by Liz Schulte
“Yes.” Where was Ezra going with this?
“Would she be willing to go amongst the jinn as a spy?”
“No,” I said immediately.
Ezra nodded, frowning. “I understand it would be distasteful for her, but it would be an invaluable service to our cause.”
“You can’t ask her to do that. She hasn’t even finished her training. She’ll be killed.”
Ezra furrowed his brows. “You know as well as I do, Quintus, the life she has chosen is not her own. She exists to serve the will of the elders. If we wish her to sacrifice herself to save many, then that is what she will do. It is best she hasn’t finished her training. It will make it easier to maintain her cover and if she is caught, she will be able to tell them less.”
“But she is one of you.”
“Yes, and she was sent here out of her time. It must have been for some purpose. Perhaps that purpose is to save us all.”
“So you have decided? Are the rest of the elders in agreement?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Never in all of my time as a guardian had anyone been asked to sacrifice their life. If this was how it was going to be, perhaps it was time for my retirement.
Ezra patted my hand. “I have no reason to believe she will be detected. In all likelihood, she will return home unscathed and save us from a drawn out war with the jinn.”
I had so many thoughts it was hard to speak. This was a horrible idea. “How do you expect her to be accepted amongst them? She can make herself appear human, but she can’t make herself a jinni.”
Ezra shrugged me off. “Many jinn take human girlfriends. Ideally, we would like her with someone of importance—not just any jinn. If she could use a lesser jinni to work her way towards the North American Commander, that would be best.”
It was amazing that my head didn’t explode and my eyes didn’t pop out, or at the very least my heart didn’t stop beating. Did Ezra really say what I thought he said? He wanted Olivia to pretend to be Holden’s girlfriend? There was no way. It wouldn’t be pretend. Once he had his claws in her again, she wouldn’t come back to us. She would stay. Not to mention there would be no undercover. Holden knew exactly what she was.
“What if she doesn’t want to come back once she's there?”
Ezra frowned. “You know full well what it feels like to be around a jinni. No self-respecting guardian would choose them over us. I’m not at all concerned about her switching sides. Do you have a particular reason for this fear?”
“No, just covering all the possible outcomes.” My brain was screaming for me to explain to Ezra why this was monumentally wrong, but my heart wouldn’t allow my mouth to speak. I couldn’t tell him. He would take her away from me.
“I would hardly call that a possible outcome. Anymore concerns?”
Oh God, so many. If he only knew. “You no longer want to try to stop this? You don’t want to keep the stake out going and catch the traitor? Wouldn’t that be better and more valuable than sending a fledgling into a pack of hyenas?”
Ezra sighed. “I understand your concern, but you have yet to produce results. If the tip I received doesn’t pan out, I would prefer to have another plan in action. If the stake out does produce results, then she will not have to continue on her mission.”
“When do you want her to go in?”
“As soon as possible. Time is of the essence. You understand the necessity, don’t you, Quintus?”
“Honestly, no. I cannot understand demanding this sort of sacrifice from anyone.”
“I do not wish to send her into harm’s way either. But I am asking no more of her than I would of anyone else with her abilities. Olivia was given these remarkable gifts—and given to us—for a reason. We must use them to secure our position.”
I couldn’t argue with him anymore, so I nodded.
“Excellent,” he said. “I'll leave it up to you on when and how you present the new mission to her.”
And here I thought it couldn’t get any worse. “Me? You aren’t giving her the mission?”
“The less she knows about us the better.”
I stared at him, disgust seeping from my pores. He wasn’t even going to tell her, and he was protecting himself. Had Ezra always planned to use her in this matter? Was this why he didn’t want me to tell her about our meetings? Why he wanted the weekly reports? I couldn’t stand to look at him any longer.
“Are we done?” I asked, my calm voice sounding foreign to my ears.
“Yes—let me know when she goes in.”
I went back to my apartment to calm down before I returned to the warehouse. But when I got back to the rooftop, I had no words to tell her what they wanted her to do. I saw her earnest face and wanted to cradle it, not convince her to go back to him. I couldn’t accept that outcome. There had to be another way, so I said nothing. I would make results happen tonight. Giving her to the jinn was a last resort, a last straw. I wouldn’t remain a guardian if that was where we headed.
I watched her all afternoon, wanting to know what she was thinking and feeling. Wanting her to tell me she wanted me, not the jinni. He didn’t deserve her. He had done nothing right since she died. He didn’t change. He didn’t try to be a better person. Holden became worse, more infamous for his brutality and calculating, kill-first approach to life. Yet now he was the jinn commander, and he got to have the girl he should have never had a chance with. How was any of this fair? How was it fair she loved him after all he did? How was it fair he haunted her even when she was with me? How was it fair that despite everything I wanted her more than ever?
Olivia seemed as lost in her thoughts as I was. We barely spoke all afternoon. When it came time for her to leave I wanted to draw her to me and kiss her, but I knew she would shy away and get that far off look in her eyes. I watched her go, hoping I would find a way to prevent her future.
The jinn traffic was steadily increasing. Something was going down tonight and a little flutter of hope began in my stomach. Maybe Olivia wouldn’t have to know what they wanted her to do. New round after new round of jinn arrived. I had never seen so many collected to one area. I watched and took notes, looking for familiar faces. One in particular stood out to me. I knew I recognized her face, but couldn’t quite place where I had seen her. Every jinn that arrived stopped to talk with her before she pointed them this way or that. She definitely appeared to be the one in charge, or at least the person organizing whatever this was. She was a pretty blonde jinni in a turtle neck. She seemed very organized and efficient, and so familiar. Where had I seen her before? I knew she hadn't been there in the past couple days. I would have remembered—but I had seen her before.
I watched as jinn carried in crates, boxes, and paint. I needed to see inside the warehouse. They were doing something, but Ezra had been very clear: I was not to interact. They continued as they were well past sunset. Jinn came and went, but no one else. It occurred to me that we’d been operating under a false assumption. We were waiting for the traitor to walk into the warehouse. If the traitor was a guardian, however, he wouldn't walk in from the outside. He would appear inside. I had us watching out here the whole time, while they could have had countless meetings right under my nose.
I needed to see Ezra. I transported to his office. Ezra looked up from his desk, surprised by my sudden appearance.
"I did not summon you, Quintus. I'm very busy."
"There has been movement at the warehouse. They’re doing something big. I’ve never seen so many jinn in one area. You wanted me to keep you informed. I think we need to look inside. Make our move."
“Did you see the traitor?"
"Well, no. I was thinking about that. A guardian wouldn't walk through the door. He’d transport in. We need to see what is going on in there."
"Quintus, what is this really about?"
"I thought we were stopping them."
"We cannot barge into jinn territory without evidence. You know that. If you see the traitor, then we can deal with that
guardian on an individual basis. To barge into their warehouse would be an open act of conflict."
"Who cares about conflict? For crying out loud, they’re killing guardians. Is that not an act of conflict? Open your damn eyes! We’re the only ones playing by the rules. We have to make a stand or they will destroy us."
"This is about Olivia, isn't it? You've become attached?" He folded his hands in front him and gave me a disapproving look.
"This is about them waging war on us, while we sit idly by!"
"Quintus, bring me evidence, and we will move. Until then my hands are tied. Now if you don't mind," he looked at me pointedly, "I am very busy."
"You are a spineless, cowardly bureaucrat who doesn't see what’s happening right before your eyes-"
"That will be enough, Quintus. I strongly suggest you leave now and consider whether or not you wish to remain a guardian. We will speak more later. Goodbye."
"I'll get what you need, but I won't forget this." I left enraged, and transported back to the warehouse.
No sooner did I get there, then I felt Holden's request to speak with me. Rage filled me. I had nothing to converse with him about. He would never get Olivia, and he wouldn't get away with his plot either. I ignored his prayer and moved forward. If Ezra wanted evidence, I’d give him all the evidence he could swallow.
Twenty Nine
Xavier was crowded, hot, and filled with beautiful people. Attracting a jinni in this mess might not be as easy as I hoped. Femi and I were ushered in, past the ever growing line outside. Once we walked through the doors, she nodded to me and disappeared into the sea bodies. I stood back for a moment and took a deep breath, gearing myself up. I could do it. I could be flirty and seductive. It wasn’t completely impossible. Jinn liked me. I nodded to my own absurd thought. Jinn didn’t like anyone.
I smoothed my pristine dress and fluffed my hair before pushing into the mosh pit of a room. I sashayed my way up to the bar and waited for my turn to order. The cute jinni bartender finally made it down to my end of the bar with a crooked grin.
“What can I get you?” he asked, his blue eyes twinkling despite the lack of light in the club.
I started to answer when a drunk barreled into me, shoving me against the bar. I glanced back in annoyance. The man behind me regained his balance, but didn’t remove his hands.
“Did it hurt?” he asked.
“Oh my God, don’t finish that line.” I pointed to my face. “See this face? So not interested.” I removed his hand from my waist and turned back to the bartender, who was watching the interaction looking rather amused. It felt amazing to finally say the things I thought. I’d never done it before. Had I called Ron on his bullshit that night Juliet and I were out, I’d have saved myself the headache of listening to him talk. There was something to be said to honesty. Who knew?
I gave the bartender my own smile. “Enjoying yourself?”
“Oh, immensely. What can I get you? On the house for dealing so well with that.”
“Rum and coke.”
He nodded and began preparing the drink, scanning the bar. When he topped it with a lime, he took the drink in the opposite direction from where I was standing, then bent in close and said something to the guy at the other end of the bar. The man abruptly left his stool and disappeared into the crowd. The bartender looked back at me and beckoned. I pushed my way to the seat he stood in front of and climbed up.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to do that. It was very nice of you.”
“I had ulterior motives.”
“Oh, really?” I asked leaning closer. This game was turning out to be a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I briefly wondered what Femi was doing, and if she was enjoying herself as much as I was.
“If you didn’t have a seat, you might not have stayed at the bar, and I wanted to talk to you.”
“Did I do something wrong?” I ask wide-eyed and innocent.
He laughed, totally buying it. “Besides coming to a bar like this, not at all. How’d you end up here?”
“Oh, I met a new friend today while I was out on a walk. She told me I just had to come here with her tonight, but she seems to have disappeared. I can’t find her anywhere. But it looks like fun, maybe a little crowded, but fun. I bet you love working at a place like this.”
“It has its perks,” he said, letting his eyes roam up and down me in one long sensual stare. “Has anyone else told you, you’re absolutely stunning?”
I look up at him through my eyelashes. “No.”
His hand reached out and trailed lightly down my arm. “Well, you are.” That hollow empty feeling once again washed over me with his touch. I didn’t let myself pull away, though I wanted to. Something about a jinni’s touch just felt wrong.
People all along the bar were trying to get his attention, but he continued to gaze at me. As he poured his energy over me, I knew I was supposed to be enamored and unable to see all of the people staring at us, so I forced my attention to remain on him. Someone pushed up behind me and leaned over the counter, pushing his glass at the bartender. The bartender rolled his eyes and looked at the man.
“What?”
The pushy man stammered as if he didn’t know what to say. I giggled, breaking the tension in the air. “It seems I have distracted you from your job.”
He grinned and filled drink orders, glancing back as he went. I waited patiently for him to come back to me, having no doubt he’d be back. While he was at the other end of the bar, another jinni found his way over to my seat. Apparently, I didn’t need to worry about finding jinn. They were finding me just fine. This one was less cute and more rugged. Mmm, this bar really did have something for everyone . . . .
"Would you like to dance?" Mr. Ruggedly Handsome asked and caressed my thigh. Before I could respond, the bartender was back, looking none too pleased.
"She's fine where she is, Jacob," he growled.
"I don't know, Will. She looks bored to me."
"Why don't we let her decide?" Will said, laying a hand on my arm. I felt them both pouring energy to me, and I wanted to throw up. I felt dirty and vile. Neither of them was even remotely attractive anymore. They both watched me expectantly as if I was supposed to do something other than just keep breathing. Oh right, I had to choose between disgusting and vile. I focused on who felt stronger, and they seemed about even. So I went with the bartender because he seemed a little more sweet and gentle than the other. I looked at him as if he was the only other person in the room, and he gave a dismissive wave to Jacob.
"She doesn't seem bored to me. Leave before the boss finds out you’re causing problems."
"He isn't here tonight."
"He'll be back, and you know how he feels about violence in the club. You know what he'll do to you." Jacob scowled and walked away. Will continued rubbing his hand up and down my arm.
"Your boss sounds scary."
Will laughed. "You don't know the half of it. But he really isn't so bad as long as you play by his rules. He's actually pretty smart. Best thing that could've happened for us really."
"Us?" I asked innocently.
Will cleared his throat. "The club, of course."
Damn, lost him. I brushed my hand down his cheek, lingering at the edge of his mouth. "Do you have a break soon?"
He pressed his inhuman lips against mine. I forced myself to respond and stay relaxed. When he showed no sign of coming up for air anytime soon, I nipped at his lip. He pulled back slightly, his eyes darkened with lust. I moistened my lips with the tip of my tongue. "I could arrange a break," he said, tracing my mouth with his thumb.
"Do," I purred taking his thumb into my mouth for a moment.
Will stood up abruptly and waved to someone to come closer. A female jinni came over, and Will said something to her then came around the bar pulling me into his arms. "Let's get out of here," he said.
"I can't leave my friend," I told him with wide eyes. "Isn't there somewhere we could go here? You said your boss is
gone. Maybe he has an office." I pressed against him suggestively.
"We really shouldn't."
"Why would it be naughty?"
His eyes darkened again. "Very. I bet you're never naughty."
"You'd be surprised," I said over my shoulder as I began walking in the wrong direction. Will pulled my hand.
"This way."
He led me to the stairs Femi had described. I still hadn't seen her at all. Nervous butterflies did the polka in my stomach. Will seemed nice for a jinni, but I wasn't prepared to take this any further than I already had. But given my behavior if Femi didn't show up, I was in trouble. I would have to transport out and blow my cover or compromise my morals. As she had warned me, he took me all the way upstairs and pulled out his keys, opening the door at the top.
The office was large and very clean. I didn't have time to get a good look before he pulled me to him, his mouth leaving a wet trail from my jaw down my neck. His hands loosened to run down my back, and I had a chance to escape. I twirled out of his arms and put the couch between the two of us. Will looked at me with one thing in his eyes.
I shook my finger at him with a teasing smile. "I thought you said it was naughty to be here. Perhaps, you should be punished."
"Oh, you can punish me as much as you like, angel," he said, licking his lips.
I smiled and continued moving him in a circle, praying Femi would show up. Will started to take a step towards me when a hand curled around his neck and sliced his throat in one fluid motion. Blood gushed from the wound, and my stomach heaved. Will’s body crumpled to the floor, and Femi stood behind him, blood dripping from her knife as she surveyed the room.
“That doesn’t look very temporary, Femi!” My hands were shaking, and I felt like I might throw up. I liked Will. I didn’t want her to kill him.
Femi slid her arms under his shoulders and dragged him towards a closet I hadn’t even noticed. “This is temporary. We need enough time to do your search. He’ll heal.”
She went to the sink and searched the cabinets and drawers.