“Djinn protection,” Cadmus muttered and let out a loud sigh. “I pledged my oath I wouldn’t leave this plane without them.” At Arim’s expression, he quickly added, “It was the only way I could get away to let Darius and Marcus know about the attacks.”
“And when we leave, the Djinn will come for you?” Arim asked.
“I assume.”
“Then let them show themselves now. I’m not leaving until I know you’re not alone.”
“You can’t do that! I’m not a child. I don’t need a keeper. Fuck! I want to go with you, but I’m bound by my oath. I can at least create a diversion here to distract Sin Garu. I’ll?—”
“Be right here, with me,” a voice whispered from behind my brother.
We all erected shields, on edge, as we watched Cadmus’ shadow lengthen, stand, and turn from shade into a man.
Jonas Chase blinked at us as he shielded his eyes. “Nice to see you all again.”
My brother and I dropped our shields, but Arim remained poised to attack.
“Not you.” Cadmus groaned. “I thought I’d left you with the others.”
“Glad to see you too, Earth Lord.” Jonas glared at Cadmus then reached out to Arim. “Go ahead, sorcerer, verify for yourself your nephew will come to no harm in my care.”
Arim took Jonas’ hand. Time seemed to stand still as my uncle stared into Jonas’ gleaming amber eyes. Surprised and pleased to see Jonas, the Djinn who’d aided us weeks ago by thrusting Sin Garu into the Between, I knew my brother would be safe while we battled to free Alandra.
“Come on. We have to hurry.” I stared at the floor, ready to leave with or without Arim. My senses were telling me Alandra was in danger, more than at any other time since she’d been abducted. “Cadmus, remain strong. And try not to irritate the Djinn as much as you do the rest of us.”
Cadmus scowled. “Sure thing, windboy. A word of advice.” He stopped me before I could step past him to the gateway the floor. “Keep clear of Queen Lidra. The battle for Aelle must be waged between her and Alandra alone. Don’t interfere.”
I paused, studying him, then nodded. My brother cautioned me for a reason. A sense of impending disaster or a vision? Either way, I trusted him.
Cadmus squeezed my arm tight, then released me and stepped back from the shrinking gateway.
“Good luck, Aerolus.” To our uncle, he said, “Sava’s waiting for you in his tower. You need to find him fast.”
“I understand.” Arim glanced at Jonas.
The Djinn bowed with respect. “May your battle be filled with dark measure and even darker victory.” Jonas straightened with a nod and jerked Cadmus back from the void in the floor when he would have stepped into it.
“Damn it. Get your hands off me, you piece of —”
“Good luck to you as well,” Arim said with a last glance at Cadmus.
I waved to him. Then my uncle and I stepped together into the void, ready to fight for what might be the last time.
Chapter 28
Dark Lord Balen
“What do you think, Lexa? Is she or is she not a suitable queen for the Dark King of Tanselm?” I nodded to Lidra.
She lay still beneath the overhead grayish-green canopy of leaves in her inner court. The dais and several tables still stood where they had only hours ago, when the council had debated Alandra’s homecoming.
“You’re kidding me, right?” My sister sounded amused. At least she’d lost that rosy glow of innocence that had been so vexing when we’d first found her.
I sighed. “She is pathetic, isn’t she?” We studied Lidra, aware an Aellein blood drinker, while rare, was not entirely a new creation.
“What did you do to her?” Lexa stared at Lidra without expression, no fan of the Aellei.
“A bit of this, a bite of that,” I teased, pleased that Darkness threatened to smother Lidra’s glowing form.
