“I’m a creature of Light. We use whatever tools we must to aid Tanselm in its fight against the Dark.” Nohjen sniffed and threw a web of Light over me, as if Light magic should have some sort of effect. When nothing happened, he frowned. “Ini decided she wanted you back. When I told her where to find you, she did me a great service. In return for my information, she not only gave me the power to kill the Light Bringers who raised you but granted me an extended life.”
I finally felt a measure of peace. I knew the truth, or at least part of it.
As I readied to kill the foolish man to avenge my parents, I asked him one last question. “So it was Ini as well. Was she there that day with you when you killed my parents?”
“It was hard enough to tolerate your mother. I didn’t want that Dark bitch anywhere near me if I could help it.” He looked offended as he struggled to use another spell on me. When the next jolt of Light settled over my belly like a warm blanket before seeping toward my babies, he looked nervous. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
“Okay, that’s it.” I ignored the sudden chills racking me, another sign that my body was preparing to give birth. “I’m not bringing my children into the world in front of you. You sanctimonious, hypocritical fhel-sa vehkun.” I ranted and cursed at him and felt the welcome burn of fury behind my eyes as I everything became tinted in a perfect blue.
My stare, when it centered on Nohjen, froze him from the inside out, until he was nothing more than a human icicle. Another wave of my hand and the block shattered, the pieces melting into the wooden floor, only to be absorbed by Tanselm’s Dark roots that rose to take the vile Light Bringer away.
The great triumph I thought I’d feel didn’t come. Muri, Esel, and Sercha were dead.
Nothing more I did would bring them back. Now that I knew who had been behind it all, I felt whole. Until my babies protested their stay with a mighty kick that broke the water protecting them.
Chapter 40
Arim
I flew through the door with Aerolus and Marcus hard on my heels. The sight that met me stunned me into immobility. Nohjen was nowhere in sight, but Lexa lay back on the couch, panting as she clutched her belly and moaned.
“Lexa?”
“Get over here,” she yelled, and the temperature in the room cooled considerably.
Marcus shook his head. “I’m still not sure why I like her, but I do. You’d better do what she says before she nails you to the wall.”
“Was Nohjen here?” I demanded.
“Here and gone to hell. Now, are you going to fetch Arla or not? The babies are coming.”
I paled and vanished, returning moments later with the Dark Lord healer. She took one look at Lexa and tried to send the men from the room while I struggled to remain calm. Hell, I’d dealt with ogres, crafty Aellei, and demons. But this slight Dark Lord was turning me inside out. She was having my babies. Here. Now. I wanted to sit down but didn’t think I should get too close to Lexa. She looked like she wanted to maim me.
“Blue, honey, I love you. What can I —”
“I know you want to be here, but if you stay, she just might kill you,” Arla said with a grin, her wizened face full of wrinkles. “First birthings are particularly painful.”
“Tell me something I don’t know, Arla,” Lexa snapped, sweat pouring from her despite the near freezing temperature in the room.
Before anyone moved, Jonas and Cadmus flashed in with stupid grins on their faces.
Cadmus beamed. “We just had a girl. Ravyn Alexandra Storm.” Cadmus glanced at Lexa and had to look twice. “Wow. Hell of a day, eh, Arim? Good luck, Lexa. All I can say is, thank the Light I’m off the hook.”
Jonas bowed his head. I felt him absorb Lexa’s next bout of pain, easing her a bit.
“Blessings of the Dark upon your line, Dark Mistress.” He raised his head and winked, then turned a sly glance toward me. “Don’t be too upset if the kids all look like me.”
Marcus choked on a laugh as Jonas grabbed Cadmus and teleported them away before I could turn Jonas into stone. How hard would the Darkling laugh at that?
Lexa cracked a smile, so I reluctantly forgave the impertinent Djinn.
“Can I take the pain, Blue?” I braved her wrath and took her hand in mine. Her grip hurt. “Or maybe you can take mine by not breaking my hand.”
“Funny.” She panted, and I sent her a wave of Light to ease her burden.
“Stop that.” Arla frowned. “It’s not seemly for a Dark Lord to have help. Let nature take its course. The more it hurts, the stronger the babes will be.”
“Arla.” I scowled. I refused to let Lexa go through this alone.
