“No magic. I made it from scratch, allowing for the difference in vegetation between our world and this one. You like it?”
“It’s about the only thing saving me from choking the life out of your brother.” I continued to eat, amazed at my hunger.
And the more I ate, the better I felt.
I glanced up to see everyone digging in. Even Cadmus… “Hey, shouldn’t you be at work?”
He shrugged. “I’m taking a sick day.”
Marcus stopped eating and looked at his brother. “Darius never took a sick day. And you’re not sick, at least not physically.”
“No, I’m a regular nutcase.”
Did the others not realize their fun-loving brother sounded unwell?
“Cadmus.” Aerolus sighed. “I can’t help if you won’t let me.”
“Hey, this isn’t about me. It’s about Marcus.” Cadmus pointed at his brother. “He knows exactly who set Tessa up and why, but he’s too afraid to tell her.”
I frowned. “Say that again.”
“He’s too afraid?—”
“No, you idiot.” Marcus’ gaze narrowed, his next words like ice. “Tessa wants to know what Sheila Covington did. And if you already knew that, why didn’t you mention it before now?”
Aerolus appeared to track the conversation, but Cadmus and Marcus were giving me a headache. “Would someone please explain?” I didn’t mean to, but my anger let a flash of energy flood the room.
I flushed, aware I’d siphoned energy not just from Marcus, but from his brothers as well. Instead of the usual accompaniment of psychic skills, this time I absorbed pure energy, releasing a backwash I couldn’t contain into the room.
“Nice.” Aerolus looked around us at something only he could see. “You’ve adapted to our elemental natures remarkably fast.”
“That’s elemental power?” I asked, a little dazed. But the discussion between Marcus and Cadmus reminded me to stay focused. “No, don’t answer that. Marcus, I want answers. Now.”
He shrugged and took on that familiar snide expression that made me grit my teeth. His arrogance I could accept, but that condescension usually masked his unease. His tension only added to my worry.
“Sheila requested a meeting with me late yesterday, and I didn’t mention it because I didn’t want to worry you.”
“He didn’t want to make you more jealous than you are now,” Cadmus said.
I fumed but didn’t correct him. Why bother hiding from the truth at this point?
Marcus scowled at him before looking back at me. “That’s not exactly true.” He looked uncomfortable and glared at his brothers. When they showed no signs of leaving, he huffed. “There is no privacy in this house.”
“Talk, River Prince,” I ordered.
His brothers looked from me to him and leaned in. The very opposite of leaving.
“Sheila Covington is unbalanced. The woman lied about sleeping with me to everyone at the office. She’s fixated on me for some reason.”
“For some reason?” I eyed him up and down, giving no question as to what the woman found alluring.
His brothers grinned.
“She has a point,” Cadmus said.
“Well, I suppose so,” Aerolus added with a blush.
Marcus rolled his eyes. “Obviously the woman is enthralled by my good looks and killer body.” He pulled off the conceit naturally, and for some odd reason his snootiness only added to his allure. “I’ve never had any complaints. But after one date, she wanted to get married. We never even kissed. Imagine, me, committing to a human woman.” He snorted then glanced at me and paled. “I mean, that’s, with Sheila, I…”
