Marie Harte - The Fire Within

“He has?” Darius blinked in astonishment.

“I’ve seen him practicing when he didn’t know I was watching.” Aerolus and Cadmus turned as one to Darius. “Which brings us to you. What more can you do than control fire?” Despite being born a full minute after Darius and Marcus, and scant seconds before Cadmus, Aerolus tended to take charge in a subtle way that reminded Darius of his father.

Shaking his head, Darius answered, “I’m not sure, exactly.” He hedged, not comfortable with the amount of change he’d experienced since his father’s death last year. Most of the changes had occurred externally. His kin’s murders, learning of his relation to Arim, the Netharat attack, but this new ability resided within him.

“We’re waiting,” Aerolus reminded.

Throwing him a scowl, Darius muttered, “I think I can sense another’s thoughts.”

Cadmus stared. “You’re kidding.” He blanked his face. “What am I thinking now?”

Darius heaved a sigh. “I really can’t take much more of this.” He rubbed his eyes tiredly. “I can’t read you, Cadmus. Or Aerolus, or Marcus. Not that I’ve tried very hard.” When he saw neither brother losing interest, he uttered a low curse of defeat. “Sometimes at the bar I hear things.”

“Perhaps because inhibitions are lowered due to the alcohol?” Aerolus offered.

“I don’t know, maybe.” It made sense. But it didn’t explain the connection he’d shared with Samantha, how he’d been able to sense her instant attraction to him, as well as her surprising disinterest in the opposite sex or a relationship of any kind.

“Must be really interesting reading the thoughts of drunken women.” Cadmus grinned. “Maybe I should show up tonight. You could point out a few of the more ‘interesting’ thoughts from those women that like to overindulge.”

But Samantha would be there tonight. Thoughts of Cadmus making Samantha laugh, of drawing her to him with his irresistible charm, turned Darius’ mood even darker. He clamped his hands to the table’s edge so as not to put them around Cadmus’ throat. “What’s the matter, Cadmus? Can’t work your wiles without getting them drunk first?”

Instead of acting insulted, Cadmus grinned. Not much could dampen his humour, unfortunately. “What you fail to realise, firebreather, is that in insulting me, you insult yourself. Um, hello, but haven’t you seen how much we look alike?” He smirked, then swore as his mug overheated again.

“I was referring to your obnoxious personality, jackass,” Darius snarled.

“Jackass? I like that,” Aerolus said calmly, a twinkle in his bright grey eyes. “It sounds much better than ofcondus eater.”

“Forget this.” Darius stood, determined to find some peace even if it killed him. “I’m going back to bed.” Between his brothers and Samantha Brooks, he was one more frustration away from unleashing his powers and setting the house on fire.

His vision beginning to turn red, he tossed his mug into the sink and strode from the kitchen. Thoughts of Samantha only enhanced his need to see her again. Something didn’t fit with the woman, something off that his inner senses had detected. Otherwise he wouldn’t find her so enthralling.

He had to stop picturing her dark green eyes cloudy with passion, had to stop imagining her breasts flushed and full and begging for his mouth. His cock felt impossibly hard as he returned to his bedroom. But unlike last night, he felt fully rested and able to conquer his desires. After a cold shower and some determined planning he would feel ready to tackle anything, especially Samantha Brooks.

“More angry than usual.” Aerolus sat across from Cadmus with a curious glint in his eyes.

“Yeah.” Cadmus stared at his retreating brother’s back. “It’s that woman Arim mentioned. Wonder what’s so special about her that’s gotten Darius so fired up?” He grinned at the pun and looked up to see what Aerolus made of his joke.

As usual, Aerolus remained expressionless. Rolling his eyes only encouraged Cadmus. “I’m not sure.” He stared thoughtfully at the kitchen doorway, wondering if what he suspected might be true.

He hadn’t exactly told his brothers the truth about his newfound powers. But how did you tell your brothers you could share their dreams? Dreamsharing was as intrusive as Darius’ unwanted ability to read minds. Aerolus frowned at the thought of such talent. He’d have to work harder to build his inner defences against mental intrusion. Not that he distrusted Darius by any means, but he valued the privacy of his thoughts. And if his brothers knew even half of what he thought, they’d never leave him alone.

“You know more than you’re telling.” Cadmus’ eyes narrowed. “Did Arim tell you something you haven’t shared?”

“No.” Aerolus cleared his throat. “Arim merely mentioned to keep an eye on Darius, something about a woman intruding into Darius’ thoughts. She’ll play an important role in his future, but more than that I can’t say.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

Darius’ dreams. They were more than sexual. Aerolus’ blood raced as he recalled the woman’s features as seen through Darius’ eyes. The woman was incredibly beautiful, exotic and sensual. But Darius’ sheer possessiveness, his needy uncertainty—these emotions were so foreign to the Royal Four as to be utterly alien.

Aerolus blinked when Cadmus called his name. “I can’t answer you, Cadmus. According to Arim, the woman is important to Darius, to all of us really. But whether or not she’s his affai , or one who can lead him to his affai , Arim couldn’t say. You never know. Maybe she’ll introduce you to your future bride,” he threw in to shake his brother’s confidence. Cadmus wanted marriage like he wanted a knife in his throat.

“As if any one woman will ever suit me,” Cadmus said with disdain. “Personally, I hope the woman is his affai . I want to return to Tanselm as soon as possible. And once Darius bonds with her, it’s only a matter of time before she becomes pregnant to cement the Storm Lords’ power.”

“But who’s to say she will bear the Royal Four?”

Cadmus stopped the cup he’d been lifting to his mouth. “Well, I…I suppose we never were told who would become the next ruler of the Tetrarch. I always assumed it would be Darius. He is the oldest, if only by a minute.” A look of horror passed his face. “Are you saying any of the four of us could become Tanselm’s new overking?”

“According to Arim, nothing of the future is certain.” Aerolus took enjoyment in shaking up his easygoing brother. Cadmus assumed too much and took great delight in constantly teasing the rest of them. Well, now he’d have something to ponder besides returning to Tanselm.

Apparently some of his amusement must have shown, for Cadmus recovered enough to send Aerolus a small smile. “Nicely done, brother. You know, it’s scary. You’re more like Arim than I’d thought.”

“There are worse people you could liken me to.”

“True.” Cadmus laughed, his morose thoughts of marriage apparently behind him. “Take Darius. He’s more like a dark Djinn about to face the light of day—utterly unbearable. Too bad I have a date tonight or I’d visit Outpour just to piss him off.”

Aerolus grinned, stunning his brother with a show of honest emotion. “I wouldn’t mind seeing that. I have a feeling he’s not into sharing this particular woman. And if he’s as frustrated as he seemed earlier, it’s going to take all of his effort not to scare her away.”

Three hours into the night and Samantha felt wonderful, not at all like she had on her previous visit to Outpour. Gerry Huntington was as pleasant in person as he’d been from her dealings with him on the phone. He’d personally hired all of his employees and had introduced her to each one present. Surprisingly, meeting Darius again had been anticlimactic. Save for the sparkle in his dark eyes, he acted friendly and courteously, not at all like the playboy from the night prior.