Darkness, Kindled

  She didn’t say a word as they were led inside the restaurant’s rustic, dark interior. It had Tudor windows and low, vaulted ceilings with thick, dark beams. A grand fireplace served as the room’s focal point.

  The restaurant smelled amazing. Her stomach agreed.

  The maître d’ led them past the other diners to a private corner table, and all the while Ari wondered about Jai’s surprising language skills and whether a maître d’ was called such in Italy, considering the word was French. Hmm.

  Once they were seated with menus and water, Ari arched an eyebrow at Jai. He lowered the glass he was about to sip from. “What?”

  “Italian? You speak Italian?”

  He nodded, appearing bemused. “I speak Italian.”

  “Do you speak any other languages I should know about?”

  “French, German, Spanish, and Arabic. Some Farsi. A little Chinese and some Japanese, but not fluent. Oh, and a little Russian.”

  Ari’s mouth fell open with unladylike shock. “How did I not know I was dating a linguistic genius?”

  “I’m not a genius.”

  “You’re a genius.” She shrugged teasingly. “I wish I’d known this before we started dating. I don’t know if I can handle being with someone who thinks he’s smarter than me.”

  “Wait a minute—a minute ago I was a genius. Now I only think I’m smarter than you?”

  She smiled and shrugged again. “You speak one, two … nine languages … you’re a genius and I bet you think you’re smarter than me.”

  Jai chuckled and sipped his water.

  “I think I’m just smart enough for you.”

  Ari pouted a little. “I only speak English.”

  “And you speak it well, baby.”

  For that he got a kick under the table. He grunted and smiled into his water. He looked happy. Ari felt a warm glow in her belly and smiled softly at him, memorizing every single feature, every long, dark eyelash. Suddenly she felt awful for having acted like such a petulant ass these last few weeks. “I really am sorry for blowing up at you.”

  “It’s okay,” he assured her, his expression tender.

  “You just …” She flushed and glanced around at the busy restaurant. Couples were deep in conversation and Ari could hear a number of languages among them.

  “I just what?”

  When she turned back to him, he was frowning. She smiled a little shyly. “You make me a little crazy. I mean, I probably shouldn’t tell you this but you occupy a large portion of my daily thoughts.” She laughed, feeling completely dorky. “It’s a little obsessive.”

  Thankfully, Jai didn’t go running for the hills at her confession. Instead, he returned her shy smile and nodded.

  “I know what you mean. You make me a little crazy too.” He shook his head as if in disbelief. “A year ago, all I cared about was the job. Being the best. It dominated my life. I wanted to be the best Ginnaye out there and I wanted to prove myself to Luca. Now, all I think about is you. How to make you happy. How to keep you safe. Sometimes I get it wrong,” he laughed ruefully. Ari chuckled.

  “Clearly, I get it wrong. But I wanted you to know that this craziness … we’re in it together.”

  “Together,” she murmured, her whole body tingling with emotion. She dipped her chin and glanced up at him from under her eyelashes. “Will together include any naked together time?”

  Jai quickly masked his surprise at the question and flashed her a wicked smile. “Why, Miss Johnson, I do believe you’re trying to seduce me.”

  “Um … yeah, only since we met.”

  “I have a very strong will.”

  “Your will sucks.”

  “Well,” he sighed dramatically, making her giggle at this playful side of him she so loved. “I’m feeling kind of weak tonight.”

  Her heart stopped as his meaning took hold of her. “Really?” she whispered, hoarsely, already planning on skipping the meal to get to the dessert.

  As if he’d read her mind, he gave her an admonishing look. “Dinner first. Dessert later. Sometimes anticipation is a good thing.”

  “Oh my God, you’re killing me,” she breathed, but before he could reply, the waiter returned.

  Ari had no idea how they managed to make it through the meal with their light banter back and forth, but they did …

  When they stepped out of the Peripatos back into the dark of their home, Ari turned to look at Jai. He turned to gaze at her, and the air around them became pressure against her body. The searing expression in Jai’s eyes locked her in place, and she found her breathing grow shallow, her skin prickling in anticipation of his touch. Focusing on the energy in the house, Ari sent little feelers out and discovered they were completely alone.

  “Trey’s not home,” she told him, her voice raspy with too much feeling and expectation.

  Jai didn’t say a word. One minute there was a few feet between their bodies, the next she was caught in his hold as he collided with her, his arm catching her around the waist, his other hand around the back of her neck in preparation for his kiss.

  What a kiss.

  Ari sighed into it, melting against him, her hands kneading the muscles in his lower back as he deepened the kiss.

  Usually Jai started out slow when they were making out and as soon as it hit that heated sexual place, he’d pull back. This time, he went straight for the heated sexual place. He pressed her toward the stairs and Ari stumbled.

  They parted, their mouths brushing one another’s as she panted, “Let’s go to your room.”

  Jai nodded, his eyes lidded with want as he gazed down at her. He reached for her mouth again and then lifted her up. Wrapping her legs around his waist, Ari held on tight for more scorching kisses, her body sliding against his as he carried her upstairs to his room.

  She heard the door slam shut behind them and then she was falling onto the mattress.

  “Oh my God, this is going to happen,” she whispered up at him, excited.

  Following her down onto the bed,

  Jai smiled, but his intensity didn’t fade as his hands coasted up her thighs, pushing her dress higher. “Definitely happening,” he murmured.

  In seconds, she was divested of her clothes, lying beneath Jai, heart pounding against her ribs. She knew she should feel vulnerable, scared, but other than nervous anticipation, Ari felt like she was right where she belonged.

  Jai sat up, his eyes devouring her.

  “You are so beautiful.”

  “So are you.” Ari smiled and tugged at his shirt. “But I want to see more.”

  His mouth twitched but he happily consented and soon Ari was marveling over him, her soft hands memorizing the feel of him as they kissed, taking time to get to know one another.

  Soon their kisses and touches grew desperate and Ari found herself beneath him, his body poised above hers. He pulled back from her mouth, his expression loving but concerned. “It’ll hurt a little. Just tell me to stop if you need me to.”

  She nodded, the nerves fluttering wildly in her stomach.

  And then he was there, pressing inside her. It hurt. It really hurt. But through the pain was Jai’s murmured words of love, the brush of his lips against her cheek, her mouth, his fingers threaded through hers, and the amazing feeling of connection she’d never felt with anyone.

  Mingling with the pain, suddenly there was heat, pleasure.

  He dropped his head to the crook of her neck, his lips pressed to her hot skin. His grip on her hands was almost painful as he anchored her to him, taking them both to the heights of their lovemaking.

  She shuddered against him, and he let go. Coming down from the high, they wrapped their arms around one another and held on tight.

  “I love you,” Ari whispered, a happy tear trembling on her lashes.

  Jai nodded against her shoulder,

  his muscles flexing around her. “I love you too.”

  5

  The Hit Meant for You Bruised Me

  A breeze
swept through the White King’s loose hair as he lounged on the large balcony abutting his music room. Only a few white clouds interrupted the azure sky above, and the sun, high in its summer ceiling, caused the mountains of Mount Qaf to glitter triumphantly in the light.

  His brothers Gleaming and Shadow lounged with him, sipping hibiscus tea and appearing as though they were nothing more than lords at leisure. Appearances were always deceiving.

  “We need to find some way to weaken Father,” Gleaming grumbled. “There must be something.”

  “If there was something, we’d be doing it,” White muttered irritably.

  Shadow sat up to place his tea on the table. “We need to weaken Father long enough to infiltrate the palace, subdue Asmodeus, take the ring, and utilize it to force Father to tell us where Mother is.”

  In that moment White wished, not for the first time, that Red and Glass had taken his side in this hostile endeavor. Perhaps it bode ill for the future that the only brothers willing to come to his aid were the least savvy of them. “Yes, thank you for that illuminating reiteration of the situation.”

  “I could leave,” Shadow warned, the boredom in his voice masking his obvious petulance. “I don’t need to be here, subjected to your sarcasm and lack of appreciation.”

  “Then go. I don’t need a commentator.

  I need a plan.” White took another swig of tea, finding the calm, the patience that he needed to do what had to be done. “Our search for Lilif will probably take centuries unless Azazil hands over the information.” When he looked at his brothers, they both looked green at the thought of going through this for centuries. He sighed and stared back up at the sky. “Keep thinking.”

  ***

  Waking up in Jai’s arms allowed Ari to forget all the bad stuff, at least for a few minutes. Her mind was wiped blank of the Jinn world, her senses focused solely on the chest beneath her head, the strong arm around her waist, the sound of his heart beating against her ear, and the smell of him—that rich, spicy scent all his own.

  She had never, not once, felt as loved as she did just then, and for a moment, Ari believed that if she died that day, she’d die happy knowing she’d had this with him. For surely, the overwhelming passion and incredible bond between them was more than many people ever experienced in a full lifetime.

  “You awake?” His voice rumbled above her.

  Her loopy smile pressed against his skin. “Mmm.”

  Shifting back, Jai trailed his hand down her hip, sending goosebumps over her skin. When their eyes met, her heart almost stopped. How was it possible that he could still make her feel like she was crushing on him?

  His return smile was unguarded, and it caused a wave of aching emotion to crash against Ari’s chest. Jai rarely looked this relaxed or happy. It thrilled her that she could make him feel that way. “Did you sleep okay?”

  “I slept better than okay.” She pressed a kiss against his chest and pulled back to grin up at him.

  It made him laugh. “I don’t remember ever feeling this good.”

  “Me neither.”

  “Do you want to run away?” he joked, cuddling her close. “Just say ‘eff you all, we’re out of here.’”

  “I think we might have to take Trey with us.”

  “Yeah, I can see us having to buy a home with a pool house for him to grow old in.”

  Ari chuckled, tilting her head back for his kiss. Pulling his lips away, Jai suddenly frowned at her. “Are you sore?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “A little.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” She smiled mischievously.

  “If I remember correctly from my girlfriends’ tales, you performed something akin to a miracle last night.”

  “You really shouldn’t say these things. It will only make me an egotistical jackass.”

  Laughing, she shook her head. “I think we’re past that.”

  “You know, if you continue to be mean to me, I won’t do it again. I will become a very selfish lover.” His face was completely deadpan.

  Ari’s lips twitched, her chest full of fluttering wings, she was in such a good mood. “Become a selfish lover and I’m out of here. You’ll need to get used to your right hand again.”

  Jai threw his head back on the pillow, laughing at her, his eyes glittering in the morning light. “What have I created?”

  “A very happy girlfriend.” She crawled over him, her arms braced on his chest, her hair falling like a curtain around them.

  “Yeah?” he breathed, staring up at her reverently. He brushed her hair back, curling his fingers around her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

  “Mmm.” She pressed her mouth to his, groaning as Jai deepened the kiss. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist and rolled them, trailing heated kisses down her throat, her chest, down her soft belly. When he kissed her there, she cried out and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, sensing Trey’s energy in the house now and not wanting to be heard.

  Biting her tongue, Ari’s eyelashes fluttered closed as she let Jai take her on another amazing sensual journey.

  After a joint shower, they dressed in Jai’s room, acting like stupid, loved-up idiots and enjoying every minute of it. It wasn’t until they were about to leave the room and venture downstairs for breakfast when Jai returned them to a more serious place.

  “Did Asmodeus visit your dreams last night?”

  Hearing the edge in his voice, Ari was thankful her honest reply was, “No.”

  He grunted and Ari automatically wanted to shut his bedroom door to bar them inside, away from all the crap outside. Instead, she followed him downstairs, his large hand holding hers tight in his. When they entered the kitchen, Trey was already there with his easel in the corner, looking out into the gardens. Paper, paints, charcoal, and pencils littered the breakfast table. He glanced up from the blurry, abstract landscape he was working on and grinned knowingly at them. “Morning,” he offered silkily.

  He knew.

  How did he know? Ari blushed.

  “Morning,” she mumbled and hurried to pour herself a white coffee, a black one for Jai—his only vice. Ari wondered if in Jai-Land, she could be considered a vice too.

  “Ari, you’re positively glowing this morning. What could have possibly brought such a—ow!” Trey yelped and Ari turned to see him rubbing the back of his head as Jai moved innocently away to take a seat. She snorted and slipped into a chair beside Jai, pushing the coffee toward him.

  He smiled softly, his eyes blazing with heat as he looked at her. “Thank you.”

  Ari flushed. “You’re welcome.”

  “Do Glass and I act like this?” Trey asked.

  Ignoring his teasing, Ari studied his painting. “That’s beautiful. Can we hang it somewhere or are you selling it?”

  Trey studied his own work. “Nah, I think we’ll hang it. It should stay with this house.”

  “So I hate to destroy a pleasant morning, but …” Jai sighed heavily. “Trey, we have a problem.”

  His best friend caught the serious note in his voice and lowered his paintbrush. Bracing his hands on the back of a chair, Trey nodded. “Okay, hit me with it.”

  Ari was silent as Jai filled Trey in on the situation with Charlie and Asmodeus. It didn’t surprise her that she’d agreed they should confide in Trey. After all, he was on their side and if they were going to be handling this alone, he would be a welcome help.

  Shaking his head at the news, Trey sat down at the table. “So … you’re not telling Michael?”

  The thought of keeping secrets from a man who’d helped them made Ari ill. It was with a heavy heart she replied, “We can’t tell him, Trey. You know what the Guild will do to Charlie, and I just need one more chance to save him.”

  “To save him? Ari, he’s blackmailing you.”

  “Trey,” Jai asked softly, “what if it were me?”

  Trey groaned. “Oh. Okay, fine. So we need a plan, right?”

  “Actuall
y, I think I might already have one,” Jai offered quietly.

  That was news to Ari. She sat up straight, anticipation zinging in her blood. “Yeah? Since when?”

  “This morning.” He sat forward, his gaze drifting between her and Trey. “What if we try to dry Charlie out?”

  Ari frowned. “Like you would a drug addict?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Okay …”

  “How?” Trey asked.

  “We tag him ourselves. Bind him with magic and keep him in the basement until the emerald is out of his system and he’s functioning like a human being again.”

  Ari’s chest felt heavy at the thought but she’d also begun to feel restless. It was a plan, the only plan they had to save her friend, and she wanted to get started on it. However, they had another issue to deal with first. “And the Ghulah and Pazuzu?”

  Jai shrugged. “The Ghulah we can kill. Pazuzu … well, for him we’re going to need to get our hands on a Secretum.”

  “A what now?” Ari raised an eyebrow, wondering what it was and how hard it was to get.

  “It’s a powerful binding item. It’s created from the wood of a Conessi tree, packed with tellicherry bark and harmal and also treated with harmal. A strong-enough Jinn can entrap another lesser Jinn within the box, and once locked, it’s impossible for the Jinn to escape. If we use Charlie’s help to lure Pazuzu to us, I think the three of us can do it.”

  “You think?” Trey made a face.

  “We’re talking about freakin’ Pazuzu here.”

  Jai smirked. “Trey … there’s two of us and one of her.” He indicated Ari with admiration in his expression. “That ugly bastard doesn’t stand a chance.”

  Ari laughed nervously. “Are you using overconfidence to give us confidence?”

  “I’ll never tell.”

  She chuckled but her fingers trembled around her mug just thinking about the damage Pazuzu had done to her and Jai when they’d last faced him. He’d tried to rip Ari to shreds, and the pain, the excruciating pain, like a million paper cuts all over her body, wasn’t something she’d soon forget. Neither was the memory of watching Jai almost die.