Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Back in Neser, Aela sat curled up on a chaise beneath the stained-glass window in her guest room. The Creation of the Realm lay open, yet unread, on her lap. Her eyes stared vacantly at the pages.
She was as good as bound to the Primary of Aries because of the knowledge he kept as his bargaining piece for her help, yet she needed to trust him to fulfill her own part of their agreement.
Zosma had seen through her uncertainty and told her as much.
Reading fables about the Gods hadn’t helped firm them in her mind for her other magic to latch onto.
She would need to seek them out in her dreams.
A swift knock ushered Bharani into Aela’s room. Her auburn hair swished over her shoulders.
“May I come in?” the joint-Adjacent asked. Aela had never heard of two celestials holding one position, though she supposed that was similar to how Pollux and Castor ruled Gemini.
“Of course.” Aela closed the book on her lap and set it beside her on the chaise.
“Eros sent me.”
“Oh?” She hated how her pulse quickened at the mere mention of his name.
“Some of our sentinels are practicing their flight maneuvers, and he thought you’d like to see. I sent a message about this earlier.”
Right.
It felt odd to be included in something directly related to matters of Eros’ House, but she supposed it was his way of inviting her to trust him.
“Of course.”
Her Need had leapt at the opportunity to bring her to Aries after that fated kiss.
One moment Eros had her pressed up against a wall, and in the next, she was an aching mess.
The second after she finished getting ready and decided to fly back to Neser, her other magic made a different decision, and the realm flickered around her.
The Adjacent dipped her chin and told Aela where to meet her before seeing herself out.
Aela willed the armor she favored in her dreams into place.
Tiny, midnight, iridescent overlapping scales crawled over her skin.
Aela pulled her ashy tresses over her shoulder and began braiding the long strands, then set off to collect Zosma before heading to where Bharani had told her to go.
The Aries sentinels were standing in rigid formations, with Minori’s at the forefront of their groups.
Aela sucked in a silent breath. Never in her life had she imagined she’d see an entire host of Aries warriors.
She could almost feel the favor of battle mingling in the air above their perfectly slanted spears.
The weapons reminiscent of the crystalline spear Zosma wielded.
Bharani subtly eyed the Leo on Aela’s other side but otherwise remained still, waiting for the sentinels to begin their maneuvers.
Aela felt a distinct impression that Bharani was there with her and not as a guard or jailer.
It was a refreshing difference from how she had been treated in Avarice, and one Aela took to heart.
She was still of the mind to keep others at arm’s length, yet a select few had found places where her mental walls had lowered and slipped over her fortifications despite her best efforts.
Zosma’s declaration of loyalty surpassed what his role had been in the Taurus system.
His friendship and protection were a balm to her aching heart over the loss of her family.
Arche and Tabitha too had become dear to her.
She still held hope for Tala. Even Bharani and Mes, in her short time with the Arieans, had her wanting to get to know them more.
And Eros… Eros was not Tarek. While he also wanted her power, he had laid his plans bare for her.
They were daunting but honest. He wanted her help, her involvement.
He didn’t want to drain her and use her against her will. His cause seemed just.
But he is The Darkness. How can I ever truly trust him if he is a direct threat to the realm?
Yet The Darkness had aided her. He had protected her, wrapped her in that cool darkness, and whisked her away, and given her time and space to heal, to find herself.
That accounted for something, didn’t it?
In allowing her to observe him and his Line, he had revealed there was more to him than the cursed Darkness and that he could be trusted.
The Arieans took to the air, distracting her from further introspection, but she couldn’t help but think there was still something else she was missing.
Advisor to the Primary, Menkar of Aries, joined Bharani, Aela, and Zosma watching the sentinel training exercise. Mes appeared beside Bharani, violence glimmering in his eyes.
“Menkar. I distinctly remember telling you the next time you came near my sister, I’d fracture you into as many pieces as those you and my father split our House into.”
Menkar chuckled. “How can I forget, young Mes? It was quite an inspiring speech. I assure you I have been heeding your warning. I only came to greet our esteemed visitor.”
Aela glanced at Bharani’s withdrawn face. Her insides twisted. “Your welcome is neither wanted nor needed. You can go.”
“No questions for me?” Menkar pressed. “I am a wealth of information. Our Primary kept me on as Advisor after he dismembered his predecessor. Surely that merits some interest?”
“None,” Aela said flatly, directing her sight over his head.
Bharani waved Mes away, having recovered from whatever horror Menkar’s presence brought as his attention was fixated on Aela.
“I’m well versed in the records of all the Houses from my work in the Senate. Perhaps you may require my assistance to relocate to a new Line or find someone of importance to you?”
“I’m fine right where I am.”
“I live to serve.” Menkar bent his head. “Perhaps another time I may be of service. I am a patient male with connections to all the Houses and well aware that the spoils earned in long-suffering are worth their weight in crystal.” He leveled a lecherous look at Bharani.
Enough.
She stepped in front of the Aries Adjacent and summoned a whirl of water in one hand and a whip of lightning in the other. The violet-white light spat and hissed as it coiled from her hand while the pale teal water swirled.
Menkar’s eyes widened, and he conceded a step. “So it’s true,” he breathed. “You are the result of two Houses.” A shudder rocked his body. “The power you possess…”
Aela’s lips peeled back.
Before she had the pleasure of burning Menkar’s twisted core cold, The Darkness crashed down.
Black vapor stormed from thin air, engulfing the training courtyard.
Instantly, all the Arieans who were mid-flight in their tactical suits were grounded, pinned in place by inky tendrils.
Bharani screamed but was fixed to the ground beside Zosma. Everyone was subdued except Aela.
“Er—stop. You’re better than this,” she said.
“I’m really not.”
Eros’ form coalesced from the black shroud, his long strides bringing him to stand in front of her.
“They are your House! What are you doing?”
“You haven’t noticed, have you?” Eros asked instead of answering.
Aela panned her head, feeling dazed at the ruinous power he possessed and so easily unleashed.
“If you think anyone who has touched you or wished you harm has gone unpunished, you’re mistaken.”
Warmth bloomed in the pit of Aela’s stomach. She didn’t want his words to stir this type of feeling within her.
“It’s always been me,” Eros said, as he toyed with the end of her braid.
“What has?”
“Jaelin, others on Prente. All your lovers, Aela. They’ve always been me.”
Lightning sparked out of her, biting through the obsidian tendrils grounding the Arieans. Menkar disappeared in a swirl of flame, and the host of sentinels jumped to their feet, flaring bright with starlight and preparing to face their end.
Without taking her eyes off Eros, Aela stepped back and directed Zosma and Bharani to clear the courtyard.
“Aela, are you sure? Do you know what he is?” Mes said as he helped Bharani to her feet.
“Yes.”
“Mes…” Bharani whimpered, her copper eyes wide.
“I know. We suspected, but…”
“Come on,” Zosma said. “She has this handled.” He placed his hand on Aela’s shoulder and said, “Give him hell.”
“We could help?” Mes offered again.
“He’s mine,” Aela said and leaned forward, swiveling the ball of her back foot, firming her stance.
A look of sensual delight lit Eros’ face, and his mouth curved into a wicked smile. Zosma and the Arieans cleared out.
She was a burning column of wrath as she charged the Aries Primary.
Although the black tactical suit Eros wore carved miles of warrior physique, it did little to protect him from Aela’s other magic as she tackled him and flickered them through the air.
Eros grunted as his back slammed into the black sand of the lake shore at the foot of the Aries castle. Aela brought a hand to his neck and channeled lightning into her palm, caging him to the ground with an electric cord.
“How dare you,” she seethed.
Eros’ eyes glimmered at her as he swept them up and down her body while she straddled him in the sand.
“Timora, if you wanted to pick up where we left off, we could have gone someplace more comfortable. This sand is going to get everywhere.”
Aela bared her teeth at him. “What do you mean they’ve all been you?”
Eros blinked the lust away from his eyes. “You needed—”
Aela scrambled off him, whipping her lightning back with a thunderous crack. “I decide what I need. Not you.”
Eros slowly got his feet under him and traced the place where her lightning had gripped his skin. “This doesn’t change anything between us.”
Aela only stared at him.
“How am I supposed to trust you if you keep things like this from me or you betray me?”
“I would never betray you.” The violence in his tone had Aela taking a step back. Eros tracked the movement and cocked his head to the side, a pure-bred predator assessing whether the creature before him had claws or if it would turn and run.
The thought of running from him made Aela’s stomach dip. Seeming to sense that, Eros took a slow step toward her.