With a whisper, I cast myself into the pathways between worlds, seeking the strands of Cadmus’ elemental earth energy. As I flowed with life’s ever-present magic, I caught stray bits of Dark, icy tendrils of feminine energy that instantly called Lexa Van Norsen to mind.
Startled to be thinking of her again when I should be focused on my nephew, I shook free of the woman and zeroed in on Cadmus. When I finally found the wayward Earth Lord, questions would be answered.
No more games, no more stand-offs. I needed information about the Djinn only Cadmus could tell me, and I intended to get it, one way or the other.
Chapter 6
Ellie
“Come on, Ellie. You know you can’t stay mad at me forever.” Cadmus grinned, but I couldn’t see past the haze of anger to his charm.
Clutching the strap of my purse, I hurried into the nearest coffee shop and ordered a latte with a double shot of espresso. “I cannot believe you announced to everyone in the bursar’s office that the only reason Jane Rascoll took the new teaching position is because she’s probably sleeping with the head of the department!”
He arched one arrogant, black brow. “It’s what you were thinking. What of it?”
“What of it?” I poked him in the chest, gratified by the scowl that replaced his grin. “I was thinking it. I never said it aloud. Several of the students that were in there know me. They’re going to tell Jane and the professor what I said.”
“But I said it.” He had the nerve to look puzzled.
“Are you really that ignorant, or are you just playing at being stupid?”
He scowled, but before he could speak, I added, “This is not a large school, and the English department is a tightknit group. No one knows who you are here, Prince Big Mouth. But they know me. Since you were all over me like a cheap suit, they’ll know who put those words in your mouth.”
His brow furrowed. “Cheap suit?” Glancing down at his plain black t-shirt and denims, he shook his head. “I hadn’t realized this passed for inexpensive formal wear.”
I glared at him and muttered a thank you to the girl with my coffee. Swallowing the potent brew, I could only pray my day would get better. As it was, my patience had all but frayed to nothing. My bright career seemed in the toilet unless I moved to bum-diddly university far away from here.
And I had a bad feeling my head throbbed due to the vivid sunlight. As much as I wanted to pretend I wasn’t a Darkling, I had an aversion to the sun even here in the mundane world.
Tuning back in to Cadmus, I noted the feminine speculation directed our way. He flirted with the girl behind the register.
So I cursed him under my breath and left him to fend for himself. Instead, I found a table outside and sat, watching the passersby while deliberately subjecting myself to the daylight, refusing to be anything but a normal woman.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger ran like a mantra through my head.
“What the hell are you doing?” Cadmus growled in my ear and yanked me to my feet.
“Hey, you just made me drop my drink!” I watched with no small sorrow as my latte disappeared down a nearby drain.
“You intentionally put yourself in pain. This is unacceptable.”
Trying to ignore the pounding behind my eyes, I pulled back, only to find Cadmus refused to let me go. Not wanting to cause a bigger scene than we were already stirring in front of half a dozen mooning customers, I let the royal busybody haul me into the shade of an adjacent building.
I forced myself to gently tug my arm free instead of ripping it away and slugging him. I lowered my eyes and rubbed at the sore lids. “Thank you.”
I could have done that myself, Cadmus.
Ah, I love the way my name ripples off your thoughts so lovingly when you’re angry.
He stroked my arm, causing shocks of warmth to shoot through my system. My blood heated as he sent me beads of his energy to soothe away my hurt.
Unfortunately, he’d taken my anger away with my pain.
I don’t need your help with this, I shot him with my angriest mental tone.
Little Djinn. So angry all the time. You don’t want anyone to help you.
I watched several young professionals eating up the sidewalk with their three-inch heels and designer suits. I wished I needed to be somewhere and in a hurry.
