Aftershocks

by Marie Harte

  “Not at all. I had my reasons for meeting you, Ellie. But our friendship has been one of the only things in my life worth keeping. Believe that, if you will nothing else.”

  “Fine.” Ellie heaved a mental sigh, unable to withstand the pain in her friend’s voice. “But you’ve got so much explaining to do it’s not funny. Just try not to piss off Arim to the point where he slices you in half.”

  “I’ll do my best,” came the dry but relieved reply.

  “We’re waiting,” Arim said, his voice low, silky and threatening enough to make Ellie wish she were standing closer to Cadmus.

  As if he’d sensed her distress, Cadmus glanced at her and quickly sent waves of reassurance. Deep-rooted warmth stole through her being, and remembrances of their time in the gazebo sparked fresh heat. He winked and turned back to Lexa, waiting with Arim for her explanation.

  Lexa glared at the imposing sorcerer awaiting her reply. “I’m surprised you haven’t sensed this before now. But then, you’re so stubborn you’d resist the truth if it bit you on the ass.”

  Cadmus coughed to smother a laugh, and Ellie noted the way Arim’s huge fists clenched. Lexa was either very brave or had a death wish.

  She sighed and continued, “In all the centuries since the Dark Tribes split and were thrown from Tanselm, tetrarch upon tetrarch of Storm Lords have ruled over the land. For the most part, you Light Bringers brought peace and prosperity to Tanselm.”

  “’For the most part?’” Arim crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Tanselm, like many other worlds with such magic, needs balance to flourish. Just as the Darkness in the Dark Lords’ hands all those years ago hurt the land, the Light you people throw on everything you touch has begun to scar your precious Tanselm.”

  Arim frowned. “You’re lying.”

  “You know I’m not. You’ve felt it in your soul. I’ve felt it myself.”

  “Oh?”

  “From time to time over the years, I’ve visited, Arim. Keep your enemies close, right?”

  His lips thinned but he said nothing. Ellie found the interplay between her friend and Arim as fascinating as their words. She could see the way Arim studied Lexa’s every expression, her every movement. Ellie sensed they had a history that went far deeper than that of mere enemies. Lexa, for her part, acted so blithely uncaring and hostile that Ellie was surprised Arim couldn’t tell how much she still cared for him.

  Glancing subtly around her, she noted all eyes focused on Arim and Lexa, and opened her senses. The Light around Arim and the Dark around Lexa seemed complete opposites, and complete complements. The bands of energy surrounding each of them seemed to reach out and lick at the other, testing, probing, almost…inviting? Interesting.

  “I agree.” Cadmus mentally caressed her. “But pay attention, love. Lexa’s about to tell us why we’re perfect for each other. I don’t want you or your father to miss this.”

  “Very funny.” Containing a smirk, she focused on Lexa again.

  “Tanselm has been steadily weakening. The Light is beginning to burn her out, and she needs some Darkness to balance her magic. Thus the most recent batch of royals.”

  “Excuse me?” Cadmus asked.

  “That’s right, Earth Lord. You and your brothers were born with Tanselm’s blessings. Of the half dozen tetrarchs before you, yours is the most balanced of the bunch.”

  Cadmus’ mouth tightened. “So what? I’m the Dark one to even out my brothers?”

  “That’s bullshit.” Arim glared. “Cut the crap, Lexa. For once in your pitiful life, tell the truth.”

  “I am.” Ice coated her words. “If you’d shut up and listen, I’ll more than explain. I’ll show you.” She stepped forward and drew a circle in the air. Ellie watched, entranced, as four small boys looking very much like younger versions of Cadmus appeared. “These are the identical quadruplet princes of King Faustus and Queen Ravyn. Each prince was born with the powers of the elements, and each rooted himself to the Light and Dark of existence through Tanselm’s grace.”

  Lexa turned to Cadmus. “She particularly liked you, Cadmus. That’s why she gifted you with the abilities of an Earth Lord. You, more than your brothers, feel what Tanselm feels. You’re in tune with the earth and its pleasures and pains, and as such have more Darkness within you than your hotheaded brother, the Prince of Fire.”

  “What?” Cadmus stared at her in confusion, and Ellie felt the same.

  “Well? Haven’t you flashed in truth, not once, but a number of times?”

  Arim stared at him, and Cadmus swore something under his breath. “I have, but Jonas explained that was due to Ellie’s influence.”

  “Jonas was wrong.” Lexa shot Jonas a look that had him throwing up his hands.

  “I told him what I thought he wanted to hear. So sue me.”

  “What Jonas should have told you is that you’re the Darkest of your brothers, Cadmus. Yes, you’re a Light Bringer and Storm Lord in every sense of the word, but Tanselm needs more from you than that. The land needs a saviour.”

  “This is too much.” Arim shook his head in disbelief. “You’re going to tell me I’ve been blind to the fact that my nephew is a Darkling? Try another one. I’ve kept you Dark Lords off Tanselm for centuries. You don’t think I’d recognise a threat from within, and that close to me?”

  “Hello, I’m right here,” Cadmus muttered.

  Ellie couldn’t help feeling for him, but at the same time, she was overjoyed. She welcomed anything that gave her and Cadmus more in common. She liked the idea of her Storm Lord being Dark, and it wasn’t as if the thought was a stretch. Though he liked to joke and have fun, Cadmus had a streak of mischief in him that went beyond Light and surface pleasures. Earthy and deep, he revelled in his sensuality, and his anger at times stirred her Darkness, tempting it to rise.

  “Cadmus is not a threat to you, Arim,” Lexa explained patiently. Ellie thought her more than tolerant, considering how mule-headed Arim was acting.

  “Thank you,” Lexa sent her. “I’m always the bad guy, but see how irritating Light Bringers can be? All holier-than-thou and full of themselves.”

  Ellie smiled and quickly glanced down when Arim’s gaze shot to her. His eyes narrowed, but before he could speak, Lexa distracted him.

  “Darius is mostly Light, and Cadmus mostly Dark. Marcus and Aerolus are Shadowy, hence Aerolus’ bonding to an Aellei, a creature of Shadow. Alandra, by the way, has done more for his magic than you can ever understand.”

  “I know.” Arim rubbed his chin as he studied her.

  Surprised Cadmus’ uncle would agree with anything Lexa said, Ellie could only watch and wait.

  “Did you hear that, affai? We’re more evenly matched than I’d thought.” Cadmus snuck an evil grin at her father that made Ellie and even Amanda chuckle.

  “I thought Jonas was a pain in the ass,” Ethim grumbled.

  “Hey.” Jonas clutched his heart. “I’m wounded. And after all I’ve done to help you.”

  Ethim nodded at Lexa. “Help her, you mean.”

  “I serve the Djinn.” Jonas bowed regally, but Ellie caught the smirk he shot her father. When he winked at her, she laughed. Her father was right. Jonas was as much a pain as Cadmus promised to be.

  “Thanks for the comparison,” Cadmus growled in her thoughts.

  “All of this has been most enlightening,” Arim interrupted. “But what does it all mean? Are you telling me Cadmus is doomed to become a Djinn, now? Will he be bursting in truth at will, or just at random?”

  “You are so patronising.” Lexa sighed. “No, Cadmus is not doomed to become a Djinn.”

  “‘Honoured’ would have been a better word,” Jonas added.

  Lexa continued, “He may burst in truth from time to time, but only when Ellie becomes threatened or his life is at stake. And before you think to condemn that trait, know that the Darkness within him has saved his life on more than one occasion. Ellie enhances that part of him, but the magic was in Cadmus t
o begin with. In fighting a Dark Lord, he’ll need that to survive.”

  “To survive what, exactly?” Arim’s expression teetered from frustration to anger. Yet every now and again, Ellie swore she saw something more when he looked at Lexa. Something that looked strangely like confusion.

  “To survive what I’ve seen coming,” Cadmus spoke up. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

  Ellie shook her head. “You’ll explain it now.”

  “Tell her, Cadmus, or would you rather I look for myself, like I did earlier?” his uncle threatened.

  Ellie watched her lover blanch and promised herself to give Arim a good talking-to. It was obvious the man ran amuck. Too much power corrupting his authority. Arim, the Killer of Shadow, needed some serious limits.

  “Amen.” Lexa blew out a breath.

  Cadmus grudgingly explained, “‘Sin Garu is in Tanselm, and he’ll have those wraintu with him, those things that have the Nocumat inside them. Lexa’s there, and you too, Arim. And then the wraintu throw me into the mix, all bloodied and battered.” He turned to Arim. “But you’re tied up and can’t help at all. And then Ellie’s there, but there’s something different about her.”

  Ellie wondered when Cadmus had thought to tell her about this vision. She’d known of his precognition, but thought he’d been unable to see anything since Darius had left for Tanselm months ago. Apparently, her Storm Lord was keeping secrets. Secrets that involved him bleeding while she watched with ‘Sin Garu in attendance.

  Arim gave voice to her churned up emotions. “Are you fucking crazy?” He yanked Cadmus to him with winds of power. “You might have mentioned this possibility to me before now. As it is we’ve got Netharat and rumours of ‘Sin Garu flying around the northern kingdom every other day. We need to prepare.”

  “Wait.” Lexa held up a hand. “The part about Ellie being involved should concern you more than it seems to. In each attack, ‘Sin Garu has made on the Storm Lords, they all involved Storm Lord affai. Yet in this vision Cadmus had, the Dark Lord attacks Cadmus? What is different about Ellie, about this situation?”

  Ellie thought it telling that Lexa never referred to ‘Sin Garu as her brother. Then again, if Ellie had a brother like him, she doubted she’d want to claim any ties either.

  “Cadmus? Any thoughts?” Arim asked.

  He shook his head, and Ellie wanted to lay into him for not confiding in her. Oh, just wait until she had him alone again.

  He flashed her a wary glance. “Ah, no, not anything helpful. But I can’t stop thinking about what I saw in Ellie’s eyes before the vision ends. It’s your eyes looking out, Arim. It sounds crazy, but I got the impression you were somehow inside Ellie, if that makes any sense.”

  Arim stared from Cadmus to Ellie, than glanced at Lexa. Finally, he spoke, as if coming to a decision. “This is something we need to tell your brothers. Cadmus, the time has come to return home. But you won’t be coming alone. Ellie, you need to come with us.”

  Ellie nodded. “I’m ready.”

  “Well, I’m not,” Ethim said. “I’m still not convinced my daughter is an affai to a Light Bringer. I’ll be damned if I’ll let her go into enemy territory by herself.”

  Cadmus sighed. “Ethim, really—”

  “Good point.” Arim’s agreement caught Ellie by surprise. “Jonas can accompany her. In fact, I’ll be back for him myself after I verify a few things at home. Will that work?”

  Ethim considered him. “Yes, I think so.”

  “Don’t ask me or anything,” Jonas muttered. “Sometimes, I wonder that I’m not really a lapdog dreaming I’m a man.”

  “You’re a dog, all right.” Ellie grinned, relieved she wouldn’t be going into Tanselm alone. Cadmus would, of course, be with her. But when he left to do his princely duty, she didn’t want to be alone at the mercy of a people who’d been taught she was the enemy.

  “If that’s settled, then.” Arim looked ready to leave but stilled when Lexa took a step in his direction.

  “Yes?” he asked coolly.

  “I’m crushed you’re not extending me an invitation too, Arim.” Lexa pouted, and Ellie saw the sorcerer focus on her lips before glaring. Oh, Lexa was good. Really good at this.

  “You’ll be there soon enough, I imagine. When you bring your beloved brother through a dimensional portal. Don’t worry, Blue. I’ll meet with you privately, after I’ve shored our defences. Look for my signal in Shathra.”

  Lexa looked like she wanted to say something. Instead, she nodded and stepped back.

  “Good. Ellie, Cadmus, take my hands.”

  Ellie and Cadmus drew close to Arim and reached out. The instant she put her hand in the sorcerer’s, her mind went blank. And the world turned black.

  * * * *

  The Djinn studied Ethim’s gathering from atop a nearby tree, his gaze unimpeded by the magical shields surrounding The Sarqua’s abode, thanks to a handy Dark Lord spell.

  He watched as Arim grabbed The Sarqua’s daughter and the Earth Lord and teleported from the room. The Dark Mistress and Jonas conferred for a short time before Jonas shimmered from the room, leaving The Sarqua, his mate and the Dark Mistress alone. In the blink of an eye, she vanished. Several minutes later, she joined him in the treetop.

  “So Remir, what did you think?” she asked.

  “Tough call, Mistress. I think Arim bought it, but I’m not sure Jonas will do as you instructed. Frankly, he’s a little too taken with Elliara and the Light Bringers for my taste.”

  “I’ve always thought so.” His Dark Mistress preened and tossed back her hair, making Remir wonder how long she would taunt him before giving him what he craved again. Every second without her was too much too bear. “But our Jonas would rather hurt our Ellie for a brief time than cross his Dark Mistress. I’m not as forgiving as the little Djinn half-breed.”

  Remir chuckled, then sighed when she ran her fingers through his hair.

  “Have you missed me, Darkling?”

  Her lips ran over his neck, nuzzling his pounding pulse point and filling him with raw desire.

  “Yes,” he hissed as she raked her hands over his chest, shredding his clothes. In seconds, she had his trousers open, her greedy hands fitting to his cock, pumping him as she whispered naughty things in his ear.

  “You want so badly to be inside me when you come, but you’re not yet ready, are you, Remir?”

  “No,” he rasped, straining in her hold. Her lips covered his bared nipple, and her teeth bit hard, the pain increasing his pleasure even as she lapped up the tiny droplets of blood from her bite.

  “Mmm. Delicious.” She licked his chest, her hands burrowing closer and closer into his groin, painfully tightening over his shaft as she worked her fingers under his balls.

  Unable to stop himself, Remir thrust up and came, nearly sobbing as ecstasy coiled within him. He came again and again, her Dark powers surging within his Djinn body, stirring the erotic act anew. She whispered something in his ear he readily agreed to. Anything to have her in his arms again.

  It took a few moments before Remir understood he now sat alone. Lexa had vanished during his sensual haze. But she’d left him with a sticky reminder of her presence, along with a command he not only relished, but looked forward to completing.

  Gathering his wits, he vanished, shimmering after Jonas’ trail.

  In his haste to do as his mistress bid, he missed the furious stare from a witness on the ground. A loud boom rent the air, then all was silent.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “What the hell did you do?” Cadmus glared at his uncle, furious at the thought Arim might have enspelled his affai. They’d landed in Tanselm, and Ellie still hadn’t woken. He cradled her closer to his chest.

  “I had to transport us to Tanselm, Cadmus. How exactly did you think I intended to do so?”

  Eyeing the satisfaction in his uncle’s gaze, Cadmus knew the wily sorcerer had done more than transport them home. Then Ellie moaned and blinked up at him.
r />   “Finally. You okay?” He kissed her sweet lips, relieved.

  “I, ah, I guess.” She wavered on unsteady feet and stared in confusion at her new surroundings.

  The small clearing in which they stood sat just outside the western kingdom’s north wall. They must have arrived during mid-eve, for the sun was disappearing over Morn Mountain to the east, the steady, warmer temperature a welcome relief from Seattle’s frigid version of spring. Birds chirped and bees hummed, and the sweet scent of leraffes coming into bloom made Cadmus’ head spin with joy. He wanted to revel in his homecoming, awash in the familiar and much-missed sensations of home, but worry for Ellie tainted his pleasure.

  “What did you do to her?” he asked his uncle again, mentally promising retribution if Ellie had been harmed in any way.

  “What I needed to do,” Arim challenged, but Cadmus refused to back down.

  “Look, uncle or not, if you’re fucking with my affai because you can’t handle the Dark, think again.” Ripples of power surged through Cadmus, Tanselm’s welcome more than effusive. Though it had been over a year since Cadmus’ last visit, he knew for a fact he’d never felt such strength. He tested his power and watched with grim approval as nearby roots shot with incredibly speed through the green grass to wrap around Arim, imprisoning the startled sorcerer. Cadmus held him fast with the psychic energy humming within the land itself. By the Light, the rush was extraordinary.

  “Interesting.” Arim made no move to free himself, just watched Cadmus with curiosity. “What now, Earth Lord? Going to beat the answers out of me?”

  Cadmus gathered Ellie to him and hugged her protectively. “I’d like nothing better. Now tell me what you did to her or I’m going to—”

  “Cadmus!”

  Protecting Ellie within his arms, Cadmus waited cautiously for his brothers’ approach. Darius and Marcus strode from a secret entrance in the north wall. They stopped in surprise upon seeing Arim covered from neck to toe in tree root, his body several feet off the ground and still.

  “Oh, this looks like fun.” Darius chuckled.