“Sex?”
She scowled at him, her jealousy more than welcome. “Yeah, sex. Lidra’s actually a thousand years old, and in reality, looks like a stately matron.” The glee in her voice told him Lidra would rather die than be referred to as a ‘matron’.
“The Dark Lord with her, though, reminded me of ‘Sin Garu. There was something about him, I don’t know. But that answered my question about more than one Dark Lord involved in this mess.” She frowned. “I have to say, I don’t like the idea of Lidra encouraging a blood drinker. They’re way too dark and unpredictable.”
“Unpredictable?” His curiosity stirred. The familiar anticipation of learning something new sharpened his faculties. He’d been interested in the blood drinkers for some time, but had thought them more myth than real.
“Most creatures of the Dark are, well, they’re into pain and anger, deep emotions that normally debilitate the one feeling them. The magic resulting from absorbing negative emotions is powerful, too powerful. I mean, I got a kick out of Arim being annoyed, even a bit angry, but real rage burns. It’s too hard to handle. And the Dark Lords play too freely with rage and pain for my tastes.”
Aerolus pondered that. “So is it just you that avoids negative energies, or do all the Aellei subscribe to that philosophy?”
She looked uncomfortable, and after several moments passed he wondered if she would answer. Then she cursed under her breath and met his gaze, her eyes troubled. “You have to understand, every race has its good and bad elements. Even you Light Bringers have your fair share of fanatics.”
He opened his mouth to object, then thought of the Church of Illumination, or what he and his brothers called, the Congregation of Idiots. She had a point.
“Most of the Aellei are content to play amongst themselves, from time to time toying with the humans on this plane and the occasional Light Bringer.” At the tightening of his mouth she hurriedly continued. “But Queen Lidra is the only Aellei I know of to openly encourage a blood drinker.” She shivered and looked at him for understanding. “Something’s not right there. Aunt Lidra’s selfish, vain,” she paused and blushed at his look. “Okay, we’re all a little vain, but she takes it to the extreme. My aunt’s a bitch, to put it bluntly, but she’s always put Aelle before her needs.”
“Then something’s changed if she’s consorting with a Dark Lord. His like will only bring Aelle to war, if not with Tanselm, then with Kreer or Gralt. Dark Lords are a destructive, chaotic race. And their rule over Tanselm over a thousand years ago almost tore the land apart.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know. Believe it or not, Aerolus, I was a scholar before I left Aelle.”
He stared in surprise. Alandra, a scholar? She stood with her arms akimbo, the robe gaping at the collar to reveal the upper slope of her full breasts. Her full lips parted in wait. Between one breath and the next, he hardened like iron.
“I can see you as a revolutionary, easily as a seductress.” He lifted his gaze from her mouth to note the darkness of her eyes, the uneven rise and fall of her breasts. Damn, they were going to have to speed this discussion so he could have another round with his affai. “But a scholar? You have the brains, but the discipline I’ve yet to see.”
He wanted to laugh when he saw the pique on her face. She clenched her fists and leant forward, the robe parting more to reveal a tantalising view of her nipples. He felt his towel slide as his erection grew, but Alandra glared into his eyes, unaware of his reaction.
“I’ve been studying Aellein history since before you were conceived.” She smiled slyly at his surprise. “That’s right, Aerolus. You’re a babe in the woods to a veteran of magic like myself.”
He eyed her up and down, his focus lingering on her breasts. By the Light, she made him so hard. He needed to know more about her. But damn if he could think of anything but licking her until she cried his name.
“You’re saying you’re an older woman, then?”
She grimaced and opened her mouth to speak when her gaze slid down his torso, noting his arousal. “I think you’re the one with the discipline issues,” she murmured, her voice husky.
He knew he wouldn’t get a better chance to find the truth and unashamedly used her sexuality to his advantage. He grasped the root of his cock and began sliding his hand up and down, creaming his palm with the need that continued to build after bringing her to orgasm in the shower.
“Tell me why you’re really here, love,” he murmured and groaned when she licked her lips.
“You can’t think such a blatant attempt at seduction will break me?” She sounded incredulous, indignant, and definitely turned on.
“I want to fuck you so badly I ache. But I need answers, answers you’ve been avoiding.” He stared through shuttered lids and saw her take deep breaths for calm. “You need me, love. I can see the hunger in your aura.” He grinned at the muttered cursing under her breath. “There’s no point in hiding how you feel. Just tell me what I need to know, and we’ll be together again.”
She bit her lip and frowned. The robe parted completely as she took a step closer, and it was all he could do to slow down his fist. Her breasts swayed as she moved, her hips begging to be held down as he took what was his by right, by law.
“I’ll tell you, Aerolus.” She held up a hand. “But not because of this.” She swallowed loudly, a testament that his seduction had not been in vain. “But because it’s time you knew what you were up against.”
“I’d much rather be up against you,” he murmured and grinned at the exasperated sigh she sent him.
“You’re making this hard, no, don’t say it! Just let me explain as quickly as possible. Much as I hate to admit it, I’m so hot for you right now I feel like I’m going to combust.” She sounded disgruntled, but her gaze caressed him like winds of Light.
“Talk fast, purie.” He groaned and deliberately held his hand away from his cock. “I’m so hard and so close to coming it won’t take long before I’m filling you with my seed.”
She swallowed, her eyes fixed to his erection. “Right. Well, it goes back a year, when I overheard Lidra and her Der captain in a private conversation…”
Chapter Eight
Arim stared at the outside of the club like an enemy he had no choice but to vanquish. Despite Aerolus’ words, he had a feeling Cadmus was out of his depth. The Dark magic seething within his nephew worried him, too much to sit back and wait for the little schemer to reappear at his whim.
A sudden elbow to his side caught his attention, and he glared at the hulking bruiser intent on shoving his way through the crowded line.
“I’m on the list,” the man slurred, his breath like a vat of soured ale.
With a disdainful frown, Arim relegated the xiantope to a non-threat and turned his attention back to the throng of overeager men and women dying to get into Outpour.
For once the club’s namesake didn’t forecast the weather. The chill in the spring air felt refreshing, despite Arim’s longing for the warmth of Tanselm. For all its quirks, this particular plane amused him more than any other world he’d found in years.
Passing his gaze over the crowd, he wasn’t surprised not to see Cadmus—or Lexa. Thoughts of the woman made his heart race and his palms sweat. Bitter amusement washed through him. How sad that just the thought of the traitorous female could still reduce him to a nervous lad of a few decades.
Steeling his reaction, he took a deep breath and headed to the alley behind the nightclub. Once assured of his seclusion, he used an omniscience spell to quickly scan inside the club. Spying an unoccupied corner draped in shadows, he teleported inside.