The Fire Within

by Marie Harte

  “We’ve all experienced some odd bursts of power since coming here.” Cadmus ran a hand through his hair. “It was my ability to foretell those numbers that allows us to live here comfortably. Who knew six numbers could grant such prosperity?” He grimaced. “Imagine Tanselm having a lottery. A waste of wealth on the ‘lucky’.”

  “And yet without that wealth we’d still be living in the woods.” Aerolus took a long swallow of coffee. “Not the best place to find a mate.”

  Aerolus paused a moment in thought. “Remember what Arim said before we left. And there you will also find that the blood of your mother runs strong in you. Now that we know Mother and Arim are related, it becomes clear where her abilities come from. She is a sorceress, just as powerful as Father was a Storm Lord, I’d imagine,” he said more to himself than the others.

  “Tell us something we don’t know,” Darius said sarcastically. He should have waited another hour before rising. Cadmus could be a pain in the ass, but when Aerolus grew introspective, it gave him a headache.

  “Think about it,” Aerolus continued, making Darius groan. “Cadmus foretold the winning lottery numbers. I can teleport in growing distances. And Marcus has been moving objects with his mind.”

  “He has?” Darius blinked in astonishment.

  “I’ve seen him practicing when he didn’t know I was watching.” Aerolus and Cadmus turned as one to Darius. “Which brings us to you. What more can you do than control fire?” Despite being born a full minute after Darius and Marcus, and scant seconds before Cadmus, Aerolus tended to take charge in a subtle way that reminded Darius of his father.

  Shaking his head, Darius answered, “I’m not sure, exactly.” He hedged, not comfortable with the amount of change he’d experienced since his father’s death last year. Most of the changes had occurred externally. His kin’s murders, learning of his relation to Arim, the Netharat attack, but this new ability resided within him.

  “We’re waiting,” Aerolus reminded.

  Throwing him a scowl, Darius muttered, “I think I can sense another’s thoughts.”

  Cadmus stared. “You’re kidding.” He blanked his face. “What am I thinking now?”

  Darius heaved a sigh. “I really can’t take much more of this.” He rubbed his eyes tiredly. “I can’t read you, Cadmus. Or Aerolus, or Marcus. Not that I’ve tried very hard.” When he saw neither brother losing interest, he uttered a low curse of defeat. “Sometimes at the bar I hear things.”

  “Perhaps because inhibitions are lowered due to the alcohol?” Aerolus offered.

  “I don’t know, maybe.” It made sense. But it didn’t explain the connection he’d shared with Samantha, how he’d been able to sense her instant attraction to him, as well as her surprising disinterest in the opposite sex or a relationship of any kind.

  “Must be really interesting reading the thoughts of drunken women.” Cadmus grinned. “Maybe I should show up tonight. You could point out a few of the more ‘interesting’ thoughts from those women that like to overindulge.”

  But Samantha would be there tonight. Thoughts of Cadmus making Samantha laugh, of drawing her to him with his irresistible charm, turned Darius’ mood even darker. He clamped his hands to the table’s edge so as not to put them around Cadmus’ throat. “What’s the matter, Cadmus? Can’t work your wiles without getting them drunk first?”

  Instead of acting insulted, Cadmus grinned. Not much could dampen his humour, unfortunately. “What you fail to realise, firebreather, is that in insulting me, you insult yourself. Um, hello, but haven’t you seen how much we look alike?” He smirked, then swore as his mug overheated again.

  “I was referring to your obnoxious personality, jackass,” Darius snarled.

  “Jackass? I like that,” Aerolus said calmly, a twinkle in his bright grey eyes. “It sounds much better than ofcondus eater.”

  “Forget this.” Darius stood, determined to find some peace even if it killed him. “I’m going back to bed.” Between his brothers and Samantha Brooks, he was one more frustration away from unleashing his powers and setting the house on fire.

  His vision beginning to turn red, he tossed his mug into the sink and strode from the kitchen. Thoughts of Samantha only enhanced his need to see her again. Something didn’t fit with the woman, something off that his inner senses had detected. Otherwise he wouldn’t find her so enthralling.

  He had to stop picturing her dark green eyes cloudy with passion, had to stop imagining her breasts flushed and full and begging for his mouth. His cock felt impossibly hard as he returned to his bedroom. But unlike last night, he felt fully rested and able to conquer his desires. After a cold shower and some determined planning he would feel ready to tackle anything, especially Samantha Brooks.

  * * * *

  “More angry than usual.” Aerolus sat across from Cadmus with a curious glint in his eyes.

  “Yeah.” Cadmus stared at his retreating brother’s back. “It’s that woman Arim mentioned. Wonder what’s so special about her that’s gotten Darius so fired up?” He grinned at the pun and looked up to see what Aerolus made of his joke.

  As usual, Aerolus remained expressionless. Rolling his eyes only encouraged Cadmus. “I’m not sure.” He stared thoughtfully at the kitchen doorway, wondering if what he suspected might be true.

  He hadn’t exactly told his brothers the truth about his newfound powers. But how did you tell your brothers you could share their dreams? Dreamsharing was as intrusive as Darius’ unwanted ability to read minds. Aerolus frowned at the thought of such talent. He’d have to work harder to build his inner defences against mental intrusion. Not that he distrusted Darius by any means, but he valued the privacy of his thoughts. And if his brothers knew even half of what he thought, they’d never leave him alone.

  “You know more than you’re telling.” Cadmus’ eyes narrowed. “Did Arim tell you something you haven’t shared?”

  “No.” Aerolus cleared his throat. “Arim merely mentioned to keep an eye on Darius, something about a woman intruding into Darius’ thoughts. She’ll play an important role in his future, but more than that I can’t say.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  Darius’ dreams. They were more than sexual. Aerolus’ blood raced as he recalled the woman’s features as seen through Darius’ eyes. The woman was incredibly beautiful, exotic and sensual. But Darius’ sheer possessiveness, his needy uncertainty—these emotions were so foreign to the Royal Four as to be utterly alien.

  Aerolus blinked when Cadmus called his name. “I can’t answer you, Cadmus. According to Arim, the woman is important to Darius, to all of us really. But whether or not she’s his affai, or one who can lead him to his affai, Arim couldn’t say. You never know. Maybe she’ll introduce you to your future bride,” he threw in to shake his brother’s confidence. Cadmus wanted marriage like he wanted a knife in his throat.

  “As if any one woman will ever suit me,” Cadmus said with disdain. “Personally, I hope the woman is his affai. I want to return to Tanselm as soon as possible. And once Darius bonds with her, it’s only a matter of time before she becomes pregnant to cement the Storm Lords’ power.”

  “But who’s to say she will bear the Royal Four?”

  Cadmus stopped the cup he’d been lifting to his mouth. “Well, I…I suppose we never were told who would become the next ruler of the Tetrarch. I always assumed it would be Darius. He is the oldest, if only by a minute.” A look of horror passed his face. “Are you saying any of the four of us could become Tanselm’s new overking?”

  “According to Arim, nothing of the future is certain.” Aerolus took enjoyment in shaking up his easygoing brother. Cadmus assumed too much and took great delight in constantly teasing the rest of them. Well, now he’d have something to ponder besides returning to Tanselm.

  Apparently some of his amusement must have shown, for Cadmus recovered enough to send Aerolus a small smile. “Nicely done, brother. You know, it’s scary. You’re more like Arim than I’d
thought.”

  “There are worse people you could liken me to.”

  “True.” Cadmus laughed, his morose thoughts of marriage apparently behind him. “Take Darius. He’s more like a dark Djinn about to face the light of day—utterly unbearable. Too bad I have a date tonight or I’d visit Outpour just to piss him off.”

  Aerolus grinned, stunning his brother with a show of honest emotion. “I wouldn’t mind seeing that. I have a feeling he’s not into sharing this particular woman. And if he’s as frustrated as he seemed earlier, it’s going to take all of his effort not to scare her away.”

  Chapter Four

  Three hours into the night and Samantha felt wonderful, not at all like she had on her previous visit to Outpour. Gerry Huntington was as pleasant in person as he’d been from her dealings with him on the phone. He’d personally hired all of his employees and had introduced her to each one present. Surprisingly, meeting Darius again had been anticlimactic. Save for the sparkle in his dark eyes, he acted friendly and courteously, not at all like the playboy from the night prior.

  Not wanting to delve into her earlier dealings with him, she’d flashed him a warning look and continued with Gerry’s introductions. A gorgeous blonde named Ellie was apparently his favourite, and from what she had thus far observed of the woman, Samantha could clearly see why.

  For the three hours she’d been watching, both Ellie and Darius worked nonstop. As bombarded by male patrons as Darius was by the females, Ellie had a ready smile and friendly efficiency that bolstered sales while encouraging an atmosphere of fun. A man carrying three drinks bumped her, interrupting her musings. Murmuring an apology, she neatly sidestepped him and saw Gerry conversing with one of the VIP patrons on a raised platform across the room. He nodded at her and she smile back encouragingly, not needing to pretend satisfaction with the huge crowd dominating Outpour. She had already noted a few things he might want to change to increase profits, but advertising to increase patronage wasn’t one of them.

  She noted the majority of women plaguing the bartenders near Darius’ station and forced herself to keep her attention on the dance floor.

  The minute she had left him after Gerry’s introduction, she’d felt his eyes on her. Despite not wanting to renew their acquaintance from before, she’d been tempted to chastise him for causing such a scene in public this morning, even knowing she had no right to do so. She couldn’t help remembering how it had felt to be dumped, and that Darius obviously cared so little for the woman he’d left crying in public, well, it made her feel that much worse for responding to his touch last night.

  An arm shot around her waist, startling her out of her musings.

  “Come on baby, dance with me,” a handsome blond man cajoled as he tugged her towards the dancefloor. “Someone as gorgeous as you shouldn’t be sitting on the sidelines.”

  She glanced at the smiling stranger and shrugged. Why not? She’d see how the club felt from the middle of the crowded dancefloor.

  Her partner introduced himself over the loud music as John, and as she moved closer to respond, she felt a tangible urge to step away.

  A low growl came out of nowhere, but she didn’t see anyone near her expressing interest in her or her dancing partner. Without knowing why, her eyes found Darius glowering at her from the bar before he dismissed her and turned to another woman clamouring for his attention.

  “Odd,” she muttered. She turned back to John with an apologetic smile. “I’m Samantha.” He nodded. After several minutes of dancing, he grinned when the music shifted to a more sensual beat and pulled her close, allowing her to feel every nuance of his aroused body.

  Unfortunately for John, her body still hadn’t recovered from Darius, nor had she the inclination to indulge his forward actions.

  “Thanks, but I have to get back to work,” she said and easily disentangled herself. She wanted to like him. He seemed like an ordinary guy and she found him pleasantly attractive. Maybe a short roll in the hay would diminish the aggravating attraction she felt for the he-man at the bar.

  Again disapproval shot through her system with enough fire to burn her into acquiescence. She rubbed at her thundering heart and glanced around her, not surprised to see no one but John paying her any attention.

  “Sorry, John. But I appreciated the dance.”

  He shrugged and leaned close with a grin meant to entice. “I’ll be here all night, waiting and watching for a change of mind.” He licked his lips in what should have passed for a come-on but instead made her think he needed to hold back on the alcohol. He smelled like a brewery.

  Making her way through the crowd, she returned to the sidelines of the dance floor, pondering her odd subconscious. Samantha always listened to the little voice inside her. But she couldn’t imagine why her inner voice had suddenly taken on a masculine tone. Perhaps more of her sexual frustration coming to the fore. She sighed. Whatever. She wasn’t here to fool around anyway. She had goals, she had discipline, and she had a job to do.

  Disgusted at her lack of willpower, she resumed her professional persona and focused again on the dynamics within the club.

  Gerry had a surefire hit with Outpour. The DJ, atmosphere and flowing alcohol clearly attested to a prosperous business. And the potential for growth was enormous.

  She took out a small PDA and made notes on possible improvements and items she definitely wanted to emphasise as effective. An hour passed and she began to grow thirsty amid the hot bodies and pulsing lights, so she purposefully moved to the bar not occupied by Darius to order a water. Ellie, the head bartender, handed her a glass without pause.

  The tall blonde wore a tight blue shirt that set off the bright blue of her eyes, and a thin gold rod piercing her navel accentuated her slim belly. Gerry had told her that though Ellie looked like a typical blonde bombshell, she was anything but. Highly intelligent and well-spoken, Ellie worked at Outpour only to ’finance her future’, as she liked to say—whatever that was. Gerry had been agonising over losing her since he’d contacted Samantha. Hiring Darius had been a breakthrough but still wouldn’t heal the tear when Ellie left.

  “Looks hot out there,” Ellie said, nodding to the dance floor as she filled another order.

  “It is.” Samantha closed her eyes and swallowed her water. Nothing had ever tasted better. “So how are things on your end?”

  “Just a sec.” Ellie smiled as she worked, easily able to multitask as she prepared an order for a waitress while taking the order of the patron leaning closest to her over the bar. “I love the rush,” she said as she handed the waitress her drinks and prepared another. “Of course, I’m not as crowded as Darius and Mike over there.” She nodded towards the bar opposite her. “But in another hour or so the men will start pouring through those doors knowing the women are here.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. Happens every week like clockwork, or at least it has since Darius started.” Ellie paused to stare. “You’d have to be dead not to notice how hot he is.”

  Samantha glanced over her shoulder at the man surrounded by women. “So why not make a play yourself?” Ignoring the tingle of irrational jealousy, she studied Ellie. “You’re popular enough, judging from your share of admirers,” she said, seeing the men around Ellie angling for her attention, and not just for the alcohol.

  Ellie grinned. “I’ve tried. He politely but firmly said no.”

  Surprised, Samantha stared at Darius. She wouldn’t have pegged him as so discerning, but recalling the expensive blonde he’d been with earlier in the day, perhaps his tastes ran to the more sophisticated.

  “And to be honest, it’s for the best. There’s no spark there.”

  “No spark?”

  “You know, chemistry? When I stand near him, I just want to look at him.” Ellie grinned. “He’s handsome, but not my type. Weird, huh?”

  Ignoring her relief, Samantha asked if there was anything she could do to help when the number of orders increased.

  “If you woul
dn’t mind, would you grab me some more Zinfandel and J.D. from the basement? They’ve been stacked and ready to move for an hour, but Sean and Maggie have been stuck helping me.”

  “Sure. Just use the freight elevator, right?” Gerry had shown it to her earlier, under the now working basement lights.

  “Yeah. Once you bring it up, just let Sean know. ” Ellie turned to help the next customer and Samantha left to grab the supplies. She refused to glance at Darius before she left, more determined than ever to avoid him in the future.

  * * * *

  The minute Samantha left the floor Darius turned to Mike. “I’m going to grab some more house bottles. Need anything while I’m gone?”

  “Yeah, a break,” Mike muttered under his breath as another customer grabbed his attention.

  “Carla and Todd are working their butts off and here comes Dave to take my place.” Darius raised his voice to be heard over the women vying for his attention. “Sorry ladies,” he apologised and nodded towards Dave, “but I have an errand to run. Be right back. Until then, Dave’s your man.”

  Several complaints floated but Darius ignored them. He’d been waiting all night for the opportunity to corner Samantha. And he couldn’t have asked for a better window. She had disappeared behind the ’employees only‘ door, no doubt to help Ellie, who seemed overrun with men wanting more than drink.

  He shook his head and followed after Samantha. Too bad Ellie did nothing to heat his blood. She had the looks, the brains, hell, a body to kill for. But something about her failed to draw him. Samantha, on the other hand…

  He found her in the basement struggling to unlock a loaded dolly and quietly crept behind her.

  “Back in the basement again, hmm?” he said in a soft voice, grinning when she screamed and spun around to face him. He caught a subtle whiff of perfume that went straight to his head and narrowed his intent focus.