Marie Harte - Aftershocks

“A woman who read your thoughts and rob you blind in a game of poker,” Jonas muttered.

“Just give him time,” Amanda continued as if Jonas hadn’t spoken.

Time. A feeling of doom swept over Cadmus as true understanding dawned. Ethim was Djinn, as was Ellie. And the Djinn lived as long as Light Bringer sorcerers, hundreds of years, maybe even thousands. He’d never be rid of Ethim, unless one of the Sarqua’s enemies took him out. He sighed. He could only be so lucky.

Ignoring Jonas’ sly enjoyment, he was determined to make the best out of the situation. He would refrain from spilling Ethim’s blood, but there was no reason not to enjoy himself around the hotheaded Sarqua. Hell, calling him Dad had nearly caused the Djinn a fit of apoplexy.

“For Ellie, I would do anything.” At his comment, Amanda smiled, and even Lexa nodded with approval. Which reminded him, why had Ellie seemed so sure she knew the Dark Lord?

As if she knew of his unspoken question, Lexa changed the subject. “Now about the future, let’s see. Where is ‘Sin Garu now? I’m having a difficult time pinpointing him, for some reason. It’s like he dropped out of existence.” She frowned in concentration. “And your uncle…”

Cadmus waited. He’d been wondering when she’d broach the subject of Arim.

“I can’t seem to locate him either. And that disturbs me. It’s as if he’s masking his presence with another strong one, and the only beings I know who could shield his presence are Sava, ‘Sin Garu and me.”

Cadmus felt him before he saw him. In spite of having lived around his uncle for his entire life, he was awed and a bit unnerved at Arim’s entrance. Streaks of Light burst through the room, so bright they made Jonas and Amanda shield their eyes while Lexa pushed to her feet and threw up a Dark shield over the gathering. Cadmus knew the Light must have pained her as well, but she stared without flinching at the spectacle growing before them.

Arim appeared like an avenger, the infamous Killer of Shadow and Guardian of Storm . He wore battle dress, a large overtunic of black trimmed with red that reached his knees, black trousers and calf-high leather boots. The staff in his hands gleamed with purity, menace swirling within the white and red striated orb. Around Arim crackled the static of the between , and Cadmus could literally feel the pulse of energy from several worlds blanketing his uncle from Foreia’s Darkness.

Arim’s eyes glowed despite the black irises that seemed unfathomably deep. They rested on Cadmus, his stare both intense and probing. Apparently satisfied his nephew remained alive and well, Arim turned his attention on the room’s remaining occupants. His gaze slid over Amanda and Jonas, who wisely remained silent. When his eyes settled on Lexa, however, the tension in the room positively sparked.

Before anyone could blink, bands of Light shot through Arim’s hand and staff to imprison Lexa where she stood. Snakes of seething energy held her captive, twining tighter and tighter around her body, the constriction of Light causing flinches of pain to tighten around her eyes.

Cadmus closed his eyes and absorbed a few wisps of Tanselm’s energy that vibrated through his uncle. He’d always known of Arim’s power, but seeing it like this, up close, caused him to view Arim with a new respect. But when he opened his eyes and saw Lexa so still, he knew he had to act fast.

Visions swirled, the past and the present mingling until he knew for certain if he didn’t move quickly, at least one, if not both Lexa and Arim would die a violent death, here and now.

Shaking free of his shock, Cadmus rose and stepped around the table towards Arim, walking through his uncle’s bands of energy with ease. At least I’m still Light enough to pass through his shields . He breathed a sigh of relief and sought his uncle’s attention.

“So I’m assuming you’re here because you thought I bailed on you again, right?”

Arim didn’t take his eyes off of Lexa, but the anger projected at Cadmus was strong enough to push him back several paces.

He swallowed hard. “Right, well. That’s not the case. Arim, Lexa isn’t the bad guy here.” He still had some reservations about that, but killing the Djinns’ Dark Mistress not only made him uncomfortable, the notion seriously pissed off Foreia—not a wise idea when one was at the land’s mercy.

“Oh?” Arim’s voice was soft, too soft. Cadmus’ stomach clenched. “Do tell, nephew. What did the little witch promise to ensnare your loyalty? Ellie, perhaps?”

“So typical,” Lexa muttered while her eyes teared as the Light bit into her skin.

“Stop it, Arim.” Cadmus worried when his uncle ignored him. “The only way this altercation will end is with you or Lexa dead.”

Arim said nothing, but he seemed to be listening.

“And with that death, the end of Tanselm and all we hold dear.” Cadmus caught Arim’s gaze, willing his uncle to believe the truth. “You can search my thoughts if you’d like, but I’m telling the truth.”

Not expecting Arim to take him up on the offer, Cadmus swore and grabbed his temples in pain when his uncle stabbed through his mind. Blinding strength sifted through memory then, with a sharp twist, Cadmus was again alone.

“ Shit .”

“You were telling the truth.” Arim flicked his staff, and the energy holding Lexa vanished.

Instead of the retaliation Cadmus would have expected, however, Lexa remained still.

Arim didn’t take his gaze from the Dark Lord, nor did he lower his staff. “I want to see Ellie.”

Cadmus frowned. “What does Ellie have to do with your being here?”

“I came to find you and to see what you know about the Djinn. Unfortunately, you weren’t waiting in Ellie’s apartment when I returned. Instead, I found the remnants of a nasty battle.” He turned to Jonas. “Nice fighting, by the way.”

“Thanks.” Jonas placed himself between Arim and Amanda.

“Relax, Jonas. He won’t hurt anyone else. Will you?” Cadmus asked his uncle.

Arim shot Lexa a sharp glance and shrugged, then settled into Ethim’s chair as if he were invited.

“Perfect.” Jonas ran hand through his hair. “If Ethim hasn’t already blown his top, this should do it. His daughter’s a Storm Lord affai , and the fucking Killer of Shadow is sitting at his dinner table.”

“ Affai ?” Arim glared at Cadmus. “Not yet.”

“You’re too late.” Lexa said softly. “They’ve bonded.”

“Oh?” His words were almost a whisper, and Lexa swallowed audibly. Odd, but Cadmus thought her reaction to Arim made her all the more alluring. Near him, she seemed more human, more approachable.

“They’ve been bonded since that first night Cadmus took over for Darius at Outpour.”

Cadmus started. “ What? ”

His question was echoed by Ellie and Ethim, who entered the room.

“Yes, Dark Mistress,” Arim said caustically. “Make sure to let all the pawns know exactly how you’ve been playing them before you make your final moves.” He shook his head at Cadmus. “The mistakes we make in youth…”

“Haunt us forever,” Lexa spat, anger making her light blue eyes glow almost white. “Oh shut up, Arim. You always were a maudlin asshole. You can blame me all you want to. But true love speaks for itself.” She smiled, her ghostly face awash with satisfaction. “Cadmus and Ellie were made for one another.”

Ellie stared in astonishment, waiting to see just what the hell Alex—or should she say, Lexa —meant by that remark. She still couldn’t believe her best friend of nearly ten years, Alexandra Novak, was in fact Lexa Van Nostren, a Dark Lord. Hell, she might as well have been told her best friend was Satan’s daughter. No doubt the Light Bringers thought of her as such.