“Cadmus is captured, Ravyn near death, and Ellie set to take the fall for the whole of it.”
Lexa said nothing, but her expression hardened. Good. Arim knew Lexa cared for Ellie in some way. But as a pawn or something more, he hadn’t the time to discern. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
He told her and weighed her reactions.
“Damn. This isn’t good.”
“So this wasn’t a part of your plan to weaken the Light Bringers?”
She frowned. “Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not the centre of my universe. I was busy dealing with other matters needing my attention. I had no idea ‘Sin Garu could enter Tanselm without you knowing it.”
“I had no idea either.” He sighed. “‘Sin Garu plans to kill Cadmus.”
“Obviously. The question is, why involve Ellie in the mess?”
“I don’t know. To further stir trouble? For spite? Whatever the reason, we can only assume Cadmus’ vision is unfolding before us.”
She nodded, her brows drawn in the familiar manner that signaled deep introspection. She chewed her lip, and Arim fought the bewildering urge to smooth the pink flesh with his thumb. Remember, she slaughtered three people she’d counted on as family. The Light only knows what she’s done in the years since.
Arim waited impatiently for her to say something.
“In Cadmus’ vision, we were all atop one of the walls in the northern kingdom, correct?”
He nodded. “You had me in restraints when your brother arrived with Cadmus half-dead and surrounded by those hybrid abominations he’s created. But that’s absurd. There’s no way I’ll fall prey to you, Dark Mistress.” He couldn’t keep the sneer from his tone.
She scowled. “‘Sin Garu has Cadmus, that we know. But it seems he’s after more than just ridding himself of the Storm Lords. If that were all he really wanted, he’d have killed Cadmus already.”
She said the words coolly, as if his nephew’s death were as inconsequential as the cold stone underfoot. Anger surged, and he fought to keep it down.
“Relax, Arim, I’m only stating a fact. I know how ‘Sin Garu’s mind works,” she said bitterly, making him wonder just what had come between the two. “He never does anything without a reason. I assume taking Cadmus is a strike at you, personally. He never much cared for you.”
“Something he and you have in common.”
She clenched her jaw, showing him a bit of humanity in her temper. “Yes, and the more you talk, the more I’m reminded why I so disliked you in the first place.” She drew a deep breath before continuing. “From what I can gather, ‘Sin Garu has been assuming many likenesses. In Foreia, he assumed my form and seduced a loyal Sarqua into his keeping. That Sarqua, I believe, may be in the kingdom as we speak.”
His stared at her through narrowed eyes. “How long have you known about this?”
She paused. The white of her skin had never looked so pale, or so smooth. “I managed to warn Ellie. From what you described of Ellie’s and Ravyn’s attacks, I’d say ‘Sin Garu struck again. The timing of the Netharat advance and the attack on the queen is too coincidental.”
“I agree.”
Her brows flew up. “A first for you, eh? Agreeing with what’s right, even though it comes out of the mouth of a Darkling?”
“You’re no Darkling, Blue,” he murmured, studying the shadow of her long, black hair. “You’re the mother of all things Dark.”
“Thank you.” She smiled through her teeth, and he felt a measure of relief to see them white but blunt, a steady contrast to ‘Sin Garu’s monstrous canines. “Now as I see it, ‘Sin Garu won’t be happy until he has you in his sights and control, unable to do more than watch your world come crumbling down around you.”
Her eyes glowed, and he fought to ask the question that burned. Did she wish for his demise as well? How much could he trust her against a fellow Dark Lord—her brother, in fact?
“I think the best course of action is to throw a possession spell.”
“And leave my body virtually naked to attack? Forget it.” Arim waited to see what she’d say next. A possession spell? As if he’d let himself become that vulnerable in front of not one, but two Dark Lords. No way in hell.
“It has to happen that way, Arim. You heard Cadmus’ vision. Now it makes sense to see your eyes looking out through Ellie’s.”
“Try another one, Lexa. Why not simply convince your brother that we’ve changed our minds and want to hand over Tanselm all wrapped in a bow? Because that will happen before I trust you again.”
“You stupid, stupid man.” She paced, surprising him with her aggravation. As she mumbled under her breath, she seemed to come to some conclusion. “Take my hand.”
“What?” Touch a woman that could kill with a thought? Willingly take the hand of his enemy?
“Just do it,” she snarled. “I’ll show you I speak the truth. Use forschwa.”
The forscwha spell would render all her safeguards void, giving him access to any and all portions of her mind he wished. For her to even offer such a thing was unthinkable. A definite willingness to play nice. Unless it was all a bluff.
“Fine. Stick out your hand.”
When she did, he muttered the incantation and raised his own shields, still not trusting the lying little witch. But when he clasped her much smaller hand in his, he saw she spoke the truth. From Lexa’s perspective, the only way to achieve victory over ‘Sin Garu, and the only way for Cadmus to come out of the situation alive, would be to follow Cadmus’ vision to the letter.
Bemused at what that might mean, Arim didn’t end the spell when he should have. Another scene, one he hadn’t consciously asked to see, suddenly flared at the edge of Lexa’s mind.
Lexa returned happily from the Great Hall, eager to share her newest spell with her mother and father. Except Muri and Esel lay bloodied and beaten, lingering between this world and the Next. Poor little Sercha lay dead, mauled as if by an animal. Fighting the energy of death with all her might, Lexa called on her Dark powers and tried in vain to save her family. Fury, misery and fear made her crazed when she failed, and she tore what remained in the house to shreds, her Darkness blowing through the Light she’d found with her foster family.
Arim was the first to find her hours later. Covered in their blood, she reeked of Darkness, of death and its negativity.
Arim saw only the Dark aura and the guilt on her face. The horror and grief he’d expected to see had been replaced by rage and menace, as well an itch to cause harm in kind. And he saw that the accusation in his eyes had shattered her heart into pieces.
He withdrew from her mind and ended the spell, prodding her in her weakened state to forget all that he’d seen. Not able to deal with their past now, he promised himself to revisit it in their future—one he swore he’d make sure they had an opportunity to explore, if for no other reason than to finally put the past to rest.
When she roused from her spelled stupor, he became all business. He agreed to the possession spell, having concluded the same from Cadmus’ vision. The only problem with such a spell was that it could be extremely dangerous for the host.
“Ellie assumes the role of host?” He rubbed his chin in thought and blinked in surprise to see Lexa fixated on him so intently. “What?”
She flushed and glanced at her nails. “Nothing. Just wondering how you intend to convince Ellie this is necessary. To date, you’ve treated her like an outcast simply because she’s part Djinn and houses Darkness within her. Do you realise what you’ll be asking her to do? I doubt she’ll be able to withstand so much Light within her for more than a few minutes at most. The pain will be excruciating, especially if you have to work magic through her body.”