Rayez’s head shot up. A large hulking man, in a suit, stood holding a gun pointed at them. The gun wouldn’t harm him or Selene, but the threat still brought out all his protective instincts. He’d kill the man for daring to threaten Selene.
He glanced down at her and received another shock. Fear and sadness, like he’d never seen before in her, bruised her eyes. What the heck? He magicked on some clothes and complied with the thug’s order to buy himself more time, to figure out what was happening, though it tore him to pieces to leave her exposed. The man gripped his gun with both hands and backed away a few spaces.
They were no longer in the apartment. Instead, they were in a study or workshop. Walls of river rock, polished dark wood trim and a humungous unlit fireplace hinted that whoever owned this place had expensive tastes and money.
Selene lay spread-eagled and bound to a cot. Innumerable cuts, some old and some new, slashed across her pretty skin. Tears leaked from her eyes in a constant stream. “Leave,” she urged him in a roughened whisper. “I’m so sorry about this. Leave before he gets you too.”
Leave? His throat went bone dry. Somehow sex had transported them, unified Selene’s two selves. He wouldn’t, couldn’t, leave. He needed to get both of them out of here. Now.
A tall, thin man with silver hair and patrician features, stepped out from the shadows, from behind an imposing desk littered with papers and more books. Power emanated from him, and filled the room. He must have been working a sealing spell because now an invisible barrier thickened the air like a shield. It felt solid and dark, with the oiliness of evil and Rayez instinctively knew he couldn’t just whisk them away any more. A sinking, drowning, sensation hit his gut. Fuck.
“Interesting development,” the man said as if talking about something mundane. Without bothering to look away, he added, “Sam, aim for her head. Any sudden moves from him, shoot.”
“Yes, sir,” the thug answered. Rayez immediately threw up an invisible barrier in front of Selene.
The older gentleman laughed. “So protective,” he said. “That’s sweet.”
Rayez’s heart clenched tighter and tighter as the man stalked closer like a hungry predator. Heat poured off him, raising the temperature of the room degree by degree. “Warren, I presume?”
“Yes. A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Rayez,” the man flashed him a practiced smile. One that didn’t reach the cold calculating blue eyes set in his square-jawed, finely-lined face.
“Well done, Selene,” Warren said, with a smug smile. “I would have preferred him sealed in a bottle, but you get points for creative delivery.”
A choked sob came from behind Rayez, knifed into his heart. He couldn’t stand that she was tied up and completely helpless. Knew she hated being so vulnerable. He focused his will and flames sparked on her ropes, burned through them. They died before they touched her skin.
Selene sat up, pulling her knees up to her chin. She rubbed her chaffed skin where the ropes had been. “Thank you.”
“Ah, so you’re a fire djinn. Nice,” satisfaction oozed in Warren’s voice. He loosened his tie and undid the top two buttons of his shirt. Sweat slicked his skin. “I will enjoy owning you.” He pulled out a bottle from his suit pocket. A red glass bottled patterned with gold lines on all sides. Elegant. And a prison. Warren pulled the cork from it with a resounding “pop!”
Anger flared inside Rayez, made his power soar until he burst into flames. Hot blue fire raced along his skin, ready to burn. He shot out a lightning fast bolt of flame.
Warren shouted out an oath and a spell. He threw up an invisible shield. The fire and the shield canceled each other out. “Rayez, son of the Marid, I name you and bind you to this bottle.”
“Last I heard, witches were susceptible to burning.” Rayez advanced throwing more fire power at Warren. Anything to keep him from completing the binding.
For a time, both djinn and mage were at a standstill. One throwing flames, the other working spells to avoid being burnt. Then a gunshot and shriek made them freeze.
Rayez had totally forgotten about the thug. He’d also dropped the barrier protecting Selene to deal with Warren. Shit. He whipped around toward her. She stood clutching the fleshy part of her left arm and blood dripped from between her fingers. Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Amar, amar, amar. Jhannkannananamutterfutter dhoom!”
“Don’t worry about me,” Selene shouted, darting toward the desk. The thug shot at her repeatedly but she managed to dodge behind it. The bullets thudded into the heavy wood. Smart girl.
“Rayez, son of the Marid, I name you and bind you to this bottle,” Warren started the second repetition. Rayez responded by throwing a blindingly bright blue flame at Warren. The bastard barely danced out of the way, shouting, “Amar, amar, amar. Jhannkannananamutterfutter dhoom!”
Fuck. One more repeat and he’d be powerless against him. Rayez threw more flames while blinking out and appearing right next to the thug. The man yelled and swung the gun around and pointed it at him. He didn’t have time for this shit. He nailed the thug with a wicked right cross and knocked him out. He melted the gun for good measure.
“Rayez, son of the Marid—
Now to take care of Warren.
“I bind you to this bottle. Amar—
This time he aimed for the widest part of the witch. The entire torso, from his thick shoulders to the soft, just spreading belly. Warren’s eyes widened in panic as he threw himself out of the way.
A pained curse rang into the room as he landed on his arm. The bottle flew out of his hand and hit the hard stone floor, breaking into hundreds of red and gold pieces.
Rayez grinned at Warren who was just lying there, muttering some nonsense. He would kill the bastard now. He deserved to die for abusing Selene and Cade. Alarm gripped him when he couldn’t take a single step. In fact, he couldn’t move at all. “What did you do?”
Warren staggered to his feet, holding his left arm at an odd angle. His nice suit was torn and scorched in places, his hair mussed up, the man looked worse for wear, but his gaze shone with triumph. “A freezing spell,” he said. “Rayez, son of the Marid, I name you and bind you to myself. Amar, amar, amar. Jhannkannananamutterfutter dhoom!”
Rayez’s blood ran cold. A soul to soul binding was the worst. It was hard on the magic user, but once completed the djinn was enslaved for the witch’s life. Literally, till death do us part.
“Rayez, son of the Marid, I name you and bind you to myself. Amar, amar, amar. Jhannkannananamutterfutter dhoom!”
He grunted trying to free himself, raise his arms to cast his magic. The spell stiffened around him like glue. Fuck. How long would it last?
“Rayez—
Selene, clutching the brass poker from the fireplace, rushed at Warren. She brought the poker down hard across his back. Stunned, he stumbled to the floor. She rained down blow after blow on his body. Sobs tore from her as she screamed accusations and invectives.
With a roar, Warren lunged upward. He head butted her right in her stomach. The poker flew from her hand and she landed on her back. The sound of the poker clattering against the floor was ominous and final.
Rayez hunkered down and gathered his strength, tried to push outwards with all his force. The spell had some give, but not enough. Fuck.
Selene scrabbled backwards on the floor.
“You’ve been nothing but trouble,” Warren wheezed, crawling after her. “No matter what I did. No matter how much I drained you, no matter that I split you into two, that attitude. Always with that attitude.”
“Yeah, you fucking bastard,” she said. “You couldn’t break me. You’re going to die knowing that.”
He threw himself on top of her. Rayez watched her struggle, rake her nails down his face, but the bastard was much bigger and heavier than her. She couldn’t push him off. His large hands clamped around her delicate throat. The throat he loved kissing, touching.
Anguish tore through Rayez. He loved her and she?
??d die without knowing.
Love? How the hell could he love her? They’d just met, and not under the best circumstances.
There was no logic or reason to it, just the truth. Yes, he loved her.
He surged forward and broke through the weakening spell. Hot blue flames flared to life in his hands. Oh Creator, grant me her life. He threw the fire at Warren’s broad back.
The clothing caught fire. He sprang away from Selene, tried to roll around the floor and put out the flames. But the blaze grew brighter and spread. Warren’s raw screams filled the room as the flames devoured him.
Rayez rushed over to Selene and pulled her into his arms, held her tight. “I love you Selene, I can’t bear to lose you,” he said, not caring about the how of it any more. He kissed away the tears staining her face. “I love you and I want to be with you forever and a day.”
“It’s a deal,” she said and sealed it with a kiss. Her mouth pressed hard against his, her tongue seeking and tasting him. A kiss full of passion, life and love. She kissed him until they were both breathless. When they broke apart for air, she looked him in the eye. “I love you Rayez, djinn of my heart.”
Epilogue
Three Days Later
Selene stood on the garden like grounds of Glenwood Cemetery on a bright winter morning. The sky was a solid blue and the sun was shining. Birds chirped and flittered enjoying the pleasant seventy-five degree weather. There was no sign that a freak winter storm had turned the city, and her life, upside down just a few days earlier.
She didn’t know whether to thank magic or unpredictable Texas weather for this beautiful day. All she knew was that she was damn grateful to be alive and to still have the people she loved. Happiness knitted her heart as she glanced down at the two hands holding each one of her own. Cade stood on one side of her and Rayez on the other. The two men she loved wore dark suits and grim expressions.
The priest wrapped up the Lord’s Prayer and made the sign of the cross. Selene said her own silent prayer of thanks and added her amen to the others. Then she held her breath as Warren’s casket was lowered into the hole in the ground. She still couldn’t believe the bastard was dead. That she and Cade were finally free.
The tent was packed with people, many famous, many part of the city staff, mostly in suits and expensive dresses, some in uniform. She wasn’t going to have any gathering reception after the funeral, so people lined up to pay their respects to her before shuffling out of the tent. She released Cade and Rayez’s hands with reluctance, and stiffened her spine, ready to do her duty.
Mr. Smythe, Warren’s attorney stopped in front of her and took her hands in his bony ones. “So sorry for your loss, my dear. Warren would have loved all this,” he said.
Yeah. Warren always loved to put on a show and this circus would have been right up his alley. She was glad he was dead. No regrets. She smiled at Mr. Smythe. “Thank you for coming,” she said. “I’ll see you Monday.”
“Yes, 8 a.m. sharp,” he said, squeezing her hand before moving on. As Warren’s adopted children, she and Cade inherited the lion’s share of the estate, aside from a few bequests here and there. They would have to meet with the lawyers to iron out the details.
A woman now stood in front of her. She was dressed in an understated but elegant black dress. She held out a manicured hand with blood red nails. “I’m Matilda, a friend of your father’s from a long time ago,” she said.
“Stepfather,” Selene corrected her.
The woman inclined her head and a corner of her mouth went up the slightest bit. “Yes. What a horrible way to die, burned in a house fire,” she said, with a delicate shudder. “Have they figured out what started it?”
The official story was the freak winter storm shorted some electrical wiring, which led to the fire that burned most of the house down and killed Warren. “Faulty wiring,” Selene said, her tone frosty. Rayez moved closer to her in silent support.
Matilda looked from one to the other, with a faint smile and knowing eyes. “My sympathies,” she said and glided away. Selene stared at her departing figure. Did she know something? How could she? Strange woman.
Selene’s smile grew stiff and frozen as she shook hands and murmured thanks too many times to count. When the priest took his leave, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Rayez pulled her into his side, against his warmth. She smiled at him, then at Cade. “Let’s blow this joint, y’all.”
“Meet you at the car,” Cade said and raced off. She and Rayez walked out of the tent their arms wrapped around each other’s waists. She leaned her head on his arm. “Did you notice anything unusual about that woman, Matilda?”
“No,” he rumbled into her ear, sparking a warmth in her as always. “Besides the fact that she was rude and had a morbid curiosity.” They strolled past an austere line of police cars, limousines and black SUVs.
“When did you know you loved me?”
“It sort of hit me when I thought I was about to lose you,” he said, tightening his hold on her. “When he had his hands around your throat.”
Selene’s hand fluttered to her throat, touching the soft material of the scarf wrapped around it. She’d almost blacked out in Warren’s grip. The encounter had left deep marks on her skin and she’d been wearing scarves and turtle necks since then. And pain, but that had eased since. “You know, you could have left long before then,” she said. “Why didn’t you?”
“I don’t know,” he said.
“Because it was the right thing to do, Mr. Good Samaritan?” Rayez was the most decent man, djinn, whatever, she’d ever met.
In fact, he’d taken Mariyam in her bottle back to the djinn realm so she could perhaps be healed and contained in someplace a bit more spacious. She’d missed him with a terrible loneliness, almost like back when she’d been split into two. She shivered and snuggled into his warmth.
“It was the right thing to do,” he said, unruffled by her teasing. “But I just couldn’t imagine leaving you.”
After a pause, he shrugged. “Maybe my subconscious understood the truth before I did.”
“I’m glad he died knowing he didn’t break me.”
“You’re an amazing woman,” Rayez said, placing a kiss on her hair. “Strong, beautiful, amazing.”
She smiled up at him and he brushed a gentle kiss over her lips. They walked the rest of the way in silence. When they reached the car, Rayez gave her soft squeeze before moving away.
He pulled out the fob and unlocked the car, then held the doors open for her and Cade. Once they were all in and buckled, he drove slowly past graves, stone angels and old shade trees. Silence reigned in the car, it was a beautiful day and she didn’t want to waste it. Life was too precious.
“You know, I’m thinking a picnic in Memorial Park sounds like a good idea,” she said. “Let’s find a nice place by Buffalo Bayou.”
“I just happen to have packed along a picnic lunch and a Frisbee in the trunk,” Rayez said with a wink.
“You did?” Cade asked from the back seat. “Yay! Picnic! Picnic! Picnic!”
Selene shared a sideways glance with Rayez and grinned. Her heart felt full and content, brimming with the simple happiness of being loved and loving in return. Yes, she loved this djinn who made all her wishes come true.
About the Author
Mina Khan is a Texas-based writer and food enthusiast. She writes about djinns (genies), dragons, hunks and whatever else sparks her fancy. She also writes a weekly food column for her local newspaper. Originally from Bangladesh, she is now a proud West Texan.
Her first published work, The Djinn’s Dilemma, won the novella category of the 2012 Romance Through The Ages (published) contest. A Tale of Two Djinns won the 2013 Readers’ Crown for best paranormal romance. Wildfire, her most recent release, is a finalist in the 2014 PRISM and 2014 Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence.
For more information check out her:
Blog: Stories by Mina Khan http://minakhan.blogspot.com/
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Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/Mina.Khan.Author/
Twitter: @SpiceBites
Goodreads Author Page http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5234352.Mina_Khan
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Other Books by Mina Khan
The Djinn’s Dilemma
A Tale of Two Djinns
Dead: A Ghost Story
Wildfire: A Paranormal Mystery with Cowboys & Dragons
Dead Drop
A My Immortals Series Novella
Carolyn Jewel
About Dead Drop
Wallace Jackson has so little magic she expects to be kicked out of her group of street witches being trained to use their gifts and work with demons. No one is more shocked than she is when a powerful demon proves her wrong. And then asks a favor of her.
The demon Palla is a warlord’s enforcer, a stone cold killer. Wallace Jackson is a pacifist witch with a dangerous power. He wants nothing to do with humans until he needs Wallace to help him free his former lover from a living death and release her spirit from unimaginable suffering.
Dead Drop is set in the My Immortals series world where demons and magic-using humans called the magekind are not quite getting along. Most people have no idea they’re living in what amounts to a magical war-zone.
Dead Drop is about 30,000 words (120 pages).
Chapter 1
Wallace turned around and, oh, geez, Randi stood way too close. Her stomach hollowed out with a pinch that hurt this time. She couldn’t avoid bumping into the other woman. She yelped and lifted her arm in an attempt to keep her paper cup of water from spilling all over her and the kitchen floor. The collision wasn’t an accident. No, of course not.