26. Alandra

I groaned and rubbed my head, the familiar smell of white lily making me uneasy. As my awareness returned, I glanced down at myself and quickly fixed an illusion of Aellein garb, a flowing white dress, to cover my body.

I'd been tossed into a dingy dungeon, its only concession to Aellein standards a small, barred window that allowed a hint of air and light through.

Though my head throbbed, I felt mostly unharmed. I prayed Aerolus was all right, not knowing what had happened to him after the nasty Djinn threw me at two Der warriors and disappeared.

Unfortunately, nothing I'd said had convinced the Der to release me or send for Sava. One minute I stood in Tanselm, the next the Der had me back in Aelle. After throwing me so hard I'd hit my head, they'd left me alone.

Groggy from the smack of my head against stone, I must have blacked out. And now I was left to face imprisonment.

The Aellein dungeon had standards, I was pleased to notice. The cleanliness of the place and the warmth outside made the cell surprisingly temperate.

The stone walls were composed of blue rystone, which was impervious to Mir charms and time stamping. From the walls to the floor and ceiling, to the hard bed and stone table and stools fixed to the floor, everything resisted magical interference.

Grimacing at the ache in my head, I sat up slowly and swung my feet to the ground, made even more conscious of my vulnerability by my bare toes.

"Oh, good. She wakes."

The slick voice immediately froze me in place. I paled as Sin Garu, the Dark Lord who'd recently almost killed Aerolus and his brothers, appeared before me.

In a place he shouldn't have been able to teleport.

Unlike the diminished sorcerer I'd helped fling out of Seattle weeks ago, this sorcerer stood tall and straight, pale and beautiful. Long, blond hair, not as light as mine but more gold in color, shone with good health.

He stared at me with disdain. "How are you feeling, purie?" Aerolus' nickname for me didn't sit well, coming from his mouth. "Oh, yes, I watched you with your Storm Lord lover, you delicious little creature." His blue eyes darkened to black as he neared and loomed over me. "For a petite female, you have the most remarkable figure. What wonderful breasts. And such a tiny waist. The Wind Mage must love fucking you."

He licked his lips, and I stared, wondering if I'd see fangs like his brother's.

I really hoped I could escape this mess whole. Without bite marks.

Seeing my attention, he smiled, showing even, white teeth. No fangs. "Have no fear, Alandra. I'm no blood drinker," he said with disgust. "Their kind, frankly, sickens me."

Did his brother, Balen, know that? Could I use their discord to my advantage?

"Why are you here?" I asked in a polite voice.

"Such fine manners." He chuckled and sat next to me on the hard bed. His knee brushed mine, reminding me that the dress I appeared to wear was only an illusion.

"I've come because you matter, my dear. The magic within you is one key to unlocking control of Tanselm. But of course, you knew this." He eyed me shrewdly. "Were you hoping for a deal from Balen? You must know he'll take what he wants, regardless. I'm not so foolish to think I can control an Aellei possessing Storm Lord blood."

Something about my bonding with Aerolus had changed me. I knew it! But I didn't feel very different. Though my heart thundered, I remained composed. I had to get out of this mess without dying.

I smiled. "No, you're not at all foolish. A bargain, perhaps?"

"You're much more intelligent than your aunt gives you credit for." Sin Garu nodded with approval. "Then again, you can't afford to be choosy in here, can you?"

"As you say. I have a seemingly limited array of choices. What did you have in mind?"

He gave me a thorough study, but it didn't feel sexual, despite what he'd already said. I had a feeling he saw through my illusion. But he didn't move closer, thank the Shadow.

"My brother will come to claim you soon. When he does, go along with him. He'll try to drink your blood, but you mustn't let him."

As if I would.

He must have read my expression, because he shook his head and said, "That was a stupid thing to say, wasn't it? Look, Alandra, I know you're fond of Aerolus. Truth be told, of all the Storm Lords, he's the least offensive. Love him all you like. But in the end, you are of Shadow, and he's not. Like me, you crave the Dark. And while we may not agree about Tanselm's future, you at least concede that the Dark should be able to coexist with the Light."

I nodded, unable to argue with the truth.

"Good." He seemed pleased. "Then you, too, stand against Balen, whether you want to or not. My older brother would have you believe he means to wed you and make you his queen. But he wishes only to drain you of your power and ascend Tanselm's throne with Lidra by his side, under his thumb. And once Lidra gets hold of you all this pretty glamor will be for naught."

In the blink of an eye, he held me up by my throat, my toes scraping the ground as I fought to breathe. My dress shimmered and vanished, leaving me naked and vulnerable in Sin Garu's grip.

"You're a tasty morsel, aren't you?" He smiled, and his teeth grew sharper, lengthening.

He leaned in, way too close.

"You said you're not a blood drinker?" I rasped and clutched at the fingers gripping my neck.

Fortunately, he blinked and pulled back. And I knew then that no matter what he said about blood drinkers, he might all too easily become one if he wasn't already.

"No, but I like sweets." He brushed his lips along my cheek and squeezed my neck tighter.

I forced myself to remain still, fighting the urge to struggle for breath.

"Such tender flesh," he whispered directly into my ear. "You make me hunger, Alandra. How fun."

His cool breath tickled me, stroking my magic, arousing me.

I didn't know what to do, confused by my body's traitorous response when I should have been too scared and too hurt to respond.

"Shiny yet dark and vigorous." He licked my cheek. "I wonder how you taste when you come?"

He moved a hand over my belly, and I couldn't help an instinctive flinch.

I didn't know why, but he dropped me and stepped back.

I coughed and tried to get my breath back.

"You've untapped power." He snapped his fingers, and my previous illusion of a dress returned. "Be mindful of what you are and use your gifts wisely. They just might be your salvation."

He stepped close and cupped my cheek, and as he shifted, he brushed his erection against me.

As much as I wanted to appear strong and unafraid, I trembled and tried to move back without him realizing it.

He abruptly dropped his hand and turned to the door.

I should have let him leave, but I had to know. "What do you want from me?"

He glanced over his shoulder, the menace back in his eyes. "Isn't it obvious? I want you at my side when I retake Tanselm. You will help me defeat Balen, and when your Storm Lords come, you'll help my defeat them, too. To reward your for your help, my little shadow, I'll let Sava live."

Fear robbed me of speech.

He smiled knowingly. "Your attachment to the ancient one is obvious to everyone. Despite his rebellious nature, Sava's grown on me. He and I will come to an understanding. I'm sure he'll see the ‘light' once he knows the role you'll play in Tanselm's future."

Sin Garu chuckled and added, "Ah, those xiantopeswould have been fun to fuck but not to keep. Destroying them would have destroyed their Storm Lords." He sighed, and I realized he was talking about Samantha and Tessa. "Alas, it was not meant to be. You, on the other hand, will make a worthy mate."

"Thank you." I had to acknowledge the truth, as much as he horrified me.

He nodded, and his gaze glowed with power. "Dealing with me is your only means of escaping my brother. Trust me, purie," he mocked. "One taste of your blood and my horny brother won't leave you alone until he has drunk you to death. Don't believe me? Look at what's left of the once mighty queen of the Aellei."

He vanished, and I waited a few minutes for him to be truly gone before letting myself relax.

I needed to plan. Anything had to be better than Balen. I'd seen a lot more in my dreams than Aerolus knew.

If Balen did to me what he'd done to my aunt, he'd kill me. If not physically, then emotionally. After the beauty of making love to Aerolus, I would never willingly lie with a monster like Balen, not even to save my own life.

How much better Balen's brother would be, I couldn't tell. But as they said in the mundane world, better the devil you know.