15. Alandra

"Alandra, wait."

I raced into the adjoining bathroom and slammed and locked the door. Frantically searching myself in the mirror, I studied my reflection, which now glowed with a strange light. I ran my hands over myself, relieved not to feel anything physically out of place.

But I had to test myself. I shimmered into likenesses of Trudy Warner, Queen Lidra, even Arim. I looked like each of them. I became small, then larger, flapped my wings, and zipped around the room.

"Alandra." Aerolus knocked on the door. "Are you okay?"

To all outward appearances, I remained the same. And yet, clearly, something had changed.

I studied myself and noted that the Light in my aura was actually quite becoming. Especially with my pale coloring. I seemed to shimmer before the glow dimmed and faded.

Fascinated, I couldn't help reaching for the foreign strands of energy interwoven with my own. What should have hurt me didn't. Aerolus' energy soothed, strengthened, and aroused me simply by being there.

And I'd run from him in horror. I'd have to apologize for that.

My actions hadn't exactly been the stuff of romance. The sex with him had been indescribable, but my sudden panic was jarring. It made me wonder just how I felt about him.

For over a year, I'd studied him like a complex puzzle. No doubt one of the most handsome men I'd ever seen, he also possessed an intellect and an overt curiosity about everything that made me feel as if we shared several traits in common.

I was curious, smart, and studied with a veracity that had surprised my fellow students. Unlike Aerolus, I enjoyed life openly, unafraid to risk a bit of pain in my quest for the ultimate pleasures life had to afford.

Funny how I'd almost thought myself in love with him. But seeing our auras entwined felt so permanent. I was a creature of Shadow. What being of Shadow wanted to cling to the Light? Especially since the Light Bringers were so intent on erasing anything with a hint of darkness from Tanselm?

Aerolus isn't like that. He's special, no matter the circumstances of his birth. My damnable conscience, that irritating speck that forced me from Aelle and made me the self-appointed guardian to Prince Aerolus Storm, refused to leave well enough alone.

Light and Shadow aside, Aerolus made me feel things I'd never felt before. He made me laugh. He aroused me into an entirely different realm of passion. When we physically joined, I felt as if I'd come home, and the longing for Aelle didn't hurt so much.

Our magic still flowed together seamlessly, as if we had no beginning or ending without the other.

How could that be possible?

I knew why the Storm Lords had been sent to this world. To find their affai — brides to the Royal Four.

Where would a disgraced, hunted Aellein princess fit with the Storm Lords? Rumor had it that Aerolus' people still battled the rebel Shadren lingering in the shadows of Tanselm's Morn Mountain. They hated anyone not entirely Light.

And where did that leave me?

I felt…sad. There was no future for me and Aerolus, except for our attempt to rescue Tanselm from the Dark Lord threat. And I still didn't completely understand why I cared so much about that world, which had banished my kind over a thousand years ago.

My aura suddenly sparkled like Christmas tree lights, and I couldn't help admiring Aerolus' magic — my magic now. But mingled magic could be remedied. A broken heart, on the other hand… Sadness was not a natural state for an Aellei.

I lived with joy, humor, suspicion, and frustration daily. But I couldn't cope with genuine sorrow. When my parents died many years ago, I'd grieved so hard my magic had almost consumed me. Only my parents' good friend, Lord Sava, had helped me through that dark time.

Since matings of the heart were discouraged, most Aellei felt only a passing sadness for departed mates and friends. But I'd felt too much. I clung to loyalty when most Aellei considered fidelity to be a liability.

Already I cared way too much for the domineering Wind Mage. And that worried me.

The raw emotion between us made our relationship almost tangible. I felt tethered to him. But who could blame me? He'd been so tender and kind to me after Arim's attack.

I couldn't remember the last time anyone had come to my defense, not since Sava had taken me in short of a century ago.

Bah. I didn't need bad thoughts. I had enough to worry about. So I turned my mind to happy things, like aggravating my bitch of an aunt by continuing to aid Aerolus, and making sure she knew about it.

I started the shower and let the water soothe me, the precious liquid a pale substitute for the balmy air that had lifted me earlier, but I was in no hurry to flex my wings again.

Just thinking about the crippling pain of losing a wing made me cringe. So I closed my eyes and faced the spray of warm water running over my body. And of course, Aerolus filled my thoughts.

How much should I tell him about what I was feeling? Wouldn't my insecurities make me look weak? Perhaps I should keep to conversations about Dark Lords and wars and safety.

"Want me to scrub your back?" he asked from right behind me, startling me into a shriek.

I jerked around and slapped his naked chest with the soap. "Will you please stop doing that?"

His eyes darkened as he stared at my body, following the trail of bubbles down my front.

"By the Light, you're beautiful."

Oh, he was getting to me. And not by playing me but by being sincere.

"I don't know why this is happening, Alandra." He lifted my hand, staring at the magical shades of Light and Dark pulsing in sync, an identical match to the energy covering his own frame. "But it's nothing to fear. My Light will never hurt you. On this I swear."

My heart melted, though I tried to remain annoyed.

"I want you again." He sounded strained as he stared into my eyes. "I can't stop wanting you. You've bewitched me, and I don't even know the first thing about you."

I scowled, bothered by his honesty. It's not as if we were complete strangers. By Shadow's Bend, I'd watched him for over a year. "You know I've protected you." I batted his large hands from my shoulders, wishing I didn't desire him so much. "You know I'm from Aelle, and that I could have left you and your brothers to Sin Garu and Oxcen weeks ago."

He nodded and drew me against him. I lost my breath, surprised at the carnal need I should have been too tired to feel. Aerolus did no more than hold me, providing comfort but not hiding his own attraction.

I conceded defeat and sagged into his embrace. I'd never felt so safe, so cherished, and though I knew he was more dangerous to me than any Dark Lord or Light Bringer, I succumbed to his touch.

"Shh, love. It will all work out." He massaged shampoo into my hair, releasing knots of tension with a soapy massage. "Just leave it all to me," he murmured and kissed me.

Not long after, under those sinful hands and mouth, I found fulfillment in the arms of my Storm Lord lover. And to my further surprise, he didn't try to ease his own needs and instead just saw to mine.

Devoted, unselfish, and so blasted attractive. It was no wonder the sneaky Wind Mage was getting under my skin.

We rinsed and dried off together, and he wrapped me in his robe. I felt as if I could sleep for a week, completely relaxed by his tender treatment and the uncanny way he had of making my body hum.

I saw him stifle a smile.

He was laughing at me, but I couldn't fault him for it. Aerolus was so caring, so protective, so… Oh!

The gleam of smug satisfaction in his silvery eyes was a dead giveaway.

"You underhanded Light Bringer!" I had to suppress a ridiculous urge to commend him on his craftiness.

"What?" He tried to look bewildered, but that spark in his eyes told me he knew he'd been found out. Talk about outright manipulation! Giving me orgasms, massages, acting so, so…nice.

"You know what you did." Woo me with kindness, with flattery. Distract me with pleasure and I'll be as pliable as a dishrag.

He'd been ingenious, exploiting my weaknesses. Something an Aellei would have done.

My heart took a suspicious tumble over the emotional cliff I'd been doing my best to avoid.

How could I possibly be falling in love with one of the Royal Four?

I swore under my breath.

"It'll all work out," he said and stroked my hair.

"Shut up."

He coughed but didn't cover his laughter.

I sighed. "You're shameful. And stop being nice to me."

"Okay."

"And stop smiling."

His smile grew wider. "Sure thing, purie."

I sniffed, holding back my own smile. "We have more pressing matters to deal with."

"I suppose." He sat next to me on the bed, the short towel around his waist driving me to distraction. "Why don't you tell me about your dreams?"