“Are you really arrogant enough to believe we can win against Azazil and my brothers? Not to mention your brother?”
“Having doubts, my love?” She smirked at him but inside felt a prickle of hurt at his lack of belief in her.
“No. But if what Red told me is true about you attempting to maim Glass, you couldn’t withstand a fight with the two of them. You couldn’t withstand a fight with Azazil.”
“I’m stronger now, thanks to your father. I have within me the power of the Seal. We just need in and then I can command Azazil and your brothers to their knees.” She sighed heavily and gazed back up at the darkening sky. “However, you are right. First we need to get in.
We need more power.”
“You have some of the most powerful Marids in existence in this army, including many lesser Royals you’ve commanded obeisance from, many of whom will be mortified to discover they were part of their Sultan’s downfall when this is over.”
“I don’t remember you being this taxing.” Lilif shot her son an irritated look. She then turned to stare at the Jinn who were guiding their natural magic to pulse against the barrier. Sparks of ember floated all around them. And yet, it wasn’t enough. They needed more …they needed …
Lilif shot a look at White. There was one lesser Royal who wasn’t there with them. One lesser Royal who, although brand new, Lilif knew from personal experience was exceptionally powerful in her own right. The thought quickly gained speed and Lilif decided she liked the idea greatly. The girl was strong and spirited and Lilif had a genuine liking for her. It would be a mark of great pride if she could talk the girl into joining her. She gestured to the army with a triumphant smile twitching her pretty lips. “Let them rest until I return.”
White frowned. “Off to find more recruits?”
She shook her head. “Just one.”
As White watched his mother leave, an unwelcome feeling settled over him as he deduced who she was going after. He wouldn’t call that feeling guilt … no, not quite. But whatever it was, he found himself using more of his energy to yell a warning Red’s way.
***
Ari was not going to lie. An assignment in a creepy graveyard wasn’t really doing it for her. She’d faced some of the most dangerous beings on the planet, and yet the graveyard freaked her out. The creaking trees, the low winter sun through their gnarled branches, the soft wind whistling unintelligible words that every now and then actually sounded like her name.
Where the hell was this Edimmu?
“A Guild Hunter on her lonesome?”
Ari spun around at the hoarse voice.
Her eyebrows rose at the sight of the Jinn lying atop a large tombstone.
Smaller than the average man, the Utukku was positioned rather casually, one knee bent, elbow cocked to support his head as he grinned at her with black, razor-sharp teeth held in place by pink and black gums. His limbs were long and thin and he had a scaly, muddy green, skin that contrasted sharply with his blinking, wide yellow eyes and the baby-fine blond hair on his head. “I am Mirza the Great.” He studied his long, sharp black fingernails as if bored.
Keeping in mind Jai’s advice not to play around with this little creep, Ari concentrated on the curse Trey and Jai had been helping her work on. It was deadly, meant to be used when a weapon or defensive magic was a nonissue. It was all about channeling her natural magic and using it to change small elements of the reality around her. This kind of magic was called a curse for a reason—it messed with the balance in the tiniest ways. Ari hadn’t liked the sound of that but, as Jai so logically pointed out, killing with a knife or gun messed with the balance too.
Mirza had only a second to sense the strong build-up of power before Ari let it loose and guided it to her target. She felt it make contact with Mirza. The Utukku froze as though someone had hit his pause button. Narrowing her eyes and feeling the magic tug a little unpleasantly, Ari forced it to finish the job, watching with a sick feeling as black cracks appeared all over the Utukku’s body, widening incrementally until, at last, they exploded into shimmering black dust.
Exhausted, Ari immediately drew the magic back inside of her, wiping a shaking hand across her sweaty forehead. She felt a dark hollowness inside, just as she’d felt when she’d killed the Qarin.
The Utukku was her second kill, and it hadn’t been any easier. Truthfully, she’d be worried if the day ever came when it was.
An awesome wave of power hit Ari in the back causing her to stumble, and she whirled around, her subconscious telling her it was Asmodeus. His energy was almost as crazy impactful as Azazil’s and the Jinn kings, but not quite.
But it wasn’t Asmodeus who made her knees buckle and her heart jump into her throat.
Lilif.
The ancient being stood before her looking no more than a few years older than Ari. Long, dark curls fell down her back, shining in the early winter sun. She’d forgone modern dress and had styled herself in the sexy, Greek goddess look she apparently favored.
Now that Ari had time to study her energy, it was so clear it wasn’t Asmodeus’s. Lilif’s energy was off. It pulsed in frantic, defragmented waves of emotions that suggested the Jinn was one cuckoo short of a nest. As if Ari didn’t know that already.
Lilif took a tentative step toward Ari, her hand held up in petition. “Before you say anything, let me speak.” Her voice was surprisingly soft, as was her gaze.
Ari stared at her silently, her head telling her to disappear into the Peripatos before her curiosity got the better of her.
“I’ve been inside you, Ari. I’ve lived in this world through you. I’ve seen it the way you see it. I’ve tried to understand why you’d want to save it. I have. I promise. And in the end, I realized that we are not so different.”
“We’re not?” Ari asked incredulously, surprised she’d finally found her voice.
Lilif shook her head, her curls bouncing around her shoulders. “We’re not really a part of the world. The world to us, our world, happens to be the people we love. They are our world. For you, it is Jai. For me, it is my Jinn, my equals.” Her eyes narrowed, darkened by her thoughts. “The Jinn should never have become mixed up in human business.
It was disastrous for us. It is disastrous for us. Look at you and that boy Charlie. What a mess he made of things for you. And yet still you saved him. Just like I saved thousands of humans in wars that killed my people.”
Bitterness sharpened her features. “Humans have raped and plundered their earth, their arrogance proclaiming superiority over all other creatures. It is time to show them the truth: we are the superior beings and we are going to undo their mar upon this world.”
Ari had no words. What could you say in the face of irrational insanity?
“Don’t look at me that way, Ari. I know you understand my pain. I know you’ve seen my memories and how much I’ve lost. I also know you’re kind and compassionate and loyal. I am not so cruel that I do not admire those characteristics. Especially in a friend. I could use a friend like you, Ari. And I promise that if you come to me, if you stand by my side and help me take down Azazil and my sons, I will protect you and your Jai. I will lead you into The After.”
Trembling, Ari took a step back, preparing to leave. “It’s never going to happen. Never.”
“Ari—”
“Go—” Before Ari could say another word, her stomach dropped as she was lifted with invisible hands and thrown through the air. She crashed against the nearest tree, the wind knocked out of her upon impact. Her arms were spread-eagled and pinned in place. She struggled against Lilif’s hold as the Jinn casually strolled toward her, her chin tilted so she could meet Ari’s gaze.
Frustration and fear of being under Lilif’s command tore through Ari in a scream, and she smashed through Lilif’s hold on her left arm before beginning work on her right.
“Impressive,” Lilif murmured.
“Exactly why I need you. I’m guessin—” She tut-tutted as Ari worked her righ
t fingers loose. “Stop that, Ari.”
“Bite me, you evil succubus,” Ari growled and sent a bolt of ember out of her left hand against her right wrist.
She dropped to the ground, rolling as Jai had trained her to do. As she came back up, she sent a wave of defensive magic toward Lilif, only to have the viper blast it back and knock Ari off her feet before she could summon the Peripatos.
The wind blew harder around them as Lilif’s dark eyes sparked with a terrible fire. “I command you, Ari Johnson. I command you to my army.” She came to a triumphant stop at Ari’s feet and stared down at her haughtily.
For a moment Ari just stared up at her, waiting for the compulsion to seize her. It didn’t.
What the …
Of course.
When Asmodeus tried to force a kiss from her using the power of the Seal, it hadn’t worked.
He took hold of her left arm in a bruising grip, pulling her body into his. “How is it possible?” he breathed angrily. “How can you withstand the command of the Seal?”
“Maybe the same way you can,” she countered aggressively, hating him in that moment and longing to be far, far away from him. She longed to be near Jai’s comforting, protective presence.
“You had the Seal around your neck for centuries and I had it inside me for eighteen years. Go figure.”
She and Asmodeus were immune to it.
Eyes bright with newfound hope, Ari rose to her feet to gaze up into Lilif’s smug face. Summoning the Peripatos and feeling somewhat smug herself, Ari curled her lip in derision as the flames surrounded her. “Rot in hell.”
Lilif’s piercing scream caused her to flinch as her lightning-quick hand wrenched Ari out of the Peripatos.
Fear gripped her. She’d never encountered anyone who could move that quickly.
Lilif curled her fingers around Ari’s throat and pulled her close. “Not so fast, granddaughter.”
***
“You cannot leave,” Azazil shook his head at Red.
“If Lilif goes after Ari, she might be able to use her to break the protection spell around the palace.”
“Exactly,” Red growled. “Which is why I have to help her.”
Six of the Jinn kings, Azazil, and Asmodeus were gathered in Azazil’s favorite parlor. Azazil was back to his full strength and back to making absolutely no sense.
Asmodeus crossed his arms over his chest. His mood had been black for days, and Red could only guess Lilif’s return was pricking some very painful memories for her twin. “Why do I get the feeling that you are enjoying this, Your Highness?”
Red shot his father a disbelieving look. “You cannot be. Even you must realize that Lilif’s return as the Seal is the greatest threat we’ve faced. This is not a laughing matter, Father, or something to appease your boredom.”
The Sultan drew him a low-lidded, unimpressed look. “Well, of course not.” And then he grinned, flashing his white teeth in amusement. “But one must admit, it is the most exciting event to happen in a long time.”
Hearing Glass’s groan of disbelief behind him, Red thanked Mount Qaf once again that he at least had one sane member of the family to count on. “I’m going after Ari. I can’t leave her to Lilif.”
Azazil took a sharp step toward him. “If you go after that girl, you are directly disobeying me.”
Loyalty to his father warred with the promise he’d made to Sala to always protect Ari. If there was one thing the Red King prided himself on, it was his sense of honor. And that honor, that honor he had pledged to his father and his lover, were now at war. A quick decision had to be made and he knew whichever one it was, it would cut him in some way.
Although his stomach churned and his heart pounded as he did so, Red finally gave his father a bow of his head as he summoned the Peripatos. “Then I’m directly disobeying you.”
***
Ari wheezed for air as Lilif straddled her, pinning her to the ground as she squeezed her hand around Ari’s throat. Determined not to go down without a fight, Ari threw her hand up and smacked the heel of her palm against Lilif’s nose. The crack was almost silenced by Lilif’s furious shriek. Her grip on Ari loosened and Ari blasted the witch with her defensive ember, knocking her off. She was clambering to her own feet when Lilif forced her back onto her ass, an ice-cold enchantment crawling up Ari’s legs and prickling painfully into her skin, trying to wedge itself into her blood.
Ari imagined the sun growing closer and brighter and hotter and the ice enchantment melted into oblivion. Her victory was cut short as Lilif pounced on her again like an enraged cat, her claws out as she slashed at Ari’s face.
And then suddenly, she was flying over Ari’s head as if a gust of wind had blown her off.
Ari sat up, fear lodged in her throat. Not a gust of wind.
It was Red.
What the hell was he doing here?
NO!
She whipped around in time to see Lilif rise to her feet and adjust her dress. A shocked but pleased smile widened her mouth. “I never realized you were such a fool, Son.”
Red, get out of here!
Red shook his head, his bright hair swinging across his back. He looked every inch the badass as he strode casually toward his mother. “Ari is under my protection.”
“Oh, really.” Lilif’s eyes flashed dangerously, as though she did not like that one bit. Ari remembered that the Sultana had never really been keen on her sons showing affection to anyone who wasn’t her. “Is her life worth yours?” The air around Lilif changed in a way Ari recognized, the colors of her growing more vivid. She was drawing on the Seal.
Not knowing what possessed her to do so, other than the instinct to protect her uncle, Ari jumped from the grass and as Lilif uttered the words, “I command you—”, Ari launched herself at Red, her magic flaring around them like a shield. She felt the command meant for Red bounce right off.
For a second she lay on top of her uncle, staring into his astonished eyes.
“What just—”
Go!
Ari demanded. I can handle her. I’m immune to the Seal.
Realization dawned in his eyes and with a reluctant nod, he disappeared. Ari smacked into the ground with a painful grunt.
“You do realize that I will have to kill you now,” Lilif hissed, and Ari flipped over to find the wench striding casually toward her. “Not only are you immune to the Seal but you can protect others from it. I am—how is it you young people say today?—pissed.
Despite what you think, I do not like to kill my own people. You’re forcing me to this.”
Knowing Lilif was no longer playing and that whatever was coming next would be the end of her, Ari drew everything she had left and expelled her curse magic, guiding it toward Lilif. Somewhere in the space between them, it hit a wall.
That wall was Lilif’s magic.
Sparks of ember shot out of the point of impact as sweat rolled down Ari’s forehead. Her arms and legs shook with the effort to maintain the force of the attack, and to Ari’s utter delight, Lilif’s face began to grow strained. She saw confusion and uncertainty flicker in the Ifrit’s eyes and Ari decided to play on it. Sometimes, when the physical left you, all you had was the psychological, and sometimes, especially on psychos, it was a better defense than any.
Did you really think this would be easy? she asked Lilif with a quiet confidence. The Sultana flinched. I’m the daughter of a Jinn king. If I go down, I’m taking you with me.
As her muscles screamed and her blood caught fire with the pain of the fight, Ari could only hope the Ifrit bought her bluff.
With a howl of outrage, and a warning that it wasn’t over between them, flames surrounded Lilif and she disappeared into the Peripatos, leaving Ari a panting mess on the mulch.
“Guess she bought it,” she puffed out, rolling inelegantly onto her knees. She stood, reaching for a tree to catch her before she fell and felt eyes on her. She darted a look over her shoulder.
She froze at the sight
of an old maintenance guy. His expression was curious rather than horrified, so she was guessing he hadn’t caught the battle between her and crazy succubus bitch.
Instead his wrinkled eyes darted over her appearance. Ari glanced down at the mud and grass all over her.
“You all right there?” he asked quietly.
With a sigh, Ari gave him a weak wave. “Just doing some yoga.” And limping—from a yoga injury, of course—she attempted to hurry away from him, coming to a stop when he was finally out of sight. Nausea rolled over her as she exerted more energy to summon the Peripatos, but Ari persevered and let the welcome flames take her home.
She collapsed as soon as she reached Michael Creagh’s study, Michael’s curse filling the office seconds before he shouted to Caroline and Fallon for help.
His strong arms lifted Ari into an armchair, his dark eyes roaming her face in deep concern. “What happened?” he asked anxiously.
The door slammed open and Fallon and Caroline hurried in. Caroline took in Ari’s appearance and immediately, her lips pinched together. “What the hell happened?”
Fallon gave her a sympathetic once-over.
“Dude, you look like crap.”
Ignoring Fallon’s comment, Ari related the events of the last hour (it had felt like a century) and watched the color leach from their faces.
Fallon glanced at her father, her eyes searching his for an answer. “What does this mean?”
When he didn’t answer, and Ari suspected he’d already clued in, Ari sat up straight, wincing at the pain emanating from every part of her body. “It means,” she drew in a deep breath, trying to ignore the sick, churning feeling in her gut, “it means I’m in this again. Lilif knows I can withstand her command and protect those around me from it. She also knows, or at least thinks, I can’t be taken out easily. She’ll be gunning for me, make no mistake, and since I’m one of only two people who can withstand her command …” Ari let her head flop against the armchair as her eyes hardened with the thought of the task ahead, “I’m going to have to be gunning for her first.”
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