerolus left to find at all,” Marcus finished softly.

Aerolus couldn’t breathe. He knew he was in Tanselm, and that he lay next to his affai. Peace should have been in his grasp, but a sense of wrongness filled him, and with it, a worry that Alandra still faced grave danger. He wanted to turn to her, to feel her again. But he couldn’t move his hand, couldn’t feel anything at all.

Struggling, he tried to roll to his belly, to reach for her, to use the winds as his aid, but to no avail.

He began slipping, slowly edging closer and closer to the murky warmth of something most unwelcome…

“Not yet.” A husky, familiar voice called him back. He felt cool fingers touch his brow, bringing comfort from the pain of almost losing everything. “You’re needed here, by so many who love you,” she said softly.

Images of Alandra, his mother, his brothers and new sisters flashed through his mind. The scents of iria, of musty, ageless scrolls and withered texts, of a fresh breeze lingering over the magic of Tanselm filled him with joy.

“Come back, sweet,” she whispered and kissed his lips softly. A humbling coolness breathed new life into his tired body, and suddenly, his aches and pains melded into vibrancy, into dire, urgent need for the one woman his heart would ever love.

A soft surge whispered over the wind, and he opened his eyes to find Alandra smiling down at him.

“There you are,” she teased, feathering her touch over his lips. “I’ve missed you.” Her eyes suddenly misted, and she kissed him with desperate elation. “Don’t do that, Aerolus. I don’t like it when you lay so still.”

“Then what would you suggest, affai?”

Seeing his perfect bride, her eyes filled with tears and her lips trembling with love, for him, broke through his calm. A zeal to reaffirm life, to embrace the magic and passion of his love, caused his blood to surge as incredible lust overwhelmed him. Spelling the clothes from their bodies, he lifted Alandra over him and filled her with his heat, stealing her words before they could be spilt.

She moaned and ran her fingers through his hair as he licked and nipped at her full, distended nipples. “You’re so big inside me.”

“Yes, as it should be.” He sucked her nipples hard. “Like warm cherries,” he murmured and drew them deep.

Alandra undulated over him, fucking him with needs and love and hunger. Desire flooded him, and he studied her with his inner eye, blissfully content as he once again saw their auras entwined.

Brilliant Light and fathomless Darkness surged and kissed as Aerolus gripped Alandra’s hips, controlling her movements with a rough hands.

“Oh, love, do it to me, make me come,” she said, parting her thighs wider.

Wanting her more than breath, he grazed her clit and pushed up, mashing her pelvis against his as she rocked over him, slamming down with force while his winds encouraged her ride.

Loving the eroticism of watching them make love, he talked to her, telling her what he saw as he made love to her, stimulating her to new heights as she neared climax.

Wanting to see her explode, he rubbed his thumb over the ripe berry of her clit, harder, teasing. She gasped and moaned his name as she increased her pace, and in moments she clenched around him, praying his name over and over.

Her walls were slick, her pussy unbelievably enticing. He cried out, unable to help the spasms that shook him as he spilled into womanly perfection. As he came, he stared into her glowing eyes and gave her all he had to give. His magic, his seed, his very life was hers as it had ever been.

In a hoarse voice, he confessed, “You bring me hope, life, where before there was only loneliness and duty.”

She smiled and blinked back tears. “Go on,” she said, leaning over him.

Still joined, he hugged her to him and kissed her. “Despite your petite frame, you have the most luscious, milk-white breasts and crimson nipples. Such a smooth, taut stomach for one so small and feminine.”

She raised a brow and he laughed, knowing she wanted more.

“Your body and face are perfect, and I never want you to change even one small fraction of any of it.”

She beamed.

“I love you, Alandra. I’ll never forget what you’ve given me, or what you’ve given up for me.”

“Now that was really good.” She kissed him with tenderness, then more passionately as he began to harden again. “So soon?”

“Not soon enough,” he murmured and moaned as she levered off him.

“How about if we do it this way?” she asked, going down on all fours as she glanced over her shoulder. “It’s much more masterful like this, my prince.”

He grinned. “Trying to control me, hmm? We’ll just see about that.”

Hours later, totally spent, Alandra smiled and stared down at her lover, her mate, and stroked his cheek. His eyes were closed, and though he’d told her he wanted only a moment to recover before they joined his family, he’d fallen asleep.

Rising from his side, she stretched and patted the shadowed grass that even now, despite the bright moonlight, refused to accept the moon’s beams.

“Just lovely.” She sighed. “I’m definitely going to love it here.”

Hearing a trickle of water nearby, she cast a small protective spell around Aerolus, using his power now as easily as she used her own, and walked into the cool stream. She washed away the sweat of long passion and the remaining feel of having nearly died.

“I just wanted to thank you for what you did,” she said quietly, knowing the source of her and Aerolus’ well-being lingered near, for protection more than intrusion. “And I appreciate the privacy you allowed us.”

No one responded, not that she’d expected anything. But with Aerolus’ elemental magic in addition to Tanselm’s incredible core of energy increasing her latent magic, Alandra could feel the added presence and knew instinctively it was not Aerolus, but the person who’d healed her.

“I just want you to know that I owe you my life, and his as well. I won’t forget that, nor will I speak of it, since by your very silence you expect silence in return.”

Alandra started at a small patch of Darkness against the shadow of the forest that suddenly shifted.

True love should never be denied, echoed in her mind.

The Darkness seemed to deepen, if that were possible, before vanishing as if it had never been. Had the Shadow of Tanselm just given her its blessing? Alandra let out the breath she’d been holding, not nervous, but very, very thankful for the chance at happiness she’d been given.

Returning to Aerolus’ side, she hated to disturb him but nudged him awake. “We need to let your family know you’re alright before we get any unexpected visitors.” She glanced wryly at their nudity.

He grinned and spelled them both with clothing.

Seeing the ugly jeans and clingy T-shirt he’d once before given her, she grimaced, then laughed at his challenging expression.

She readied her magic to meet his dare, when the sound of racing footsteps approached.

Aerolus immediately stood and placed her protectively behind him. She thrilled at the act, reaching around to embrace him. “I’m so glad you love me,” she whispered.

“It wouldn’t kill you to return the sentiment every now and then,” he growled from the side of his mouth, then relaxed when he noted his brothers and uncle nearing.

“Thank the Light you two are alive and well.” Darius breathed a sigh of relief and reined in his horse. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you for hours.”

“That’s odd.” Aerolus frowned and drew Alandra next to him. “You should have been able to feel us right here.”

“Yes, we should have,” Marcus said as he stared at them both. His grin widened as he continued to stare, and Alandra knew he noticed the rosy glow of satisfaction on her face. “I knew when I felt that certain spark you were okay. But damn, Brother, you had us severely worried for a while.”

“I did?”

“Yes, you did,” Arim said, appearing next to Marcus on foot. “According to Darius and Marcus, you were at death’s very door. What happened?”

He explained what he knew, but Alandra understood there was more to their recovery than arriving in Tanselm. She wanted to share her theories but needed privacy and an audience with her new husband, alone. He would accept the Shadow in their lives, but she wasn’t so sure his family felt the same, not yet. With enough time and effort, though, she knew she could bring them around.

She clutched Aerolus’ hand tight, thanking fate for him in her life. Light or Dark, he was hers to have, hers to keep.

“Alandra?” Aerolus asked, concerned with her tight grip.

“I’ve got some bad news,” she murmured, remembering what Lidra had said a world away.

The party stilled and waited.

“Did you know I’ve got distant Light Bringer in me?”

“I know you just had some in you,” he said under his breath, making her blush at Darius’ loud guffaw.

“Well, then,” Marcus said, his approval making her back stiff. “Welcome to the family, little sister.”

“Oh, so you wouldn’t have welcomed me without that—” she began, before Aerolus cut her off with a kiss.

“Thank the Light he’s learned something about women from us,” Darius remarked. “Now before you two get hot and heavy again, we have to bring you to see Mother. She’s been worried to tears, and she won’t rest until she sees your pretty face again, Aerolus.”

“He wanted to say ‘ugly face,’ but even he’s not that stupid, at least not all the time.” Marcus grinned at Aerolus and Alandra, ignoring the finger Darius gave him. “I tell you, the habits he’s picked up from Samantha are crude, not to mention insulting.” He turned to Darius. “You two are perfect for each other,” he ended, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

“Funny, but I saw Tessa giving you that same finger just yesterday, Marc.”

Aerolus chuckled, hugging Alandra to him, and she felt warmly content for perhaps the first time in her life. Her new brothers were going to be a handful, a challenge she thrilled to accept. And her new sisters, hmm. She already liked the sound of them.

“Come, Alandra,” Arim said, offering his hand. She looked to Aerolus, who smiled and nodded. “You need never fear my harm again,” Arim said softly. “Your spirit guides our Wind Mage, your heart is his heart. And in your love shines a beauty that will forever be pure.”

“Oh, he’s good,” she said sincerely. “Aerolus, you might want to take notes.”

The others laughed and ribbed their uncle, and as they left to meet Queen Ravyn, Alandra turned to see a shimmer of magic on the air, and a pair of ghostly blue eyes winking out of sight.

Chapter Fifteen

Aerolus shook Cadmus’ arm and winked, surprising Cadmus at the open sincerity in his silver gaze.

“I look forward to your return as well, brother. Alandra sends her best.”

Cadmus nodded, still stunned that his reluctant sorcerer of a brother had not only found but fully accepted his affai. He watched as Aerolus shook Jonas’ hand and thanked him before teleporting back home, back to his love and his future, one Cadmus knew for a fact included at least one daughter.

By the Light, when would life make sense anymore? Darius and Marcus had fallen hard, but he expected as much from those thick-skulled control freaks. Aerolus he’d thought would stay the course. And now understanding his brother could have returned home at any time since they’d left Tanselm, he was doubly shocked that Aerolus accepted an affai when he hadn’t really needed one.

“Are you done daydreaming or what?” Jonas asked in a bored voice.

Cadmus glared at the Djinn, wishing he’d left his ass in the dust long ago. Jonas was harder to shake than a tick, and his ability to read Cadmus like a book grated.

“What do you want now, Jonas?”

“It’s time to go. You can’t afford to stay here any longer, and you know it. Too many Dark Lords and Netharat out there know where you live.”

Cadmus knew he was right. But damn, this had been his home for a year, a place apart from Tanselm where he and his brothers had argued, laughed and shared as only quadruplets could. He felt sorry for himself, being the last one left behind, and knew the feeling to be an unworthy one. At least he had the warmth of joy inside him, feeling his brothers’ happiness at being home with their affai.

He’d never realised how much pleasure could be found in true love, having never experienced the sensation himself. Loving one’s parents and siblings was quite different from loving a woman, and his brothers treasured every second with their mates. He could feel it in his bones.

“Last but not least, eh, Earth Lord?” Jonas asked with a smirk.

Cadmus sighed. “Shut up, Djinn. Now are we going back to Ellie’s or not?” He tried to act disinterested, keeping his tone casual. But his body tensed at thoughts of the tempting female.

Lust he understood. Cadmus was an Earth Lord, after all, and his passions had always run deep. But this obsession he felt for Ellie, for a damned Djinn, eroded what little sense of self he had left.

Jonas frowned. “You can forget about Ellie, Cadmus. Her part in this is finished, and truth be told, the only reason she came on to you the way she did is because she was trying to help her father. Now take my hand, and we’ll teleport to Foreia. It’s been a while since I’ve been home, and there’s something there you need to see if you’re ever to defeat the Dark Lords.”

Cadmus nodded, glad to finally have something to do other than remain locked up with a babysitter. But thoughts of Ellie refused to leave his mind even as they entered the cold between.

She’d come on to him to help her father? Not likely. She’d been too hot for him, too eager for his touch to have accepted him merely to aid her father. No Djinn female writhed and begged and spread herself for a man at her father’s request, and especially not for a Light Bringer. Having learned more of the Djinn than he’d ever wanted to these past few weeks, he knew there was no way in hell Ellie’s father wanted or even knew exactly what his precious daughter had done with a Storm Lord.

A silent shimmer later and he landed in Foreia, a place covered by an alien shadow, lavender clouds, an ocean of dark blue grass and giant, red-leafed trees. The foreign landscape intrigued him, as did the sense the land tried to touch him, licking at his energy with a need to know more.

“Don’t worry, the pain will pass,” Jonas offered.

“It doesn’t hurt.” Cadmus knelt and reached beyond the grass into golden soil, pleased when it responded to his touch by offering up more.

Jonas stared open-mouthed as Cadmus laughed, joy at once again finding himself refreshed and an Earth Lord too much to hold within. Unbidden came the image of Ellie, of her blue eyes twinkling with delight behind the bar, of her golden hair shimmering like spun silk under him as he took her hard and deep, her magic as strong as any the earth could give.

He gripped the dirt between his fingers and rubbed it into his palms, renewed and redirected. He had much to learn here, much to understand about a land he once thought to be evil incarnate, about a people he had come to understand had the same foibles and riches as the Light Bringers, but lived life in Darkness rather than Light.

A sudden memory hit him, of Ellie parking her car in her driveway in the early light of dawn one day, of sunlight washing over her hair and figure, illuminating her with white flame as if she were in truth instead of just caught by a piercing ray.

She’d smiled when she’d seen him watching her and had eagerly joined him in bed again, loving him with her mouth and her magic, the very soul she tried to hide behind common work in a magicless world.

So Ellie thought her part in Tanselm’s war was finished, did she? He stood and dusted his hands off on his jeans, his brown eyes glowing with determination.

Ellie might not know it, but she was far from finished with Tanselm’s Earth Lord. He would do everything in his considerably charmed nature to find the key to the puzzle she presented, until memories of her touch, of her scent and laughter, plagued him no more.

Satisfied now that he’d come to a decision about Ellie, he took Jonas aback with a chuckle. “Come, Jonas, introduce me to the Dark side of life. It’s time I saw whatever it is you think will help us defeat the Dark Lords.”

Jonas shook his head, clearly not ready to trust the new and accommodating Cadmus. No matter. It was only a matter of time before—

“Holy shit!” He stared at the figure waiting for him surrounded by a dozen Djinn warriors and knew he’d been betrayed. “I saw you die.” He turned to Jonas for validation, but Jonas said nothing, merely stood waiting with his arms crossed.

“Fine, be a dick.” Frustrated at Jonas, at Ellie and the sorry hope he’d had for something he could never quite grasp, he clenched his hands tight. His death would crush his family. He only prayed it wouldn’t kill Tanselm’s bright future. “Kill me if you want. But I’m taking as many of you to the Next with me as I possibly can.” Golden soil began groaning beneath them, shocks of energy fisting around his hands as he demanded Foreia’s aid.

The figure in the midst of the still warriors stepped closer, giving Cadmus his only answer—a smile slow in coming.

Content

Gale Season
Storm Lords - 3
by
Marie Harte

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen