Within moments, I felt oppressive sorcery sucking at my energy.
“Ellie, focus on your father and teleport to him right now.” I gritted my teeth and transferred what power I could still control into Ellie’s shield. Damn, Lexa aggravated the hell out of me. I’d just had utter bliss with Ellie. And now the memory of it would be tainted by a Dark Lord.
“I’m not leaving you.”
Fuck. I didn’t want her anywhere near Lexa Van Norsen. At least Ethim would protect Ellie from harm. I couldn’t fully trust Lexa. But how to get Ellie out of here? The stubborn woman would no doubt rather be killed trying to make a point.
“Fine.” An idea sparked. “Teleport out of here and bring help back with you. Find your father. Don’t let us both get trapped here. Quickly, before she arrives.”
Ellie frowned. “She? But who?—”
“Ellie, go. I can’t hold your shield much longer.”
Finally noticing the strain on my face, she paled and backed up a step. “Okay. But I’ll be right back.”
I nodded, relieved when she shimmered away. Her father wouldn’t let her return. Likely, Lexa had a score to settle. I’d blasted Jonas, her favorite lackey. Not to mention I’d just tainted Ellie, a daughter of Darkness, with the carnal delights of a boorish Light Bringer. No sense in trying to bullshit my way out of this one.
“Ah, the Earth Lord finally learns to accept responsibility. How noble. At least one of you dreadful Light Bringers has a shred of redemption.” Lexa glimmered into form a few steps to my left, her ice-blue eyes predatory as they studied me.
She wore a body-hugging dark-purple tunic over black leather pants and knee-high black boots. Her garb blended into the darkening horizon of Foreia’s sky. If not for her pale skin, I would have thought her a shadow within the trees.
I rolled my eyes, knowing it would piss her off. “The queen of laughter and light, Lexa Van Norsen. What a surprise.”
“We never finished our last lesson.” She ignored my taunt, and I strove to try harder. She was almost as much fun to rile as Marcus. “It would do you well to shield your thoughts the way I taught you. Likening me to your brother is no way to get on my good side. I do believe our next lesson might leave scars.” She smiled, her teeth white, her grin feral.
Masking the dread bottoming out in my stomach, I clenched my will tight and grudgingly called on that odd Darkness within me to shield my thoughts, strengthening my resolve with bands of Light.
“Impressive.” She circled around me.
I forced myself not to turn with her. “What now?”
What happened next shocked the hell out of me. As quick as lightning, she laid a hand on my cheek. Pain, the likes of which I’d never felt, reached into me and grabbed hold. Ice speared through my soul, bone deep and dark.
“Don’t ever, ever forget who is in charge, here, Cadmus. Despite your reason for being, the rules are, and ever have been, mine. Do you understand?”
My first instinct was to argue and fight her control. But that wouldn’t save Ellie or Tanselm. I could feel Lexa pulling the life from my body. I could submit and fight another day or hang onto my pride and die for no good reason. Reluctantly, I nodded.
The pain disappeared, and I sank to my knees.
“Good. Now that we have that unpleasantness out of the way, why don’t you tell me about Ethim’s daughter, your lovely affai?”
Fear magnified my weakness, turning me inside out. By the Light’s fucking blaze. How did she know what I’d just acknowledged to myself?
My eyes narrowed. I’d pledged to protect Ellie from danger. If I had to die to ensure her safety, so be it. “You even think about screwing with Ellie, and I’ll kill you.” Rage gave me strength, and I stood on shaky legs, preparing to do her real harm.
“You would certainly try, I’m sure.” She laughed, the charming sound making me blink in confusion. For someone so Dark, so seemingly evil, Lexa could at turns be extremely enticing. Right now she resembled an innocent young woman, lovely in face and form.
Though she was almost petite, her body curved in all the right places. Long black hair accented the paleness of her skin, and her startlingly light-blue eyes enthralled with a glance. Such a sweet mouth…
But no. I didn’t love Lexa. A picture of Ellie filled my mind and clearing my erotic daze.
Lexa shot me a sly grin. She’d tried to turn me from my affai. Fucking Dark Lords. But I forced myself to smile, my inner shields tight.
“Damn, Lexa. If I’d known how hard up you are for a man, I’d have brought my uncle with me.”
It was subtle, but she flinched. I’d only guessed before that she and Arim had been emotionally involved, but now I knew I’d been right. She quickly masked her distress, and I felt a hint of remorse for having wounded her.
How strange was that?
