I didn’t fear the Netharat, oddly enough. The attack still seemed like a dream, one I had pushed to the far corner of my mind. Besides which, I’d found a surprising range of control over my newfound telekinesis. Marcus had cast some spell over me, with the help of Aerolus, to protect me from otherworldly harm.
God, my life had officially gone off the deep end that “otherworldly” had been added to my lexicon.
Honestly, though, I dreaded the legal ramifications of my manufactured guilt in this world. Embezzlement, fraud. What exactly would I be charged with, and how had whoever framed me set me up?
The shower no longer felt relaxing, so I hurried out, dried off, and dressed in a pair of jeans and the loose sweatshirt I’d packed and retrieved late last night from my home. I’d been tempted to try teleporting there, but one glance from Marcus had me rethinking the idea.
Come to think of it, he never did apologize for being such a jerk after I’d teleported yesterday. I’d been too occupied with his body last night to take him to task. Plus, Arim’s surprise visit had distracted me.
I should have let his attitude go, but I found his reaction strange considering how friendly we’d been before I’d attempted to teleport. Was Marcus jealous of his brother? Because I’d borrowed teleportation from Aerolus. Or maybe he’d been worried about me.
Either way, I deserved an explanation.
Throwing on my socks, I made my way downstairs, aware I had a whole “sick day” to do nothing but relax. How oddly exhilarating.
My body still hummed with pleasure thanks to Mr. Crabby. So even though I was still irked, I meandered into the kitchen on a cloud of satisfaction.
“Well, well, good to see you up and about.” Cadmus shot me a knowing grin.
I couldn’t help blushing, especially when he laughed out loud. “You’re bad.”
He laughed harder. “I was about to say the same of you. Keeping poor Marcus up all night. You’d think he’d be pleasant this morning, but he nearly bit my head off before he left.”
“I’m sure you did nothing to aggravate him.” I had to admit, I liked Cadmus more than I’d thought I would. “You really are a pain. A lot like my brother.”
“Thank you.” He gave me a princely bow.
I studied him over my coffee cup. “So what’s it like being royalty?”
“You don’t seem impressed.” He joined me at the kitchen table.
I shrugged. “I’m not. Though the parallel world thing threw me for a loop.”
“It threw us, too, believe me. One minute we’re arguing with Arim while the Netharat are attacking the castle walls, the next a pack of wild wolves are growling down at us in the middle of an unknown forest.”
“Really?” I leaned closer to him, subtly aware he possessed a unique energy all his own. Cadmus felt somehow heavier and, well, earthier than Marcus. No less powerful, but very different.
He nodded. “That was a year ago. Well, only a few weeks ago by time in Tanselm.”
“Would you describe it to me? Tanselm, I mean. I’d love to see what it looks like through your eyes.”
After a moment, he said, “I think Marcus would much rather I didn’t. Ask him and he’ll show you.”
Weird. But… “Okay.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to show you.” Cadmus looked earnest as he tried to explain, for which I gave him points. “It’s just that Marcus is a little tough when it comes to you.”
“How so?”
Cadmus opened his mouth and closed it, then mumbled under his breath.
“What?”
“Look, don’t tell Marcus I said this, but he can be a little over the top at times.”
“You mean arrogant? Because anyone who’s ever met him knows that.” I knew that all too well, but it masked another man, the real Marcus Storm I’d seen all too briefly yesterday.
“No. That conceit is a part of him, what makes him Marcus. I’m talking about the scary part of him you haven’t seen,” he added in a low voice, as if afraid of being overheard.
