“What? Zartic?”
“Keep it down,” he muttered and reached behind him into the knapsack on his back. “Hurry and put that on.” He tossed me a thin, light-brown shift just as we’d reached my cell.
I sighed as I did, glad to finally free my magic from that ridiculous glamor of clothing. Tired and sore, I’d need to recuperate some before I could heal myself. “Are you really Zartic, or is this another Dark Lord game?”
“Look and see.”
Focusing, I noted the Shadow clinging to his aura and knew him to be an Aellei. Another shimmer, and his true face appeared, showing a mess of bruises that had yet to heal.
“Balen’s work?”
He nodded. “As we speak, he’s on his way to meet his brother for some much-needed family time. Sava’s waiting for you. If you don’t hurry, we’ll have a major war on our hands.”
“War with Sava?”
“He mentioned Light Bringers spotted in Aelle. And I don’t think they’re here for me.” Zartic frowned and rubbed his tender chin. “At least, I hope they’re not.”
“I want to go with you, but I’ve lost my charm.” Aerolus, you maddening man, when the hell do you think I might get that back?
“I’m not going. Use the back trail to find Sava and your Light Bringer allies. Lidra will get suspicious if I don’t return right away. I left for a brief call of nature, and she’s exceedingly difficult to please of late.”
I nodded, too grateful for a chance to escape to question him further. Aerolus had arrived in Aelle for me. And he was walking into a trap. I had to warn him.
Concern for my Light Bringer blocked all else from my mind. I fled the dungeon and, ignoring the pain throbbing inside me, shimmered into a pixie, flying along the path to freedom.
To Aerolus, my mate.
LEXA
“That was almost too easy,” Zartic said as I glided out of the dark corner of Alandra’s cell.
“Desperation will do that.” As will love, I thought with a familiar bitterness. “So Lidra’s waiting for me, as we planned?”
He nodded. “Your brothers are gearing up for a major face-off in the clearing. I dropped a few hints to the most intelligent of the wraiths I could find.” He grimaced.
I laughed. “I know that was hard. But you gave them enough evidence to point both Sin Garu and Balen at each other, correct?”
“Yes, mistress.” He bowed his head respectfully and started when I cupped his chin.
“Take your reward, then, Der captain.” I looked into him and with a breath, took away his pain, his scars, and his bruising, leaving him untouched, at least physically, from my brothers. “You’d best disappear along with the rest of the Shadren. Wait until the Dark Lords finish killing each other.”
At the thought, I smiled.
“What of Sava and the Light Bringers?” he murmured, staring at me with a yearning I understood all too well.
Arim’s haughty face lingered in my mind’s eye. I knew his smile, his sorrow, his anger, better than I should.
And with the memories came a need for justice. For vengeance.
I smiled with anticipation. “Leave them to me.”
Chapter 30
Aerolus
Lord Sava didn’t take surprises well.
“You’re lucky I didn’t do more than steal a bit of energy,” he growled at Arim from a face and body completely different from the Aellei I’d been expecting.
