Borrowed Ember (10 page)

Intrigued, Trey raised an eyebrow at Jai.

He sighed beside her, his hand flexing on her hip. “She’s got it in her head that anyone could use me to get to her.”

Annoyed, Ari countered, “
She
is sitting right here.”

“She’s not wrong,” Trey replied thoughtfuly. “They tried using Charlie, and he was just her friend.”

“Again, right here.”

“Yeah, but I’m not some stupid kid with a thirst for vengeance. I can take care of myself. She needs to stop worrying.”

“I stil think she’s right. Besides, no one realy needs to know right now.”

“
She
needs some chocolate,” Ari growled before puling away from Jai’s embrace. She shot up off the bed, striding towards the door. “Before I smack one of you.”

Trey’s laughter filtered through the doorway just as she slammed it shut. Jai’s voice rumbled through the wal, sounding lost. “What just happened?” Despite herself, his muffled question made her smile as she walked away.

12 -
Chasing Dreams that are not My Own

Like al Jinn, Red was temperate. He did not feel the cold nor the heat.

However, it did not stop him from taking pleasure in the things that created them. The sun was this bal of warmth, the being in the sky that chased shadows from the face and glittered sunlight in the eyes. For centuries Red had watched humans raise their faces to the sky, eyes closed, as they basked in the peace only the warmth of the sun could bring.

But the sun could burn. It could blister the skin. It could dry out a river. Cause thirst. Famine. Death.

As for the moon, Red had always thought of it as this cold, hardened object that chased the sun, desperately trying to catch it, to understand what made it so different. To understand what made everything so different. And never, ever reaching the knowing.

But the moon was also light. Pure, white light. A beacon for the stars in the darkest of skies. A being of hope, of awe, and despite its thirst for knowledge, a being of patience.

When he was young and his mother was stil alive, Red had always thought of Lilif as the sun and Asmodeus as the moon. Now, as he stood before what was

essentialy his uncle (although he’d never thought of Asmodeus in those terms), Red wondered with an anxiousness that surprised and panicked him, why Ari had suddenly become the earth in their analogy. What was she to the twins that she would be dreaming of Lilif’s memories, and Asmodeus would be so intrigued by her?

Why were they al orbiting one another?

“Are you just going to stare at me al day, or are you here for a reason?” Asmodeus asked silkily, his eyes narrowed with affected boredom, his lips quirked in a sly smile. He sat in an armchair by the huge fireplace in his sitting room in Azazil’s palace, the flames flickering shadows across his body, reminding Red of the human’s modern depictions of the Devil.

“My father may think he has you at heel, but I’m not so convinced. You broke his protocol by coming to Ari in her room. What wil stop you from doing it again?”

“Why are you so protective of that little beauty? Seems to me you’re taking Azazil’s orders a little too much to heart.”

“Why are you so interested in her?” Red countered, taking a step towards Asmodeus, deliberately vibrating magic energy so the Marid would know he wasn’t

playing games.

Asmodeus smirked in response, not even moving. “She’s a pawn everyone wants. Sometimes I like to take things other people want because it amuses me.”

Something tightened in Red’s chest at the thought of Ari in the Lieutenant’s hands.

Over my dead body
, the thought flashed through his mind and he stiled in surprise. Blinking the thought away, Red glared at Asmodeus. “Surely you wouldn’t betray Azazil.”

“Of course not,” Asmodeus snapped, no longer so uncaring or indolent. He sneered at Red. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t have a little fun with her. She realy is rather delicious you know.”

Trying his hardest to ignore him, Red sighed. “I saw something between you that was more than misplaced lust… She affected you. Why?”

Slowly, Asmodeus sat up in his chair, carefuly lowering one foot after the other to the ground before rising just as slowly to his massive height. With a blank expression, he sauntered casualy towards Red until he was standing inches before him. He cocked his head to the side, his dark gaze bored and yet somehow

searching. Red didn’t even flinch. He didn’t intimidate that easily, even if the Marid did have a thousand or so centuries on him.

“Why are you so interested in what my interest in Ari is, hmm? Does Azazil know you’re here, interrogating his most loyal servant?”

“I think you’re up to something. I think there is a connection between you and Ari I am missing. And I think that connection puts her in danger. Last I checked, my father wanted me to keep her alive. By any means. Including interrogating his most loyal servant who seems to have an unhealthy interest in her.”

Asmodeus grinned wickedly at that. “There you have it, Red. I have an unhealthy interest in her… I haven’t seen such unusual beauty in a while and I was thinking when Azazil’s done with her – that is if she’s stil alive – I would add her to my harem. She’d be my favorite. I can tel.”

Unbridled anger ripped through Red but centuries of soldiering and spying had trained him to let that anger tear his insides apart, rather than ever let it show. Instead he feigned a smirk and a nod that suggested he thought Asmodeus was funny. “Then I’m sorry to have disturbed you, Asmodeus.”

“Not at al. Your visit has been most enlightening.”

Trying not to flinch at Asmodeus’ suggestion that he’d given too much of himself away, Red dipped him another nod and stepped into the
Peripatos
. Almost immediately he found himself at his destination—the State of Nusrah, the land in Mount Qaf where his brother The Shadow King reigned over whenever he wasn’t playing servant to White. Despite his name, shadows were found and burned out in Shadow’s smal palace, with its high cathedral-like windows and heavy chandeliers dripping from every ceiling. Shadow was dining in the grand room with what was more than likely his wealthy neighbors… probably merchants and land owners. They al gaped at Red before bowing their heads in deference to him. Shadow curled his lip in annoyance at the sight of him, but stood up from the table. Everyone around it immediately stood too and Shadow flicked an unadorned hand at them to be seated.

Striding towards him, Shadow’s long black hair blew back behind him, revealing the large jet stones he wore in his ears. It was the only jewelry he ever wore—they were given to him by Lilif. The blood red silk of his robes shimmered in the light as he approached, the only splash of color in the entire room.

“What do you want, brother?” he asked quietly, his dark eyes narrowing in dislike. “You’re interrupting our meal.”

“Speak with me in private.” Red turned on his heel, not waiting for a reply. He smiled knowingly as footsteps echoed behind him as he made his way through the cold white stone-washed halways and into an equaly cold sitting room. Mahogany wood was a stark contrast to al the white – white wals, white sofa, white

armchairs. White, white, white. Red roled his eyes. He got it, already. Shadow was only a name. His brother was so obvious. Like a third grader’s poetry reading.

“Wel, speak,” Shadow snapped, trying to regain the upper hand.

Red shot him a look of boredom that he knew would irk his brother to no end. “I’m here about the Seal.”

“I thought you were protecting it for father?”

“
It
is a
she
,” Red replied calmly, although he felt anything but. “When it was an
it
… who was there? When father first bestowed it upon Solomon? Who else was there?”

“Why ask me? You were there.”

Trying to stifle his frustration, Red blew out a breath. “No, brother, I was not there. That bodes wel for an answer… you cannot even remember my absence.”

Shadow scowled at his condescension. “Where were you then?”

“I was aiding the Assyrian Adad-Nirari II into his new empire. I think we were warring against Babylonia at the time. I missed the whole Seal of Solomon deal because of it,” Red hissed in frustration, wishing he hadn’t done such a damn fine job in leading that war. If he’d alowed the Jinn Ramshi—who was aiding the many other states in their plight against Assyria—to win, he may have been among his family to watch those historic and most important events unfold.

“Aah.” Shadow smirked. “Wel, I wasn’t privy to any more than White. As soon as father produced that damn Seal, White was after it. Maybe you should be

directing these questions at him.”

“I think we both know what a fruitless venture that would be.”

“I think, perhaps, you’re stuck then. I wou-”

Moving through the air like the wind itself, Red had Shadow clutched around the throat and pinned to the door behind him before Shadow had even finished the sentence. He grabbed at Red’s hand, managing to stop him from squeezing the oxygen out of him but not managing to get him off of him. Their power canceled one another out.

“Tel me who else was there,” Red demanded in a low, dangerous voice.

Shadow nodded slowly and Red relented, letting him go very carefuly, warily. Shadow shrugged his robes out, glaring at Red. “No need for violence, brother. There was one other who might know something.”

“If you say Asmodeus I might just kil you.”

Shadow smirked. “Not quite. No. He was a favorite of father’s at the time. I believe his name was Kadeen.”

Recognition dawned immediately and memories played out before him. Kadeen had been one of Azazil’s confidants for centuries. He was one of the oldest Marids in their world. But… Red scowled. “Kadeen went into reclusion centuries ago.”

“Oh so he did.” Shadow smiled, enjoying Red’s growing frustration. “Weary of the royal ways no doubt. You have your answer then, brother. Perhaps he’l be of help— if you find him.”

“I take it you do not know of his whereabouts.”

“No. Not realy. Are you going to tel me what this is al about?”

Red sneered at a brother he’d never realy had much respect for. For many reasons. “I wouldn’t want to drag you into this and out of your comfortable position of doing nothing.”

Glowering at him like a petulant child, Shadow sniffed. “White hasn’t asked for my help. I’ve heard nothing from him since I told him I knew about Ari. He told me to sit and wait. What else am I supposed to do?”

Readying himself to step back into the
Peripatos
Red shrugged uncaringly. “Why not for once, stop acting like a lapdog, and act like a king in your own right.”

13 -
I Will Use Your Love as a Mold to Make a Dagger

She felt desperate. Time was running out and she needed to do this. Lilif curled her hand tighter around the lesser Jinn. He was only a young man.

Handsome, intelligent, charming. There was something special about him, something that drew people to him. Tamir. Beautiful Tamir. And her son, The

Glass King’s lover. He stood stiff against her, knowing she could eviscerate him in seconds if she so wished it. That it had come to this
—
having to snuff out
the children she loved most. And Glass
,
he had always been her very favorite with his deep blue hair that matched the depth of his loyalty and strength. Lilif
cried her tears inwardly as she pushed Tamir through the double doors, surprising her son who spun around, his long hair startling in the candlelight, to
match his startled expression.

His eyes narrowed as he took in her cloud dark face and grip on Tamir. “Mother, what is going on?” He took a tentative step towards them, his jaw tight

with tension as his eyes clashed with Tamir’s. Glass had never loved anyone the way he loved Tamir. A wisp of jealousy blew across Lilif’s heart.

“I bring your love as collateral, my darling.”

“Then Red’s suspicions are true. You seek to kill us, to destroy the balance by destroying your own sons,” Glass whispered hoarsely, despair in his eyes
turning to disgust. That only made her pinch Tamir harder with her magic and he let out a grunt. Glass lunged at them with a guttural cry and Lilif moved
like the wind until she had Tamir on the opposite side of the room.

She smiled sweetly at her son, hiding her pain. “I have to change everything. So much has been lost under this rule, I need something… new. I hurt for a
new life for the Jinn.”

“You’ve lived too long, Mother. That is your only ailment.”

Her smile turned to a malicious glower and she reached for Tamir’s chin, tilting his handsome face up to hers so she could study it. He refused to meet her
eyes, his fists clenched in fury at his own helplessness. “He is beautiful, my son. I can see why he has you so enthralled.” Her fingers bit into his skin, drawing
blood, making him flinch. “I will end his life if you do not give your essence to me willingly.”

“You’ve gone insane,” Glass spat but she could hear desperation in his words.

Her eyes glittered now as she turned back to him. “I have to do this. Please forgive me for seeking you first, my love, but I fear this will be the hardest of
all… destroying my Glass. My beautiful Glass. I must do it first. It must be over with first.”

“Mother, please…”

“I cannot be reasoned with. Just give me your essence and I will see Tamir free. I will make sure that no harm comes to him. I will try to save him when
The After comes for us.”

As someone who needed to be loved most by everyone, Lilif watched with pained envy as Glass shifted his gaze to Tamir. A deep love for the lesser Jinn

lived with Glass for all to see, and Lilif could see the moment Tamir realized what the depth of that love meant. He started struggling in Lilif’s arms. “No,
Glass, no!” he yelled. “What is my life without you? Do not do this! I am not worth the consequences!”

“You are worth everything,” Glass whispered hoarsely. He turned to his mother, seeming numb, but relenting. “If you let him go I will leave with you.”

The closest Lilif had ever come to loving anyone that much was her love for her twin, Asmodeus. She believed she would do anything for him… but to die

for him? Was she capable of such love? A bitter inability to understand her son twisted Lilif’s mouth into a sneer. “My dear son, when you love, you love so
deeply. If I had not used it against you, your father or brothers certainly would have eventually.”

“Not this brother,” Red growled furiously as he stormed into the room, the air around him crackling dangerously. In sync, as the two brothers had always
been, Red and Glass turned to her and Lilif felt the steel grip of their combined power binding her body. She cried out in rage as Tamir stumbled away from
her. “You will not have him,” Red proclaimed. Hurt and anger were just two of the myriad of emotions in his unearthly blue eyes.

This one, Lilif thought hatefully, chipping away at the binding slowly but surely, this one had always been far too easily manipulated by Azazil. “You

fool,” Lilif spat at him, “Loyalty is not a currency you can afford to use.”

Red curled a lip at her in distaste. “Then I shall always be a pauper for a king, mother.”

Impotent anger made her power react faster against theirs and Red and Glass struggled to hold her. But still the fear that she might not be able to win

against the two of them filled her. With a shriek of fury, she broke their binding and lunged at Tamir. The crack of his neck breaking – the sound of the end
of his life - echoed around the room. Glass’ deep cry of pain followed in its wake.

Lilif stepped back into the Peripatos before Glass could take his revenge.

… “Ari, come on, wake up,” a deep voice rumbled in her ear. She nuzzled deeper into the soft pilow, hunching her shoulder so it rubbed her ear where his breath had tickled. “Michael wants to see you in his office.”

Ari groaned and flipped over, her eyes narrowed on Jai’s face. He was braced over her, his hands on either side of her head. His gorgeous shaven face and bright eyes hovered inches above her. “You woke me from a dream. I think I was actualy Lilif in this one.”

Jai’s eyebrows drew together. “What was it about?”

“It was her memory of trying to kil Glass. Taking his essence,” she mumbled, stil a little sleepily. A sadness echoed in her chest for the Jinn King she had never met.

He was just as extraordinary as Red, with his long cerulean blue hair and matching eyes. If her dreams were true memories, Lilif had kiled the man Glass loved. “She kiled his lover when Red and Glass wouldn’t let her take his essence.”

“Sounds like something The White King might do.”

“Hmm,” Ari agreed, trying to forget she was related to these spiteful beings. “Not that it’s not nice waking up to you, but why the early wake-up cal?”

He smiled grimly down at her as he puled away to sit up on the bed. “Michael wants to see you in his office.”

Her heart did a little skip as the words finaly woke her up. If Michael wanted to see her that might mean she was ready for assignments. With a little huff of energy, Ari pushed the bed covers off and slipped past Jai, practicaly running into the adjoining bathroom. She quickly cleaned up and brushed her teeth, laughing with a mouthful of toothpaste as the door to the bathroom opened just enough for Jai to throw in a t-shirt, jeans and some clean underwear. She tried not to think about him going through her underwear drawer. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen her out of it. Sort of. Yeling a garbled thank you, Ari spat, and then rushed into her clothes, taking a second to pul her long hair into a ponytail.

When she came out of the bathroom, Jai was standing by the window with that brooding look on his face—that look that always got to her. The early morning sun lit up his eyes, making them glitter like crystal green lake water. His eyebrows were dipped into a little frown and his lower lip pouted a little. Rich dark hair was beginning to grow in on top of his head, and Ari couldn’t decide what suited him better… the close-shaven look or this boyish ruggedness. Her heart felt ful as she watched him, blown away by how every nerve in her body seemed to zing with life in his presence. How her chest just ached with too much feeling.

Sensing her study, Jai turned his head to look at her, the smal diamond in his ear winking in the sunlight. “You okay?”

No, she was thoroughly distracted. “Does Michael realy need me this second?” she asked softly, walking slowly towards him.

He reached out an arm as she drew closer, sliding it around her waist and drawing her up against his chest. She felt his bicep flex against her, felt the strength of his chest under her fingertips and gave thanks to whoever was listening for giving her Jai. Being with him was the only time she ever felt safe. The only time she ever forgot who she realy was and what that meant.

Trailing her fingertips up his chest, along and up his neck to his jaw, Ari shivered at Jai’s tiny exhalation of pleasure at her touch. Lifting her gaze as she stroked her fingers along his cheek, she gazed into his eyes and felt wonder. Ari had read about moments like these, when you were so lost in someone else the room around you just disappeared. It was true. Everything in her peripheral grew fuzzy and unreal. Michael’s summons blew away on a breeze.

Together they reached for a kiss.

“What are you doing to me?” Jai whispered across her lips, not waiting for an answer before reaching for a kiss. Their mouths brushed against one another’s; soft, tingling expressions of torture. And just as Ari was about to give into her impatience, Jai beat her to it, his hands cupping her face closer as he deepened the kiss, his tongue touching hers and sending chils of pleasure rushing through her. He tasted like toothpaste again, or she did, Ari couldn’t tel. It didn’t matter. He just tasted divine. Wanting him closer, Ari slid her arms around his back, puling at his t-shirt so her hands could slip under it. His skin felt silky and hard, her fingers tickling his lower back. Jai groaned and tightened his grip on her nape, his kisses so long and deep now, Ari was gasping for breath.

If Jinn weren’t supposed to feel the heat, how come she felt like they were both on fire?

As abruptly as the kiss had deepened, Jai pushed her away until she stumbled back from him.

Their panting filed the silence of the room and Ari stared at him wide-eyed, her lips swolen. “You stopped. Again.”

He nodded, and then shook his head, smiling ruefuly. “I think Michael has a job for you. We better go see him.”

Nervous excitement flooded her stomach and Ari couldn’t tel if it was from what had been happening or what was about to happen. “That’s good, right? That he has a job for me?”

Her guardian/boyfriend immediately went back to brooding mode. “Hmm.”

Ahh, he was feeling a little overprotective this morning. Warmed by the thought, Ari reached up to give him a quick peck on the lips. She grinned. “I’l be fine.”

He studied her for a moment, and she wondered what was realy going on behind those beautiful eyes of his. “I know,” he replied finaly.

Not sure if he meant it, Ari sighed and started towards the door. A sharp tug on her wrist brought a gasp to her lips, a gasp that was almost immediately swalowed in Jai’s mouth as he puled her back into his arms. His kiss was rougher, harder, more desperate—his hands scalding against her waist as he pressed her as close to him as he could get her. Feeling a need to reassure him, although she wasn’t sure why, Ari wrapped her arms around his neck and sank into his kiss, matching him rather than trying to gentle him. Her weight pushed him back against the wal and he groaned into her mouth. That would never cease to be hot, Ari shivered. Her shiver set him off again, his hands sliding down the back of her thighs. His grip turned hard and Ari let out another surprised gasp as he lifted her up, easing her legs around his waist in the same motion as he turned so
her
back was against the wal. His mouth trailed hot kisses down her neck and Ari let her head fal back, her thoughts muddled, her synapses fried. There was only him and the feel of his strong hands under her shirt, reaching for the clasp on her bra.

A loud crash behind them stiled Jai’s hands and he growled in frustration, dropping his head against her chest. “Let me guess…” he whispered hoarsely.

Ari stroked his hair, her fingers trembling from the adrenaline that was shooting around her body. She eyed the smashed lampshade and pile of books that had been on her bedside table, but now lay littered on the floor. The hum of Ms. Maggie’s energy broke through the lust haze. “…Ms. Maggie,” she finished for him softly.

Overprotective Ms. Maggie. Ari was beginning to think the Ifrit had been a nun in another life.

His body now tense, Jai eased away from her and Ari slowly unhooked her legs from around his waist. Gently he helped lower her to the ground, his eyes narrowed as he tried to smooth her hair back into place. His fingers lingered on her cheek before caressing her skin down to her mouth. His thumb caught her bottom lip and his gaze darkened again. Another shiver rippled down Ari’s spine. Shaking himself, Jai stepped back, slamming his hands into his jean pockets. “Just when I was starting to like the poltergeist.”

Ari snorted and rubbed a comforting hand over his arm as she passed him. “I’l talk to her about the whole privacy thing,” she promised.

He grunted at that, folowing her out of the door. “Maybe you could throw in an ‘Oh by the way, who the hel are you?’ while you’re at it.”

***

Falon was looking at her strangely, and Ari wondered for a second if maybe Jai hadn’t fixed her hair right? Were her lips stil swolen? She smoothed back her hair and fixed her gaze on Michael who was sitting behind his desk, peering past his daughter who had her ass on it, blocking his view.

“Falon, sit on the chair.” He gestured to the armchair wearily.

Spry in al her movements, Falon skipped off the desk and into the chair with an annoying smirk. Ari narrowed her eyes on her. Did she know? Feeling an inevitable flush at the thought, Ari deliberately kept her gaze off Jai.

“I’ve got an assignment,” Michael got straight to the point.

Ari took an excited step forward, butterflies tickling the crap out of the nervous gremlins in her stomach. “Realy?” A real assignment. Hunting Jinn. Instead of them hunting her.

Awesome.

“Emmett Bradford High School in Midland, Connecticut.” Michael pushed papers towards both Falon and her, and Ari reached for hers with an eagerness she