Prologue

The Land of Foreia

The muted glow of everdark hovered over the deep blue grasses of Foreia's rich fields. The black bark and flaming red leaves of giant firn trees framed the surrounding area, the scent of sweet scythia flowing through the warm air like a blessing of welcome.

Jonas Chase, leader of the rebel Djinn army, studied the lavender clouds covering the sky with pleasure. The sight never failed to impress him and made him want to bask in his homecoming.

A muffled curse and angry words, unfortunately, drew his attention. Jonas let out a loud sigh as he stared at his responsibility.

Prince Cadmus Storm, the Earth Lord.

Surrounded by a dozen Djinn warriors and a clever Djinn ally who'd promised them freedom, Cadmus put on a brave front to fight a battle he couldn't win.

For hundreds of years, Light battled Dark. Jonas understood the fears that led to animosity. Most Dark Lords did tend to be violent, oppressive creatures bent on domination in lieu of harmony.

But times had changed. The sentient land of Tanselm had called out for help, and Jonas and his rebel Djinn, those who fought for a better world, would answer.

Still, he'd surprised himself by agreeing to help his enemy, hiding among the humans with no magic in their mundane world.

He'd missed home. Foreia, while not as strong in magic as Tanselm, offered comfort.

He wondered what Cadmus thought of being here.

Cadmus, a Storm Lord, was one of the Light Bringers' most powerful warriors. He commanded the element of earth in addition to an ability to manipulate light-based magic.

And, like most Light Bringers, he had to do things the hard way.

"Cadmus—"

Cadmus snarled and reached for Foreia.

Jonas felt a charge of magic and watched as golden soil erupted, crushing navy grass into muddied chaos. Quakes of rock shifted, and the air reverberated with the threat of Storm Lord vengeance.

"Fine, be a dick." Cadmus snarled over his shoulder, catching Jonas in a fierce glare.

So dramatic.

"Kill me if you want," Cadmus said. "But I'm taking as many of you to the Next with me as I possibly can."

The Royal Four—the Storm Lords known to rule Tanselm—had been prophesied to promise a life Jonas' people had been dreaming about for centuries.

The princes didn't know it yet, but once one of the Royal Four became overking of Tanselm, life in their rich, magical world would change, and for the better.

Unfortunately, until that time, Jonas and his rebels remained hidden, fighting against a ruthless Dark Lord who wanted to destroy everything, leading by fear and intimidation.

Sin Garu and his hated minions, the Netharat, destroyed with pleasure. Those vile wraiths, ice demons, and monsters happily feasted on creatures of Dark and Light, if only to perpetuate the chaos that salved their undying hunger.

Who knew how many overlapping worlds in existence would fall if Sin Garu conquered Tanselm? Such pure magic in evil hands would destroy Foreia, Aelle, Earth, and so many other worlds not able to withstand such power.

And so Jonas had been babysitting one prince while said prince's three identical siblings followed their own paths. Princes of fire, water, and air had found brides in the Earth plane, making them even more powerful.

Yet Cadmus remained alone, stubborn, and facing death if he thought he could defeat their powerful secret partner watching him with amusement.

While Jonas could feel for the independent royal, he found Cadmus' quirky sense of humor and clever escape attempts vexing, not to mention exhausting.

Jonas nodded at a few of his friends, who decided to give Cadmus what he wanted. As they attacked, they sank into Foreia's life-giving earth. Vines shot out of the tree line and tangled the warriors' limbs.

As he watched, Jonas imposed this angry Earth Lord with the often lighthearted, joking prince he'd been watching for the past months.

"Enough." Their secret ally, a Dark Lord not nearly as evil as her brothers, took several steps closer to Cadmus. Lexa Van Norsen, their Dark Mistress, shook her head when Jonas took a step forward, ready to intervene. "Earth Lord, the vision you saw was a message from me."

"Bullshit. I saw you die. You and your bastard brother, Balen."

Her ice-blue eyes narrowed. Lexa's smile, when it came, was as effective a weapon as her blue flame. "Balen is indeed dead. And you Storm Lords owe me a debt of gratitude for it."

"Gratitude?" Cadmus threw several approaching Djinn from him with bursts of energy that visibly swelled from the ground. "If not for you Dark Lords, Tanselm would be in one piece." He blasted another group of Djinn, his power growing with his rage. "My father, my uncles and aunts and cousins would all still be alive."

A large tree groaned as it shuddered under a massive force, its roots reaching through the ground for Lexa's legs.

She glided as if on air, stopping in front of Cadmus. Jonas felt the tension filling the space between them. Tendrils of negative energy snarled at him, and he flashed into the natural form of the Djinn, in truth, unable to help himself.

He didn't even try to fight it, knowing he was much more powerful in his energetic state. His physical form blurred, keeping a man's outline while consisting not of flesh, but of white, blazing energy surrounded by a black aura that danced like flame.

He was Djinn. He was powerful. And he had been born to return his people to their homeworld — to Tanselm, where they rightfully belonged.

"Hear me, Earth Lord," Lexa uttered in a low voice. "You know nothing of true pain, of torture and worse at the hands of those you love. So carry the regret of your loved ones' passing close to your heart. And be content that you will once again join them in the Next."

Cadmus stared at her, quiet but wary. Jonas expected her to enthrall him. At the very least, to punish him for his disrespect.

But she surprised him.

"You look so much like Arim." Arim, Guardian of Storm, Killer of Shadow, and the most powerful Storm Lord in existence.

Jonas had run into him a few times before and each time found himself lucky to come away in one piece.

Cadmus blinked. "What do you know of my uncle?"

"I know everything about Tanselm's greatest sorcerer," Lexa said with disdain. "A pity he still breathes when a fine man like your father is dead, hmm?"

Cadmus took a step closer. "I owe you my thanks, you said? Then allow me to thank you for my father's passing." He looked around him, his glare hot enough to burn. "You and all your Djinn friends. Without their poison, my father would still be alive."

He reached for her. "Accept my gratitude on behalf of the Storm Lords."

Oh hell. "Cadmus, no."

The look on Lexa's face wasn't good.

Cadmus had no idea of the power she wielded, and Jonas had come too far to lose the Storm Lord because of his rash temper. Unfortunately, he couldn't aid Cadmus because she wouldn't allow it.

She held Jonas still with a thought, welcoming Cadmus' touch.

The minute Cadmus touched her shoulder, he froze.

Lexa, their enemy's sister and traitor to his cause, froze as well. Together, she and Cadmus stood like statues, locked in a war of wills. A soft blue nimbus of light blanketed them.

Then Lexa took a deep breath and pulled away, leaving Cadmus in a frozen haze.

"Very good work, Jonas." She turned to him with an alluring grin. "He's filled with a Darkness that complements his Light. I believe this Storm Lord will solve all your problems."

Jonas brightened, his aura black with joy. "Truly? This one will see the Djinn welcomed back to Tanselm?"

"The Sarqua Djinn, yes," she corrected. "Those who fight alongside Sin Garu are too tainted to appreciate Tanselm's grace. But our people know the truth."

"We won't make the same mistakes as our fallen family. We may live in the Darkness of existence, but our hearts are pure."

She nodded. "Light and Dark are sides of the same coin. It has ever been about balance. In time, all will see what you and I know."

"And Cadmus?"

Her grin would have appeared menacing had Jonas not understood and supported its cause. "He's one of us already. He just doesn't know it yet."