Queen of Shadow and Ash, page 12
Glowering at him like a petulant child, Shadow sniffed. “White hasn’t asked for my help. I’ve heard nothing from him since I told him I knew about Ari. He advised me to sit and wait. What else am I supposed to do?”
Readying himself to step back into the peripatos, Red shrugged, uncaring. “Why not, for once, stop acting like a lapdog, and act like a king in your own right.”
Chapter
Thirteen
I Will Use Your Love as a Mold to Make a Dagger
She felt desperate. Time was running out and she needed to do this. Lilif curled her hand tighter around the lesser jinn. He was only a young man. Handsome, intelligent, charming. There was something special about him, something that drew people to him. Tamir. Beautiful Tamir. And her son, the Glass King’s lover. He stood stiff against her, knowing she could eviscerate him in seconds if she so wished it. That it had come to this—having to snuff out the children most like her. And Glass. He had always been her favorite, with his deep blue hair that matched the depth of his loyalty and strength. Lilif cried her tears inwardly as she pushed Tamir through the double doors, surprising her son, who spun around, his long hair startling in the candlelight, to match his startled expression.
His eyes narrowed as he took in her dark countenance and grip on Tamir. “Mother, what is going on?” He took a tentative step toward them, his jaw tight with tension as his gaze clashed with Tamir’s. Glass had never loved anyone the way he loved Tamir. A wisp of jealousy blew across Lilif’s heart.
“I bring your love as collateral, my darling.”
“Then Red’s suspicions are true. You seek to kill us, to destroy the balance by destroying your own sons,” Glass whispered hoarsely, despair in his eyes turning to disgust. That only made her pinch Tamir harder with her magic, and he let out a grunt. Glass lunged at them with a guttural cry and Lilif moved like the wind until she and Tamir stood on the opposite side of the room.
She smiled sweetly at her son, hiding her pain. “I have to change everything. We have lost so much under this rule, I need something… new. I hurt for a new life for our people.”
“You’ve lived too long, Mother. That is your only ailment.”
Her smile turned to a malicious glower and she tilted Tamir's handsome face up so she could study it. He refused to meet her eyes, his fists clenched in fury at his own helplessness. “He is beautiful, my son. I can see why he has you so enthralled.” Her fingers bit into his skin, drawing blood, making him flinch. “I will end his life if you do not give your essence to me willingly.”
“You’ve gone insane,” Glass spat, but she could hear desperation in his tone.
“I have to do this. Please forgive me for seeking you first, my love, but I fear this will be the hardest of all… destroying my Glass. My beautiful Glass. I must do it first. It must be over with first.”
“Mother, please…”
“I cannot be reasoned with, son. Just give me your essence and I will set Tamir free. I will make sure that no harm comes to him. I will try to save him when the After comes for us.”
As someone who needed to be loved most by everyone, Lilif watched with pained envy as Glass shifted his gaze to Tamir. A deep love for the lesser jinn resided within Glass for all to see, and Tamir realized what the depth of that love meant. He started struggling in Lilif’s arms. “No, Glass, no!” he yelled. “What is my life without you? Do not do this! I am not worth the consequences!”
“You are worth everything,” Glass whispered. He turned to his mother, numb, but relenting. “If you let him go, I will leave with you.”
The closest Lilif had ever come to loving anyone that much was her love for her twin, Asmodeus. She believed she would do anything for him, but to die for him? Was she capable of such love? A bitter inability to understand her son twisted Lilif’s mouth into a sneer. “My dear son, when you love, you love so deeply. If I had not used it against you, your father or brothers certainly would have, eventually.”
“Not this brother,” Red snarled furiously as he stormed into the room, the air around him crackling dangerously. In sync, as the two brothers had always been, Red and Glass turned to her and Lilif felt the steel grip of their combined power binding her body. She cried out in rage as Tamir stumbled away from her. “You will not have him,” Red proclaimed. Hurt and anger were just two of the myriad of emotions in his unearthly blue eyes.
This one, Lilif thought hatefully, chipping away at the binding slowly but surely, this one had always been far too easily manipulated by Azazil. “You fool,” Lilif spat at him, “Loyalty is not a currency you can afford.”
Red curled a lip at her in distaste. “Then I shall always be a pauper for a king, Mother.”
Impotent anger made her power react faster against theirs as Red and Glass struggled to hold her, while the fear that she might not win against her two sons filled her. With a shriek of fury, she broke their binding and lunged at Tamir. The crack of his neck breaking—the sound of the end of his life—echoed around the room. Glass's deep roar of sorrow followed in its wake.
Lilif stepped back into the peripatos before Glass could take his revenge.
* * *
“Ari, come on, wake up,” a deep voice rumbled in her ear. She nuzzled deeper into the soft pillow, hunching her shoulder so it rubbed her ear where his breath tickled. “Michael wants to see you in his office.”
Ari groaned and flipped over. Her eyes narrowed on Jai’s face. He braced over her, his hands at either side of her head. His gorgeous face and bright eyes hovered inches above her. “You woke me from a dream. I think I was actually Lilif in this one.”
Jai’s eyebrows drew together. “What was it about?”
“It was her memory of trying to kill Glass. Taking his essence,” she mumbled, still a little sleepily. A sadness echoed in her chest for the jinn king she'd never met. He was just as extraordinary as Red, with his long cerulean blue hair and matching eyes. If her dreams were genuine memories, Lilif had killed the man Glass loved. “She killed his lover when Red and Glass wouldn’t let her take his essence.”
“Sounds like something the White King might do.”
“Hmm,” Ari agreed, trying to forget she was related to these spiteful beings. “Not that it’s not nice waking up to you, but why the early wake-up call?”
He smiled grimly as he sat upright. “Michael wants to see you in his office.”
Her heart did a little skip. If Michael wanted to see her, it could mean he thought she was ready for assignments. Ari pushed the bedcovers off and slipped past Jai, practically running into the adjoining bathroom. She quickly cleaned up and brushed her teeth, laughing with a mouthful of toothpaste as the door to the bathroom opened just enough for Jai to throw in a T-shirt, jeans, and some clean underwear. She tried not to think about him going through her underwear drawer. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen her out of it. Yelling a garbled thank you, Ari spat, and then rushed into her clothes, taking a second to pull her long hair into a ponytail.
When she came out of the bathroom, Jai stood by the window with a broody expression. The early morning sun lit his eyes, making them glitter like crystal green lake water. His eyebrows dipped into a little frown and his lower lip pouted naturally. His rich dark hair had grown thicker, and Ari couldn’t decide what suited him better: the close-shaven look or this boyish ruggedness. Her heart felt full as she watched him, blown away by how every nerve in her body seemed to zing to life in his presence. How her chest ached with too much feeling.
Sensing her study, Jai turned his head to look at her, the small diamond in his ear winking in the sun. “You okay?”
No, she was thoroughly distracted. “Does Michael really need me this second?” she asked softly, sauntering toward him.
He reached out as she drew closer, sliding an arm around her waist to draw her up against his chest. She felt his bicep flex, felt the strength of his chest under her fingertips, and gave thanks to whoever was listening for giving her Jai. Being with him was the only time she ever felt safe. The only time she ever forgot who she really was and what that meant.
Trailing her fingertips up his chest, along and up his neck to his jaw, Ari shivered at Jai’s tiny exhalation of pleasure at her touch. Lifting her gaze as she stroked her fingers across his cheek, she stared into his eyes and felt wonder. Ari had read about moments like these. When you were so lost in someone else, the room around you just disappeared. It was true. Everything in her peripheral grew fuzzy and unreal. Michael’s summons blew away on a breeze.
Together, they reached for a kiss.
“What are you doing to me?” Jai whispered across her lips, not waiting for an answer. They brushed their mouths against one another; a soft, tingling expression of torture. And just as Ari was about to give into her impatience, Jai beat her to it, his hands cupping her face as he deepened the kiss, his tongue touching hers and sending chills of desire rushing through her. He tasted like toothpaste again, or she did. Ari couldn’t tell. It didn’t matter. He just tasted divine. Wanting him closer, Ari slid her arms around his back, slipping her hands under his T-shirt. His skin felt silky and hard, her fingertips caressing his smooth lower back. Jai groaned and tightened his grip on her nape, his kisses deeper than the ocean.
As abruptly as the kiss had started, Jai pushed her away until she stumbled from him.
Their panting filled the silence of the room and Ari stared at him wide-eyed, her lips swollen. “You stopped?”
He nodded, and then shook his head, smiling ruefully. “I think Michael has a job for you. We better go see him.”
Nervous excitement flooded her stomach and Ari couldn’t tell if it was from what had been happening or what was about to happen. “That’s good, right? That he has a job for me?”
Her guardian/boyfriend immediately went back to brooding mode. “Hmm.”
Ahh, he was feeling a little overprotective this morning. Warmed by the thought, Ari reached up to give him a quick peck on the lips. She grinned. “I’ll be fine.”
He studied her, and she wondered what was really going on behind those beautiful eyes of his. “I know,” he replied finally.
Not sure if he meant it, Ari sighed and started toward the door. A sharp tug on her wrist brought a gasp to her lips, a gasp swallowed in Jai’s mouth as he pulled her back into his arms. His kiss was rougher, harder, more desperate—his hands scalding against her waist as he pressed her as close to him as he could. Feeling a need to reassure him, although she wasn’t sure why, Ari wrapped her arms around his neck and sank into his kiss, matching him rather than trying to gentle him. Her weight pushed him back against the wall and he groaned into her mouth. That would never cease to be hot. Ari shivered. Her shiver set him off again, his hands sliding down the back of her thighs. His grip turned hard and Ari let out a surprised gasp as he lifted her up, easing her legs around his waist in the same motion as he turned so her back was now against the wall. His mouth trailed ardent kisses down her neck and Ari let her head fall back, her thoughts muddled, her synapses fried. There was only him and the feel of his firm hand under her shirt, reaching for the clasp on her bra.
A loud crash behind them stilled Jai’s progress and he growled in frustration, dropping his head against her chest. “Let me guess…” he whispered hoarsely.
Ari stroked his hair, her fingers trembling from the adrenaline shooting through her body. She eyed the smashed lampshade and pile of books that had been on her bedside table, but now lay littered on the floor. The hum of Ms. Maggie’s energy broke through the lusty haze. “Ms. Maggie,” she muttered.
Overprotective Ms. Maggie. Ari was beginning to think the ifrit had been a nun in another life.
His body tense, Jai eased away from her and Ari unhooked her legs from around his waist. Gently, he helped lower her to the ground. His eyes narrowed as he tried to smooth her hair back into place. His fingers lingered on her cheek before caressing her skin down to her mouth, where his thumb caught her bottom lip. Jai's gaze darkened again. Another shiver cascaded down Ari’s spine. Shaking himself, Jai retreated, stuffing his hands into his jean pockets. “Just when I was starting to like the poltergeist.”
Ari snorted and rubbed a comforting hand over his arm as she passed him. “I’ll talk to her about the whole privacy thing,” she promised.
He grunted at that, following her out of the door. “Maybe you could throw in an ‘Oh by the way, who the hell are you?’ while you’re at it.”
Fallon stared at her strangely, and Ari wondered for a second if maybe Jai hadn’t fixed her hair. Were her lips still swollen? She smoothed down her hair and fixed her gaze on Michael, who sat behind his desk, peering past his daughter, who had her ass on it, blocking his view.
“Fallon, sit on the chair.” He gestured to the armchair wearily.
Spry in all her movements, Fallon skipped off the desk and into the chair with an annoying smirk. Ari narrowed her eyes at her. Did she know? Feeling an inevitable flush at the thought, Ari deliberately didn't look at Jai.
“I’ve got an assignment.” Michael got straight to the point.
Ari took an excited step forward. “Really?” A real assignment. Hunting jinn. Instead of them hunting her.
Awesome.
“Emmett Bradford High School in Midland, Connecticut.” Michael pushed papers toward her and Fallon, and Ari reached for hers with an eagerness she couldn’t hide. She read over the report as Michael explained, “Last semester, there was a tally of strange occurrences at the high school. Only a week into the new semester and already there’s been an incident.”
Ari scanned over the papers. Last week, a student won the lottery. Didn’t sound so crazy, except last semester four students went missing, three withdrew because of unusual medical problems, and a young English teacher started an affair with a student and then killed him when he tried to break it off.
Ari handed the report to Jai and he skimmed it impressively quickly, his expression growing darker by the minute. He looked up at Michael, his eyes like steel. “You think a marid is out there granting wishes?”
Michael nodded. “We need to tag it so we can follow it. Make sure we ruin its fun any time it hits a public center. I want Fallon and Ari to pose as students and see if they can feel the jinn energy.” He flipped through his own copy of the report. “There have been two new students in the last six months and a new guidance teacher. To make things a little easier on us, the two students are both juniors. I’ve enrolled you both at Emmett Bradford High.” Michael nodded at Fallon and then Ari. “You’ll pose as juniors and your class schedule will allow you both to feel out the two new students. And as a bonus, as new students yourselves, you get a visit with the new guidance teacher.”
Jai took a step forward before Ari could say anything about how stoked she was to go on her first assignment. “If this is a marid, I should be in on this,” Jai said with gritted teeth.
Ari blinked. She knew marids were badass, but surely together, she and Fallon could handle it. Right?
Michael’s return stare was thoughtful. Finally, he sighed. “Fine. You can be Ari’s possessive older boyfriend who visits her at lunch.”
A bloom of heat flooded Ari’s cheeks as Fallon laughed. Ari flicked a glance at Jai and noted he'd tensed. “Can’t you get me into the school?”
“No. You have a high energy vibe for a start, and everything about you screams guardian jinn. Visiting Ari at lunch means you can scope out the school covertly.” He turned to Ari as if he hadn’t just driven way closer to the truth about her and Jai’s relationship than he even knew. “You and Fallon are step sisters. Marissa and Bella Ribisi.”
Fallon groaned, kicking up off the armchair. “Great. Not only do I have to go back to school—which sucked the first time by the way—but I’m also going to be subjected to sparkly vampire jokes all day.”
Michael frowned. “I don’t get it.”
“You’re not the only one,” Jai murmured, staring at Fallon quizzically.
“Don’t worry about it, sexy. It’s a pop culture reference. You wouldn’t get it.”
“Fallon.” Michael exhaled. “Please stop calling Mr. Bitar inappropriate names.”
“Inappropriately true.” Fallon winked at Jai, and Ari felt a stupid burn of jealousy scald across her chest. Oh God. Who was being possessive now?
“So when do we start?” She interrupted, stepping between Jai and Fallon.
Handing her the class schedule, Michael replied with a searching gaze, “Tomorrow. I want this done as soon as possible, since your appearance will most likely alert the jinn we’re looking for. There’s hope he thinks you’re both lesser human-living jinn, but if he’s powerful, then he won’t make that mistake, especially if he feels the strength of your jinn energy, Ari. I’m sending a team with you to watch your back.”
Ari may be nervous as hell, and yeah, okay, maybe not completely prepared, but she wanted to do this. She still had flashbacks to how it had felt to be so numb and helpless under the harmal Dalí had given her.
Ari had no intention of ever feeling that helpless again.
Michael cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable suddenly. “I also wondered if we could make use of your particular gift, Jai?”
Ari frowned as Jai tensed. What particular gift?
“On who?” Jai asked quietly.
Why did Michael look like he wanted to run for the door? “Well, as I understand it, Ari already has the trace. It would be a nice precaution if Fallon had it as well. That way, if anything happens…”
“I can track her,” Jai finished, nodding in understanding.
Ari understood now, too, and her stomach flipped unpleasantly. Michael wanted Jai to kiss Fallon so he could trace her if she disappeared on the job. She felt jealousy heat her cheeks as Fallon, who also got it and didn’t look too upset by it, took a step toward Jai.
