Marie Harte - Aftershocks

“Jonas, what a pleasant surprise.”

Ellie left the kitchen and glanced up in shock to see her mother hugging Jonas. Another figure appeared in the doorway behind him, and her pulse skyrocketed. There was no mistaking the broad shoulders and smouldering gaze that roamed her body with familiarity.

“Who’s your handsome friend?”

Jonas muttered something under his breath. “This is Cadmus Storm, Mandy. Cadmus, Amanda Markham.”

Cadmus’ lips curled up in a smile, and Ellie’s heart raced. Get a grip, girl! Remember, keep your distance. She worked hard to appear calm, to tamp down the heat that rose to the surface the longer she stared at him.

He took her mother’s hand in his own and lifted it to his lips for a kiss. “It’s truly a pleasure, Mrs. Markham.”

Her mother gushed, “Please, call me Mandy.”

“Mandy. It’s obvious where your daughter gets her beauty.”

Smooth one, Romeo. I look exactly like my father.

His eyes flew to hers at the unintended mental connection, and his grin widened . “You’ll forgive me for saying so, Mandy, but you look more like Ellie’s sister than her mother.”

“Oh, I like this one. So you’re a friend of Jonas’, hmm?” She followed his glance towards Ellie, and her eyes narrowed. “I don’t need to ask if you know my daughter.”

“Know her? I—”

Not sure what Cadmus might say, Ellie didn’t give him the chance. “Cadmus, how nice to see you again. Are you two stopping through on your way somewhere?”

“Nope. I just couldn’t wait to see you again, honey. I can’t believe you never told your mother about me.”

Jonas eyed Cadmus warily, and Ellie couldn’t blame him. Just what ran through the Storm Lord’s devious mind?

“How did you two meet?” Amanda asked.

Ellie silently groaned, knowing the expression on her mother’s face all too well. If she had to suffer the I-want-grandchildren speech again because of Cadmus, so help her, she’d kick that sexy ass of his all the way to—

“ Foreia.”

“What?” she asked out loud.

“What?” her mother repeated, staring from Ellie to Cadmus. “I asked how you two met. Don’t tell me this is the man Alex was telling me about? That sexy devil from Outpour?”

“Mother.” Ellie flushed with embarrassment. Could her mother not keep a secret? And what about Alex? What was the use of having a best friend if your best friend told your mother everything? “Alex has a big mouth.”

“Yes, she does.” Amanda grinned. “So when is she flying back? Where is she now? New York?”

Jonas interrupted with a sigh. “Cadmus, we don’t have a lot of time.” He rubbed his stomach and caught her attention.

She zeroed in on her cousin, studying him with that part of herself she normally kept in check. Jonas looked a mess. Clouded energy dimmed his normal vibrancy, and she could see what looked like blood-red blisters searing the aura around his midsection.

“What happened?”

“A Nocumat ,” Cadmus answered quietly, his grin fading. “I’m sorry, Ellie, but we have to go. All of us.”

Amanda’s gaze narrowed. “Did you say Nocumat ? Oh hell. You’re one of them .”

“Mom.” Crap. Her mother had that tone again.

“Don’t ‘Mom’ me. Of all the eligible men in this world, you had to fall for an out-worlder?”

“Out-worlder?” Cadmus raised a brow, then his eyes widened. “Fall for?”

Jonas scowled. “Out-worlder is what Mandy considers anyone not from this plane. And Ellie…” he turned to her, “…if you think we’re not going to talk about this, think again.” The glance he shot Cadmus spoke volumes.

Ellie felt a disturbance deep within herself, as if she could hear the subtle vibrations of a massive door groaning while it slowly opened. Dim shrieks and a pulse of Darkness echoed within her.

Cadmus cursed. “Shit. Ellie, Mandy, we’re leaving. Now.” His tone brooked no argument, and surprisingly, Mandy nodded without a word.

Jonas took a deep breath and released it. “Everyone hold hands.”

“Are you well enough to do this?” Cadmus asked with concern.

“I could use a little help.” Jonas glanced at Ellie.

“Who, me? No. Not until you tell me what the hell is going on. I want to know just how you ended up injured and why you want us to leave.”

“Not now, Ellie. Take Cadmus’ and Jonas’ hands,” Mandy ordered. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Jonas, take us to Ethim.”

Bewildered but sensing the urgency rising each minute, Ellie lent power to her cousin. She didn’t understand what he did, but she recognised the magical pathways he utilised to transport the four of them. A sense of pressure surrounded her for the briefest of moments, then she felt as if she were flying. Freedom, speed and warmth carried her between worlds, through stars and a multitude of existences before they stopped on a breath and dropped onto navy--coloured grass in an alien landscape.

“Foreia,” her mother whispered, reverence and worry in her voice.

This was Foreia? Her father’s homeworld? The place she’d been forbidden to discuss, let alone visit? Ellie could only stare at tall black trees with red leaves, a pinkish sky, blue grass, and some really weird looking bat/birds that hummed as they swooped through the air. The sky felt overcast, though she could clearly see a bright fuchsia sun. Yet she cast no shadow. It seemed as if the Djinns’ Dark nature was mirrored in the very land on which she stood.

She inhaled a sweet, floral essence that revived her, and the air skimmed over her skin with a gentle, welcoming caress. Her gaze automatically sought Cadmus and he nodded, approval on his face.

“ This is a part of you, Ellie. Embrace it.”

“But it’s Djinn.” Her life suddenly seemed to be turning upside down, yet Cadmus seemed like that one solid rock she could cling to for safety. No matter how hard she chipped at him, he remained immovable. “ Don’t you loathe so much Darkness?” she asked tartly, wishing she felt as stable.

He chuckled. “ When the Darkness comes in such a winsome package, I’m drawn to its lure.” He fairly purred . “And your Darkness, little Djinn, is so hot, so wet and welcoming that even now I long to—”

“I get the picture.” She blushed, hoping her mother was too occupied by the foreign landscape to pay attention to her daughter. Subtly shifting her gaze, she exhaled with relief to find Mandy taken by Foreia’s pink skies. Unfortunately, Jonas studied her and Cadmus with a frown. Hell.

Bad enough Ellie was here , in this Dark place full of people who weren’t human, but Djinn. A race of men and women to which she supposedly belonged.

As if her thoughts had conjured her father, Ethim suddenly appeared out of thin air. Dressed in clothing similar to Jonas, with dark, leather trousers and a vest baring an eternally strong frame, Ethim looked every inch a leader of warriors. But when his eyes set on her mother, his gaze softened and he smiled with welcome.

“Ah, Amanda. I’ve missed you,” he said simply, opening his arms.

Fully expecting her mother to make a scene before succumbing to her father’s charms, Ellie was taken aback by the hug her parents shared.

“I’ve missed you, too,” her mother mumbled.

Jonas’s lips curled in satisfaction before he turned to Cadmus. “Why don’t you and Ellie come with me? I’ll show you around. You haven’t seen this particular area of Foreia before, Cadmus.”

As they walked some distance onto a matted path, she noted Cadmus’ tension and heard a hum in his mind. He walked taller, his eyes shifting around him, his hands open and ready, braced as if preparing for attack.