“Nothing actually made it into the oven.”
He dipped his hand into the bowl and took a mouthful. “It’s good like this.”
I cleaned up, and he studied the window on the back door.
“Where’d you get all the glass?” He waved his hand to the stained glass window made of two bluebirds sitting on a branch. Another one with cardinals hung over the sink.
“Gran made those. I make some too, but none of them are in our house.”
Dylan raised his eyebrows. “You can make that?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow, you must be talented.”
I shrugged. I heard it before, but I still loved showing off. “You wanna see what I do?”
“I’d love to.”
Soft music played in the workshop. Gran must’ve forgotten to turn it off.
Dylan stood a little too close as I showed him the different pieces. It should have made me uneasy, but it didn’t. There was something oddly comfortable about him, but not in a romantic way. I hadn’t really had many guy friends when Kole and I were together.
He leaned up against the table and held up a piece to the light. “What do you do with them all?”
“We have a booth at the Glittering Goddess.”
“Can you show me how to do this?”
“Sure. But probably not today. We got that chem project.”
He chuckled. “Oh yeah. That.”
“I thought you were the studious one,” I said.
“Normally I am. You distracted me.”
He brushed a hair out of my face, and I took a step back, my stomach twisting. “We should go.”
He sighed and dropped his hand. “Yeah, we should. You ever hear from your boyfriend?”
“He came over last night. He’s not going to school right now.”
“Why?” Dylan wandered around the shop, not looking at me.
“That’s his business.” Something was off about this conversation, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Like Dylan was too interested in what Gabe was up to.
He frowned and met my eyes. “Sorry. I was just curious.”
We went inside, and I opened the chemistry book, but then Dylan started asking me about my trips with Ty, and zero got done.
So much for getting a head start on the project.
Chapter 12
Gabe
Ali poked his head in my room, and I startled awake. I must’ve fallen asleep. A few books fell to the floor. They’d all been useless.
“How was Liv?” I asked, clenching my fist. Some prick showed up at her house after school. It’d taken every ounce of self-control I had not to appear in her kitchen and kick him out.
“Fine. Find anything?” Ali picked up one of the books and thumbed through it.
“No. This is pointless. I need to be out there hunting him.”
Ali jerked his head up. “That would be stupid. He doesn’t even know you’re in town yet. You need to stay put.”
I didn’t want to stay put. I looked at the clock. It was nearly eleven. “You were out late.”
“Yeah, I was getting in touch with a few of my contacts. No one knows much about Djinn.”
I rubbed my face. “I know. Samir was the only one, and he didn’t let go of his secrets.” We were never going to find anything if nobody knew about the Djinn in the first place.
Ali sank down on my bed just as the pull to go to Liv came.
“Gotta go,” I said and disappeared. I caught a scowl from Ali, but I didn’t really care. It wasn’t like we were getting anywhere.
Cats surrounded Liv on her bed. They were curled up in balls so her bed looked like rolling hills. My heart swelled looking at her. How could I have ever thought I wanted to take her life force? I shuddered at the thought. If she died, I’d be lost.
Even if I stayed away from Liv, Samir might figure out I’m her Jinn. Before he showed up, it wasn’t exactly a secret.
Liv’s face lit up, and she jumped off the bed and threw her arms around me, her body warm against mine.
“I missed you today. I don’t like this,” she mumbled into my shoulder.
I held her close. “Me either.” Maybe we could find another way to deal with this so we didn’t have to hide. I could take her somewhere safe and then come back and search for him.
She pulled away, searching my eyes. “How much longer do you have to hide?”
“I don’t know.” I wished I had better answers for her, but until we figured out how to take out Samir, I was stuck. I thought about asking her about running away, but she’d never go for it. Her family and friends were too important.
She sank onto her bed, and I leaned up against her desk and gripped the edges. “Who was here today?”
“You mean Dylan?”
I crossed my arms and clenched my teeth. Jealousy coursed through my veins. I was being irrational, but it didn’t matter.
“Is that his name?” The words came out harsher than I intended.
She gave me a crooked grin. “Are you jealous?” Her eyes danced.
“No.”
Her grin widened, and she giggled. “You are. It looks cute on you. But no worries, he’s just a friend. We’re working on a chem project together, so he’ll be coming back to finish it.”
“After the project, he won’t be coming over anymore?” I crossed my arms, trying to rein in my jealousy. There was no reason for me to be like this. Liv should be able to have friends that were guys.
She stood and ran her fingers lightly along my arms. “Don’t be jealous. Kole was ornery about things and wouldn’t let me have guy friends. Dylan is harmless. I promise.”
I stretched my arms up and put my hands behind my head. I couldn’t think with her touching me. I didn’t want to be like Kole, but the anger that coursed through me when I saw her with Dylan this afternoon was difficult to control. Still was.
“I’m not crazy about it, but you are allowed to be friends with whomever you like.” What I meant was, “Never see that prick again.”
She wrapped her arms around me and blinked. “Thank you for being reasonable. I do have a favor though.”
“A wish? You’ve been lacking in those lately.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Have I? Fine. I want a kiss.”
She leaned up. The door flew open, and I disappeared into the closet to avoid being seen.
Liv spun around. “Gran. What’s up?”
The old woman handed her a stack of clothes and retreated out of the room. If she kept doing that, Liv and I would never kiss again. Maybe that was the point.
Liv pushed the door closed and giggled. “Sorry about that. Gran has impeccable timing.”
She dropped onto her bed and crossed her legs. “I have a real wish.”
I joined her. “What’s that?” Damn grandma.
“Can you make it so that Kole can’t get a girl until after he graduates?”
I chuckled. I needed to be careful that I never hurt her.
“Sure. I could make it permanent if you want.”
“I thought about that, but maybe that’s too mean.”
“You’re too nice.”
“I know.”
It took me a second to figure out how to best grant the wish so it wouldn’t be too much for Liv. After I granted the wish, she winced.
“Sorry,” I said.
She shook her head. “Worth it. I knew the price.”
We talked for hours, but at two a.m., I knew I needed to return home, so I sang her Arabic lullabies until she fell asleep in my arms.
Back and my room and unable to sleep, I paced around for a while, glaring at the scattered books. They’d failed me.
I needed a run.
I beat the familiar path down the beach trying to clear my head, the sound of the waves comforting me. I ran for at least a couple of hours, but I still wasn’t tired, so I took the long way home, weaving through back alleys. I turned a corner and a lone figure leaned against a brick building. A very familiar figure.
Samir h
adn’t changed since I’d last seen him three thousand years ago. His hair was still stringy and long. He stared at me with his beady eyes, an arrogant smirk on his face. I remember when he used to attract all the women with his looks, before he used the spell to avoid the goddesses.
“I never imagined I’d meet you here.” He stalked toward me.
“Samir.”
“I thought I’d be stuck in my vessel forever after you betrayed me.” He scowled. “What’s a few thousand years though, in the grand scheme of things?”
I should kill him, but how? Was it possible? Maybe, but I needed to know what he knew about Liv. I didn’t care what he did to me as long as he left her alone.
I could rip his heart out, but what if it didn’t work? Then he’d know what I’d become. He wouldn’t rest until I was dead. He had the advantage of thousands of years of being a Djinn. I didn’t.
“This town’s not big enough for two Djinn. Why don’t you get your vessel into the hands of a traveling woman and go back to the other side of the world?” I stepped away, giving him space to leave.
He closed the distance and got right into my personal space. Every fiber of my being itched to move back, but I stood my ground. I hadn’t planned on running into him.
Smoke rose from his skin as he sneered. “You really think I’m going to go away? You will pay for what you did, and by the time I’m done with you, you’ll beg for death. And I’ll happily oblige, but not until you beg.”
With a flash, he disappeared. I felt like a fool for letting him go, but what was I going to do?
I knew Samir better than anyone. We used to be the best of friends. Sometimes I missed that. The good memories I had of him were different than who he’d become. His change was so gradual. I should’ve seen it. But I didn’t want to. Samir and I had a good thing going. We lived the lives of kings.
But now I knew who he really was, and he liked to play with his victims and torture them. Some of his favorite games involved hurting those that his victims loved. I’d helped him. Shame flooded my veins. Liv would be horrified if she learned all the things I’d done.
I shuffled home. I only loved one person, and Samir would find her soon enough. He would torture her and make me watch, and in the end he’d kill her.
I stopped in front of her house and stared at her window for a minute. I couldn’t continue to put her at risk. My presence anywhere near her would ensure that Samir would find her.
I had to release her. Move on and lure Samir away from her.
I had no choice.
But my heart broke. Never before had I known what love was.
And I never would again.
I’d love her forever.
Chapter 13
Liv
I bounded down the stairs. This was going to be a good day. I could tell. I didn’t have a clue what time Gabe left last night, but I fell asleep in his arms. We’d only been together a month, but it felt like a lifetime. Was this love?
I wanted today to go by fast because I had plans for tonight. Kissing plans, which included locking my door to keep Gran from barging in.
I traipsed into the kitchen and checked out Ty. Despite Nora’s advice, I was too angry to speak to him yet.
I sat down across from him, and Gran set an omelet in front of me. Ty picked at his food and drummed his fingers on the table.
“Do you have any plans for your birthday?” Ty asked, meeting my gaze.
I took a bite of my omelet, the gooey cheese burning my tongue. Gran flicked her eyes between the two of us.
I lowered my eyes and smiled at Gran. “This is excellent. Thanks.”
“This is stupid. Quit behaving like you are five years old,” Ty spat.
I scrolled through YouTube on my phone, but Ty snatched it out of my hand. I almost yelled but instead clenched my fists and thought for a moment.
“Gran, can you tell Ty to give me my phone back?” Of course she couldn’t, but this way I could talk to Ty without actually talking to him. Immature? Oh yeah. But who cared?
Gran creased her eyebrows and held her hand out. Ha. Gran was on my side.
Ty clutched the phone to his chest. “Grow up, Liv, and stop acting like you know what it’s like in the real world. I can make my own choices, and nothing you say is going to change what I do.”
Those words stung. He could to tell me how to live my life, but I had no say in his? That wasn’t fair.
I stared at my eggs. “Gran, tell Ty that I know more than he thinks, and abandoning his unborn child is irresponsible and stupid.”
Ty stuck his face into mine. “I'm not abandoning anyone. I plan to spend a significant amount of time in Colorado, and I’ll be attending Stacey’s doctor’s appointments with her, but I will not leave you alone.”
I turned my chair and stared at Gran. He was being absurd. I probably was too, but that didn’t matter. I would not back down on this.
“Tell Ty that it’s not the same and that the best birthday present he could ever give me would be to move to Colorado. I’ve never asked him for anything before.” So maybe that was an exaggeration.
Ty stood over me, breathing deeply. He slammed my phone down so hard, I jumped, afraid of him for the first time in my life.
He snarled at me. “Grow up, little sister, or I may never be able to leave you alone.”
He would not break me. Not now.
Ty pushed off the table in a huff and stormed out of the house. I dumped the rest of my omelet in the trash.
I hated being petty, but as upset as I was with Ty, giving him the silent treatment wasn’t the answer. I picked up my phone from the table and inspected it for cracks.
I shrugged on my backpack and sulked all the way to school. Maybe I shouldn’t have started that fight. It was stupid.
I had to make things right with Ty but didn’t know how—especially since I wasn’t backing down. He needed to move to Colorado, so I had to show him I was responsible and able to take care of myself. I’d have to eat crow tonight and apologize. Then I’d find a way to convince him to leave.
Chapter 14
Gabe
I followed Liv and Ali to school. I shouldn’t have. I was being stupid and risky, but I couldn't stand being away from her. I longed to go to her and hold her hand, pull her close, and finally kiss those lips of hers again.
But I wouldn’t. I had to let her go.
She kicked at a rock, and even though I could tell Ali was trying, she never cracked a smile. She would probably be even more upset when she found out I was gone and never coming back.
She walked down the hall, and I leaned against a bank of lockers. I didn’t worry about her seeing me. I didn’t worry about her seeing me because I’d made myself invisible to humans. Ali would see me, but I didn’t really care about that. I wanted to memorize her face so I would never forget her.
Scarlett and Penny approached her, blocking my view. They looked odd with long blonde hair, mismatched clothes, and crazy glasses. Liv spotted them and laughed, and my heart warmed a little. She might be sad for a while, but she’d get over it eventually. I wouldn’t.
I had to release her, but somehow, I couldn’t. The thought of never seeing that smile again or that sparkle in her eye. To never walk her to school or hold her as she fell asleep. It tore my soul apart.
As Djinn, I could easily leave her. I didn’t need a mistress because I could take life force from anyone. She’d be safe.
She turned and walked to class, and I followed her in, watching her from the front of the room. During lunch I sat at a table far from her and just stared. I would release her tonight, but for today, I needed to see her.
Ali sat next to me. “What in hades are you doing here?”
“Watching Liv,” I said without looking at him.
“You’re supposed to be hiding.”
I didn’t take my eyes off her. “It doesn’t matter. Samir found me last night. He knows I’m here. I have to let her go.”
Ali rubbed at his f
ace and let out a breath. “Shit. It’s too late then. It’s just a matter of time before he discovers Liv belongs to you.”
I fiddled with a straw left on the table. “Unless I let her go. I’m leaving. I won’t put her at risk, but I had to see her first. I’ll draw Samir away from here.”
“You need to think this through. Chances are, Samir’s seen you watching her.”
People all around started for the exit. Ali looked up at the clock. “I need to go to class. Go home. Don’t do anything stupid, and we’ll talk about this tonight and figure out what to do.”
Ali left. Stupid. Yeah, I was the king of stupid. Liv and Nora passed right in front of me, and I smelled the ever-present cinnamon that followed her. It was all I could do not to reach for her.
Ali’s words about Liv bothered me all afternoon while I waited for school to be over. The chances that Samir knew the connection between Liv and I was highly likely. I’d been a fool. Even if I didn’t leave, she’d still be in danger, and if I left, I wouldn’t be able to keep her safe.
I simultaneously put her life in danger and kept her safe. How was this possible? Maybe I would wait and talk to Ali and then make my decision. If he was right, then I needed to keep her as close as possible. She’d be safer with me than without.
I waited by the same bank of lockers after school. Liv walked down the hall with Dylan, and I clenched my fists. He was talking animatedly, and she laughed. That kid pissed me off almost as much as Samir. Which was incredibly stupid. How could I even think that? But the way he looked at her. I wasn’t an idiot. Well, maybe I was, but I could tell he was interested in her.
Liv stopped at her locker, and Dylan leaned on the one next to hers, watching her exchange books. Students moved through the halls sometimes obscuring my view, but he wanted her. It was hard to tell if she wanted him or not, but she didn’t seem to be discouraging him.
If I didn’t do something, Liv would land right in the arms of Dylan. Maybe that was my answer. If I had to lose her one way or another, then I was certainly going to choose the way that benefited me the most.
The decision to go to her was dangerously easy. Stupid probably too. But then, when was I ever smart where Liv was concerned?
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