25. Arim Guardian of Storm

Darius and Marcus immediately stood to greet Cadmus when I held up a hand, stilling them.

"Where have you been?" I asked, aware something about my nephew seemed wrong.

"Just…around," Cadmus drawled, staring at his brothers with malice. The strange Dark aura that had possessed him for a time had disappeared.

Could that be the reason for the bile I sensed?

I studied him while subtly setting an invisible protection over Darius and Marcus. "How did you get through our shields keeping the Dark ones away?"

Cadmus shrugged. "Your boy's been leaving holes big enough to jump through." He smiled, full of hate I could almost feel. "We've got the girl, you know. It's almost over."

"Son of a bitch," Darius growled, fire flaming from his fingertips as he pointed them at Cadmus.

"An Aellei or Djinn?" Marcus asked calmly as he stared at Cadmus, power vibrating off him in waves.

"Or neither," Aerolus added from behind us.

Odd that I hadn't sensed him coming before he'd appeared. Strong winds surged through the room, surrounding Cadmus to pin him in place.

I stared in surprise as the normally even-tempered Wind Mage seethed with battle-lust. Dressed in dark trousers and a red tunic, signifying his status as a warring sorcerer, my nephew appeared wild, dangerous, and perilously close to losing control.

His gray eyes snapped with lightning, and wind seethed through his hair and clothing. For once, the level-headed Wind Mage had lost his temper, in a true rage.

"Aerolus," Marcus said, cautious.

Aerolus walked around him. A staff appeared in his hands, and he snarled as he shot a huge beam of Light into Cadmus. Energy that shouldn't harm his brother one bit.

But the person posing as Cadmus groaned and curled into a ball on the ground.

Aerolus wouldn't stop.

"Easy, Aerolus," I said, aware my nephew was as out of control as I'd ever seen him. "We need answers —"

"About where Alandra is and why they thought they could get away with it." Aerolus said a spell under his breath, and the imposter glowed so brightly we had to shield our eyes.

I blinked to see Cadmus has disappeared, and one of the head servants from Tanselm's western castle lay in his place.

"Benold?" Darius stared in shock. "What? You're in league with our enemies?"

"He's the Djinn traitor," Aerolus said through clenched teeth. "He's been with us for over three decades. And in all that time, he's been plotting and waiting."

"Yes, just burning for the chance to get even." Benold swore. "The Light I've had to endure to be near you monsters." He clutched his abdomen and glared at us all, lingering on Aerolus. "Your girlfriend is the answer to everything." He smiled despite the powerful magic leaking from his eyes. Benold had to be in considerable pain, yet he taunted Aerolus.

Likely wishing to prod the Wind Mage into killing him quickly.

Benold shot Aerolus a sly smile. "I can't wait to see what Lidra does to her before the Dark Lord takes her. He's going to fuck her until she screams. And then he's going to cut her into little pieces, feeding them to the wraiths burning for her taste."

"Aerolus, don't," I warned.

Darius and Marcus stepped closer as well, but Aerolus forced them back with a firm wind.

"I'm not so na?ve I can't see what he wishes me to do." Aerolus' gaze burned with blinding anger. And with a strange violet glitter.

Marcus blinked. "Is everyone seeing that?"

"Proof he's tied to Alandra," Darius said. "Like Samantha was tied to me after our brush with the Wraith's Kiss."

The incident occurred months ago. After I'd cured Darius and Samantha of the Wraith's Kiss, an insidious Netharat spell, Samantha had apparently woken with red eyes, holding enough of Darius' latent power to withstand his elemental fire, which was in itself a sure indicator of her future in his life.

And now Aerolus looked similarly affixed to a woman. His affai—a troublemaking Aellein princess.

Both pleased and dismayed that my nephew was so closely tied to Alandra, I could only hope Aerolus hadn't found her too late, only to lose her to the Dark. What that could do to a man didn't bear thinking about.

Or reliving.

"Benold, you will suffer for your crimes." Aerolus' mage staff glowed with raging lavender flames. "It can be fast. Or slow. But you will pay. Tell me exactly where Alandra is and why the Dark Lord wants her."

Benold scoffed. "You're going to kill me either way. Do what you will."

Aerolus impressed me, I'll admit. His fury came from a depth I hadn't realized he possessed. Always the calm one. The level-headed mage. The rational brother who often kept the others in line.

But not this time. This hard-eyed warrior wouldn't stop until he'd saved that which was most precious to him. His affai.

The enemy had done for Aerolus what I couldn't have with Storm Lord training.

Aerolus stared at Benold and tossed Darius his staff. "Do what I will, hmm? I hope this hurts." He thrust his hand directly into Benold's forehead.

Shadow shimmered around the connection between them, as their bodies seemed to merge. Benold's bloodcurdling shriek grew louder and harsher, while Aerolus stood unmoving, staring firmly into his eyes.

"By the Light, that's scary." Darius staring unblinkingly at his brother.

"I knew he was powerful, but this goes beyond anything I'd imagined." Marcus watched Aerolus with concern.

"Watch." I shared their worry. But I also believed in my nephew.

A few ear-splitting moments later, Benold's cries turned into desperate moans.

"You see, there is a vast difference between dying quickly and dying slowly. You, my friend, will continue to linger for days. Weeks. More." Aerolus refused to let Benold drop, and the sight of his fist in the man's head panicked Benold beyond measure.

"You took from me what you needed. Now let me die already."

Aerolus shook his head. "What you have done justifies no less than agony. And perhaps more." He withdrawing his hand then traced symbols on Benold's forehead, chest, and hands while the traitor stood unmoving. "Enjoy the Light. And tell Oxcen I said hello."

Aerolus took a step back and uttered the activation words.

I watched in awe as the traitor glowed in truth. But instead of a Djinn's normal fiery man-shape surrounded by black fire, this Djinn glowed like a burning moon. Bright Light shot out through myriad holes all over his body, turning his aura a sickly orange.

Benold cried out and faded into nothingness.

"Oh, well done." I gave him a slow clap, amused to see his brothers looking both awestruck and unnerved.

"Where did he go?" Darius asked.

"I sent him to Marcus' Nocumat friend, Oxcen, who just so happens to be sitting in the Aellein queen's dungeon just now. It's fortunate Benold knew where Oxcen was, or I wouldn't have been able to send him there."

"Very fitting." Marcus gave a nod of satisfaction. "That will hurt worse than anything you could have done."

Aerolus' dark smile was a grim reminder all was not yet right. "You think?"

"Scary, brother." Darius shook his head. "But impressive. I like this new you."

Aerolus sighed. "You would." His tone relieved me more than words could have. "As glad as I am to see you all here, we have a situation. Alandra's in Aelle, in the very place where they threatened to torture and kill her. According to Benold's perfect memory, Balen and Sin Garu are currently waiting with Lidra and her council to judge Alandra's crimes against the crown."

"Let's go get her." Marcus stepped forward through the band of wind that faded into warm air.

"I'm with you. Let's go." Darius joined him, his eyes fiery with anticipation, flame curling around my hands.

Cadmus suddenly appeared, gripping his head. "Not yet."

"Not this again." Darius frowned and crouched in a battle stance, his fists aflame.

"You have to get back to Tanselm," Cadmus gasped, clenching his eyes shut as he leaned against the couch. "This is all a big distraction. As we speak, the Netharat are planning an attack on —" He sank to his knees.

I rushed to help him, lowering him to the couch.

"So it is him," Darius said with surprise.

Marcus gave him a look and kneeled by Cadmus' feet.

"Well, how the hell was I supposed to know?"

Marcus ignored him and gripped Cadmus' hand. "It's about time you showed up. Tell us where to go."

"West." Aerolus interrupted and turned to Darius. "I think…wait. His thoughts… Samantha's on the southern wall of the castle with a squad of guards. They're going to aim the attack there, according to what Benold knows."

Cadmus added in a weak voice, "And Tessa's going to be ambushed by two serving maids, Djinn sympathizers and trained assassins. You need to find them before all this unfolds. I'm not sure how much time you have, so hurry."

I stood and held out my hand, my palm open, facing the wall. Two dark portals appeared as I chanted. "Darius on the left, Marcus on the right. Warn your mother and drag the royal guard to help. She'll summon the other kingdoms."

Darius rushed through the portal.

Marcus turned quickly to ask, "What about you?"

"I have to help Aerolus first. Now, Marcus. Tessa needs you."

Marcus left before I could give him more orders.

After they departed, I closed the gateways to Tanselm and turned to Aerolus. "We need to go to Aelle. I have a friend there who may be of some help."

"Good, because if you don't, I'll kill the Aellei, one by one, until I get my affai back." Aerolus spoke calmly, but I didn't miss the violence in his aura.

One that radiated with Light and Shadow entwined.

"Damn, I'm gone for a little while and Aerolus turns into a bloodthirsty warmonger. What else did I miss?" Cadmus chuckled and groaned. "My stomach…" He blinked and stared at his brother. "Wait. Did you say affai?"

"Yes, I did." Aerolus stared at him in shock, as if seeing something I couldn't.

I studied Cadmus, concerned.

"What?" he sounded defensive.

"Nothing," Aerolus said. "Just be glad Arim is so pure of Light he can't see what I now can."

"Aerolus? Cadmus?" I stared at the two of them with growing irritation. It still baffled me that these two were so much more difficult to handle than their brothers.

Darius was a hothead, Marcus an arrogant and crafty Storm Lord.

Aerolus, though powerful, had the role of quiet, obedient brother. Cadmus used to be the light-hearted, comic relief.

Why, then, was I having such a headache handling these two?

"I'll deal with you later." I scowled at Cadmus then stalked to the center of the room. I grimaced. "I never thought I'd say this willingly, but let's go to Aelle."