1. Alandra

Three weeks later, Seattle

A little to the left. No. Stop. Don't move. Okay, two more steps. Ah,…there. Now, slowly, one button at a time. Yes, yes, that's right.

Magically disguised as a plain, middle-aged human woman named Trudy Warner, I stared through the telescope carefully positioned in the bedroom's corner, obscured from view by shuttered blinds and a large, potted fern should the male under scrutiny suddenly give my window a second glance.

I felt ridiculous having the fern near with closed blinds, but I knew better than to underestimate a Storm Lord.

"Oh yeah, baby," I uttered on breath and a prayer. "I love that chest."

Helplessly fascinated, I watched my tall, strapping neighbor lose his shirt as he readied, I assumed, for a bath. The light in his adjoining bathroom was on, and steam fogged the bathroom mirror.

I swallowed around a dry throat, wishing for a glass of water. But I refused to leave the sight of Aerolus Storm stripping down to nothing.

Long fingers reached for the snap of his jeans, his hands graceful and sure as they unzipped the denim, allowing a brief thatch of dark hair to appear.

Mother of all that was holy.

I stopped breathing, anticipation making me dizzy. Come on, Aerolus. Drop them, already. I'm dying here!

Jeans slid slowly to his knees before he kicked them off, giving me an uninhibited view of sizzling male perfection. The royal prince didn't like underwear, apparently.

Golden skin rippled as he moved under the sunlight streaming through his room, casting beautiful shadows of a warrior in his prime. A sprinkling of dark, silky hair covered his upper chest, tapering over a taut abdomen packed with clearly delineated muscle. The hair trailed lightly down his belly to frame a long, thick shaft that whispered Mine the longer I stared at it.

Shadows, how I wanted to touch him.

My heart hammered like a ringing alarm clock that refused to turn off. Getting control of my wayward thoughts wasn't easy. I took deep breaths, tried to think unsexy thoughts, and took more deep breaths. Repeating the process several more times, I finally admitted I was hopelessly in lust with the Wind Mage.

Aerolus was so beautiful, so very desirable, and so utterly slow.

I gripped the base of the telescope and watched him stretch and rub his chest, a motion I could have been performing had the stubborn man answered my summons.

Instead, Aerolus Storm, warrior and sorcerer, Storm Lord and Wind Mage, acted as if he had nothing to fear, as if I hadn't rescued both him and his brothers from sure death just a few short weeks ago.

I huffed, annoyed. Had I been so easy to forget? Really? Meanwhile, I couldn't stop watching the naked mage rotating his neck and shoulders, which only emphasized his abundant physical strength.

Aerolus appealed to me on more than a visual level. His extraordinary grasp of sorcery, especially considering he was just a novice, and his potential for power thrilled the heart of me that pulsed with magic.

I itched to be near him, to stroke his warm skin and feel the energy that coursed through his blood.

But I couldn't get near him now because Mr. Clever had sealed his house from all but the Light Bringers. Now, as much as I wanted to, I couldn't simply phase into his home. Despite my pixie-like size when observing, I couldn't pass the enchanted shield he'd erected around the house.

Even in the guise of an ant, I'd be expelled from the premises.

Thus my masquerade as Trudy Warner, the nosy neighbor.

Aerolus finished his stretch then did the oddest thing. He stared down at himself, took his dick in his hand, and started priming it. He closed his eyes and his face changed, became charged with a raw intensity that caused my entire body to clench in response.

He pumped into his fist, pulling and pushing, faster and harder. Sweat beaded on my brow, and I licked my dry lips, wishing he were here with me. Pushing into my body and out of my system, ending this annoying craving I had for his touch.

His biceps clenched and his forearm strained. I could see his nipples standing erect, as much from arousal as from the breeze that lifted his hair. My breath caught as I saw his elemental nature set free.

Wind whipped at the sheets on his bed, at the papers lying atop his dresser and the curtains framing his window, interrupting my scrutiny as dark fabric swirled against the panes. Glimpses of Aerolus showed him building toward climax, his neck muscles prominent, straining as he gritted his teeth.

Then the curtains dropped, the wind ceased, and Aerolus turned his head, blinking directly at the hidden telescope, at me. He should have been embarrassed. Shadows knew I would have been. But Aerolus stood uninhibited, still gripping himself, his face an almost expressionless mask…unless one knew where to look.

I did. The slight tightening around his eyes showed a muted frown. He released himself — a waste, in my opinion — and took a step toward the window, his eyes glowing with unfettered anger.

With a curse, I flew back, knowing he couldn't possibly have seen me. Embarrassed to be caught peeping, I sank heavily onto the bed. I hadn't expected…that…tonight.

I returned to the telescope, only to see he'd disappeared, and the bathroom door had closed.

I toyed with the idea of marching over there and asking for a cup of sugar, an egg, anything to get inside that house again, a step closer to the man who, for reasons unknown, filled my every waking thought.

My growing obsession with Aerolus was irritating, alarming, and disturbingly arousing.

From what I'd last seen, I knew only Aerolus, his brother, Cadmus, and that unpredictable sorcerer of Tanselm, Arim, were in residence. None of them would recognize me in this guise.

But did I want to take the chance I might be wrong?

Walking to the dresser mirror, I stared at the likeness of Dr. Trudy Warner, a nice if boring forty-nine-year-old woman currently on sabbatical in Europe. House-sitting for Professor Warner had been a no-brainer, a fortuitous circumstance I'd been hoping for when I'd first begun observing Aerolus a year ago.

To Trudy, I'd looked like an eager, na?ve college student needing some extra cash. But to the Storm Lords, I remained Trudy Warner, an average neighbor who never attracted attention, the same dull professor day in and day out.

The month I'd been here had been hell, but so worth it if only to see Aerolus naked. No doubt about it, this job had definite perks. And a killer downside. With the source of my attraction so close, it should have been easy to fulfill my needs.

We Shadren saw no shame in admitting to arousal or satisfying our cravings. Though wanting sex with a Storm Lord, a dreaded Light Bringer, might have raised a few eyebrows if anyone at home knew.

The doorbell rang, and I hurriedly adjusted my attitude and mindset to match Trudy's. As I trudged down the steps, I focused on recalling Trudy's monotonous voice. Appearances were easy to assume, but voices and mannerisms took skill and practice — both of which I worked hard to improve.

I reached the front door and opened it with a pleasant if dim smile on my face. "Yes? Marcus, isn't it?"

Aerolus frowned, his silver eyes glinting with suspicion. Oh, yes, he'd definitely noticed me watching him. "Actually, I'm his brother, Aerolus. We've never met."

Thank the Shadows. Now, how to play this to my advantage.

If Arim weren't in residence, I would have knocked on Aerolus' door and demanded his cooperation weeks ago. But with the formidable sorcerer at the house, maybe even spying on Aerolus as we spoke, I didn't want to chance being recognized. Who knew what repercussions I'd suffer at his hands? And if word got back to the Aellei of what I'd been doing before I was ready to face them, I'd be better off dead.

Aerolus stared at me with curiosity, and I realized I'd been silent for a little too long. I flushed and tried to act intimidated, as Trudy would have.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't get much sleep last night, and I'm tired and distracted. Please, come in." I stepped back and waited until he entered before locking the door behind him.

An idea firmed in my mind, one I'd been toying with in the event I was ever caught. Lies and deception worked so much better when a hint of truth worked into the mix.

"I know why you're here," I said in a strangled whisper, peering through my front window nervously before turning back to him.

"Excuse me?" His deep voice sent shivers through me that I worked hard to suppress. Why this happened only around him, I had no idea. He was just a man, albeit the best looking one I'd ever seen.

"It's that woman," I whispered dramatically, pleased when he frowned. "I've seen her hanging around your house the past few days. I had a feeling I should have told you sooner."

"A woman."

I nodded.

His eyes narrowed. "Describe her."

"She has white hair, though she appears young. Stands a few inches shorter than me, and I guess you could say she's pretty." Gorgeous, really. As soon as I thought it, I wanted to smack myself in the head. Vanity at a time like this?

My people, the Aellei, wanted me dead. Arim would transform me into a spotted lizard if he knew I interfered with one of his precious Royal Four, those noble Storm Lords. And by now, Oxcen had told everyone the queen had ordered him away from a Storm Lord. The same queen who'd been in council for the past few weeks.

One guess as to who had the gall to impersonate Her Royal Bitchiness and they'd be inscribing Gorgeous but Stupid on my burial marker.

Oh what the hell? I might be on death's door, but at least let me be pretty. "Yes, she seemed especially attractive. She looked lovely in white." I frowned. "But she did have some unique eyes. Maybe she wore those eye things, er, contacts."

"Her eyes were violet, slumbrous, thickly lashed," he muttered, his words complimentary though his manner was anything but. He sounded less bowled-over and more annoyed.

"Yes."

"And you didn't mention a woman stalking my house because…?"

I blushed and looked down. "You and Marcus are grown men. It would have been silly to presume a woman who looked like that wasn't invited to your home."

"Then why the telescope?" he asked wryly, still not believing my story.

"Because she started acting strange." I gave a dry cough, not feigning my nerves. "I know it sounds crazy, but she seemed to shimmer. Like a ghost, fading in and out. Obviously a trick of the light, I know. But then, I thought I saw her inside your room the other day and again just now."

I didn't explain why my telescope was fixed on his room or why I'd been watching. Hopefully, he'd be too concerned with an invading Aellei to focus on my voyeurism.

He rubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw. "Woman has no patience." He stared into my eyes, his so bright and gray and pretty.

I had to work not to sigh out loud.

"I appreciate your thoroughness." He scowled. "I'll keep an eye out for that strange woman and any other trespassers invading my privacy."

I blinked, deliberately looking guilty. Irritated, was he? About time. Maybe now he'd move his tight, sexy, sorry ass between planes for that overdue visit he owed me.

"Er, sorry for any misunderstandings. But if you don't mind, I have some work to do."

He left with a grumbled thanks, leaving me in a quandary. Should I stay in Seattle and continue to observe, though inconspicuously this time? Or should I phase between planes and linger in the Shadows?

I could tell I'd irritated Aerolus with mention of "the woman in white," but had I lit a big enough fire to head him in my direction?

Bored with being Trudy, I ventured back into the shadows in the house when a knock came at the door. Likely Aerolus with more questions. And just when I thought I'd convinced him to seek the real me out.

I opened the door with a polite smile and froze.

"I hope you don't mind, but I have a few questions of my own about my nephew's visitor." Arim, Tanselm's legendary sorcerer and Killer of Shadow, stood on my doorstep with black, burning eyes that saw too much, looking every inch the dangerous Light Bringer I'd been warned to avoid since the day I could walk.