Marie Harte - Aftershocks

“Samantha.” Ravyn nodded to her new daughter, Darius’ affai , who stood discreetly against the wall. “Don’t think we won’t discuss these new security measures, Arim,” Ravyn muttered over her shoulder. “If I didn’t have a meeting with the council now, we’d more than discuss the matter.”

He bowed, his eyes deliberately mocking at her back. Samantha saw and covered her mouth to stifle a grin. “At your leisure, my queen.”

His sister left the hall with Samantha in tow, not bothering to look at him as she strode towards her conference.

“Nice work.” Darius, the red-eyed Prince of Fire, spoke from behind him. “Now how about you tell me where my missing brother really is and why my affai suddenly needs to be shadowing Mother around the castle?”

Arim knew he couldn’t put off explanations any longer. He gave his nephew a curt nod and walked swiftly towards his room in the centre of the castle—where he found another nephew lingering, this one with blue eyes. He swore.

Marcus, the River Prince, smiled coolly. “Uncle Arim, how lovely to see you too.”

“ Lovely .” Darius snorted. “Love has made you soft in the head.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow, an arrogant gesture designed to irritate his brother, which it did. He smirked. “Oh? I’m not the one who was seen raiding the larder for his affai’s sweet tooth. Chocolate-covered berberries?”

Darius flushed and his red eyes snapped. Before he could say anything, however, Arim spelled them both inside his room and reinforced the area with a soundproof shield.

“Enough. You two are a constant source of headache. You’d think your affai would keep the both of you busy.” He glared at Marcus. “And speaking of which, where is Tessa? Shouldn’t you be in the south, strengthening your defences?”

Marcus shrugged. “Tessa is fine. And I’ve been building our defences since last week. The only reason I’m here is that Mother begged me to come speak with you.”

Arim groaned. Ravyn was becoming as irritating as a chronic burr. “Perhaps it’s good you’re both here then.” A knock sounded at the door, interrupting him. His irritation growing, Arim released the shield around the room and used magic to yank the door open.

Aerolus stood passively in the doorway.

“I should have known. Come in.”

The steely-eyed Wind Mage entered as if gliding over the floor. Since wedding Alandra, a Shadow Dweller with incredible magic— Shadow magic —he’d been showcasing some powerful skills, talents he was most likely unaware of, as Aerolus was anything but a grandstander.

“A party without me?” he asked innocently, making Darius and Marcus laugh.

“I’m so glad you all find this amusing.”Arim recalled the last time he’d been with these three brothers together. They’d been searching for Cadmus before scattering to protect their affai and Tanselm. Once again, history repeated itself. Respelling the room, he nodded at his nephews to sit.

“Though the last few battles seem to have disbanded the main Netharat threat over this kingdom, the northlands still sit vulnerable without a Storm Lord in residence. Cadmus must be found, and soon.”

“Can’t you just locate him with a spell?” Darius asked.

Before Arim could answer, Aerolus shook his head. “If he could have, Cadmus would already be here. No, Cadmus is under Djinn enchantment, and their Dark energy plays havoc with Light Bringer magic.”

“Well said.” Arim turned to the others. “Jonas Chase guards your brother.”

Marcus sat up straight. “Jonas is alive?”

“The Djinn that helped save Marcus and Tessa against ‘Sin Garu?” Darius asked.

Arim nodded. “I’m surprised Aerolus never mentioned it.”

Both Darius and Marcus glared at their brother.

“What? I wasn’t keeping it a secret, exactly,” Aerolus hedged.

Arim frowned. “You and Cadmus keep too many secrets. And you’re supposed to be the smart one.” He shook his head. “Jonas and a group of rebel Djinn have been plotting against the Dark Lord invasion for some time. I left Cadmus with Jonas days ago by our time here, but it could be weeks or months in the mundane world.” He’d been distracted lately by the Netharat attacks, and knowing Cadmus was protected, he hadn’t been overly concerned about keeping in touch with the Djinn. “I’ve heard from Jonas once since then.”

“Only once?” Darius sounded amazed. “I can’t believe you trust the Djinn after everything we’ve been through.”

“Do you not remember Benold?” Marcus asked.

Arim gritted his teeth. He didn’t need the ‘inquisition’ from his sister and his nephews. “Yes, I remember the Djinn traitor in our own keep. And yes, I know he most likely still has friends here we have yet to discover. But Jonas Chase is trustworthy, that I know.” The handshake he’d shared with Jonas before entrusting Cadmus to the Djinn had told him such.

What he didn’t share with his nephews, however, was that although Arim trusted Jonas, he wasn’t so sure about Jonas’ comrades. Something about the Djinns’ resistance smacked of too much Dark, even for the Djinn. It had taken far more work than he’d anticipated to learn anything about Ellie Markham, Cadmus’ apparent love interest.

A Djinn. The daughter of Ethim il Ruethe, a Djinn clan leader and the equivalent of a Storm Lord king.

He exhaled heavily, feeling the inevitable weight of future change. Not a purist by any means, Arim had lived too long to believe peace could be had by intermingling Light with Shadow and Dark. His history with Lexa had taught him more than anything that love did not conquer all.

“Arim?” Aerolus asked quietly, and he glanced up to find all eyes on him.

“What?” he snapped.

“What would you have us do?”

Arim breathed deeply, needing to move, to do something . Sitting in Tanselm waiting for the other shoe to drop smacked of idiocy.

“Darius, you and Samantha continue to protect your mother and the western kingdom. The threat here seems to have passed, but with the possibility existing to replace your mother with an Aellein look-alike, or worse, a Djinn clone, we must be careful.

“Marcus, keep your eyes open for treachery among the people. I find it hard to believe the Dark Lords would confine this battle to the royal house and nowhere else. The rumours I’ve heard tell me unrest trembles in the south—your responsibility. Pay close attention to the new sorcerer I sent you. Aark’s a soothsayer. See if Tessa can’t siphon his talent and begin evaluating all your people. That should make finding the traitors easier, especially if they don’t know exactly what Aark can do.”

“Good idea.” Marcus’ eyes sparkled. “Between Aark and Tessa, we should be able to clean up the south fairly soon. Then we’ll send them your way,” he said to Darius, who nodded.

“Aerolus.” Arim sought his nephew’s keen gaze. “Much as I hate to suggest it, see if Alandra’s Aellein brethren are receiving any feedback from MornMountain. Tanselm feels the intrusion of Dark before her Light Bringers do, so if somehow the Dark Lords have infiltrated from another path we have yet to find…”

“Then our people will find it,” Aerolus said firmly. Arim grimaced, not wanting to enter into a lengthy discussion about the sense in trusting the Aellei. Granted, Alandra had clearly shown her mettle in the fight against the Dark Lords. But her people had yet to reveal themselves to anyone but Alandra and Aerolus.

“Her people, your people, I don’t give a Light’s damn.” Arim glared, his patience coming to an end. “Just get it the hell done. If you need me, cast a beckoning spell. I’ll be circling in the between .”