The Binding Stone (The Djinn Series) (14 page)

“Don’t
act like you care about a simple human, Little One.”

It
is harder to keep control when I hear the nickname. I cannot retaliate anyway.
“Back to my question, Achan.” I enjoy saying his name. Not calling him Master.
“How is it possible you sit here before me? Tell me, or I will make you tell
me. On second thought, I might prefer that. Don’t give in yet.” He doesn’t know
about the command. He does know about my power.

He
considers. “Left without a Djinni, I was forced to find a way to persist. To
continue my fragile human life beyond that of mortal men. I found a way.”

“That
much is obvious,” I say.

He
sits back down on the sofa, casually crossing his legs and slinging an arm over
the back. “I use the limited powers I have to pass my soul into another body.
It simply has to be a Magician. But I prefer children of my own stock. Because
of similar DNA, they cannot fight as proficiently as another full-grown
Magician. And of course I prefer male children.”

Jered.

I
cannot let my reaction show. I must keep it to myself. Keep it quiet.

“Of
course,” I say. “So what happens to the child?” I conjure a handful of grapes
and offer him some.

“They
struggle for a bit, but, more often than not, their soul is released within the
hour, and the body is mine.”

“Your
own children? How very cold-hearted of you. Then again, it’s hardly a surprise.
I know firsthand just how cold-hearted you can be.”

His
laugh is the same deep, beautiful sound I remember. “I have many descendants
who have remained unharmed, Little One. There is no shortage of mes running
around this world, I assure you.”

“Good
thing you are still young enough to have more. Since Jered has me now, you
won’t be able to touch him.” I search for his reaction, but all I get is
another smile.

“Oh,
I don’t think that will be a problem,” he says. “In fact, I look at it as
fortune and fate smiling on me at last. Because once I take possession of his
body, I will also have possession of you.”

Men Trouble

“
nd
you think I’m just going to let you take possession of me again?” I laugh as
though it’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard. Achan sets his grapes to the
side and waves a hand, making them disappear.

“I’ve
changed, Leela. I’m not the same man I was. And I doubt you are the same woman.
We can be partners this time, you and I. It’s what you always wanted, isn’t
it?”

It
was. But I’d be a fool to take him at his word.

“What
guarantee can you possibly give me? You have five seconds before I kill you.” I
watch as he considers me but am gratified to see the sweat bead on his brow.

“What
is it you want?” he asks.

I
borrow Mira’s phrase. “Bzzz, wrong answer.”

“Fine!
I’ll do whatever you want.”

“That’s
better. But the truth is there’s nothing you can offer me short of freedom, and
even that I’m not fool enough to wait for until you own me.”

“What
if I make Jered free you?” he asks. I cannot help my eyes getting big. This is
the last thing I expect him to offer.

“Make
Jered free me?” I repeat.

“Just
before I take him over. Then you will be free, and we can work as equals. It is
how it should have been in the beginning.”

I
cross my arms and sit back on the table to prevent myself from shaking. This
has to be a trick.

“What
makes you think I won’t kill you then?” I ask.

“You
love me. I love you. In all the centuries you’ve been around, have you ever
once felt like you did when we were together?” He rises and leans down over me,
those eyes penetrating my soul.

“No,”
I whisper. Then, “No. But it is difficult to fall in love when you are a slave
to the greedy whims of man. Not that I’d expect you to know that.”

“I
would say I’m sorry, but that will never make up for what I did. Actions are
the only thing I have powerful enough to show you. Let me show you, Little One.”

“Don’t
call me that!” I yell, standing. I let my eyes glow, but Achan does not notice.

“I
know you still love me.”

“Cocky
son of a–”

He
cuts me off with another kiss. I stiffen, but allow it. I want to see if what
he says is true. If I could possibly still have feelings for him. He pulls me
in, mashing against me with his body, which is at once familiar and strange.
Sensations pour through me, thrilling and frightening.

I
push him back onto the sofa and straddle him, placing a hand on his chest. He
watches my face as I run my hand down his stomach. He lets out a deep sigh as
though he’s been holding his breath, unsure what I would do.

“I
know it’s going to take time to make it up to you, but you forgave me once
before for the unthinkable. And we will have eternity now, Leela. The two of
us, forever. Isn’t that what you always wanted?”

I
did. Once upon a time. Do I still?

Not at Jered’s expense.

I
lean over him, kiss him again, just to shut him up. I don’t want to hear
anymore. I only want to feel. At least I can use him for this. Take this one
thing. But the sound of the key in the lock stops us. I take in his frightened
features and disappear. Achan sits up and is still straightening himself out
when his wife and youngest daughter burst through the door.

Of
course! Sophie. Why hadn’t I thought of it before? She can read his thoughts.
She can see if he tells the truth. But before I can act, Jered calls me back,
and I appear at his side, still flushed and confused.

“I
didn’t know where you were. Don’t leave me again!” he says. Another inadvertent
command. Now how will I speak to Sophie? I take in his messy hair and wild
eyes. He sounds like a frightened child.

“You
were asleep. I didn’t want to disturb you,” I say.

“I’m
sorry,” he says, running both hands down his face and over the stubble growing
on his chin. “I guess I’m just still freaked out. About everything.”

“I
understand,” I say. This time I am softer. I sit on the bed next to him and
brush some of his hair down with my hand. He does not pull away, only gazes at
me intently as if he’s trying to make a decision.

“I
don’t know what to do,” he says.

“I
will be here, whatever you decide.” It is as true a statement as there is.

“I
know that, Leela. And...and I want you to know that I trust you.”

“You
do?”

“Yes.
I wasn’t sure at first. I mean, I wanted to. But, I was worried that you would
try to manipulate me or, worse yet, kill me so you could be fr...fr...so you
could be without a master.” He watches me for a minute, but I only wait for him
to continue. He was right to feel that way, after all. “I know now that you do
care about me. Or you wouldn’t have saved me from that explosion. I’m sorry I
doubted you. Can you ever forgive me?”

Forgive
him. I remember Achan’s words.
I would say I’m sorry, but that will never
make up for what I did
. I would have liked him to say it anyway.

“Of
course,” I say.

He
takes my hand in his, which is still hot from sleep. The blankets fall to his
waist, and I remember he is naked beneath the sheets. I blush as my whole arm
tingles. He is very close.

How
can I be feeling this way when just moments ago I betrayed him?

“Thank
you,” he says, cupping my cheek in his other hand. I am aware of my chest
rising and falling near his arm, his scent, different from Achan’s but just as
intoxicating. “And I should probably be honest and tell you...” His voice
trails off.

“What
is it, Jered?”

“I
care about you too.” He waits for my reaction, searching my face, and when I
give none, he leans forward, lips falling on my own. So light and sweet, it
feels as though a phantom is kissing me.

I
close my eyes, enjoying the sensations that flow through my body, pressing
forward with my mouth, just enough to let him know it is all right. I lose
myself in his kiss, his touch. This is so gentle, so different from the passion
I felt with Achan, but just as exciting. No. It is more. My entire being is lit
with yearning. And although Achan’s touch was familiar, it is Jered’s touch
that sets my soul aflame. The realization at once shocks and frees me. The
answer to my own question seems obvious. How can I be feeling this way?
Physical need is one thing. Perhaps the only thing I’ve ever been able to
control. But this, right here, is something more.

My
heart isn’t bursting from his touch alone. It is bursting because of him.
Because of the man he is. So much more than Achan ever was. Because Jered could
never have done what Achan did to me. And what I did downstairs makes my
stomach turn, so I push forward, trying to wipe it away with this moment.

Not
wanting him to stop, I guide his hand to my waist, wrap my own arms around his
neck, tangle my fingers in his messy hair. He tastes like nectar, feels like
heaven. His hands trail up my sides, and I draw in a sharp breath as his mouth
works its way down my jaw-line. My entire body is alive with anticipation. I
climb over him, straddling him, pressing my body to his. Kiss him again with
abandon. I run my hand down his arms. Tug the blankets out of the way.

I
don’t want this to end. But it does. Jered stops my hand with one of his own,
gently reaching for my face with his other and wiping away some of the tears
that have slipped unnoticed down my cheek.

He
holds up his hand, showing me the glistening drops, question written all over
his face, and I sob crawling back off of him and onto the bed. He waits, far
too patiently, until I contain myself. I don’t deserve to have him look at
me like that. Like he actually cares for me.

“Don’t
you know that I would never force you, Leela?”

“No!”
I say. “That’s not it, Jered. Please don’t think that.”

“Then
why?”

“You
are too kind. You should not be. You should be mean. You should force me to do
that and many other things.”

“Leela–”

“I’m
not the person you think I am.”

“And
what person is that?” His tone is so full of gentleness and understanding that
a fresh surge of pain overtakes me, and I cry again.

“Nice.
Sweet. Innocent. I am none of those things. I’m not even a person at all. Not
really.”

“People
have told you that so many times you believe it. But it isn’t true, Leela. You
are just as much a person as I am, and you deserve to be treated like one.” He
reaches for my face, and I lean into his touch. “As soon as I can, I’ll fr...fr...”
He chokes on the words again, unable to say it, and beats a fist against the mattress.
I place a hand on his arm and smile through my tears.

“I
believe you,” I say. And I don’t need Sophie to confirm it is true.

The Benefit of Company

“
have an idea to cheer you up,” I say, fingering Jered’s cell phone, which he’s relegated
to the nightstand. Each time it rings, he reaches for it eagerly. But when he
finds it’s Gabe and not the hospital, he abandons it again.