“I know.” He also knew how opposed Cadmus would be to the idea. But the plan was solid and could work. With Arim appearing weak and in the grip of Lexa’s control, ‘Sin Garu would be unprepared for the power of Ellie’s attack.
Lexa considered him with an odd look. “You do understand you’re going to have to put your body in my hands. And if you should die while you’re in possession…”
“I’ll never be able to return to it, trapped in the host’s body. I know. I just hope Ellie loves my nephew as much as you keep insisting she does.” He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, aware he’d come to a crossroads of sorts. For the first time in over three hundred years, he would have to trust Lexa Van Nostren with his life, and that of Tanselm’s.
He opened his eyes and looked at her, trying to see her with the Light within him. Unfortunately, she remained a vague shadow, too far beyond the Light to reach with his power. Mysterious, powerful and sexy as ever. Even after all these years, she affected him like no other. Despite the situation, he could feel himself reacting to her nearness. His magic surged at thoughts of crossing energy with her.
She eyed him warily but kept her ground. “How do you want to play this?”
“Meet me at MornMountain in an hour. Take care not to alert anyone else to your coming.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s obvious. Anything else?”
“Don’t make me regret trusting you, Lexa.”
Her eyes froze over, and he could feel the cold snapping at him as she stepped into his personal space, her face a breath from his. “Don’t make me regret helping you, you sorry bastard. If anything happens to Jonas or Ellie, I’ll personally feed you your balls for breakfast.”
Her cold leeched into him and numbed his nose and cheeks. Arim couldn’t help but grin. “Such drama, Lexa. I see Jonas has been rubbing off on you.”
She scowled and vanished, a whisper of Dark that carried the bright blue of her eyes away in a blink.
Arim released the protective spell around him and took a moment to regroup. He always felt so damned unsteady around that small woman. Knowing he had better things to do than worry about that particular Dark Lord, he teleported back to his sister in Tanselm. Yet before he broke the plane of time and reached his sister, he hovered between phasing and stared in dread at the warriors and sorcerers guarding his sister.
To a man, every warrior on guard stood frozen while Lexa knelt over Ravyn’s still body. His readied to attack when he recognised the healing chants pouring from her mouth. Shocked, he could only watch Lexa kiss his sister on the mouth, blowing the healing power of Dark into Queen Ravyn’s soul.
Colour leeched away some of the white keeping his sister so still, a definite improvement in her condition. Lexa wavered as she stood. Shaking off her weakness, she cautiously glanced around her and vanished. The guards awakened as if nothing had happened, and Arim finished teleporting into the room. He checked on Ravyn and saw that her injury had begun to heal, though it remained a battle to bring her all the way back to good health.
Why had Lexa done something so foolish as to expend energy she would need to combat her brother? And why heal Ravyn, Tanselm’s queen and the mother to the remaining Storm Lords… Unless Lexa’s promise to help the Storm Lords was genuine. The images of the past he’d seen in her mind stirred, and he forced them back. He couldn’t afford to think about that, not now. He’d simply chalk up his confusion to the reality of Lexa, a Dark Lord with too many issues to count. He shook his head and teleported to the northern territory. He had little time to make Ellie understand what they needed to do. He could only hope her love for Cadmus would sustain them.
“No. No way in hell. She won’t do it.” Jonas stood rooted to the floor, protectively hovering over Ellie as she fought the cobwebs of sleep from her brain.
“Get out of the way, Djinn.” Arim brushed him aside like a bothersome insect and touched her head, clearing the pain and weariness she’d been trying to sleep away. “Ellie, we don’t have much time. Cadmus’ vision is coming to pass.”
She stared up at him wide-eyed. “What do you mean coming to pass?”
“‘Sin Garu has Cadmus.”
Fear grew like a knot in her belly. The evil man who’d attacked Queen Ravyn, who was responsible for so much blood and death, had Cadmus in his grip. She wanted to crawl back under the covers and pretend this had never happened. Then she remembered why she felt so tired, so dejected. All the tears and anguish Cadmus had put her through, and she might not get a chance to talk to him again? To tell him what an idiot he was to throw away something as special as her love?
No way would she let some Dark Lord deal with Cadmus until she’d had her say. Talk about trust. Ha. To Arim, she said, “Explain to me again what it is you want me to do? What has my cousin’s panties in a bunch?”
Jonas huffed in disgust. “Laugh it up, Ellie. But what he’s asking you to do might as well be a death sentence.”
“Not necessarily.” Lexa appeared out of nowhere, startling Ellie and making Jonas jump. He barely reined in the power he’d been about to unleash at the woman.
“Didn’t I tell you to meet me at MornMountain in an hour?” Arim glared at her.
Lexa walked to Ellie’s side, her nose in the air. “I have a problem taking orders, especially if they’re yours.” She turned to Ellie. “How do you feel?” Touching her friend’s head, Lexa frowned. “Arim, you missed a few spots.” “Healing never was his strong suit.” Lexa’s thought caused Ellie to sputter on laughter. But she feared if she started, she might never stop.
A buzz started in her head, then Ellie blinked, staring at the world around her now so vibrant with colour. She felt like a new woman, and the knowing look on Lexa’s face told her it was nothing less than magic.
“So,” Lexa drawled. “Now that you feel like a million bucks, what do you think about Arim’s proposal?”
“What proposal? I don’t understand what he’s trying to tell me.” Ellie glared at Arim, who glared right back.
“I’m trying to explain—”
“—the dangers of possession,” Lexa interrupted. “In order to get a leg up on ‘Sin Garu, we’re going to let him think Arim is helpless and in my power. You know, I’m not averse to making that a reality.”
Arim frowned at the wicked grin she shot him.
Lexa continue, “The Dark Lord will be so heady in his power that he’ll underestimate you, Ellie. Once he does that, Arim can strike at him through you while I grab Cadmus.”
“And what will I be doing during this time?” Jonas asked in a gruff voice.
“You’ll be distracting the wraintu, the wraiths housing Nocumats inside their decaying bodies.”
“Wonderful. Sorry I asked.” Jonas fell back on Ellie’s bed and covered his face with his hands. “Lexa, can I borrow a few spells to aid me in the coming battle?”
“Of course, fair one.” Lexa’s grin was infectious, because Jonas lit up like a Christmas tree wreathed in smiles.
Ellie had the worried notion her friends looked forward to the fight. At least Arim didn’t seem as happy.
“You must understand,” Arim said, ignoring Lexa and Jonas, “when I take command of your body, my essence leaves my body and joins yours. That which makes you who you are will be thrust aside. You’ll still be in your body, so to speak, but you’ll be a virtual prisoner. My Light is very strong, and my presence within you will be painful.” He paused. “I could unwillingly kill you.”