Scorched Skies (39 page)

But she just… couldn
’
t.

Jai swallowed and Ari knew if his hands were free they would be rubbing over his hair with discomfort. “I don
’
t want you to get hurt either,” he whispered the confession, his eyes falling to her mouth. His gaze sharpened as her lips trembled and she heard his breath catch. God, that sound was hot. The air charged instantly between them and their breathing grew shallow, their bodies tense. Jai leaned forward, his grip tightening around her hands.

“There you are,” Gerard called, striding into the room and breaking Jai and Ari apart. Completely oblivious to the moment he
’
d ruined, Gerard stood over them. “We have word. Reports have been coming in over the last few weeks. Get this… missing girls around Ari
’
s age, all lesser human-living Jinn. Eight girls in total. The last two taken from Philadelphia. However, there was an attempt in Columbus, Ohio four days ago, but the girl got away.”

Ari shivered. “He was in Ohio for me.”

Gerard nodded, his face grave. “I imagine so. He might still be there. It was his last attempt and it is your home state.”

“Yeah, but he had Jai and I attacked in L.A.”

“Yeah, but that time there was no magical presence,” Jai mused. “In Sandford Ridge there was.”

“Well, we know what kind of commercial buildings he rents out. His preferred locations, the clubs he visits, restaurants etc. We
’
ve got his patterns worked out. He likes a metropolis so we
’
re starting with Cleveland.”

“So you don
’
t think he
’
ll be in Sandford?” Ari asked, worrying for the friends she
’
d left behind.

“No, he hates small towns.”

“So when do we leave?”

Gerard made a clucking noise with his tongue as a regretful look fell over his face. “Well… before we go I
’
ve been asked by my Guild leader to deal with some business in Phoenix.”

Jai frowned, shifting forward. “Business?”

“One of our hunters got in a fight with an Utukku Jinn he was tracking and the bastard took off into Phoenix. The hunter is wounded but managed to track him to St. Francis Cemetery. It
’
s not too far from here. He needs back up.”

Confused, Ari held up a hand. “Wait a minute. What the hell is an Utukka?

“Utukku,” Jai corrected. “There are benevolent ones and wicked ones. The benevolent Utukku are called Shedu and they watch over the dead, taking up residence in graveyards, scaring off vandals etc, and the bad ones are called Edimmu and they haunt graveyards, attacking anyone who dares to enter.” He glanced up at Gerard with a weariness that was becoming too familiar to Ari. She wanted to hug her friend no matter how bitter that word tasted on her tongue. “I
’
m getting the impression you guys have to handle it before we can leave.”

Annoyance ripped through Ari as Gerard nodded. They
’
d already been waiting so long (or at least it felt that way) to go after Dalí. She was desperate to be done with it so she could prepare herself for the next challenge that faced her.

“Jai, I
’
d like you on the team,” Gerard said softly. “I promised Anabeth she could get a shot at the next big hunt, but she said she
’
d feel better if you accompanied her when she meets up with our Guild Member.”

With a horrible feeling rising within her, Ari watched as Jai responded, “Of course.”

“His name is Brett McConnell. He
’
ll be waiting at the entrance to the cemetery for you. Here are the directions.” Gerard handed Jai a piece of paper just as Anabeth strolled into the room. She looked excited as her eyes sought out Jai.

“You ready to do this?” she asked, ignoring Ari as she had done the entire time Ari had been with The Guild.

Jai nodded and glanced back at Ari. “I won
’
t be long.”

Ari gave him a brittle nod, her eyes narrowing on Anabeth. True, she didn
’
t like the way the girl flirted with Jai, but there was something off about her energy today. She was bristling with it and her eyes kept darting around as if she were jacked up on drugs. “Be careful,” Ari murmured to her guardian, that ominous feeling inside her coiling into a tight ball. Something was off about this whole thing.

Ari sighed, rubbing a hand down her face as the two of them left the room.
You
’
re so paranoid.

“He
’
ll be fine, Ari,” Gerard assured her, making her jolt. She
’
d forgotten he was there. “He
’
s one of the best.”

~23~

I
’
d stop my Heart to give yours the Beat

The doors were locked, the windows sealed, the room dark except for one large candle on the floor between the two chaises. She lay across from The Red King, her long beautiful figure draped in a red dress that matched his hair. Her exquisite features were illuminated by the flickering flame and Red felt the familiar pull of longing. It was not often he got to gaze upon her. It was such a pity she was so pissed off at him.

“You promised,” she reminded him softly, too afraid to raise her voice and be heard. Her strange eyes glittered with disappointment and fiery anger.

Red shrugged, pretending to be unaffected. It was their way. Their game. Pretending while underneath both knowing how much they really felt. So much to feel. Any consequences were worth it to feel this way. “I
’
m doing what I can.”

“You sent in your brother. The Glass King. Red, he feels nothing. Why him?”

Frowning, Red tutted in disapproval. “Remember what he did for you. For us. And Glass feels much. Mostly loyalty. He is doing what has been asked of him.”

“By you.” She glowered, her long curling dark locks falling across her silken shoulder as she huffed in annoyance.

Shifting in his seat, Red had to force himself not to be distracted. “You know how it is. I am doing what I can.”

“But Charlie?” her eyes narrowed with frustration. “As much as the boy irritates me, Ari cares for him. She has lost too much. And you are deliberately trying to push them apart. I
’
m beginning to suspect you sent that Marid to him, the one that granted his wish to be a sorcerer.” When he said nothing, unable to be deceive her, she shook her head. “Must she lose Charlie too?”

“You don
’
t know that she will.”

“Are your promises made of nothing?”

True anger flared through him and the candle in the room sputtered out. With a flick of his hand it reignited and she was sitting up straight, her chin held high but her eyes wary. As if he would ever hurt her. “I am doing what I can,” he repeated.

“I have to protect her,” she whispered, clenching her hands together.

True sadness and true frustration flooded him. “I told you that may be impossible.”

“But we will do what we can,” she murmured his words back at him as she stood.

“Will you be long from her?” Red asked, standing too. His fingers itched to touch her but they
’
d both decided they couldn
’
t afford the distraction.

She shook her head. “I need to refuel, but I
’
ll be quick.”

A flare of jealousy ripped through him. “Who is to be your victim this time?”

“Well it can
’
t be one of the team.” She must have seen the tautness of his features, the strain, for her eyes softened. “They mean nothing to me.”

“I know,” he reassured her.

“I don
’
t want to draw unnecessary attention, so I
’
ll choose a man from the city. I
’
ll be back with Ari within a day.” She took a step back, preparing to enter the
Peripatos
.

He smiled softly. “Until next time…
Ms. Maggie
.”

She grinned ruefully back him. “Strange name to give me but… it
’
s growing on me.”

“It
’
s only taken you two years.”

Her glittering laugh disappeared into the fires with her.

Brett McConnell was
a tall, wiry young man. Dressed in all black and limping badly he greeted Jai and Anabeth at the entrance of the mausoleum that led into the main graveyard.

“Glad you guys could make it,” Brett grinned, his dark eyes tired and his face wan. “I didn
’
t even know the bastard had me cornered. He ripped my leg up pretty good and took off for here. We were in Utah, so it
’
s been quite the chase. Thankfully he decided to take up shop near you guys.”

Yeah, it
’
s quite the coincidence,
Jai thought, glancing around surreptitiously. Something was off about this whole thing. He didn
’
t think it was a set up. He could usually read people pretty well and Gerard seemed like a stand-up guy. Plus, The Guild had no motive for trying to entrap him or whatever this was. No. Jai was worried that the Utukku somehow knew about Ari. But why would an Utukku want anything to do with her? It made no sense.

“You look excited, Anabeth,” Brett observed, amusement glittering his eyes.

The young woman nodded, her eyes flicking around wildly.

Jai frowned. Was she scared? She didn
’
t seem the type to be scared. In fact she
’
d become rather handsy these last few days. Jai was beginning to feel like a housemaid trying to avoid the improper attentions of her master.

“It
’
s her first Utukku,” Brett explained to Jai. “Her first big hunt.” He turned back to the girl. “You
’
ll do great. You know you
’
re awesome.”

She smiled widely, lighting up under the compliment. “I know, just a little nervous. But excited. I really want to get this over with.”

“Well, it
’
s getting dark and the cemetery is empty, so let
’
s get moving.” He shot a look at Jai. “I know you
’
re a big hotshot and everything but you ever fought an Utukku?”

“Once.”

“OK. So you know to look out for the drop in temperature when he
’
s in the vicinity?”

Jai smirked. “I don
’
t really feel temperature change.”

“Oh right. Full-blooded Jinn.” Brett shrugged. “Well, let
’
s hope you have a fast reaction time.” He pulled off his backpack and withdrew a dark wooden box. “Since you
’
re here you can make yourself useful. I
’
ve been chasing this thing from cemetery to cemetery trying to keep it so busy it won
’
t hurt anyone, but it
’
s one of the most vicious I
’
ve seen.”