Marie Harte - Gale Season

Moments passed. “She’s not moving,” he said stupidly.

“I know that. I just spent the last few minutes trying to ensure she never would again, and I’m still not sure I should have stopped.” Arim glanced at him, waiting for an explanation he wasn’t ready to give.

Staring down at Alandra, seeing her lying so still and unresponsive, finally broke the silence Aerolus had promised her. She might not trust the Storm Lords, but he did. And it was high time he remembered just who and what he was. He would use everything at his disposal, all his strengths and assets, to save his affai.

Guilt swarmed him. Had he confided in his family about her sooner, this would never have happened. Arim may have harmed her, but the blame lay squarely in Aerolus’ hands.

“She saved Marcus from the Nocumat during our last battle with ‘Sin Garu,” he explained quietly. “Apparently she’s been watching out for us—for me—since we stepped into this plane.”

Arim’s eyes darkened but he said nothing.

“She’s mine, and if you cannot save her, you cannot save me.” So saying, he did the only thing he could think of to help her. He merged his magic with Alandra’s to give her the strength to fight back and was surprised at the depth of her energy. He heard Arim curse, but his body and mind shut down as he toppled next to her.

Cold numbed him to all but the feminine ball of magic he surrounded. Joined as he now was to Alandra, he felt what she felt. She had gone beyond pain and would no doubt have died had he not merged with her. Aerolus forced her to relinquish the numbness, to feel the pain again, jolting her back to awareness.

Aerolus?

Yes, love, I’m here. I’m waiting for you, Alandra. I’ve always been waiting for you.

I’m cold. So cold. What happened?

It’s over now, he forced out. By the Light, the pain was excruciating. He could barely focus on anything but the sheer will to escape such anguish.

It’s not as bad if you let go.

Don’t do that. Reach for me. I’ve come to take you home.

He expected her to fight, to resist at the very least. But she surprised him. Her essence opened, filling him with warmth. Then suddenly, as if a blowtorch had been lit, the ice surrounding him melted, to be replaced by pinpricks of sensation that blazed a trail of fire throughout his body.

He knew she felt the same, but she didn’t complain or shudder from the extreme heat. Instead she embraced it, growing stronger with him as they rejoined the living.

Blinking into Arim’s glowering face, he could do little more than groan before his uncle hauled him to his feet. Glancing down, he noted the now peaceful look on Alandra’s face as she slumbered, her breathing deep and even.

“And I used to think you were the smart one. Don’t pass out,” Arim growled and shook him before reaching for Alandra. Unlike his previous dealings with Aerolus’ affai, Arim took extreme care to be gentle, folding his arms under her slight frame and cradling her to him. He turned from the kitchen and strode with her to Aerolus’ bedroom, depositing her with care on the bed.

He kept his eyes on her sleeping form as he interrogated Aerolus. “What, by the four corners, is happening around here? I’ve just spent the past hour battling with a dozen warrior Aellei and an ogre, only to find another Aellein threat within what should have been a Storm Lord sanctum.”

His words were gruff, but Aerolus could hear the apology amid the explanation.

“I would never have harmed her had I known she was yours.” Arim ran a hand over his face. “I thought she was another of them.” He nodded in the direction of Trudy Warner’s house. “Trust me, dealing with those warriors was no picnic. But none of them gave me half the surprise she did.”

“Alandra?” Aerolus stared at his affai lying peacefully on his bed. She looked so small, so fragile. And yet her magic was stronger than his. Joined with her, he’d felt her tremendous power. It intrigued him as much as it unnerved him.

“Can you tell me how an Aellein royal managed to get her hands on elemental powers none of her kind should possess?”

“What?”

“She loosed your winds on me, Aerolus.” Arim turned, eyeing Aerolus carefully. “And you pulse with Dark energy. First Cadmus, and now you.”

“Cadmus?”

“Never mind.” Arim sighed, his breath heavy. “With a little persuasion, I managed to ferret some information from one of her kind. Apparently, the Aellei are on a mission to find Alandra le Aelle, heir to the Aellein throne.”

“I knew she was royalty,” Aerolus muttered.

“Don’t worry,” his uncle said caustically. “She’s only sixth in line. To the Aellein throne .” He groaned and rubbed his eyes. “You boys really know how to pick them. Couldn’t you have found a nice girl from Tanselm? Or even a woman from this plane, like Darius and Marcus? No, not our Wind Mage. He has to do everything the hard way.” Arim let out a string of curses in a stream of languages. “And don’t get me started on Cadmus, who’s missing, by the way.”

“Missing?”

“I was hoping you’d know something. But I can see you don’t. No doubt he’s being held by the Djinn that taints his power. Djinn, Aellei, xiantopes. What is the Tetrarch coming to?”

“ Xiantopes ? Oh, you mean Samantha and Tessa. I don’t know I’d call them that, considering the powerful magic both possess. About the Djinn, though,” he began, his mind moving at light speed as concern for Cadmus filtered through. Recollections of their battle with ‘Sin Garu, the Djinn’s sacrifice and what little information he’d gathered from a few sources beyond started to make sense.

Arim interrupted his train of thought. “How long have you known she was yours?” He nodded to the bed.

Aerolus glanced at Alandra, her scent and the feel of her ingrained in his memory. “I’m not really sure. The moment I first saw her something in me came alive. On one level I’m sure of her place in my future, yet on another, I have so many unanswered questions. So many reasons not to trust…”

“Hmm.” Arim studied him, staring in the same manner he’d watched Darius and Marcus before they fell prey to the mating noose. “So what do you intend to do about her?”

“Keep an eye on her.” He began to pace, his gaze resting on Alandra as much as he sought to look away. “I watched Darius and Marcus make so many mistakes concerning their affai . They refused to admit their brides’ place in their hearts.”

“So you won’t make that same mistake. You’ll tell her the truth of who she is to you.” Arim’s eyes glinted.

Aerolus frowned. “Are you laughing at me?”

“Of course not,” his uncle said smoothly, amusement plainly visible in his face. “You seem to have this all figured out. Who am I to interfere? So what, you’ll simply tell her she’s your affai, and then the two of you will return to Tanselm?”

Aerolus scowled. At times his uncle was a real pain in the ass, as Cadmus liked to put it. Trust Arim to make this more difficult than it had to be. “Yes, I’ll tell her she’s my affai . I haven’t worked far enough through the situation to decide when we simply return to Tanselm.”

Unlike his brothers, Aerolus could return to his homeworld at will. He’d never told them, knowing they would have demanded he return them the minute they stepped in this plane. The long talks with Arim had convinced him he and his brothers were better off here, finding mates to strengthen the Storm Lord line, before returning home.

“Let me give you a spot of advice,” Arim said quietly and stepped in front of Aerolus to halt his pacing. “Before you bombard your woman with her responsibilities to you and Tanselm, find out what her heart holds. I’m not telling you not to trust her,” Arim said quickly to forestall Aerolus’ objection. “But you have a future planned out for a woman you barely know. While your heart may recognise her, your mind does not. And if you want any chance at happiness between you, trust me, don’t force it upon her.”