“Sexuality?”
She scowled, a show of jealousy more than welcome. “Yeah, sexuality. Lidra’s actually a thousand years old. A stately matron.” Her glee told me Lidra would rather die than be referred to as such.
I thought about what I’d dreamed. “The Dark Lord with her reminded me of Sin Garu. There was something about him. I don’t know. But now I understand we have more than one Dark Lord involved in this mess.”
She frowned. “I don’t like the idea of Lidra encouraging a blood drinker. They’re way too dark and unpredictable.”
“Unpredictable?” Curiosity stirred. The familiar anticipation of learning something new sharpened my mind. I’d been interested in discovering information about blood drinkers for some time, but Light Bringers didn’t know as much about the Dark as we should.
Alandra explained, “Most creatures of the Dark are into pain and anger, deep emotions that can debilitate the one feeling them. The magic resulting from absorbing negative emotions is powerful. I mean, I got a kick out of Arim being annoyed. He was only a little bit angry. Real rage burns. It’s too hard to handle. And the Dark Lords play too freely with rage and pain for my tastes.”
I pondered that. “So is it just you that avoids negative energies, or do all the Aellei subscribe to that philosophy?”
She looked uncomfortable, and after several moments passed, I wondered if she would answer.
Then she met my gaze with a troubled one of her own. “You have to understand, every race has its good and bad elements. Even you Light Bringers have your fair share of fanatics.”
I wanted to object then thought of the Church of Illumination. Or what my brothers and I called the Congregation of Idiots. She had a point.
“Most of the Aellei are content to play among themselves, occasionally toying with the humans on this plane and the occasional Light Bringer. But Queen Lidra is the only Aellei I know of who openly encourages blood drinkers.” She shivered. “Something’s not right there. Aunt Lidra’s selfish, vain…”
She blushed at my knowing expression. “Okay, we’re all a little vain. But she takes it to the extreme. My aunt’s a bitch, yes. But she’s always put Aelle before her needs. At least, she used to.”
I nodded. “Something’s changed if she’s consorting with a Dark Lord. His kind will only bring Aelle to war, if not with Tanselm, then with Kreer or Gralt. Dark Lords are a destructive, chaotic race. You know their rule over Tanselm almost tore the land apart.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know. Believe it or not, Aerolus, I was a scholar before I left Aelle.”
I stared in surprise. Alandra, a scholar? She rose from the bed and stood, arms akimbo, the robe gaping at the collar to reveal the upper slope of her breasts. Her full lips parted in wait.
Between one breath and the next, my erection, which had eased, returned full force.
“You are obviously a temptress, a spy, a mischief-maker.” Far from insulting her, the truth made her blush with pleasure. And she was so pretty. We needed to speed this discussion so I could have another round with my affai. “But a scholar? You have the brains, but the discipline I’ve yet to see.”
Teasing her only made her look hotter, especially when she clenched her fists and leaned forward, the robe parting more to reveal a tantalizing view.
“I’ve been studying Aellein history since before you were conceived.” Alandra sneered at me, and her conceit enticed me. “That’s right, Aerolus. You’re a babe in the woods to a veteran of magic like me.”
I grinned, unable to help myself. I thought I might just be in love with her. “A veteran of magic, hmm? So you’re telling me you’re an older, more mature, woman?” With the most amazing breasts, now teasing me with each breath she took.
She scowled and opened her mouth to speak when she finally noticed my towel slide off my lap.
“I think you’re the one with the discipline issues,” she murmured, her voice husky.
I wouldn’t get a better chance to hear the truth from her and unashamedly used her lust to my advantage. I grasped the root of my cock and stroked myself.
“Look what I have for you, Alandra. Tell me why you’re here helping me and it’s all for you.” I was trying to seduce her, but touching her while she watched had the effect of seducing me.
“You can’t think I’ll fall for such blatant tactics?” She sounded incredulous, indignant, and definitely turned on.
I rasped, “I want to fuck you so badly I ache. But I need the answers you’ve been avoiding. You want me too. I can see the hunger in your aura.”
“I — what?” She looked down at herself.
“There’s no point in hiding how you feel. Just tell me what I need to know, and we can be together again.” If she thought about it, she’d realize she could have me right now just by asking.
But she bit her lip and frowned. The robe parted completely as she took a step closer, and I was lost. Her breasts swayed as she moved, her hips begging to be held down as I took what was mine by right. By fate.
“I’ll tell you everything, Aerolus.”
