Queen of Shadow and Ash, page 9
I’m not mad, he promised. We’ll work it out. Together.
She smiled slowly; the tension seemed to leak from her body and the fact that he had that kind of effect on her made Jai feel a lot euphoric and a little scared shitless.
A throat clearing broke the moment. Michael Roe stared at them with narrowed eyes from his perch on his huge library desk. They were in his office in his home in Burlington, New Jersey, surrounded by tradition. The room was richly appointed in expensive walnut flooring, doors, desk, bookshelves. The bookshelves were crammed with leather-bound books and collector items. A Persian rug lay underfoot, and a top-of-the-line computer perched on the desk. A locked display cabinet held some ancient-looking weapons in them that drew Jai’s interest. He reminded himself to ask about them later.
Indeed, the entire room screamed money, and Jai remembered from his own enquiries into the Roe Guild before they joined them in Phoenix that the families had invested their money into several successful businesses. They paid other people to manage their businesses while they took the money and used it to fund the Guild hunting.
“Are you alright, Mr. Bitar?” Michael asked curiously.
Jai nodded, unleashing the full force of his energy into the room. Ari may distract him, but they still needed to know that he was powerful. That he was her guardian. And he would do whatever it took to make her safe and happy. They had to be intimidated by him in case they abused their position as a sanctum. “Eager to see Ari settled, Michael. And please, call me Jai.”
An unexpected feeling of pride rushed through Ari at the way Jai handled the situation. It mingled with relief. And yeah, lust. She couldn’t help herself. He made her skin tingle even in the most dire of situations. Ari smiled and then shot a look at Charlie, who had arrived at the Roes before them. He sat beside Fallon at the fireplace in Michael Roe’s office. Charlie gave her a nod, and Fallon winked at her, seeming happy to have them back.
“The Red King has informed me you wish to seek sanctuary with the Roe Guild. Correct?” Michael asked Ari, drawing her attention back to him.
“Yes, sir.”
“Despite his Royal Highness’ threats to kill any of my guild who betrays your existence here and your secret, I am more than happy to welcome you. Both of you. A ginnaye with your reputation, Jai, is always welcome. And Ari, despite it being dangerous to harbor you, what kind of guild could we call ourselves if we turned away someone in need and indeed the challenge? However.” Michael frowned, standing up from the desk. He was almost as tall as Jai. And despite being a little over middle-aged, he was ripped; kind of intimidatingly strong and authoritative, actually. “The Red King has insisted that you be allowed to hunt. That is a concession I find hard to make. You’ve been in control of your powers for only a few months. You’re not trained. You’re inexperienced and inexperience can be dangerous.”
A fist squeezed around Ari’s ribcage in panic. She needed to hunt. She couldn’t just sit around all day waiting for the bad guys to come and get her. She needed to be the one pursuing them or she’d go nuts. “I understand your reluctance,” she began, staying as calm as she could. “But I’m a fast learner. I’ve already started training with Jai and Fallon, and I’m sure they’d both tell you how far I’ve come in such a short time.”
Fallon’s father nodded at her with a small smile. “I appreciate your eagerness, Ari. And I admire it. I do. Yes, my daughter has told me how impressed she is with you, but, and I don’t intend this to be callous, you weren’t even able to protect yourself from being kidnapped. How can I expect you to hunt?”
Ari winced, not really seeing how she could reply to that with any dignity.
“I’ve been training since infancy.” Jai stepped forward. “And even I was taken by surprise by the harmal concoction used to drug Ari.” He shot her a glance, his expression serious and professional, betraying none of his feelings for her. “I’ve worked with a lot of jinn over the years and I promise you, I’ve never seen better potential than Ari. She’s been through more than most and she’s not running away. She’s here, standing strong and ready to fight. That’s the kind of hunter any guild would be proud to have.”
Ari squeezed back the tears of emotion. She drew in a deep breath and gave him a grateful smile. He was getting a big kiss for that later.
Michael Roe studied her more carefully than before. “Maybe in a few years.”
Ari scowled. “Mr. Roe, no offense, but I can’t wait a few years. Train me, watch me, and then throw me into this.” She took a beseeching step forward. “I need this. You’ve been a hunter your entire life, but have you ever been the prey? And not just any prey. I’m like winning the lottery. Thousands of people want it. Want me. Or they will if they discover what I really am. Which I’m pretty sure they will eventually, or my uncle wouldn’t have hired the best ginnaye on the planet to look after me. I know my uncle high-handedly insisted that you let me hunt, but that’s because he knows I can’t be a victim anymore. Do you understand?” she asked fiercely. “I can’t let them do that to me. And isn’t there some crazy ass jinn out there that you would love to stop? Permanently? Because I can do that and apparently, according to my uncle, no one will ever face trial for it.”
Everyone was so quiet for a moment, Ari thought maybe she’d gone too far, acted too desperately. But then Michael smiled, a huff of laughter escaping his lips. “Fine.” He nodded. “I might regret it later, but you’ve won me over. You’ll start training immediately while Charlie continues his training with Jack.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” Ari grinned at him and then smiled hopefully at Jai. He gave her a small nod. Ari didn’t care at his less than enthusiastic public response. He’d kiss her behind closed doors later.
“Jai and Ari will stay with my family.” Michael turned to Charlie. “Jack says you’re welcome to stay in his home with him, Charlie.”
“Great.” Charlie smiled and then winked at Ari. “Fresh start, bestie.”
Ari laughed. “You know, for someone who almost died yesterday, you’re in an exceptionally good mood.”
“I escaped the jaws of death. It does something to a guy.”
Jai grunted, and Ari noticed how suspiciously he eyed Charlie. “Yeah, well, let’s hope that something hasn’t made you any stupider.”
Charlie flipped him the bird, causing Jai to mutter under his breath about immature kids and death wishes. A tight ball of anxiety developed in Ari’s stomach. Charlie was chipper because he still hadn’t given up on his revenge? That’s what Jai thought, right?
“Interesting,” Michael murmured, his gaze flicking between Jai and Charlie.
Fallon waved her father’s interest off. “They’re like this all the time. Don’t be put off by it. It’s actually quite entertaining.”
“It’s a headache,” Ari growled. “So quit it.”
Charlie held his hands up in defense. “Hey, I did nothing.”
“Yet.” Jai cocked an arrogant eyebrow at him.
Jai, Ari admonished, her need to believe in Charlie smothering her instincts, you know what it’s like to have no one believe in you. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
He shook his head. You’re setting yourself up for a fall. I don’t want you hurt.
Look, let’s just give him a chance to fall in love with the Guild. If he’s happy, he might not want to jeopardize his new life.
How can you still be such an optimist? He asked in amazement.
Ari wrinkled her nose. You make me sound naive. I’m not naive. I’m… hopeful.
“What are they doing?” Michael asked.
“Oh, they’re talking telepathically,” Fallon answered. “They do that a lot.”
“Yeah, it’s annoying,” Charlie added.
Ari flipped him the bird.
Michael groaned. “Why do I feel like I’ve just adopted another Fallon Roe? One is enough.”
Laughing, Ari shared an affectionate smile with Fallon. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
A while later, after being introduced to Fallon’s mother, Caroline, and shown to the room across the hall from Fallon’s, Ari finished washing up and quietly took the stairs down to the second floor of the large house Fallon had been raised in. Jai was staying in the guest bedroom, along from Michael and Caroline’s suite. Dinner awaited them, but Ari wanted to see Jai alone. They hadn’t been alone since what happened at Luca’s.
He opened the door at her telepathic message to let her in, and Ari lost her breath.
How could he still do that to her? She saw him every day. But those eyes, so green and beautiful with their dark lashes, contradicted the chiseled jaw-line and cheekbones, and the sulky hardened pout of his mouth. He was loyal, handsome, powerful, and mature. Well, when Charlie wasn’t in the vicinity. Sure, he wasn’t the chatty type, but everything was in Jai’s actions. He was good. He was good and true, and she trusted him like she trusted no one else. Every time—every time—she looked at him… yeah… he took her breath away.
She smiled a little tremulously, suddenly overwhelmed by the depth of her feeling for him. “I just wanted to check in before dinner. I haven’t felt Ms. Maggie yet and I’m a little worried.”
“I wouldn’t be. She’ll turn up. Maybe you could get her to show herself this time.”
“I am getting curious about her.”
“Finally.”
At his dry tone, Ari shifted uncomfortably. “We’re okay, right?”
Checking the hall to make sure they were alone, Jai took her hand and led her inside. His room was bigger than hers. So was the bed.
Hmm.
Jai put his hands on her shoulders. He stood so close she had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. “What happened with Yasmin? I mean, I know what happened, but why couldn’t you control it this time?”
Bowing her head in mortification and shame, Ari sighed. “I don’t know. It was like this time I got angry so quickly I didn’t have time to feel the darkness take over. One minute I was me and the next the seal was controlling me.”
“Why?”
Ari made a face at him, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. “Because it was you.”
He scowled. “What does that mean?”
“My emotions are little high-strung right now, okay… because of you. And she was saying all these things about you, about us… I wanted to hurt her because they all hurt you and I guess the seal used that against me or something. I don’t know, Jai, I don’t know how it works. How can the seal be like a sentient being, you know?”
Trembling, Ari sunk into Jai’s solid embrace as he cupped her cheeks in his large hands and kissed her forehead. “I don’t know,” he murmured. “Maybe we should think about training you. Sparking triggers and training you to push the seal back down.”
“Do you think that’ll work?”
“It’s worth a try. Right?”
Sliding her arms around his waist and sinking into his embrace as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, Ari nodded. “Yeah. I don’t want to feel that way again. Or have you feel that way about me again.”
Moving her gently back, Jai frowned at her. “Feel what way?”
“You were… mad. Disappointed.”
“No. I was upset. I don’t like feeling helpless, and not knowing how to help you makes me feel like crap, okay.”
“Really?” Ari asked doubtfully. “‘Cause, you kind of had your scary, don’t talk to me, don’t even look at me, thing going on when it happened.”
“That’s my helpless face.”
“Oh. It looks a lot like rage.”
“Yeah, I only have three expressions. Blank. Pissed. And polite boredom.”
Ari laughed and he smiled at her. Self-deprecation was something she hadn’t seen on him before. She liked she was seeing a side to him she suspected only Trey knew existed. “Well, I balance you out, so don’t worry about it. I’ve been told my face is an open book.”
“I don’t know.” Jai shook his head as he tucked her hair behind her ear and stroked her waist with his other hand. “Not so much anymore. Sometimes I’d love to know what you’re thinking.”
Grinning flirtatiously, Ari stepped into him until there wasn't an inch of space between their bodies. “Can you guess what I’m thinking now?”
In answer, Jai gripped her nape and pulled her up to meet his mouth, his movement fast and rough, his kiss overwhelming. Tingles of excitement shot through Ari as she parted her lips to let his tongue touch hers. The kiss deepened and he groaned into her mouth, and as the vibration of it buzzed through her body, lust fogged her brain. Ari’s leg climbing Jai’s hip, his hands on her hips keeping her tight to him, their breaths mingling as they remembered the night before and all the possibilities ahead of them. It wasn’t until Ari reached under Jai’s shirt, tickling her hands along the waist of his jeans that sense seemed to come back to him and he broke the kiss, panting heavily.
Ari’s shallow breaths whispered across his mouth. She felt dizzy and disorientated, her eyes unfocused. Whoa. “You stopped,” she muttered in disappointment.
“Yeah,” he chuckled hoarsely, gently pushing her away from him. “Because we have dinner to go to and I don’t want everyone to know what my client does to my body.”
Laughing at his physical predicament, Ari took a step back. “I see. Well, if it’s any consolation, your girlfriend likes what she does to your body.” With a cocky smile that smoothed Jai’s scowl, Ari sauntered to the door. “I’ll leave you alone to cool off. See you at dinner.”
“You’re learning too fast,” Jai grumbled.
Ari stopped halfway out of the door. “Learning what too fast?”
His frown transformed into a wickedly sexy smile. “How to drive me crazy.”
Grinning, Ari shrugged. “It’s only fair. You drove me crazy for days, sleeping on my floor, sometimes without a shirt on. It was torture and I intend to take my vengeance.” Feeling lighter than she had fifteen minutes ago, Ari left Jai staring sensually after her and took a few smug steps down the hallway before she stopped, placing a hand over her racing heartbeat.
Maybe she needed a few seconds to cool down, too.
Chapter
Nine
Giving the Pawn a Name Makes the Game a Little Harder
“I asked you to protect her as much as you could. Not encourage her to seek danger by becoming a hunter.”
Red glared, her admonishment raising his hackles. “You forget yourself.”
Scoffing, the beauty flipped her dark hair over her shoulder and eyed him unafraid. “Don’t use that tone with me, Red. You and I are past that.”
“Then don’t accuse me of putting Ari in danger. You’re being overprotective, Ms. Maggie.”
She scowled at the nickname. “Are you sure this isn't part of your father’s twisted plans? Like his plans for Charlie. Fruitless plans.” She laughed bitterly.
“Not fruitless. He still plans for Charlie to kill the labartu. As we speak, Glass is tracking the jinn so he can lead Charlie to it.”
“So Azazil kills Charlie and puts Ari forward as a hunter… to die too? What is the meaning of this? What does he want?”
Trying to rein in his anger, Red turned his back on her and stared into the flames in his fireplace. Despite everything that had happened, she could still make him feel more than anyone else in this world. Speaking slowly, calmly, Red replied, “Azazil has nothing to do with this. I did this for Ari.”
“Ari doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s just a child! And after that trial, they are all curious about her. Questions have been raised. The old rumors about the seal are resurfacing and it won’t be long before they come after her.” She cursed vehemently. “I wish I could trust that you care enough about her to put her first… like you put me first.”
“You can’t.” Red whirled around, eyes blazing. “I can’t even trust that of myself.” At the sad despair of her expression, Red desperately wanted to reach for her. Instead, he shook his head. “I… you care about her. You do. And you’re strong. Go to her. Protect her.”
Stunned, she took a tentative step toward him. “You said you didn’t want me putting myself in danger. You practically forbade it if I remember correctly.”
“Yes, well…” Feeling his throat close with emotion at the thought of anything happening to her, Red couldn’t meet her gaze. “I’m beginning to understand your need to protect Ari. I won’t hold you back from that anymore. You would only resent me if something happened to her.”
“Red…” she whispered in longing.
He glanced up sharply, desperate to be rid of her before she broke his tight control. “But remember, I will never forgive you if something happens to you… so stay hidden and only intervene if you absolutely must.”
She smiled sweetly, seductively. “Of course. I’m not suicidal, my love.”
A harsh wind tore through the State of Zubair, the land in which the White King ruled on Mount Qaf. Fabric snapped inward from his balcony as the icy torrent tried to blast its way inside, seeking any warmth it found to snuff it out in cruel triumph. White stared out at the balcony from his seat near the empty fireplace in his bedroom. The wind would find no warmth here—only a companion who understood its desperation and felt none of its brutal cold.
“She has taken you by surprise, Master,” Rabir murmured carefully from the corner of the room.
White glanced up at his servant, his expression bland and calm despite his inner storm. “Ari changed the game.”
“I was certain the blackmail would have worked, Master.”
“Oh, it would have. However, she no longer intends to let her affection for the people in her life rule her actions. My daughter has more of me in her than I anticipated.”
“So what now, Master? I fear we no longer have time to take it slowly. The trial has resurfaced the old rumors. Your people have grown curious and I fear what they may unearth. I fear they may seek Ari out before you have her in your grasp.”
