They blinked at me in surprise, no doubt taken aback by my rough handling and ragged appearance.
I explained, “Cadmus is missing. The Van Norsens are aligned. And the Djinn are pushing closer than ever. I need you to return with me. Now.”
Before they could blink, I teleported us to Seattle once more.
Chapter 20
Alandra
Aerolus and I stood in the kitchen over the center island, sipping coffee and making plans as if the day was like any other in Seattle.
For a moment, I wished it were. How novel to imagine we were a simple human couple preparing for a day’s work and chatting about mundane matters. Groceries, errands, who would cook dinner, what we would do that night.
The notion felt both odd and strangely delightful.
Aerolus watched me.
“What?” I hoped I hadn’t been obvious in my daydreaming.
“Is it me, or is your glow completely gone? You look three inches taller too.”
I’d toned down my skin’s brilliance in hopes of fitting in with the inhabitants of this world. But the height stemmed from Aerolus’ energy in bed. Now standing, I could stare at his throat instead of the middle of his chest, as if his magic made us a better fit.
“I’m taller.” Whirling around on a pair of black leather boots, I posed for him. “Do you like them? They’re really me, aren’t they?”
“Where did they come from?” He looked puzzled. “I set out a pair of jeans, sneakers and a sweater for you on the bed.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for conjuring me some of the ugliest clothes a woman could possibly wear. I just did a little fiddling.”
He scowled, surprising me. More and more, he lost his control around me, showing me what he felt instead of masking his feelings. I loved his temper especially.
Storm Lords were an intimidating lot, and Aerolus’ gray eyes sizzled like lightning when he grew annoyed…like now.
“Change back.”
“What?”
“I like the way you look. The real you. Now change back.”
I grumbled to hide the smile that threatened to spill. Imagine that. Aerolus Storm liked the way I looked, short stature and all. With a shimmer, I reverted to myself, including those ugly clothes.
“Well, here I am, in all my off-the-rack glory.”
He sighed but lost the scowl. After planting a quick kiss on top of my head, he stepped back and drained the rest of his coffee. “Purie, I forgot something. Wait right here and I’ll be back.”
With a silent stealth I admired, he flashed out of sight.
The Mir stone made a popping noise when we Aellei teleported. At the thought, I frowned, reminding myself to demand he return my charm. Without it, I couldn’t skip worlds at all.
“Must be nice to have teleportation at the tips of your fingers. Control freak.”
“I heard that,” he whispered in my ear and nuzzled my cheek, half scaring me to death. “And no, you can’t have your charm back until I’m sure.”
“Sure?” I breathed, clutching my chest.
“Sure that you won’t leave until we have a real talk,” he said quietly. “About us.”
An undercurrent of unease rumbled through me, a feeling not unlike that I’d experienced when the wraith had invaded. Thank the Shadow.
