Marie Harte - Below the Surface

“An internal spy at Tomanna.” Aerolus nodded, his face blank but his eyes burning bright.

“That’s the only answer that feels right.” Ice filled Marcus’ veins, anger and frustration building at the thought of having been vulnerable to the Djinn threat for so long.

Cadmus frowned. “But they hate the light of day. How do they know so much, and how could they have known about Tessa so quickly? It’s been what, three days since you and she, uh,” he paused, glancing from a sleeping Tessa to Marcus’ challenging stare. “Let’s just say you and she haven’t been too friendly with one another until recently.”

“That’s what has me bothered,” Aerolus added. “I agree with you, Marcus. It’s Djinn interference, and I have a bad feeling they’ve adapted to the light in this world. And worse, that they’ve adapted so well to this environment they’ve learned to mask their presence completely. You work mostly days, and you’ve never sensed them?” he asked Marcus.

Marcus shook his head.

“The more I think about it, the more I have to agree. The Djinn have infiltrated Tomanna Consulting, and most likely the bar as well, Cadmus.”

Cadmus scowled but didn’t disagree.

Marcus ran a weary hand through his hair, his adrenaline rush beginning to subside now that ‘Sin Garu had vanished and they were apparently safe, for the time being. “The Djinn are another problem, but ‘Sin Garu tops the list. What do we do about his recent visit here?”

“And how did he penetrate our defences?” Cadmus asked, his voice curiously neutral.

Aerolus tapped his lip in thought, his eyes alighting with the answer. “To project through the shield spells, ‘Sin Garu sent his image, not himself. Our shields were too strong for his physical presence. But he did lock in on you, Marcus, you or Tessa, that is,” he said in afterthought. Turning troublesome eyes on Tessa, he shook his head.

“The only way he could have worked around us and Arim was with the aid of a scrying stone, and to use that, he had to possess something personal from either you or Tessa.”

“If he had a Djinn infiltrator working under him, he could have stolen anything from mine or Tessa’s office at any time in the past six months.” Marcus cursed in disgust. “I can’t believe I let a Djinn get so close to me.”

“It’s not your fault.” Aerolus placed a hand on Marcus’ shoulder to hold him still. “None of us have sensed them, so the Djinn must have found a way to mask their presence. ‘Sin Garu is more powerful than any sorcerer I’ve ever seen, except for Arim. And Arim doesn’t have the power of the dark ones in his corner.”

Marcus’ tone was grim, but determined. “No, but Arim does have the Storm Lords. And I’ll be damned if I’ll let the Netharat and that evil bastard put one more putrid foot near Tessa or Tanselm again.”

Ending his impassioned speech, he noticed his brothers staring at him in surprise. He didn’t care. Marcus had as good as made a commitment to Tessa moments ago, and despite his insecurities about the future, he knew he would die before letting ‘Sin Garu soil anything more that he loved.

Aerolus stared hard at his brother, wondering if Marcus was aware of what he’d just said and what it meant. He’d put Tessa before Tanselm, and Marcus had never allowed any woman to come between his family and home, ever.

His normally cool and composed brother had practically admitted his feelings for the beautiful woman lying so peacefully on their couch.

Aerolus studied her, aware of Marcus’ concerned frown.

What was it about these earth women that pulled his brothers in different directions? Darius, the most stubborn of them, was now almost a tamed beast because of his affai . And Marcus, well, the aloof man had a spark in his eyes, a heat that churned whenever in Tessa’s presence.

No matter that Tessa had only recently become involved in Tanselm’s plight. Aerolus could sense her strength of will, her intelligence and integrity that were the core of her being.

He subtly nodded his approval, pleased his brother had found someone to care for, someone to help him heal the invisible wounds inflicted by his father’s death.

Much as Marcus tried to pretend he was better than everyone around him, Aerolus knew it was all an act. His ability to dreamwalk was growing, and what he’d witnessed in Marcus’ dreams was both worrisome and increasingly odd.

Bewildering images flared, a confusing jumble of thoughts and visions from the normally unflappable Storm brother. Since Marcus had met Tessa, his dreams had been strange, surreal.

Aerolus had seen Tessa both dressed in Tanselm’s fine silks and naked—by the Light, gloriously naked . He’d witnessed his dead father in muffled, long talks with Marcus while the two relaxed by the QuarenRiver. And he’d seen the monstrously large wall of responsibilities Marcus didn’t think he would ever conquer.

Aerolus glanced at his brother, concerned with the dark blue gaze that seemed so unsure about his role in Tanselm’s future, so uncertain he was worthy of the task set before them by their father and by fate. Only Tessa seemed to give him a moment’s peace.

Marcus lifted Tessa into his arms and took her up the stairs to his room. Watching them, Aerolus knew Tessa could help Marcus realise his potential as king of the southlands, and perhaps even as Tanselm’s overking. She certainly met his brother more than halfway. Finally, a woman Marcus wouldn’t be able to dominate.

But Aerolus’ good humour at the situation faded as he understood what their love would mean to him . All too soon he would lose another brother to Tanselm. Another Storm Lord ‘freed’, only to be bound to home and hearth.

Much as Aerolus longed to return home, the thrill of learning new things and exploring new worlds filled him with excitement, and a longing for an existence he knew lay just out of reach. He was more resigned than accepting of his place as future ruler of Tanselm. A waste, to his thinking, that a sorcerer should be destined to be king.

He inwardly winced at the possibility of becoming Tanselm’s overking. If only he could immerse himself in study, in sorcery’s vast adventures of the mind.

He wondered if Arim knew how lucky he was.

Cadmus threw an arm around his neck, startling him from dreary, futile thoughts. “Don’t worry, bro.” Cadmus chuckled as he stared after Marcus and Tessa. “I’ll still be here with you.”

Apparently, Cadmus also knew Marcus had found his affai .

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Aerolus couldn’t help a small sigh.

Cadmus laughed. “Very funny. Trust me when I say I don’t plan to marry, ever. So once Darius and Marcus have a brood of their own, we’re off the hook. And don’t try telling me you don’t miss Tanselm.” He looked around him and lowered his voice. “If anyone can get us back without finding an affai , it’s you.”

“Cadmus—”

“Come on, Aerolus. You don’t want to wed any more than I do.” Aerolus couldn’t argue with that. “So work your magic and find us a way home.” Curiously, Cadmus looked puzzled and almost, desperate? “I’m sick of this place, sick of Outpour .” He snarled the word. “I don’t know how Darius stood it, day after day. And now that Ellie’s coming back…”

Aerolus felt the hair on the back of his neck tingle at the name. How very strange . “Ellie?”

Cadmus opened his mouth to speak and stopped. He turned suddenly, looking around him.

“Cadmus?”

“Sorry.” He shoved a nervous hand through his hair and Aerolus couldn’t help but stare. The normally funny, self-effacing ‘youngest’ of the Tetrarch looked uneasy.