And trying to make sense of anything Jonas said half the time gave me a headache. Admittedly, he had a wicked sense of humor that made me want to laugh despite my irritation at being denied my homeworld.
In the weeks I’d been forced to endure the Djinn’s company, I’d never seen the man so affected by anyone, with the exception of Lexa and Ellie, of course.
I scowled. Were Jonas and Ellie related? They called themselves cousins, but Jonas referred to his fellow warriors as brothers. So maybe cousin was a vague Djinn reference for friendship?
Just the thought of Jonas and Ellie being intimate brought forth a strange anger that had me hungry for something beyond my comprehension.
“Cadmus?” Ellie asked tentatively from her doorway.
“Yes?” I kept my voice even, determined to keep my cool around her. I’d never get her to surrender if I taunted her at every turn.
She cautiously approached, wearing jeans and a blouse. Casual, but on her they looked like designer wear. Her eyes widened.
She reached out and stroked my arm, making me groan at the tingly sensation. “You’re in truth. How is this possible? Because you are definitely not yourself.”
I glanced down at my arm and stared in shock. Where my arm should have been, a bright white band of energy glowed, surrounded by black flame. What if my brothers saw me like this? Or Arim? Would they ever let me go home again?
Storm Lords were Light Bringers, not Darklings.
“Relax and breathe. Nice and even, in and out.” Ellie calmed me with her steady nerve. “I’ve seen my father control this. You just have to release whatever’s inside you holding onto that energy.”
“What energy? What the hell is this?”
“I’m not sure.” She turned my cheek to face her and looked deeply into my eyes. Her power was an almost tangible thing I wanted to reach out and touch. “Trust me. Focus on the core inside you, that anger, rage, whatever passion that has fixed you in truth. And let it go. Deep, consistent breathing helps.”
“Sure.” Easier said than done. I evened out my breathing, trying to unglue my mind from the wall of panic threatening to overtake me.
Since when did Light Bringers burn in truth?
Ellie’s touch grew soothing, and after several moments passed, I gradually felt something inside me ease. I looked at Ellie, truly seeing the beauty of her spirit. My heart leaped, and I struggled to grab hold of my senses.
By the Light, her eyes were a startling, alluring shade of blue.
“Thanks,” I said gruffly and rubbed my temples, a headache brewing. The last time I’d been thrust in truth, I’d had head pain for hours afterward.
“What were you thinking before you changed?”
About you and Jonas doing things you should never do, I thought but didn’t say.
“I don’t know. Let’s just forget this happened, okay? Now what’s on the agenda for today?” I glanced at her and saw her bite her lip as she gave me a thorough onceover.
My cock hardened. More pain I didn’t need right now. But watching Ellie turn a pretty shade of pink and try to pretend she hadn’t been looking appeased my frustration. Somewhat.
Ellie coughed and looked anywhere but at me. “First, you’re going to get dressed.”
“I am dressed.”
“Put a shirt on. Then we’ll go down to the university, where I’ll register for the upcoming summer classes. With any luck, I’ll be able to finish at least four of my remaining six credits.”
I grabbed a shirt from my duffel bag and threw it on, pleased my naked body made her uncomfortable. That had to be a good sign, right? I joined her in the kitchen and settled on a stool overlooking the kitchen island. She grabbed a pan and a carton of eggs and started working.
Satisfied she didn’t intend to bolt, at least not anytime soon, I gave in to my rampant curiosity and asked the questions I’d wanted to ask for weeks.
“So how is it you don’t see yourself as Djinn?”
When she’d first denied her ties to herDark kin, I’d wanted nothing more than to prove her for the liar I knew her to be. To make her pay for causing me such hurt. But after those first few days of almost hating her, I considered all I knew about her.
I’d asked Jonas a few questions and realized Ellie meant what she’d said. She didn’t consider herself Djinn. Ellie Markham, Seattle native and graduate student, wanted no part of the Djinn or of Tanselm.
