6. Arim Guardian of Storm

"What exactly do you mean you don't know where Aerolus is or when he'll be back?" I stared into the brown gaze of my nephew, clearly seeing untruth in the making.

Cadmus shrugged, exacerbating my irritation. First, the academic voyeur next door. Now, my nephew. Did no one in this plane tell the truth? And how convenient my other recalcitrant relative, the normally steady Aerolus, just happened to disappear moments after my discovery of an Aellein presence.

If I hadn't known better, I would have assumed Sin Garu's involvement in this mess. Yet my intuition told me otherwise.

Having successfully pushed both Darius and Marcus to their respective brides, I'd thought the most difficult portion of my job done. Who knew Aerolus and Cadmus would prove to be the more difficult of the Royal Four?

Forced to remain in Tanselm to help drive the remaining Netharat back into the darkness from whence they'd come, I'd been too busy protecting the new Storm Lords brides to keep an eye on Aerolus and Cadmus.

With Sin Garu apparently sucked from this plane into Light knew where, I'd thought I had time to settle the Prince of Fire and the River Prince into their new kingdoms before venturing back to Seattle.

I was beginning to wish I'd never heard of this dreaded city.

I glared at Cadmus, not amused at the slow grin that curled my nephew's mouth.

"I'm sorry, Uncle. Have I said something to irritate you?" he asked, all innocence.

I now realized why my fiery nephew often lost his patience with his brothers. Ignoring my need to destroy something, I took a deep breath and let it out, focusing on Cadmus. At my stare, his cocky grin wavered.

Finally seeing the crack in Cadmus' defenses, I pierced his psyche and plunged deep.

Dark, seething energy surrounded me. Black waves of cold fire sucked at my power, threatening to break my hold on his mind. It was an incredibly potent protective spell, one too advanced for a young Earth Lord to have developed by himself or Aerolus. Though powerful, the young Wind Mage had much to learn.

As I struggled to make sense of the images that flashed before me, bright blue eyes and a sultry smile plagued my — his — thoughts. Sensations of warmth, arousal, and untainted power lanced through me until I felt the earth shake beneath us.

Stunned, I relinquished my hold on Cadmus and sat in a nearby chair, dazed.

"Ah, Arim?"

What had Cadmus gotten involved with here? I'd sent the last four Storm Lords to this plane to keep them safe, not to serve them into the hands of our enemy.

I had to work to speak. "Who is she, Cadmus?"

A subtle tension enveloped my nephew, but to his credit, the crafty Earth Lord smiled, his mouth wide with mirth. "She? Don't you mean, who are they?" Cadmus chuckled and leaned close. Ticking off his fingers, he named several women. "First, there's Sherry. She's pretty but not too bright. Then there's Maggie — intelligent but standoffish out of bed. Jean likes a lot of men, so she's out unless I need to unwind. Beth can't get enough of me, so I'm keeping my eye on her. And then there's?—"

"Enough." I glared, wishing I had Aerolus here, that the two of us might break through to Cadmus. He would feel more at ease with his brother. Though related, our association was fairly new to the princes.

And to be honest, I didn't feel that comfortable expressing affection. I'd much rather use sorcery to fix a problem. Emotions, not so much. And as much as I'd like to, I couldn't use magic to break my nephew.

Unfortunately, the brown-eyed member of the Royal Four had incredible mental power, not to mention stubbornness in droves. That strength made me pause and had him easing back.

By the Light, Cadmus seemed a lot more like me than any of his brothers, including Aerolus.

He possessed hidden depths that might just be his undoing. Behind his laughter, an ache lurked, a sweltering vulnerability that had been lessened by the temporary aid of Djinn power.

"You know, Uncle," Cadmus said with a smirk. "I'd just love to stay and chat with you about that stubborn brother of mine, but I can't. I simply must find my affai. The entire fate of the world lies balanced on my love life. Cue the drama." He put his hand over his heart, a theatrical dramatization.

Despite my worry for the charmer, he made me want to laugh. So I smacked him in the back of the head.

"Ouch! What the hell was that for?"

"Your mother should have done that more when you were younger." I couldn't help the jolt of amusement and love at thoughts of my sister. "The Light knows your father doted on you too much."

Cadmus smiled, his expression a mixture of fond remembrance and grief. "Yeah, he did, didn't he? Loved to laugh at all my jokes. Said I'd be king of the castle one day." At his words, his eyes widened, and he blanched. "Oh, shit! Please tell me Dad didn't mean overking of the castle."

I studied him, still unable to foretell which of my nephews would one day assume leadership over Tanselm. Though the terror on Cadmus' face seemed real, I couldn't be sure.

I shook my head. "You're good, Cadmus. But all this inane chatter won't detract me from the Djinn energy seething inside you. Or from looking for your overeager sorcerer of a brother."

Cadmus clamped his mouth shut and shrugged. "Sorry, Uncle. I really wish I could help." He looked at the front door, then back at his room. "I've got six hours before I'm due at Outpour, shuffling drinks while I pretend to be Darius." He paused and aimed an insincere smile my way. "Have I thanked you yet for sending us here? Well, thanks, Unc, from the bottom of my heart."

He opened his mouth to say more, saw my glittering gaze, and shook his head.

"Fuck it. I'm not letting you turn me into a rock because I've got a fucking temper. I'll see you later. I need my sleep before I hit the fucking bride circuit again. And yes, ‘fuck' is my official word of the day." He stomped off to his room, pausing before he went in to glare back at me.

"And just so you know, I've been working to strengthen my mind and my clairvoyance. Don't come to Outpour unless you want to see her again. And you know exactly who I'm talking about, so don't bother asking me anything more. You know I don't know."

I stared in shock as Cadmus closed his bedroom door behind him. I was dimly aware Cadmus had diverted me from Aerolus, as no doubt the sly prince had intended.

Not much threw me, but mention of her did.

Though I needed to find the Wind Mage, I couldn't help remembering my last glimpse of Lexa. And I wondered what part she could possibly play in Tanselm's future, or mine.

If I indeed had one any longer.