Aftershocks

Chapter Seven

Cadmus felt the cool touch of Ellie’s flesh like the calm beginning before a storm. The physical need to connect with her overwhelmed every other thought in his mind. Her beauty, the silken feel of her golden skin, so much lighter than his darker hand, the scent of their combined lovemaking, all of it fuelled his desire, pushing him to fulfil his darkest fantasies.

As if Foreia had totally opened its arms in greeting, Cadmus could feel the land’s Dark energy spiraling up through his knees on the bed of moss, in the very air touching his naked flesh and in the plant life whispering to him all around. Desires and urges he’d suppressed for so long poured out of him as he readied to mount the woman he’d been waiting for forever.

Coating his shaft in the combined moisture of their release, he pressed into the tight rose of Ellie’s anus. He clenched his teeth, knowing she buzzed with the same passion he felt, but also with a hint of nerves that stroked his excitement unbearably.

She squirmed against him, pushing herself onto him and he inched inside her.

“Oh, Camus,” she breathed. She stilled, letting the small intrusion settle before she tentatively pushed back again. “More.”

He kept himself frozen in the moment, his body eager to take hers, to possess what no man had ever before touched. The primitive rush of conquest washed over him, the darkness of the moment emblazoned in the hunger steadily building within.

Running his hands over her back and shoulders, he leaned closer to hug her, cupping her full breasts and kneading the globes with an urgency that stoked her own. Her nipples tightened, twin buds scoring his palms as he nestled closer inside her.

“Ellie, love, I can’t get enough of you,” he whispered in her ear and nipped at her lobe. At her sigh, he pushed a fraction deeper, fighting the need to plunge deep, to feel her completely surrounding him. “Being with you, seeing you every day and not feeling your heat around me, it’s torture.” Dark needs rode him with brutal pressure. “I need to fuck you, baby, long and hard.”

Her breathing increased, and he groaned, feeling her Darkness sweeping through him. Her feminine energy challenged him, demanding he finish what he’d started. She drew him into her thoughts—images of them making love in every way, dark and decadent, light and tender, made his blood burn.

The ground beneath them trembled as he reached down to pinch and pleasure her clit. The harder he pinched, the more she pushed back, impaling herself on his steely cock even as she gasped against the intrusion.

He couldn’t take much more and, sharing those feelings with Ellie, was thrilled to find she couldn’t wait either.

“Cadmus,” she moaned.

“Yes, baby, now.”

He stretched her slowly, forcing himself to feel the same painful pleasure she felt while he shared his fiery lust. “Push me out, baby, let me feel those walls tremble around me.”

Her tight muscles clenched him, and by pushing out, she actually made it easier for him to slide deeper. Unable to stop, he continued to slide until he was seated as far inside her as he could go.

He knew she should have felt uncomfortable, but the intensity of their mixed emotions and the steady, elemental thrumming he continued against her clit had Ellie verging on climax.

The beauty of the moment locked into his heart, and Cadmus blinked away an absurd welling of tears as he began moving, gently at first, then with harder thrusts as Ellie exploded, coming hard with a keening cry.

Sweat beaded his brow and the familiar pressure started in his balls, urging him to take what he needed, to fill the woman under him with what only he could give her. When her energy pulled him deeper, he lost it completely.

“Ellie,” he groaned and spurted, his orgasm ripping away all thought as sensation overtook him. The trees and flowers echoed his pleasure, their blooms growing brighter, their leaves greener. The blue moss multiplied, covering three times the area of the small bed upon which they knelt.

Lost in Ellie, he could only wonder how it had taken him so long to see the truth. Her perfection resonated so deeply within him that it was as if they were one. He’d never felt this way about anyone before. Certainly none of the women he’d lain with while in the mundane plane had stirred him to such heights. The paramours he’d courted in Tanselm had never seemed to want Cadmus, the man. They’d been eager to bed a prince. Cadmus was the funny Royal, the lighthearted rogue who would steal kisses but never a heart. And while he’d been more than happy to maintain such a reputation in his youth, as he’d aged, he tired of trying to change minds. Hell, everyone he’d ever known treated him like the court jester. Even his brothers had a tendency to treat him like a younger sibling, despite the fact they’d been born quadruplets.

Yet Ellie, his blonde, magnificent Djinn, took him very seriously. He’d been caught the moment he’d laid eyes on her. But it was more than beauty that kept his attention. Ellie had a natural charm, an intelligence and wit that made everyone around her happy. Even the assholes at the bar constantly coming on to her had received gentle yet firm rejections. While kind, Ellie was also strong. Her only vulnerability seemed to have to do with family, and he knew exactly how family could make a body crazy.

He sighed and squeezed her tight before withdrawing from her body. Even apart, he could feel her inner magic calling out to him, her Darkness beckoning his Light to reach out and touch. He felt too sated to be alarmed, but he thought he might be falling in love with the enchanting woman, who’d turned around to stare up at him with dreamy blue eyes.

A surge of humour took him by surprise. The shit was really going to hit the fan when Arim realised Cadmus had found his affai, and that she was not only Djinn but the daughter of one of the Dark’s most powerful rulers.

If only Ellie were surer about herself, he’d feel better about telling her what he now accepted as the truth. He really had no choice in the matter. His soul had spoken for him. Ellie Markham, Elliara al Ethim il Ruethe, was his affai, his destined mate and soon-to-be his partner in rule over the northlands of Tanselm.

Unfortunately, Cadmus had a feeling that telling her now would only spook the stubborn woman into never accepting her destiny. Damn Ethim and her mother for putting their daughter between them in their painful war of affection. Now, he had to woo a woman resistant to magic and wiles and Light Bringers. Though he had to admit, the sheer challenge of the notion sparked his interest more than a little.

“What has you grinning like that?”

“Like what?” he asked in a husky voice, wondering if she could feel the powerful emotions roiling within his heart.

“Like the cat that ate the canary.”

He propped himself on an elbow on his side and eyed the sated woman, wondering if she knew how close she resembled that remark. Had he not known better, he’d swear she was purring.

“What’s that noise?” Her eyes widened.

“I thought that was you.”

She shook her head. “No. But now that you mention it, I’m surprised you heard it. It’s the same sort of sound I hear before Jonas shows, when he’s courteous enough to give me a little warning.”

“Likes to pop in unannounced, hmm?”

“Sometimes.”

Cadmus planned to put a stop to that. Then recalling what he’d done to Jonas earlier, his good mood promptly vanished.

“Shit.”

“Excuse me?” She leaned up and looked for her clothes. “I’m going to take that as an ‘I wish we had more time to spend together’ shit.”

He couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped. “I’m a real pain in your ass, aren’t I?”

She flushed at his play on words. “Yes, you are, you pervert.” She let him clean her before she quickly dressed. “I can’t believe I let you do that to me.”

“Come on, Ellie.” He lazily dressed then stepped into his boots, wanting to take her all over again. Something about her called to him on a purely visceral level. “You know you liked it. I guess that makes you the perfect pervert for me.”

Her blue gaze regarded him with laughter, and with a small hint of caution that had him suddenly aware of how he’d hurt her in the past. He had no way to right that wrong, but he could make the present pave way for a joyous future. Rejuvenated, he smiled with all the charm he had in him.

“Holy mother of all that’s Light, but I never feel as good as I do around you, Ellie.” He took her in his arms and kissed the breath out of her. “I’d be a fool not to admit how perfectly we fit. You make my head spin.” He paused. “You are all right, aren’t you? I didn’t hurt you?”

“No.” She blushed and looked down, a becoming shyness so at odds with the strong woman he’d come to know. “As much as I’d like to tell your ego to pound sand, I have to admit I never would have agreed to what we did if I didn’t…”

She trailed off, and he knew it was too soon for her to admit what he prayed she was growing to feel. She needed time—and wooing, his conscience added—to tell him what he suspected she might feel for him.

He looked deeply into her eyes, caught by the fierce yearning in the sky blue irises staring back at him.

She cupped his cheek and brushed her fingers over his whiskers. “It was wonderful, Cadmus. You’re a very giving lover. And you’ve shown me Light in so many new and wonderful ways.”

His heart stuttered under her touch, and he revelled in her praise. He wryly likened himself to a beast brought to heel by a beautiful maiden. She had well and truly snared him, and he knew he’d give his last breath to make sure she had every happiness she deserved.

“Cadmus, I need to tell you something.”

“Anything, Ellie. I’m yours.” He meant that wholeheartedly.

“It’s hard for me to say. You see, I think I—”

He froze as a familiar spread of Darkness enveloped them.

“Hell. Not now.” Cadmus threw up a protective shield around them both and pushed Ellie behind him.

Within moments, he felt oppressive sorcery sucking at his energy.

“Ellie, focus on your father and teleport to him right now.” He gritted his teeth and transferred what power he could still control into Ellie’s shield. Damn, Lexa aggravated the hell out of him. He’d just had utter bliss with Ellie. And now the memory of it would be tainted by Jonas’ Dark Mistress.

“I’m not leaving you,” Ellie refused.

Fuck. He didn’t want her anywhere near Lexa Van Nostren. At least Ethim would protect Ellie from harm. He’d overheard the man mumble something to a few of his men the last time Cadmus had been in Foreia. But how to get Ellie out of here? The stubborn woman would no doubt rather be killed trying to make a point.

“Fine.” An idea sparked. “Teleport out of here and bring help back with you. Find your father. Don’t let us both get trapped here. Quickly, before she arrives.”

Ellie frowned. “She? But who—”

“Ellie, go. I can’t hold your shield much longer.”

Finally noticing the strain on his face, she paled and backed up a step. “Okay. But I’ll be right back.”

He nodded, relieved when she shimmered away. Her father wouldn’t let her return. Likely Lexa had a score to settle. He’d blasted Jonas, her favourite lackey, almost to pieces. Not to mention he’d just tainted Ellie, a daughter of Darkness, with the carnal delights of a boorish Light Bringer. No sense in trying to bullshit his way out of this one.

“Ah, the Earth Lord finally learns to accept responsibility. How noble. At least one of you dreadful Light Bringers has a shred of redemption.” Lexa glimmered into form in front of him, her ice-blue eyes predatory as they studied him. She wore a body-hugging dark-purple tunic over black leather pants and knee-high black boots. Her garb blended into the darkening horizon of Foreia’s sky. If not for her almost white skin, he would have thought her a shadow within the trees.

He rolled his eyes, knowing it would piss her off. “The queen of laughter and light, Lexa Van Nostren. What a surprise.”

“We never finished our last lesson.” She ignored his taunt, and he strove to try harder. She was almost as much fun to rile as Marcus. “It would do you well to shield your thoughts the way I taught you. Likening me to your brother is no way to get on my good side. I do believe our next lesson might leave scars.” She smiled, her teeth white, her grin feral.

Masking the dread bottoming out in his stomach, he clenched his will tight and grudgingly called on that odd Darkness within him to shield his thoughts, strengthening his resolve with bands of Light.

“Impressive.” She circled around him.

He forced himself not to turn with her. “What now?”

What happened next shocked the hell out of him. She’d never before touched him. But as quick as lightning, she reached out and laid a hand on his cheek. Pain, the likes of which he’d never before felt, reached into him and grabbed a hold. Ice speared through his body into his very soul.

“Don’t ever, ever forget who is in charge, here, Cadmus. Despite your reason for being, the rules are, and ever have been, mine. Do you understand?”

His first instinct was to argue, to fight against her control. But that wouldn’t save Ellie, or Tanselm. He could feel Lexa pulling the life from his body. He could submit and fight another day, or hang onto his pride and die for no good reason. Reluctantly, he nodded.

The pain disappeared, and he sank to his knees.

“Good. Now that we have that unpleasantness out of the way, why don’t you tell me about Ethim’s daughter, your lovely affai?”

Fear magnified the weakness inside him, turning him inside out. By the Light’s fucking blaze. How did she know what he’d just acknowledged to himself?

His eyes narrowed. He’d pledged to himself to protect Ellie from danger. If he had to die to ensure her safety, so be it. “You even think about screwing with Ellie, and I’ll kill you.” Rage gave him strength, and he stood on shaky legs, preparing to do her real harm.

“You would certainly try, I’m sure.” She laughed, the charming sound making him blink in confusion. For someone so Dark, so seemingly evil, Lexa could at turns be extremely enticing. Right now she resembled an innocent young woman, lovely in face and form. Though she was almost petite, her body curved in all the right places. Long black hair accented the paleness of her skin, and her startlingly light-blue eyes enthralled with a glance. Such a sweet mouth…

Ellie suddenly came to mind, clearing his erotic daze. Lexa gave him a sly grin. The witch knew he’d suddenly desired her. She’d tried to turn him from his affai. Fucking Dark Lords. Drawing a deep breath, he forced himself to smile, his inner shields tight.

“Damn, Lexa, if I’d known how hard up you are for a man, I’d have brought my uncle with me.”

It was subtle, but she flinched. He’d only guessed before that she and Arim had been involved, but now knew he’d been right. She quickly masked her distress, and he actually felt a hint of remorse for having wounded her. How strange was that?

“Very good, Cadmus. Like Arim, you have an instinctive ability to pierce an opponent’s weakest point.”

Surprised to hear her admit any vulnerability, Cadmus realised his small victory stung more than it should. His interactions with Lexa had always cast her in the role of the villain, a strong and crafty opponent not to be trusted. But as she stood so still before him, he saw in her a woman who’d been hurt in the past.

Images flashed, of Lexa and Arim laughing and holding hands, of their shared kiss and deep well of love. Flickers of innocence, of the timeless bond of young love before age tore innocence apart. And then a woman’s body, covered in blood, her throat slashed, her entrails covering a stone floor. More bodies, these of a man, and worse, a young child, denied the joys life would have provided. Lexa’s horror, Arim’s anger. Harsh words and heart-rendering pain…years passing…

“You never really knew me.” Lexa’s eyes flashed. “And you never will.”

She pierced Arim’s shoulder with a bolt of blue flame as they battled against Tanselm’s dark, starry sky. Atop the northern castle’s eastern wall, Lexa danced and flowed with the wind, her Dark energy seething as she trapped Arim in a binding so tight his very essence began to blend with the night.

Arim’s eyes rolled back in his head, and for a moment, Cadmus feared him dead. Then, in the next breath, ‘Sin Garu appeared wreathed in smiles, his teeth canine-sharp, his white-blond hair waving in the brewing storm.

“Sister mine, perhaps I was wrong about you.”

Lexa merely stared at her brother, her features in shadow as the clouds suddenly covered the moon. “You’re late.”

“Ah, but I brought along some entertainment.”

He tugged on a rope, and suddenly, three wraiths appeared, creatures similar to the ones Cadmus and Jonas had battled in Ellie’s apartment. The creatures held something between them.

“Arim, wake up. I’d like you to watch as the Dark swallows what you prize most dear.”

In their arms lay Cadmus, blood covering his body.

“Let him go,” Ellie commanded in a deep voice from behind them. Her hair shimmered like lightning as she flashed in truth. Yet within her gaze, Arim’s stare shone bright with fury.

Cadmus had his hands full dealing with Lexa. He didn’t need a vision just now. Painful memories of her past mixed with a confusing image of the future, one in which ‘Sin Garu joined forces with Lexa? Cadmus’ skull throbbed as fear and pressure threatened to knock him unconscious.

“Cadmus?” Lexa stared at him with concern. “What is it? What did you see?”

He gritted his teeth and clenched the hair at his temples, blindsided by this unexpected and unwelcome vision. He forced himself to gain control.

“Blood, senseless death, you and my uncle, but many, many years ago.” He tried to see her through tears of pain but couldn’t see more than her blurred image. She reached out a hand and he recoiled instinctively.

“Easy,” she murmured and touched his forehead. Instead of the hurt he’d come to associate with Lexa, gentle ease flushed his pain, providing a strength and fortitude he’d been missing of late. “Now tell me again what you saw.”

He repeated his vision, up until the last few frames. At his pause, she frowned.

“Continue.”

“And then, Dark Mistress, I watched you wound and prepare my uncle for the torture and amusement of you dear brother, ‘Sin Garu.”

Her reaction surprised him. A hint of fear danced in her eyes before anger assumed dominance. “Go on.”

“I was near death in the claws of his new hybrid-wraith creatures.”

“His wraintu. A combination of wraith and forli, one of the more vicious Shadren and a cousin to the Nocumat.”

Nocumat. It figured. That explained how one of the hybrids had been able to launch a Nocumat at him from within its being.

“Yes, well, the next thing I know, Ellie’s growling a warning at the Dark Lord, and she’s not herself.”

“Meaning?”

“I don’t know. She’s Ellie, but I’d swear Arim was looking out at me through her eyes.”

“Yet you saw me bind him, saw me wound him.”

“Yeah.” He glared at her. Despite her promised help in fighting ‘Sin Garu, there was too much about Lexa that confused the crap out of him. Her Dark nature precluded trust, and the visions he’d had of her made him doubly wary of the blue-eyed schemer. Half the time it was an exercise in energy to simply keep his wits about him. Who knew what she made him think and feel, especially when she weakened him past his endurance?

Which made her recent healing questionable.

“I’m not the monster you make me out to be,” she said quietly, a smirk on her full, red lips. “And I thank you for that most informative session.”

She seemed pleased by his tale, and he could only imagine she liked the idea of Arim’s pain. Angry, he opened his mouth for a caustic retort and found himself unable to speak, then unable to move.

“No, don’t say a thing. Don’t spoil this incredibly pleasing moment for me, Cadmus.” With a smile, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the mouth, a cool meeting of the lips that set his blood on fire.

Infuriated she could make him feel when his heart clearly belonged to Ellie, he fought through her spell and, to his amazement, began to move.

“Oh, Cadmus, you are so much like Arim.” She chuckled. “Handsome, strong, and aggravating in the extreme. Don’t worry, Earth Lord, your Djinn is still waiting for you on the other side of the forest. But I’m afraid you’re going to have to face the Sarqua on your own. And Ethim’s temper leaves a lot to be desired. Just ask Amanda.”

She vanished, freeing Cadmus to move and speak. “Son of a bitch!”

“Well, well, well,” a Djinn warrior Cadmus knew as Remir spoke from directly behind him.

Before Cadmus could twitch, a dozen Djinn appeared from out of nowhere and surrounded him.

“Ethim wants a word,” Remir said in a deep, threatening voice.

Of all the Djinn, Cadmus had given Remir the most trouble before Jonas had bailed him out of Foreia.

Remir smiled, his eyes pitch black. “But not before we have a few things to discuss, considering we missed our chance before you left the last time.” Three Djinn stepped forward and restrained Cadmus. Remir grabbed Cadmus’ wrists. Dark bands of energy crept from his fingers into Cadmus’ skin. The Dark burned with cold, and Cadmus fought the urge to blast Remir through the woods. It would hurt, but it could be done. But Cadmus knew he deserved some payback, if not for what he’d done to these warriors before, then for what he’d almost done to Jonas, their leader and friend, their brother.

He sighed and shook his hair out of his eyes. “Go ahead, Remir. I probably deserve it.” He grinned, knowing it wasn’t smart, but was unable to help himself. “But I wouldn’t be too hard on me. Lexa just planted a kiss on these lips, and we all know the lady is decidedly choosy.”

Remir and his brethren scowled on Cadmus. The beating to follow didn’t surprise him. It didn’t take long for Cadmus to black out, and he fell into a painful, empty sleep.