A life for a life, Guardian. In this world or the Next. Be it your choice.
He shuddered to think of what Lexa might have suffered, but he needed to control the confusion and rage swirling in his mind. “Ellie, calm down.” The woman was driving him insane. He’d never known a host to be so present in a possession. Ellie was killing his concentration.
Once Lexa seemed stable enough to breathe on her own, he turned but saw no sign of ‘Sin Garu. Frustrated, Arim blasted a hole in the castle wall. They’d been so close to ending this war.
“Fuck! Mer sect a whal. Get this thing off of me!” Jonas yelled out in pain, and Arim focused on the here and now.
Knowing he needed Shadow magic to combat the Nocumat clinging steadily to Jonas, Arim sent forth a call for help to Sava, High King of the Aelle. “Sava, I have need of you.”
Sava answered right away. “Yo, Arim. How are you, buddy?”
Buddy? He ignored Sava’s new play on casual and answered, “I’m dealing with ‘Sin Garu, wraiths and a dying Djinn. How the fuck do you think I am? I need help with one of yours.”
Sava’s lighthearted tone faded. “ Where are you?”
Arim could sense his friend’s frown. “In Tanselm.”
A ball of fury whipped through dimensional space then Sava appeared on the ramparts. “You little shit.” He reached down and stuck his hand in the red goo trying to eat through Jonas’ aura. “This is the last time I’ll tell you no, Oxcen. The Next won’t have you once I’m through with you.”
Smiling grimly with a Nocumat dripping from his arm, Sava looked more like a bloodthirsty angel than a kingly Aellei dressed from head to toe in white, his Shadowy magic blinding in its beauty.
Inside, Arim could feel Ellie staring in awe at the handsome king.
“You can wear all the white you want. Doesn’t make you look any more pure.” Arim held Lexa protectively within Ellie’s arms and saw Sava’s confusion. “Possession spell,” he explained, aware of his husky, feminine voice.
Sava glanced at Arim’s body hanging from Dark-hide ropes and shook his head. “You and Lexa need to keep such play to the bedroom. Although I like the whole woman on woman thing you have going here.” He gazed at Ellie with speculation. “So this is the Earth Lord’s affai, hmm? Nice. Gotta love those Djinn. They’re almost as pretty as we are.” Sava shook the Nocumat on his arm when the creature stirred, and Arim swore the thing shuddered. “Not that I’m not glad you called me for this, but why not tap Alandra for help?”
A sudden clamour in the clouds stirred the air, and Sava looked out into the sky. “Netharat attack, eh? She’ll be busy enough. I think I’ll stroll over to MornMountain to see how they’re doing. Later.”
Sava disappeared, and Arim decided he’d had enough of Ellie’s body. Trying to leave while she burned in truth, however, proved a problem.
“Ellie,” he said aloud, hoping the sound of her own voice would break her concentration. “I need you to phase back through your body so I can move back into mine. I’ve been away from it long enough.” When she didn’t move, he tried again. “The sooner we’re back in our own bodies, the sooner we can check on Cadmus.”
Mentioning his nephew worked, because suddenly the dark flames and light in her body faded to normal. “Now keep yourself small until I fully leave your body, okay? You don’t want me taking a piece of you with me when I go.” He felt her shudder and couldn’t help a chuckle. Leaving and reentering his body passed quickly and easily, and as he took a deep breath, he realised he’d need help removing the Dark-hide restraints. They really had sucked at his physical energy.
“Jonas?”
Jonas dragged himself to his feet. “Sure, why not?” he said in a hoarse voice as he limped to Arim. “I’m only half-dead.” He stepped around Ellie and Lexa lying on the ground. “They’ll be okay, right?”
“I think.” I hope. “Ellie just needs a minute to recover. She’s an extremely strong woman.” But I’m not sure about Lexa. Not at all.
“A woman worthy of a Storm Lord.” Jonas held his hands over the ropes, waiting patiently for Arim’s reply.
Arim sighed. “Yes, yes. Now get these things off me, already. I’m losing the feeling in my arms.”
“Try losing it in your brain.” Jonas cringed. “I hate the Shadren. I really, really hate them.”
The second Jonas loosened the ropes, Arim seared them into dust with a blast from his eyes.
“Impressive. Never seen you do that.” Jonas leant down to Ellie and lifted her in his arms. His strength seemed to be returning quickly.
“You should see me at parties,” Arim deadpanned, and the two of them hauled the unconscious women inside the castle. Around them, spellcasters and warriors scattered, settling in to defend the keep.
Arim led Jonas to a spell-protected door. Muttering an incantation, he moved through the opening doorway and found Cadmus on the king-sized bed. “There’s enough room for all three. I’d like you to stay with them in case the safety spell weakens.”
“What? I look like shit and you’re too afraid to tell me?”
Jonas had walked ably enough, but he looked terrible. “Just stay here. I’ll be back soon.”
“Whatever. Just promise me they’ll all wake up healthy and happy.”
Arim studied the three on the bed, his heart warm at the sight of Ellie and Cadmus curling towards one another in sleep. Then he rested his eyes on Lexa and frowned. “I can promise health and happiness for two of them, but your Dark Mistress is going to be a problem.”
Jonas shared his grimace. “She saved your life.”
“I know.”
“And you saved hers. You could have killed ‘Sin Garu, wiped out the threat once and for all. But you didn’t.”
“I know.” Arim scowled, and Jonas shrugged in surrender.
“Hey, I’m just stating the truth. I just think it’s interesting both of you saved each other when you could have eliminated the enemy. You violated Sarqua code, placing the welfare of one over the welfare of all.”
“Is there a point to this?” Arim asked quietly, unmistakable menace in his tone.
The damned Djinn just grinned, his face ashen and his body bruised and bleeding from various Nocumat wounds. “Nope. Just an observation.”
Arim left swearing under his breath and engaged with the enemy once more.
A month later, Cadmus stood with Ellie over his mother’s bed and stared at the queen’s sleeping form. She had yet to regain consciousness, despite Arim and half the land’s best attempts at healing.
“She’ll recover, Cadmus.” Ellie gripped his hand tight. “Her Light still burns too brightly.”
“I’m not ready to let her go yet,” he admitted. “I finally came to peace with my father’s passing. I know he’d like nothing better to see Mother again, but…” His voice broke.
“It’s okay. She’s still with us. If anyone can help her, your uncle can.”
In the time since the grand battle he’d pretty much slept through—and man, did that suck, since his brothers continually ragged him about it—Ellie and Arim had bonded. Granted, they met often to discuss Lexa’s sad turn, but Cadmus could see how the two now spoke with affection and familiarity. Apparently, that possession spell had worked both ways.
Jonas thought it funny Arim now catered to Ellie’s smallest whim. It did Cadmus’ heart good that his uncle wanted to please and get to know Cadmus’ Dark affai. He loved her so damned much. Despite his grief over his mother, Cadmus couldn’t help remembering how he and his Darkling had shared their love just a few hours ago.