Prologue
The Land of Foreia
The muted glow of everdark hovered over the deep blue grasses of Foreia’s rich fields. The black bark and flaming red leaves of giant firn trees framed the surrounding area, the scent of sweet scythia flowing through the warm air like a blessing of welcome.
Jonas Chase, leader of the rebel Djinn army, studied the lavender clouds covering the sky with pleasure. The sight never failed to impress him and made him want to bask in his homecoming.
A muffled curse and angry words, unfortunately, drew his attention. Jonas let out a loud sigh as he stared at his responsibility.
Prince Cadmus Storm, the Earth Lord.
Surrounded by a dozen Djinn warriors and a clever Djinn ally who’d promised them freedom, Cadmus put on a brave front to fight a battle he couldn’t win.
For hundreds of years, Light battled Dark. Jonas understood the fears that led to animosity. Most Dark Lords did tend to be violent, oppressive creatures bent on domination in lieu of harmony.
But times had changed. The sentient land of Tanselm had called out for help, and Jonas and his rebel Djinn, those who fought for a better world, would answer.
Still, he’d surprised himself by agreeing to help his enemy, hiding among the humans with no magic in their mundane world.
He’d missed home. Foreia, while not as strong in magic as Tanselm, offered comfort.
He wondered what Cadmus thought of being here.
Cadmus, a Storm Lord, was one of the Light Bringers’ most powerful warriors. He commanded the element of earth in addition to an ability to manipulate light-based magic.
And, like most Light Bringers, he had to do things the hard way.
“Cadmus—”
Cadmus snarled and reached for Foreia.
Jonas felt a charge of magic and watched as golden soil erupted, crushing navy grass into muddied chaos. Quakes of rock shifted, and the air reverberated with the threat of Storm Lord vengeance.
“Fine, be a dick.” Cadmus snarled over his shoulder, catching Jonas in a fierce glare.
So dramatic.
“Kill me if you want,” Cadmus said. “But I’m taking as many of you to the Next with me as I possibly can.”
The Royal Four—the Storm Lords known to rule Tanselm—had been prophesied to promise a life Jonas’ people had been dreaming about for centuries.
The princes didn’t know it yet, but once one of the Royal Four became overking of Tanselm, life in their rich, magical world would change, and for the better.
Unfortunately, until that time, Jonas and his rebels remained hidden, fighting against a ruthless Dark Lord who wanted to destroy everything, leading by fear and intimidation.
Sin Garu and his hated minions, the Netharat, destroyed with pleasure. Those vile wraiths, ice demons, and monsters happily feasted on creatures of Dark and Light, if only to perpetuate the chaos that salved their undying hunger.
Who knew how many overlapping worlds in existence would fall if Sin Garu conquered Tanselm? Such pure magic in evil hands would destroy Foreia, Aelle, Earth, and so many other worlds not able to withstand such power.
And so Jonas had been babysitting one prince while said prince’s three identical siblings followed their own paths. Princes of fire, water, and air had found brides in the Earth plane, making them even more powerful.
Yet Cadmus remained alone, stubborn, and facing death if he thought he could defeat their powerful secret partner watching him with amusement.
While Jonas could feel for the independent royal, he found Cadmus’ quirky sense of humor and clever escape attempts vexing, not to mention exhausting.
Jonas nodded at a few of his friends, who decided to give Cadmus what he wanted. As they attacked, they sank into Foreia’s life-giving earth. Vines shot out of the tree line and tangled the warriors’ limbs.
As he watched, Jonas imposed this angry Earth Lord with the often lighthearted, joking prince he’d been watching for the past months.
