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beside his bare feet, but the magic of the Tairen-forged steel left a gleaming aura swirling around him that amplified his natural Fey luminescence. The Fey king's war steel, once donned, could never be returned to the Feyreisen's palace in Dharsa until the Fey were victorious or the wearer of the armor died. Until then, even when Rain removed the armor to sleep or bathe, a part of its magic remained with him.
    His lean, well-muscled form glowed with the silvery luminescence that, even unenhanced, had earned the Fey their mortal appellation, the Shining Folk. Black hair, without a hint of curl, hung in fine, silky strands down to his shoulder blades, framing a face of both indomitable strength and breathtaking masculine beauty. Muscles, lean but well-defined and hard as stone, rippled beneath smooth, gleaming flesh. If Lord Brandis, the god of war, ever chose to take physical form, Ellysetta thought he would look like Rain did now, magnificent and male, dazzling and deadly.
    She swallowed and tamped down a familiar, visceral surge of lust, quickly directing her attention to her own garb. Time enough for mating after they rejuvenated themselves in the Source. She could feel the weariness beating at Rain and the emotions swirling so close to the surface beneath the too-thin layers of his self-control.
    " Aiyah ," she managed to agree. The word came out throaty, unconsciously seductive. She coughed twice and added with a grin, "But let's keep our distance. I don't fancy swimming in fish stew." Earth came to her call with a green flash. Leathers and steel fell to the ground in haphazard piles.
    She glanced up in time to see Rain's eyes rake down her slender body and spark with a hunger as powerful as her own. He took one step towards her, intent stamped on his face. And despite her determination to see to Rain's health first, a thrill of pleasure shot through her. It never ceased to amaze her that all the love, passion, and devotion of this incredible man belonged wholly and eternally to her. Her. Ellysetta Baristani. Who would ever have believed it?
    In her mind's eye she still was, and perhaps always would be, that shy, gawky, rather unattractive girl who'd never fit in. Yet even when the glamour set upon her at birth had disguised her true Fey heritage, Rain had always seen beneath the mortal guise. And when he looked at her with such simmering intensity, she felt like a different woman. Not Ellie Baristani, but Ellysetta Feyreisa, a shining Fey queen every bit the equal of her exceptional mate.
    "On second thought," Rain growled, taking another step closer, "swimming can wait."
    One brow arched. "Who says we have to choose? Her lips curved in a siren's smile, and with a low, challenging laugh, she bolted. She raced across the stony shore on nimble feet and dove for the lake with an Air-powered leap that sent her soaring gracefully half a Tairen length from the shore before she plunged into the Fire-warmed waters.
    Magic hit her like a lightning bolt, robbing her of breath. She kicked to the surface, gasping and tingling all over. Rain was on her the instant she came up for air.
    "Rain, wait. There's something—"
    She didn't get to finish her sentence. His arms wrapped around her, dragging her close. His lips fused to hers. The long, lean lines of his flesh—hotter than the waters Steli had boiled with her Tairen flame—pressed against Ellysetta's, burning stone beneath seductive velvet flesh.
    Coherent thought evaporated.
    Sensation raced through her... sizzling, electric. Her flesh was afire. Always when Rain's skin touched hers, she felt his emotions as if they were her own; but now, with the waters of the Source around them, the feeling increased exponentially, instantly forming a harmonic. His desire feeding hers... hers feeding his. He breathed, and her lungs expanded as if the breath were her own. She brushed her hand across his skin and her flesh felt the caress. She dragged her nails across his nipple and her own