Aerolus
Alandra stared at Morn Mountain in awe, and it was all I could do to stand still and not gather her close. As I’d expected, Tanselm had reached out and accepted the slight Aellei with open arms, the land’s rich magic delving into Alandra and bonding with her as if she’d been born to the land.
My eyes misted, the sight of my affai too beautiful to behold, as she caressed the pure energy of my world with reverence.
“This is the most wondrous place I’ve ever been.” She tore her gaze from the rock to stare at me, her smile wide. “I hate to say it, but it makes Aelle pale in comparison.”
“I saw a glimpse of Aelle in your dream, but I’d like to hear you describe it to me.”
She shrugged and petted the rock like a lover. “Aelle is filled with the splendor of the Aellei, yet its magic is not even a quarter of what Tanselm possesses. Thank you for showing it to me.” She sounded so sincere, her heart in her eyes. “I know it can’t be easy bringing a creature of Shadow into your world.”
“You don’t know anything.” The need to touch her overwhelmed me. I stepped closer and stroked her cheek.
She blazed a brilliant white in the mountain’s shadow. I had never seen her look so lovely.
“I trust you, Alandra, even though there’s more you haven’t told me.” I knew that shift in her expression. “But I also know you’d never see the Light of this world extinguished. You would protect me with your life, as you did when you thought Arim meant me harm.”
She blushed and looked away, toward the thick forest beyond the kingdom. “I overreacted.”
“My family is the reason you’re no longer in Aelle.”
“True,” she agreed. “But I don’t miss home as much as I used to.” She stared at me, her lavender gaze intense, as if trying to see inside me. “But you, I don’t understand how being away from this place isn’t tearing you apart. I knew you were strong before. But I’m in awe of your commitment to saving this world.”
I cupped her face. “I give everything I am to those I love.” Then I leaned forward and kissed her thoroughly. Like petals of silk, her lips parted on a sigh, her breath sweet.
She pulled back and blinked. “You’re sexy for a Light Bringer.”
I smiled.
“Your energy is so much hungrier here.”
“Hungry, yes.” I hadn’t realized I’d been holding onto her with my magic. “Hungry for the truth, for peace, for your lo—” I paused, worried that saying the word “love” might spook her.
“For what?” she asked coyly, her touch moving over my chest and lower.
I barely held back a groan, then lost all discipline when she rubbed me through my trousers. Her eyes sparkled, the vixen no doubt pleased at the obvious control she had over me.
As much as I loved that about her, I wished not everything had to be about control. Part of me wished Alandra was nothing more than a normal woman with whom I could have a genuine conversation, not always worried about losing at some game we apparently played.
But her challenging nature appealed to me. The naughtiness inherent in her Shadow an allure I couldn’t resist.
She continued to caress me, her eyes shining, her aura pulsing with… No.
With love?
Maybe I truly was the idiot Arim had accused me of being. All this time I’d been playing word games and second guessing us, when all along the answer had been right in front of me. Tied in our magic and in all of her actions since she’d come into my life.
Thanks to Tanselm, and because I really looked, I could see the love bonding us together.
My Light and her Shadow forged into a different energy, one vastly more accepting that made use of everything around us. With Alandra, I teetered on a power on par — almost — with Arim.
Her grip tightened, and my heart raced, the touch of her and the feel of her more than I deserved.
“Ah, love. You are a treasure.” I kissed her again and rocked into her hand, needing her in the worst way.
“I am priceless, aren’t I?” She laughed, her joy a part of our connection. “I want to see you come, my little Wind Mage.” Her eyes twinkled.
“Little, eh?” I carried us to the ground, buffered by a gentle wind. With a thought, I spelled our clothing gone and shoved her thighs wide.
