by Amy Sumida
Odin grimaced.
Oh, so it looked as if the Phoenix charisma was wearing off everyone. That didn't take long.
“And in my twenty-two thousand years, I have never come into contact with such raw, vast power.” Shava angled her eyes back at me; the fire in them banked. “You must have been a great goddess.”
“The greatest,” Darcraxis said as if it were fact. “Fire to my Water. Light to my Darkness. She had no equal.”
I sent Darc an affectionate look. “I don't know about that last part. We made a great team because we were equals.”
Darcraxis inclined his head with a slight, but very pleased, smile.
“Yes; I feel the chill of your Water, God of the Shining Ones,” Shava said respectfully to Darc. “Honestly, it terrifies me, and that is another testament to how truly great your goddess must have been. To not only be comfortable around water energy like yours but to also be attracted to it, to merge with it.” She shook her head and looked back at me. “I am in awe. It would be my honor to assist you.”
Then we all gaped at her as she bowed deeply to Darcraxis and me.
Humph, I suppose she's not so bad, RS conceded.
“I am not Faenestra anymore; the honor is mine,” I said firmly as I held a hand out to her. “And I'm also deeply grateful.”
Shava took my hand with a lifted brow.
“Without your help, I would put everyone I love in jeopardy,” I explained. “I believe my Fire is growing.”
“Then we had best start immediately,” Shava declared.
Chapter Five
We took Shava to the Kyanite Kingdom; the jewel kingdom that Darc and I rule in Tír na nÓg. It used to be a queendom since it had been only me on the throne, but then Darcraxis connected with Kyanite and sang a duet with me. Kyanite recognized him as a king—not all that surprising since Darc had been a god—and bonded with him. Actually, Darcraxis might be the God of Darkness and Water again. A witch named Eva had used her electric magic—a submagic of Fire—to pierce the Orb of Light I'd imprisoned Darc's magic in. The tiny hole she made had allowed Darc to snatch up a smidgen of Darkness to use against Lucifer. Along with the drop of Water I'd left him, that gave him both of his magics back. He wasn't nearly as powerful as he'd once been, most of his magic was still imprisoned in that orb, but it was something. Perhaps that made him a small god or maybe just a big king. Whatever the case, it didn't really matter. What Darc had taken from the Orb would eventually fizzle out and return to its source... or would it?
“Darc?” I spun to face him after we stepped through the Veil and reformed on the first floor of my tower suite.
“My Fire,” Darc murmured in his deep, sexy, god voice; the one that sent shivers racing down my spine every time. Add that little endearment of his to it, and I was a goner. His expression wrinkled with concern when I didn't respond immediately. “Elaria, what is it?”
“Sorry.” I blinked and shook my head. “Your voice... it—”
“Is unbelievably arousing,” Shava whispered as she stared, entranced, at Darc.
Back off, fire-bimbo! RS shouted.
Odin cleared his throat. Yes; he had joined us as well.
Darc didn't even glance at Shava; he moved up to me and casually pulled my body against his while a rumbling purr tumbled out on his exhale. His stare had gone indigo; a clear sign of his arousal, in case I hadn't caught that purr. His perfect lips—neither full nor thin—parted as he inhaled me; both through his nose and his mouth. Tasting me as he scented me. I knew all of his methods, all of his desires, all of his needs, and all of his ambitions; I knew everything about this man. I knew the way he made love and the way he fucked; on land, in water, and in outer space. I knew the taste, feel, and scent of him. I knew his every incarnation. And I knew his magic.
It had just filled his voice.
That's what had affected Shava and me; Darkness and Communication. The magic he'd been born with combined with the magic that Kyanite shared with him. I stopped Darc's kiss with a fingertip on his lips. That was my dark god; he didn't waste time on words when actions would suit him better. But my desire wasn't what needed to be addressed at the moment.
He cocked his head at me.
“Has your magic lessened as it was supposed to?” I asked him breathlessly.
Oh, damn! Let me check! RS shouted.
Darcraxis blinked, his eyes cooling to ultramarine. Then he focused his attention inward. Around me, the others gathered, watching closely. I could feel their intense interest; they knew I was working my way to something important.
“No,” Darc finally whispered. “In fact, I believe it has grown. It works well with Kyanite.”
I enhance the Darkness, but I have not assisted in growth, Ky protested in both Darc's and my minds.
But it has grown? I asked.
It's definitely stronger, RS said before Ky could respond.
I took a deep breath as I nodded; it was just as I'd expected.
“You think this little portion of my magic is enough to manifest my full power,” Darcraxis concluded.
“I left you with a drop of water magic,” I reminded him. “You have a foundation of power for that sip of Darkness to cling to and then you have the magic of a Kyanite king. I don't think you and Eva considered that when she opened the orb for you.”
“I had other priorities,” he whispered before he kissed my forehead.
As you should, Ky said in approval.
“A drop and an ember.” Gage turned away from our group and prowled over to a sitting area near the balcony. The sunlight streaming in through the open archway caught the highlights in his lion's mane of hair and painted his tawny skin gold. Gage turned to look at me, his rugged features and hazel eyes cast into shadow. “If your power is growing, why not his? It makes sense.” Then he sat back in an armchair like a warrior.
Gage laid his thick arms over the armrests; hands curled over the ends as if prepared to shove himself to his feet at a moment's notice. In contradiction to this, his muscular body relaxed against the velvet. I knew it was pure training; Griffins like to store their energy until it's needed. I'd seen Gage use the technique several times before; allowing his body to power down until it was time for action.
“I don't believe it's growing exactly,” Shava surprised us all by saying. “Not in the way you think.” She wandered over to where Gage sat and took a seat across from him. “Shall we? I have a feeling this will be a long conversation.”
The rest of us joined them, Declan making a pit stop in the kitchen. We were at the lowest level of my three-story tower. That makes the tower sound short but, actually, I guessed its height to be somewhere around a few hundred feet. Most of the tower is a narrow column filled by stairs that curve around a central elevator shaft. My suite takes up only the widened, teardrop-shaped top. The first floor of the suite has my socializing areas; the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Although, only the kitchen is partitioned off from the other “rooms.” It has the feeling of a loft, which I suppose is appropriate. You couldn't get much loftier than this.
More towers could be seen through the open arches spaced around the circular room. Well, three-quarters of a circle; one wedge is taken by the kitchen, but you get the idea. Those other towers are for my consorts, family members, royal guests, or whomever I damn well felt like putting in them. Each of my men have their own tower, Cerberus has one for the times he stays over, and I'd also given one to my friend Sara, who had once been my maid, but I'd elevated her to lady status. The towers sprout up from the main keep like tulips growing from soil and are attached to each other with chain and wood bridges.
Speaking of Sara...
“What is this; a party?” Sara asked as she stepped into the room, having just strode off one of those bridges I mentioned. “Why wasn't I invited?”
“Sara, this is Shavalina; she's going to help me learn how to control my Fire magic,” I introduced them. “Shava, this is my good friend, Sara.”
“Nice to meet you.” Shava inclined her head gracefully.
Sara gaped at Shava and mumbled, “Yeah; you too.”
“Sit down, Sara.” I waved at an open seat. “Now, Shava, what did you mean when you said our magic isn't growing?”
“Magic isn't a talent,” Shava explained while Sara got settled, still staring at the Phoenix. “It can't grow. You can't work it like a muscle and expand it. Working it will only refine it; hone it.”
“She's right,” Odin agreed. “You are born with a set amount of magic and although you can learn to harness it and therefore wield it better, you cannot increase it.”
Speaking as a spell, I have to agree with that, the RS said. Judging from their reactions, she said it to all of my men too.
“Then what's happening with us?” I asked. “Why do both Darc and I feel as if our magic is growing? We only have small traces of it and yet we both have done some extraordinary things.”
“The drop and ember, as you called them, are settling in,” Shava said. “They are spreading out and making themselves at home. But they cannot grow, nor would they, even if they could. Because magic craves life.”
“And growing beyond the limits that their mortal bodies can handle would kill both of them,” Torin concluded.
I don't know about that, RS drawled. I didn't want to die, but I was burning out without enough fuel.
Yes, I remember, I said dryly. But you were created and had to be fed, we're talking about the innate magic of a god.
Yeah, all right, she muttered.
“They are not mortal,” Shava corrected Torin. “I'd call their bodies; a lesser version of the truly immortal forms they once had. But that is a mouthful, is it not?” She laughed; just a light giggle this time. “So, I suppose 'mortal' will do. And yes; if their magic grew, it could kill them.”
“And those around us,” I added. “That's what I've been dreaming of. Are you sure it can't grow?”
“Sure? No,” she admitted. “How could I be? This is god magic; something only you Gods know about. It's you who should be answering that question for me.”
“Well, I have no idea.” I looked at Darcraxis for help.
Darc pondered it. “Were I to have the full extent of my magic, I would say that you're wrong, Shavalina. All Gods have creation magic, without it, we wouldn't be Gods. For Elaria and I, the creation is a part of my Darkness and her Light. With those two magics supporting our elemental Water and Fire, we built worlds. We birthed a race of people. That magic not only grows, but it also creates new magic.”
Shava and Odin exchanged an awed look before she murmured, “Yes, of course. I didn't consider that.”
“That being said”—Darcraxis held up a hand—“neither of us has the full power of our magic. I don't believe that I'm capable of that level of creation any more. Are you, Elaria?”
I made an unladylike snort.
“I suppose that's an answer.” Darc chuckled. “Without that aspect available to us, I don't believe we have the ability to grow. I think you're correct, Shavalina; our magics are simply settling in.”
“Which means that your Fire will not reach the level that would threaten worlds,” Shava concluded. “It could still cause significant harm, but this also means that I should be able to help you. At least, with your Fire.”
I closed my eyes and let out a long sigh. I knew what that meant, but I didn't want to be the one to explain it to my men.
Uh-oh, RS murmured.
“Meaning what?” Banning asked as he narrowed his bottle-green eyes at Shava.
“Elaria doesn't just possess Fire,” Shava said in surprise. “There is Light inside that ember—a glow within the Fire—just as Darcraxis mentioned.”
“I thought you only had the Fire left?” Banning directed his penetrating gaze at me.
“No; I have a piece of my power,” I clarified. “Look; I wasn't exactly accurate when I said that my lessons with Lucifer didn't work.”
Slate cursed violently. “Don't say it, El.”
“He was able to help me with the Light and that worked,” I said it anyway. “The problem was; his Light drew my Light to it, and with him working all his attraction juju on me, I got a little lost in him.”
“Lost in him?” Torin's voice sunk down to dangerous levels.
“She became aroused and it drew out her Fire,” Darc concluded calmly.
“Why doesn't that piss you off?” Banning asked Darc in an amazed tone.
“Because it was a spell.” Darc looked at Banning as if he were being deliberately obtuse. “She felt no real desire for Lucifer. Are you all going to get upset with Elaria over a situation beyond her control? For feeling desire that was forced upon her? That seems a bit like punishing the victim.”
“You don't fucking get it,” Slate growled.
“He doesn't get it,” Banning confirmed.
I don't get it either. Somebody tell me what's going on? RS whined.
Can you just shut up for a few minutes and let the grown-ups talk? Kyanite growled.
Whatever.
Darc sighed and looked at me as if he couldn't believe these were the men I'd chosen for myself and these were the voices we had to deal with in our heads.
“They're not mad at me, Darc,” I explained. “They're mad at Lucifer. And they're especially upset that he seems to be our best option for helping me learn to control my Light.”
Darc's brilliant blue eyes widened with understanding. “Ah.”
“'Ah,' he says,” Slate huffed at Bann.
“Fucking Gods,” Banning said back.
“Excuse me?” I lifted a brow at Banning.
“I said 'Gods' not Goddesses.”
“'Gods' is the term for both Gods and Goddesses combined. Like mankind is the term for all humans. Yes; it sounds a little sexist, but those are the words.”
“Yeah, but I didn't mean you.”
“No, you were just trying to insult a man I love.”
Banning gave a frustrated heave of breath and fell back into his chair. “What the fuck ever, El.”
“No!” Torin snarled as he slammed his hand down on the marble coffee table between us. “We are not doing this!”
We all jerked back in surprise.
“We are united in magic, brotherhood, and love for Elaria,” Torin went on. “But all of that will destroy us if we don't respect it and each other. So, if you want to joke and tease each other like soldiers in the same army, fine. But if you feel the urge to seriously slice into one another, you squash that urge and talk it through with respect. We don't hurt each other because that means hurting her.” He pointed at me. “Get it?”
The men grimaced, sighed, and nodded.
“Now, I know you all respect Darc,” Torin went on. “We all truly respect each other, and you didn't mean anything malicious by that comment, Bann. But we're also on edge here. We feel threatened, and we're lashing out. It's understandable but things we say now may fester and hurt us later. So, let's reserve the poison for our enemies, Brothers.”
“Well said,” Slate admitted while the other men grinned; their pride assuaged by Torin's speech.
“Sweet stones; there's too much testosterone in this room,” Sara muttered.
“I'm good with it.” I smirked.
“So am I.” Shava winked at me.
So am I! RS piped up.
“Now, tell me about this Lucifer,” Shava added.
The men and Kyanite groaned.
Chapter Six
After a quick explanation of who Lucifer is, we decided to start my training with Shava and then move on to the God of Angels if necessary. I had a feeling it would be necessary, but I didn't share my inkling. Let them come to it in their own time.
We went down to the training yard at the back of the castle to work. The men and Sara stood on the outskirts of the packed earth area, watching warily. Wooden training equipment lined one edge; padded dummies, various targets, and a rack of practice weapons. As Shava and I talked, a gr
oup of soldiers wandered up and spoke with Darc. I saw him wave a hand in my direction, and they settled in to enjoy the show.
Great; nothing better than having an audience when you're learning to deal with volatile magic.
“Lucifer told me that the way to control my Fire is through mastering my Light,” I continued my conversation with Shava. “He said that Light can be either cold or hot; it can create or destroy. When I don't control it, it gets consumed by Fire and then amplifies that other magic.”
