“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.”