“What?” Cadmus and Aerolus asked at the same time.
“Sin Garu said, ‘The Djinn bedamned.’ He also mentioned the possibility of Tessa going to jail.” Our enemy had to have spies in mine and Tessa’s office.
Cadmus shook his head. “Arim warned us the Djinn were here, but I didn’t think we’d have to worry about them confronting us head on. They normally do their damage behind the scenes.” He referred to the poisoning of the Storm Lords, and, in particular, our father.
“Apparently, the Djinn have grown bolder,” I said, disturbed by the revelation. “If Sin Garu is this aware of Tessa’s recent problems at work, it stands to reason there’s a spy at Temita.” Despite our efforts to shield ourselves.
“Or he’s got a scrying portal in effect,” Cadmus said.
“No, I don’t think so. The way he worded it, ‘The Djinn bedamned,’ made me think he’s getting his information from an actual Djinn source.”
“An internal spy at Temita.” Aerolus nodded.
“That’s the only answer that feels right.” My blood boiled at thoughts of being watched without being aware all this time.
Cadmus frowned. “But the Djinn hate daylight. 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 my challenging stare. “Let’s just say you and she haven’t been too friendly with each other until recently.”
“That’s what has me bothered,” Aerolus said. “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?”
I shook my head.
“The Djinn have infiltrated your human employment.” Aerolus looked thoughtful and turned to my brother. “And most likely the bar as well, Cadmus.”
Cadmus scowled but didn’t disagree.
My adrenaline rush had completely worn off since we were safe for the time being. I sagged next to Tessa on the couch, beyond tired. “The Djinn are another problem. Sin Garu tops the list. What do we do about his recent visit here?”
“And how did he penetrate our defenses?” Cadmus asked.
Aerolus tapped his chin in thought. “To project through our shield spells, Sin Garu sent his image, not his true self. Our shields were too strong for his physical presence. He locked in on you and Tessa, but that spell hurt him. I’m still not sure how, because it somehow locked onto him and hurt his physical body and thus his projection.” He studied Tessa.
“The only way he could have worked around us and Arim to slip even a shadow of himself here was with the aid of a scrying stone,” Aerolus added. “And to use that, he’d need to possess something personal from either you or Tessa.”
“If I had a Djinn infiltrator working under me, I could have stolen anything from my or Tessa’s office at any time in the past six months.” I swore, disgusted with my lapse in security. “I can’t believe I let a Djinn get so close to me.”
“It’s not your fault.” Aerolus shook his head. “None of us 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.”
I felt 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 foot near Tessa or Tanselm again.”
My brothers stared at me in surprise.
I didn’t care. I had as good as made a commitment to Tessa moments ago, and despite my insecurities about the future, I knew I would die before letting Sin Garu soil anything more that I loved.
Chapter 24
Aerolus
I stared hard at my 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 our family and home, ever.
My normally cool and composed brother had practically admitted his feelings for the beauty lying so peacefully next to him.
I studied her, aware of Marcus’ concern.
What was it about these human women that pulled my brothers in different directions? Darius, the most stubborn of us, had been tamed by his affai. And Marcus, normally aloof, cocky, and distanced from the rest of us, had a spark in his eyes that meant war. A heat that churned whenever in Tessa’s presence.
No matter that Tessa had only recently become involved in Tanselm’s plight. I could sense her strength of will, intelligence and integrity at the core of her being.
I couldn’t help being pleased my brother had found someone to care for, someone to help him heal the invisible wounds inflicted by our father’s death.
