30. Aerolus

Lord Sava didn't take surprises well.

"You're lucky I didn't do more than steal a bit of energy," he growled at Arim from a face and body completely different from the Aellei I'd been expecting.

Alandra had mentioned Lord Sava as a friend of her parents, and I knew she thought of him like a father. But this man looked as if he would have been more at home as her lover.

The thought irritated me as much as it disturbed me. My constant worry for Alandra gnawed at me, and I knew the irrational jealousy was another result of the negative energy amassing in Aelle.

The minute we'd stepped into this plane, I'd felt it. Having Alandra's magic meshed with mine felt like both a blessing and a curse. I sensed the Dark more deeply, able to accurately detect Aellei and Dark Lords alike. That also made me more susceptible to the Dark's pull.

"Damn me, Sava," Arim said with surprise. "Last I'd heard, you were a weakened, scarred old bastard. What happened to the wise Aellei determined to end his people's vain fixation on surface pleasures?"

Sava sat back on a plush, oversized couch and sighed. "Anything worthwhile eventually grows old." He smiled at his pun. "Do you like the real me? I decided to go back to my roots. All that aged wisdom was getting on my nerves. The Aellei took me more seriously as an elder, but then I started taking myself too seriously."

"Maybe that was a good thing," I said, my gut churning. "Remember Alandra? I'm sure she could use your help about now."

Sava stared at me with pale, gray eyes. "This is the pup my niece has chosen?" He snorted. "He's barely a man and a Light Bringer at that."

I seethed. We sat in Sava's tower exchanging pleasantries and insults while Alandra was out there in a fucking dungeon, alone.

I shot to my feet. "Look, you arrogant prick, I want my affai. And if you don't tell me where she is in two seconds, I'm going to feed your ass to you on winds of Light."

The air seethed and sparks crackled in the air as Sava regarded me.

Screw it. I counted down, "One, two, thr?—"

Arim stepped between us. "He's testing you, Aerolus."

Sava chuckled. "Not bad. A little overly dramatic, but I like the ‘arrogant prick' comment." He grabbed a sword that suddenly appeared on the table in front of him. "Alandra's safe in the dungeon. I had one of my men impersonate Sin Garu. As we speak, events are unfolding."

My skin prickled as if under an enchantment. Calling forth the latent energy of my affai, I stared around me with Alandra's power and watched Darkness creep through Sava's windows.

"We're under attack." I withdrew my staff and allowed a beam of Light to pierce the shadowy interior of Sava's tower.

"What are you doing?" Sava asked, shocked. "You would come into my home bearing arms against your host?"

Arim shook his head. "No, Aerolus is right. There's something wrong in here."

Sava opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. His eyes widened. "Lexa." He shook his head. "I think it's time I took my leave. Aerolus, come with me and we'll go to my niece. Arim needs space to greet an old friend."

I stared from my uncle's clenched jaw to Sava. Arim's gaze focused on the far wall, and as I watched, the shadows in the tower grew and coalesced into a woman's shape.

"Go, Aerolus." Arim's eyes gleamed. "Tanselm needs you and Alandra. I can handle this."

"Yeah," Sava said sarcastically. "Just like you handled her at the Great Hall." He turned to me. "Come on, pup. We've got better things to do than watch Arim embarrass himself."

I wanted to argue, but one look at the mysterious Lexa told me the history between these two was far from over. Something about her reminded me of Alandra, yet the icy fury in her gaze ended the subtle resemblance.

"Uncle —"

"Get moving."

"Why not let him remain to play," Lexa murmured, and I felt her sensuality slide over me with a soft caress. Her words lashed me like a leash, pulling me close.

"Not your type, Lexa." Sava yanked me to his side. In a blink, we teleported to the dungeon. "Your uncle and that woman have a history they need to fix. You and I aren't welcome to interfere."

"How do you know?"

"I was there when it all happened."

"When what happened?" I asked as we entered the empty building. Not finding any guards put me on edge.

"It's a long story, and one Arim needs to tell." Sava pulled out a long stick, thinner than my staff but just as powerful if the gray mist of energy around it was any indicator.

He stopped in front of an empty cell. "What, by Shadow's fall? Zartic was supposed to keep her here until I arrived." Sava's eyes glowed with fury, but I had no patience left.

My elemental magic begged to be released. Using anger to strengthen my power, I slammed Sava against the nearest wall. "If you don't produce Alandra le Aelle, right now, I'm going to kill you." I felt too calm. "It's not a threat but a promise."

Sava glared. "She's not here, Light Bringer. Zartic is working for another." He closed his eyes and frowned. "You've got one of two choices. I feel a distinct disturbance in the council field and another to the south of the dungeon. Take your pick."

I focused and felt a flutter of what I recognized as Alandra. "I'll take the south."

"I'll take the field." Sava cleared his throat and added icily, "As soon as you release me."

I did so and left without apology, as worry overcame good sense. I didn't bother to hide my presence from the inhabitants of Aelle either, too set on finding my affai. I had a tough time separating my magic from Aelle. Only my elemental nature remained free of the Shadow clinging to the rest of me.

Though I appreciated the boost in power, the confusion of feeling and power fluctuations would make using my Light Bringer magic dangerous.

I continued to travel along an isolated trail, conscious of the many eyes in the woods that followed me.

"Well, well, well." A large male appeared in front of me, halting my progress. I could feel the energy ahead of me, bright with streaks of Shadow—Alandra's marker.

"Not now," I growled and forcibly thrust him from my path.

Unfortunately, the big guy had a lot of friends. They left the forest on silent feet, a formidable enemy should they prove antagonistic. The ice wraiths mingling with the Aellei warned me they likely weren't friendly either.

"Don't worry, Light Bringer." One ice wraith cackled. "I know you're in a hurry, so we won't keep you long."

A flash of blue fire struck me from behind, bringing me to my knees. Instinctive rage struck back, and lightning flew from my wound into my attacker, searing the wraith to a crisp.

Finally in a place to free my anger, I released a storm into Aelle that would not soon be forgotten.