“That’s right, Caeth.” I forced a laugh, a musical sound that made Caeth want to weep with joy. By the Dark, I could read the wraith like an open book. “Find me our contact in the new world and bring the Djinn here to me with all haste. Our answers lie in the little schemer’s blood. And before long, you’ll be able to sate the hungers that trouble you.”
Caeth nodded, bowed, and scurried off to do my bidding.
Mirego’s replacement could have been worse, I supposed. Fawning and the inability to think past a given order were worth far more than an intelligent lackey. Mirego had tried to lure Prince Darius’ mate and instead lost her to the Royal Four, giving the Storm Lords another advantage they didn’t need.
Caeth would not make the same mistake.
No, this wraith was in too much awe and fear of the great Sin Garu. With a soft chuckle, I gathered my thoughts and focused on the scrying stone once more.
Unlike the first royal bride, this one had not yet committed herself to her prince.
I studied her picture, a stirring of common lust surprising me into looking deeper. Dark auburn hair and bright blue eyes made me think of my mother’s relatives on the southern section of the island. And Tessa Sheridan’s ability to draw on another’s power was an invaluable piece of skill I could put to good use destroying the Storm Lords.
I smiled, feeling sincere delight. Thoughts of ridding my world of the Storm Lords for good, of returning Tanselm to its rightful owners, brought me joy.
For too long, the true natives of Tanselm lived in the dark, scurrying like rats in festering filth. The Netharat—my personal creation consisting of an army of wraiths, ice demons, and the Shadren—had made a lasting impression on the conceited lords and ladies of Tanselm at our last meeting.
But I knew the royal usurpers needed a better lesson. They needed to learn what it felt like to live day in and day out in waste and decay, to experience life between the light.
They would know how it felt to be ripped from one’s heritage and channeled into forgetfulness simply because one wasn’t born at the right time with the right kin.
My temper simmered as I glared at an image of the River Prince’s new lady.
Tessa Sheridan would help me make the Storm Lords pay.
This time, I wouldn’t fail. Prince Marcus and the others would watch firsthand as their lands, and their potential affai, fell to me.
Sin Garu. Last of the Nostren elite.
Chapter 18
Tessa
“Excuse me?” Marcus stared at me as if I’d lost my mind.
“What I meant was…” I’d said what I’d meant. But as my confusion turned to understanding, panic set in.
Why had Marcus referred to me as his affai? His freakin’ bride? And why had I blurted something so personal in front of his brothers and Arim?
“Yes?” Cadmus asked with a wide grin. “What did you mean, Tessa?”
“Please, go on,” Arim encouraged. His face bore no expression, but his eyes sparkled with merriment.
“I meant to say, Marcus mentioned Darius and Samantha’s tie earlier. And I had wanted to ask him what ‘affai’ meant.”
“So now you know,” Aerolus stated.
“Yep, now I know.” My stomach grumbled, and I wished I’d stuffed my face with food so I wouldn’t have to talk anymore.
A few seconds later, a banana flew through the door, nearly taking Cadmus’ ear off before landing in my hands.
I flushed and hurriedly peeled the fruit, shoving it into my mouth so as to make conversation impossible.
“If you’ll excuse us?” Marcus said to the others as he grabbed me by the arm. “We have some things to discuss.”
I stared at him in confusion, a banana stuffed in my cheek like a squirrel caught shoveling nuts to store for the winter.
“We need to talk about the threat to have you fired,” Marcus reminded me as I watched the others leave his room at a snail’s pace.
