“Wow. Neat trick.”
Samantha and Tessa laughed.
Ravyn shook her head. “Another woman we’ll have to convince that magic exists.”
Ellie flushed.
“Oh, wait, that’s right. You’re not a xiantope, are you, dear?” Ravyn stared at her, hard, and Ellie felt like a bug under a magnifying glass. “Such lovely Dark you have, Ellie. I love the Djinn, always have.”
Ellie stared. “You have?”
“Sure. The boys don’t realise I’m a good bit older than their father was. And you’ve met Arim. He’s a sorcerer, several hundred years old, in fact. I’m his older sister.”
Ellie blinked. “Does that mean Cadmus will live as long?”
“The Light willing.” Ravyn laughed at Ellie’s expression. “Don’t look so shocked, Ellie. This isn’t Seattle, anymore. This is Tanselm, where anything is possible.”
Down the table, Tessa smacked her husband in the arm. “You never told me you’d live to be a thousand, Marcus. What the hell? I’m going to be grey while you’re poking at younger women?”
Marcus opened his mouth to speak, but Alandra answered for him. “No, Tessa. You’re in Tanselm now. You’re tied to him. You’ll age as he does. Should anything bad happen to him, you’ll continue to exist until Tanselm releases her grip on you.”
“Funny how you all think of Tanselm as a her,” Aerolus said, his gaze introspective.
“Great, here we go.” Darius exhaled, loudly.
“No, really. It’s just that I’ve always thought of Tanselm as intelligent, but without gender. Yet even Alandra refers to her and I?—”
“Arim, welcome back,” Darius boomed, sharing a look of relief with Marcus.
Ellie wanted to laugh at the annoyance on Aerolus’ face, but Arim’s stern expression as he walked into the dining hall gave her pause. Cadmus followed him, and he looked as agitated as his uncle.
A chair suddenly appeared beside her and the table magically lengthened as Cadmus sat next to her.
“I’m sorry I missed you this morning,” he said with a kiss to her lips. “Did I miss anything exciting?”
Deliberately shielding her thoughts, she shook her head. “Just Jonas being obnoxious.”
“Jonas is here?” Tessa beamed with excitement, and Marcus groaned.
“He dropped me in here before he left to find Cadmus.”
“I’m back,” Jonas announced, shimmering into view with his mouth full. “Wow. You Light Bringers make the best pastries I’ve ever had. Ellie, have you tried this sweet roll?”
“For those of you who haven’t met him, this is Jonas, my cousin.”
Jonas waved politely and finished his food in one swallow. He nodded at Ravyn, but no bow, Ellie noted with humor, and introduced himself, formally.
“By the order of Ethim il Ruethe, I, Jonas Chase al Surne, protect and serve at the behest of Ellie Markham and her betrothed, the Earth Lord, Cadmus Storm.”
“Very impressive,” Arim said with no small amount of sarcasm. He muttered a few words Ellie couldn’t understand but had Jonas grinning.
“And right back at you.” Jonas saluted before joining him at the end of the table.
“Really, Arim, such language, and to a guest?” Ravyn looked annoyed, her brother surprised and her sons confused.
“You speak Djinn?” Aerolus stared at his mother. “Fascinating.”
“Great, here we go again,” Darius groaned.
