I glared at him, simultaneously relieved and angry that the wayward Earth Lord had returned home. “Well, well. Leave the door open and see what comes wandering in.”
Chapter 25
Arim: Guardian of Storm
Darius and Marcus immediately stood to greet Cadmus when I held up a hand, stilling them.
“Where have you been?” I asked, aware something about my nephew seemed wrong.
“Just…around,” Cadmus drawled, staring at his brothers with malice. The strange Dark aura that had possessed him for a time had disappeared.
Could that be the reason for the bile I sensed?
I studied him while subtly setting an invisible protection over Darius and Marcus. “How did you get through our shields keeping the Dark ones away?”
Cadmus shrugged. “Your boy’s been leaving holes big enough to jump through.” He smiled, full of hate I could almost feel. “We’ve got the girl, you know. It’s almost over.”
“Son of a bitch,” Darius growled, fire flaming from his fingertips as he pointed them at Cadmus.
“An Aellei or Djinn?” Marcus asked calmly as he stared at Cadmus, power vibrating off him in waves.
“Or neither,” Aerolus added from behind us.
Odd that I hadn’t sensed him coming before he’d appeared. Strong winds surged through the room, surrounding Cadmus to pin him in place.
I stared in surprise as the normally even-tempered Wind Mage seethed with battle-lust. Dressed in dark trousers and a red tunic, signifying his status as a warring sorcerer, my nephew appeared wild, dangerous, and perilously close to losing control.
His gray eyes snapped with lightning, and wind seethed through his hair and clothing. For once, the level-headed Wind Mage had lost his temper, in a true rage.
“Aerolus,” Marcus said, cautious.
Aerolus walked around him. A staff appeared in his hands, and he snarled as he shot a huge beam of Light into Cadmus. Energy that shouldn’t harm his brother one bit.
But the person posing as Cadmus groaned and curled into a ball on the ground.
Aerolus wouldn’t stop.
“Easy, Aerolus,” I said, aware my nephew was as out of control as I’d ever seen him. “We need answers —”
“About where Alandra is and why they thought they could get away with it.” Aerolus said a spell under his breath, and the imposter glowed so brightly we had to shield our eyes.
I blinked to see Cadmus has disappeared, and one of the head servants from Tanselm’s western castle lay in his place.
“Benold?” Darius stared in shock. “What? You’re in league with our enemies?”
“He’s the Djinn traitor,” Aerolus said through clenched teeth. “He’s been with us for over three decades. And in all that time, he’s been plotting and waiting.”
“Yes, just burning for the chance to get even.” Benold swore. “The Light I’ve had to endure to be near you monsters.” He clutched his abdomen and glared at us all, lingering on Aerolus. “Your girlfriend is the answer to everything.” He smiled despite the powerful magic leaking from his eyes. Benold had to be in considerable pain, yet he taunted Aerolus.
Likely wishing to prod the Wind Mage into killing him quickly.
Benold shot Aerolus a sly smile. “I can’t wait to see what Lidra does to her before the Dark Lord takes her. He’s going to fuck her until she screams. And then he’s going to cut her into little pieces, feeding them to the wraiths burning for her taste.”
“Aerolus, don’t,” I warned.
Darius and Marcus stepped closer as well, but Aerolus forced them back with a firm wind.
“I’m not so naïve I can’t see what he wishes me to do.” Aerolus’ gaze burned with blinding anger. And with a strange violet glitter.
