Yet, if Sava was right, only Arim could heal her.
For all that Lexa had sacrificed and done for the Djinn, and hell, for myself, I would do what I could to see the shadows lifted from her beautiful eyes.
To see that she finally belonged somewhere, accepted for the caring woman she could be and not despised for the cruel sorceress she’d been forced to become in order to survive.
Chapter 7
Arim
I stared at my dead brother-by-marriage with shock.
Granted, as a sorcerer, I’d seen many strange and unusual occurrences with my magic. But I had yet to converse with the dead, let alone watch my sister share an embrace with one.
Faustus grinned, his smile so like my nephews’ that I felt a stupidly wide grin split my own mouth. By the Light, I’d missed the fun-loving Wind Mage, Tanselm’s once great overking. The great love Faustus had, not only for his family, but for his people, still clung to his pale aura like a second skin.
The joyful warmth that had been missing in Ravyn’s eyes returned. The nimbus of pale light settling over us both only proved again how much my sister and Faustus loved each other. And how much Ravyn would miss him once he returned to the Next.
Which begged the question… “By the Mother’s Holy Light, what are you doing here?”
Faustus chuckled. “Didn’t expect to see me?”
“Of course not.” I took in my sister’s delight. “Obviously, I’m the only one surprised. I take it you two meet often?”
Ravyn answered, “Not as often as I’d like. Faustus is constrained by a lot lately. The higher powers don’t mind using him to do their bidding, but the Light forbid he visit his bereaved wife.”
Faustus sobered. “Now, now, love. My time is limited, and I’d rather make the most of it with you instead of being yanked back by those with no idea that I’m back where I’m not supposed to be.” He glanced over his shoulder as if seeing something we couldn’t.
Ravyn stepped closer into her husband’s embrace.
I could only stare, trying to absorb it all. “You’re substantial?”
“Where are my manners?” Faustus gently released Ravyn and grabbed me in an enormous bear hug. “I’ve missed you, brother. I see you’ve been weakening since I left.” Faustus sighed. “You always were a hard-head. Can’t or won’t hear what Tanselm’s been telling you, hmm?” He stepped away and took Ravyn in his arms again.
“Won’t,” Ravyn said, easing her head back onto her husband’s firm shoulders.
Had I not known better, I’d swear Faustus stood before me, alive and well, his gray eyes sparkling with vitality. The slight tint of yellow that clung to him said otherwise.
“Why are you here?” I knew Faustus hadn’t returned simply to visit my sister, not since Ravyn had ordered me to accompany her back to her room.
“Your concern for Ravyn is admirable, but you shouldn’t be prying into her mind. I’m the one who told Ravyn about the next overking. She’s right to worry about the future. Your sister has been thoroughly drained by Sin Garu, who even now eludes death. I don’t know how he’s been alive as long as he has, but what little humanity he had to begin with is long gone. The longer he lives, the more powerful he grows. It’s not the Darkness within him that should worry you. It’s the demons that now fill his soul.”
I too easily remembered the unholy green blaze of demon fire Sin Garu had thrown. The blaze that had burned Lexa the last time we’d battled the Dark sorcerer.
A blaze that had been meant for me.
“You need to bring Lexa back or Tanselm is lost.” Faustus stared hard at me, his eyes full of power and wisdom, a supernatural energy visibly pulsing through his body. I could feel tendrils of Light, brighter and sharper than any I’d ever felt, creeping over my skin. Pinpricks of pain and a strange euphoria grew as I found myself unable to break eye contact.
“Release him, Faustus,” Ravyn cautioned, a hand on his arm. She turned back to me. “The sensation will pass, brother. It takes some getting used to.”
My entire body felt like jelly, and a compulsion to follow Faustus’s orders clung to me. “What did you do to me? A spell of some kind?” I’d never felt anything like it.
“Sorry. Sometimes I forget I’m more than I was. Life after death changes you. But that’s another subject entirely, and one I don’t have time for right now. Arim, I know what’s in store for you if you fail. I don’t want to see my family —” Faustus frowned. “Never mind. Forget I said anything. I’m just here to visit my wife, still waiting for her before I finally accept my passing.”
I didn’t understand what I was hearing. “You mean you haven’t passed into the Next yet? Where the hell have you been since you died?”
“A very good question. I’ve been to the Next and back, and more. I wish I could explain it to you, but we’ve got company.”
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
