“He can’t hear us or see us. Or move,” the woman in white said. Her face and form were ethereal. Stunning and regal in bearing, she reminded me of my mother.
She circled me, looking me over, until my shock grew to annoyance.
I said in a clipped tone, “I don’t know who you are but?—”
Her ageless features brightened, their fierce perfection changing into that of a younger woman’s, one with softer features, and one who made my blood roar as the bright glow around her faded.
“You know who I am.” She circled to my front again, a broad smile on her full, red lips. “I’m tired of waiting, Aerolus. But I admit the view’s been nothing but pleasant.”
She gave me a lazy, seductive smile, her onceover full of innuendo, especially when she centered her gaze between my legs.
To my dismay, I felt an intense desire, my distance from carnal appetites bridged by a vision in white that had my blood pumping.
“Finally.” Her mouth curled into a knowing grin.
I flushed, my erection evident and entirely inappropriate considering what I’d been through tonight. But damn me if I could get it to go down with her so near. As Cadmus would say, fuck it. I’d pretend it wasn’t there.
“I appreciate what you’ve done with the Nocumat,” I said, though I didn’t understand it. “But my brother is?—”
“Waking up from a bad dream.” She shuddered, and I felt like a sex-starved fool for noticing the full shape of her breasts as they pushed against her fine robe. “I’d have nightmares too if Oxcen wrapped his greedy little hands around my neck. That boy needs a firmer hand.”
“Boy? Dream?” I gaped at her then glanced at Marcus, expecting to see the worst.
I caught my breath when he groaned and rolled his head on the floor.
“Tessa?” he murmured and reached out. “I had the worst dream…”
“Oh, and don’t worry about Tessa. She’s sleeping it off, I expect. Quite a woman,” the lady in white said, a gleam of approval shining in her violet eyes.
“Who…what are you?” I stared, conscious of her tremendous power.
She radiated with beauty and energy, a brilliance I should know. Violet eyes…
“Aerolus. What am I? How rude. Whatever would Ravyn think?”
“What do you know of my mother?” I asked coolly.
Her grin dazzled me. Emotions and sensations coursed through my blood. And I, the normally unflappable Storm Lord, had the overwhelming urge to throw her over my shoulder and show her how rude I could be.
“Aerolus, I know everything about you.” She sighed. “I have to go. It won’t be long before Oxcen lets slip that the queen has been here. And since she’s in council, they’ll know something’s wrong.
“I’ll be around. If you really want to find me, look for me the next time you cross planes. But whatever you do—” she turned serious “—don’t tell Arim or the others about me. They won’t understand. And you and I aren’t even close to ready to convince the Aellei to leave the Storm Lords alone. It’s bad enough one Dark Lord has them rethinking their position on interfering. But then, maybe it’s not just one.”
“What?” The Ah-lay? Why did I know that name? And what did she mean by more than one Dark Lord?
Her face screwed in irritation. “You know, this would be a lot easier if I had help. I changed my mind. Stop playing around and find me, mage. I’m getting tired of watching and sleeping alone.”
Before I could demand a better explanation, she flared to a brilliant white again and vanished.
Cadmus swore in disbelief. “What happened? Two seconds ago he was covered in Nocumat shit, and now Marcus is awake and asking for Tessa?”
Marcus looked around, confused. “Why am I on the ground? Where’s Tessa? Why is Cadmus looming over me?” He sat up with Cadmus’ help. His clothing was torn and eaten away in spots from monstrous bile, but underneath, Marcus appeared whole and hearty. “I feel like I’ve been beaten with a stick.”
He studied Cadmus and frowned. “You look terrible.”
I saw the perplexed look on Cadmus’ face and started laughing. Both of them stared at me in astonishment, but I couldn’t stop.
Marcus, who should be dead, wasn’t. Cadmus, one moment a Storm Lord and the next a Djinn, was back to complaining. And Tessa, lovely, powerful Tessa, slept like a baby while the enemy had vanished into the Next at the hands of a rebellious Djinn.
