“Oh yeah?” Ardyn stood from the fridge where he searched for the second half of a sandwich he’d been waiting to eat. “What type of rumors?”
“Tyrellis is down for the count and people are saying Cast is the one who did it.” Sitting down at the counter, Graham watched him.
“That makes no sense.” Ardyn spoke with his head in the fridge.
“It does if Sarah got to him,” Graham huffed. “What the hell are you doing? I’m trying to relay important information to you here!”
“I’m looking for my damn sandwich. I put it in here.” He continued shifting things around, the same ten things he’d shifted about twenty times and still hadn’t found what he was looking for.
“Your what?” Graham leaned forward. “While you’re in there, hand me a drink.”
“It was an Italian beef, man, it took forever to conjure that damn thing, and it tastes just like the ones we used to be able to get in Chicago. And it’s gone.” Ardyn tossed a drink to the vampire and went from the fridge to the freezer in hopes that his search there would turn up with better results.
“You mean that greasy thing that was in there?” Graham sipped from the bottle and paused as he caught the angry gleam in Ardyn’s eyes.
“Greasy thing?” Ardyn stood. “What did you do?”
“I thought it was spoiled. I threw it out.”
“You did what?” he slammed the door to the fridge so hard that it bounced back and hit him in the shoulder.
“Sorry, I didn’t think it would be a big thing.” When Ardyn started to growl, Graham realized he needed to diffuse the situation. “Man, you need a nap or something?”
“A nap?” Ardyn growled and his skin took on a green hue. His eyes glowed and he door clutched the handle hard enough to bend the metal.
“Okay, wrong thing to say.” He stood. “Just make another one.”
“It took hours to create the first one.” Ardyn had to pull the sandwich from his memory, he had to think of the flavors that teased his tongue whenever he had one. It had been years since he’d had one made by the old man in his pack. A recipe passed down through one family, one that he missed like hell.
“Hours?” Cocking his head to the side, he looked at the man, and cautiously accessed his condition. “What’s going on that it took you hours to create a sandwich?”
“I’m exhausted, and that flavor is very specific!” Ardyn slammed his fist on the counter. “Fuck, I wanted that!”
“Okay, so take a nap,” Graham suggested again. “You clearly need rest.”
“Whatever.” Defeated, Ardyn waved his hand and a slab of ribs appeared. Graham watched in awe as he inhaled the full slab, then waved his hand and another replaced the one he’d just devoured.
“See. Feel better?”
“It’s not the same,” Ardyn grunted. “But yeah, better.”
“Do you think you can focus enough for me to tell you about what I found out?”
“Yeah, spill.” Ardyn wiped the sauce from his face.
“Cast is with Sarah. That’s not exactly what everyone is saying, but I know it.” Relaxing, he returned to his seat across from the man who appeared to be sane again. “It makes sense. She approached me, I refused, and she went to the next option.”
“Cast is the next option? Is there no one better?”
“No one dumb enough to do what she wants him to do. Besides, something is telling me that she isn’t planning on keeping him employed for long.” Graham gave him a knowing look.
“A play for power.” Ardyn finished off the second plate and a beer replaced the plate. “Doesn’t look like she is taking her time about it either. Good thing we have help coming.”
“Shit, when are they supposed to be here?” Graham had forgotten about the cavalry that was supposed to be coming from the south led in by his hot-headed friend.
“Aw, it sounds like my buddy missed me.” Inda appeared in the entrance. She looked around the space which had changed a lot since she left. “Hey, I like what you’ve done with the place. It’s a lot more hotel than hostel now.”
“Well, it's about damn time you got back here.” Graham ignored the compliment given to Ardyn. “Where’s everyone else? I thought you said you were able to convince them to come.”
“I did. And, thank you for making me feel so damn welcomed!” She rolled her eyes. “I fly halfway across the world to help you and I don’t even get so much as a thank you.”
“Inda, I apologize for his manners.” Ardyn shot Graham a look; the man was always causing problems. “I hope your trip back wasn’t too difficult. Thank you for taking the risk of that journey for us. Are your companions far behind?”
“See, that wasn’t so hard to do!” She stuck her tongue out at Graham and gave Ardyn a hug to exaggerate the moment. “Yes, Ardyn, they’re right behind me. Shouldn’t be long until they arrive. We didn’t want to all come in at once, might look too suspicious if anyone is paying attention.”
“I’m sure Sarah has quite a few eyes out there.” Graham wasn’t fazed by her display. He was still focused on the business at hand. “She suspects that I’ll be making a move on Tyrellis. Even if she isn’t searching for you, her bugs will be watching out for anything out of the ordinary.”
“With the party we have coming, there will be plenty of that.” Inda took a seat at the table covered in maps and jottings from Ardyn’s theories on how to get inside of Tyrellis’ home. “But don’t worry, we were sure to be careful.”
“What’s the crew looking like?” Ardyn joined her at the table and started to gather his things. Most of the stuff seemed incoherent to even him. He didn’t need anyone to see it and start to think he was crazy.
“You know, a few djinn, a dragon or two, a sprinkle of fairies … the standard rescue party.” Inda shrugged as if the collection she just named wasn’t completely outrageous.
“What about Jax?” Ardyn couldn’t help himself. He had to know what came of the dragon. The last they spoke to Inda she told them he had shown up and confronted her.
“Yeah, someone gave him an invite.” Her jaw tightened. “It sure as hell wasn’t me.”
“Good, we can use the fire power.” Ardyn attempted to downplay his interest, but it was too late and the comment about fire power only made matters worse.
“As if any old Dragon wouldn’t do?” Inda pushed away from the table. “Hell, I’m a phoenix, bird of fire!”
“Looks like you just joined me on the shit list.” Graham slapped Ardyn on the shoulder as Inda stomped away from them. She needed a moment to cool off.
“Looks like it, but I bet I get off the list before you do!” Ardyn jabbed his elbow into Graham’s side.
“What’s the wager?” Graham pushed him back. “I’ll take any bet!”
“Oh, boys, hush. We have incoming.” Inda returned to interrupt their building rough housing after a short moment alone.
They turned to see the wall that hid the inside of the tunnel as it began to glow. Whoever was on the other side, was djinn. Inda and Graham were able to get in and out because Ardyn allowed it. Anyone else would have to be accompanied by another djinn. That was how the barrier worked. It read the signature of their magic. If a djinn wasn’t present, anyone else would simply walk into a wall.
“Looks like the first wave has arrived.” Graham perked up. “I wonder who this is.”
The wall temporarily vanished as the familiar magic became the key to unlock the door. The first to appear was Bruto—the large, redheaded djinn—followed by a group that inspired a low hiss and a sneer from Graham. Slithers. Ardyn shot the man a look, but Graham pulled his expression together before he could say anything.
“Now this is nice,” Bruto boasted as the group filed into the space. “I mean, it’s not my ice cave, that’s a masterpiece, but I can get used to this.” Once everyone was inside, the wall solidified again, and they stood staring at the new members awkwardly.
“Inda, you care to make introductions?” Ardyn nudge
d her.
“Yes, sorry. Graham, Ardyn, this is Bruto.” Bruto bowed and winked at Inda in a way that made her stomach flip. She shook off the feeling. “He’s a friend of Jinn. With him is Mike, King of the Slithers, and a few members of his guard.” Mike nodded hello. The other slithers stood in formation behind him. They had been trained by Briar’s fairy guard and were quick studies. It would be hard to tell that just a matter of weeks prior, they were all living in the slums just trying to survive.
“Slithers?” Graham sneered. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Yes, what’s your problem?” Inda shot Graham a warning look. “Get with the times. Slithers are good now. Remember, they helped save the world.”
“Funny, I didn’t hear that part of the story.” Warning or not, Graham didn’t care for the reptilian shifters and he wasn’t about to pretend he liked them.
“Of course not,” Mike grumbled. He was over the idea of trying to convince everyone else that he and his people were trustworthy. The shit never ended.
“Look, you two are going to have to play nicely here. Remember, we have a lady to save!” Inda said sarcastically.
“Let it go, firebird,” Graham poked at her. She’d already talked their ears off about how she felt about Nitara making women look weak. The woman was supposed to be a powerful djinn and yet every time they looked up; a cavalry had to be put together to go save her.
“I’m just saying, this is ridiculous. What will she get into next time? Will we all have to come flying to the rescue to clean up her mess again?” Inda had her own hang up, and that was having to run to save Nitara. Time and time again, though she wasn’t included on the last effort, but because of the woman, she was about to be forced to share space with the man she’d been skillfully avoiding.
“I sure as hell hope not.” Jinn appeared through the barrier with his own passengers, including Jax. “I, for one, am tired of risking my life.”
“Jinn, I’m so glad you could make it. I’m Ardyn.” The hybrid wolf looked like a groupie as he bound up to the new arrival. “You’re, like, a legend.” He shot his hand out to Jinn who looked at it pensively before accepting the hand shake.
“Well, thanks, I guess.” Jinn shrugged and shot a look at Mike who was holding back laughter.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make that weird.” Ardyn pulled his hand away and took two unsure steps back from the man.
“Yeah, well you did.” Jax was unable to stop the boisterous sound that rang out as the awkward interaction continued. He winked at his lady (to him she was still just that) and joined Mike who had walked off to claim a corner.
Mike watched as the rest of the party arrived in well-timed waves. He’d been eager to join the efforts to help Jinn, but the little bubble he’d been in had caused him to forget that not all of the world was ready to accept him or his people. He would have to keep fighting, every damn day, to make that happen. Hell, it might not even happen in his life time, or his daughter’s, but it was a fight he had chosen to take on. It was just exhausting as hell.
“You alright over here?” Jax handed him a beer he grabbed from the bucket that Bruto conjured as he passed by.
“Yeah.” Mike cracked open the cold drink and poured half of it down his throat. “I'm fine. Just kinda forgot that the rest of the world still hates me and my people.”
“Hate is a strong word. Besides, it’s not the rest of the world. Just a select few.” Jax pointed to Graham who’d taken to his own corner. “Hell, the dragons are cool with you. You’re basically our reptilian cousins.”
“Right, because that’s how you always felt.” Mike chuckled, but his heart wasn’t in it. He hated to admit it but the not so warm welcome from Graham had really bothered him.
“No, it isn’t. I won’t lie about that. We thought the same thing of you as everyone else, but what you’re overlooking right now is that we changed. We see you for what you are, not as the picture that was painted of you by those who came before you. Hell, trust me, changing the minds of dragons is no easy things. If we can change our perception, so can they.” Jax pointed to the vampire who was finishing off a bottle of blood.
“I just hope we can get this shit over with quickly.” Mike didn’t really care to convince Graham to like him, or any of the other blood suckers. They weren’t an issue considering they never left Reverie. It was just the wakeup call. He still had a lot of work to do for his people.
“Oh, right, so then you can go on your next rescue mission, to face the wolves!” Jax teased. “That’s the plan, right? Rescue Nitara so you can head off and find the fae girl?”
“Fuck, I forgot about that. Praia.” He took another swig of beer. “This shit is never ending. Jinn is going to want me by his side.”
“Considering it was your intel that brought news of her survival, I’m going to say that’s a big yes.”
“I’m going to need something stronger than beer.”
“Hey, you have to stay sober. After all, you’re changing the world, one heroic rescue at a time!” Jax laughed and Mike couldn’t help but to join in. “Before you know it, the entire world will love you!”
“I’m not sure I’m up for the task.” Mike watched the people in the room. Everyone mingled, besides the lone vampire. It was something he thought he would never get to see, his people conversing freely with fairies and dragons without fear of punishment for being out of the Scorched lands.
“Good thing you have all of these people who got your back.” Jax put a hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah, you’re right. Who would have thought you were such a softy?”
“Hey, dragons get a bad rep, too!” Jax drew a heart in the air with his fingers and pouted.
“I guess so.” Mike laughed once more before their attention was drawn to the entrance again.
The wall shimmered as the last of their group arrived. Rosie had to make a grand entrance. The curvy djinn with a neon pink signature to her magic waltzed in as if she were being announced at a ball. She sauntered across the threshold which remained open just long enough for the rest of the fairies accompanying her to walk in.
“Okay, if we’re all staying here, I’m going to have to expand on the space.” Ardyn eyed the wall that stood opposite the entrance. He’d put it in place to define the space, but behind it was miles or more tunnels. “I wasn’t expecting so many people.” He waved a hand at the black wall, and in a move that looked effortless, he pushed it back, deeper into the tunnel, and as it did, individual rooms appeared. “Figured you all might want some privacy at some point. Each room has a shower as well. There should be enough for everyone here.”
“Now, this is proper accommodations, don’t you think so, dragon boy?” Rosie poked at Jax. The last time they met, she’d been complaining about the guest quarters the dragons had set up for the group that visited his home. No matter how many times he told her that it wasn’t really where they hosted guests, she ignored him and complained further about the cots they had the nerve to call proper bedding.
Jax shook his head. There was no point in engaging with her on the topic again. She would only continue to complain about something that in the end had nothing to do with him. Instead, he headed off to choose a room for himself before all of the good ones were claimed.
“You sure you have enough space for all of us?” Jinn looked around; there were forty members in their group.
“Yep! And if not, these tunnels go on for miles. I can always create more.” Grinning proudly, Ardyn waved his hand around in a display that worked up some of his magic that danced in a green flame around his fingers.
“Make sure you keep that trigger finger at ease,” Briar chimed in. “They have sensors out.”
“What?” Ardyn dropped his hand and his flame when out.
“I noticed them on the way in. It’s Fae magic, at least it’s based off the design. If a large influx of magic is sensed in the area, it will alert them.” She peered over a few maps that were laid out on the table.
“I’m sure it’s the same that was used after the war between the two sides. It’s likely how they make sure the vamps aren’t stirring up too much shit. However, the ones I saw were modified, they’re set to detect all kinds of magic.”
“I didn’t see anything like that.” Ardyn went to his screen.
“Yeah, they’re hard to spot. But if you know what to look for …” Briar pointed on the map. “There! There is a tree along this grove, it’s one of the sensors.”
“How can you know that?” He pulled up the location on the screen and zoomed in on the tree line she indicated. When she spotted the one in question, she had him isolate the image.
“Look at the way the branches bend, to make a pattern. It’s a trigger point. Not far from here either, so I’d be careful.”
“We need to scout for more of these.” Jinn watched over Briar’s shoulder. “There’s no telling how many there are.”
“I’ll go,” Inda offered. “I’m a usual around here, so they won’t be surprised to see me.”
“I’ll join you.” Graham stepped up. “I could use the fresh air.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Sarah is looking for you.” Inda knew why she wanted out, to get away from the dragon, but Graham leaving would be a risk for them.
“Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll keep a low profile,” he assured her, but she was still suspicious of his motives.
“Right, okay.” Ardyn wasn’t sure it was a great idea, but he wouldn't argue. He could tell that Graham was struggling with being near Mike and the other slithers. He had no idea why; the man had never shown any prejudice toward any other kind before.
“Great, glad to have such eager volunteers.” Smiling, Briar waved for the two to come over. She pointed at the screen. “This is what you’re looking for. It may be subtler on other trees, it may just be a branding on a stone, so be very careful.” She looked at her friend. “You will have to pay close attention to your surroundings while you’re out there. If you can, just note them from the air and keep moving. Your magic is a lot different than the vampires and it may trigger them. Graham should be okay but keep an eye out for anyone that may be on patrol if she is indeed looking for you.”
Djinn Rebellion Boxset (Books 1 -30: A Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy Page 31