The Seven Kings of Jinn

Ari tried not to grimace as she stared up into Charlie’s bloodshot eyes. “Thanks for coming. Where were you?”

Charlie’s gaze cast about, as if he couldn’t meet her eyes. “I was hanging with Rickman.”

Bitter shock jarred her and she retreated from him. He was still getting wasted with Mel? She shook her head, dazed, not able to deal with her disappointment. It was too much all at once.

God, how naive she’d been to think that Charlie could change overnight.

“Thanks for coming,” she mumbled, fighting hard not to cry as she leaned on her dad’s bed and wrapped her hand around his white blanketed foot. “This isn’t happening.”

“Ari,” there was a world of regret in Charlie’s voice, and she watched from the corner of her eye as he reached out for her. Something stopped him, however. Perhaps the brittle tension in her body. “Ari, I’m sorry about your dad. What can I do?”

Apparently nothing. She shook her head and turned to Jai. “What kind of jinn would do this?” Strangely, at this moment, he seemed like the only one she could rely upon.

“I don’t know. There are many jinn capable of causing physical illness in humans, physical illness that no modern medicine can cure.”

Ari tried not to panic. “What do you mean there’s no cure?”

Jai’s face was taut with determination. “We could try tellicherry bark. It’s usually the only thing that brings a human back from jinn poison.”

“Okay.” Ari nodded, breathing too fast. “Good. okay. Where do we get it?”

“It’s scarce but my tribe should have some.”

“Then go get it.”

He studied her. There was a sternness in his eyes where only moments ago there had been sympathy. “I can’t leave your side.”

Another burst of rage shot through her. Rage at her own dependency on the three men in this hospital room who all seemed bent on letting her down. “This is my father we’re talking about,” she growled, glaring up at him.

“The Red King hired me to protect you with specific instructions not to leave your side. Ever. Do you think I usually spend 24/7 joined to the hip of a client? No. But that’s what your uncle wants, and so I do it. I can’t leave your side, Ari. I’d be in breach of my contract with the Red King.”

Ari’s jaw locked. She was trying desperately not to cry angry tears. She looked at Charlie, wishing he could help her just this once. It would have been nice if Charlie had shown up sober and together, so she had one less thing to worry about. And Jai. Ari glanced sharply back at him, surprised to see his gaze pensive as he watched her with what almost seemed like uncertainty. Jai always projected authority and capability. Like he could take care of any situation. Like she could be safe with him. Why did he have to let her down, too?

“Please,” she begged, throwing her pride away. “Please, help me. Jai, he’s my dad.”

He was silent for a long time. Tension manifested between them, rippling in the air. Finally, he stepped from her, shook himself, and cleared his throat as if discomfited. Ari’s cheeks were hot. Her heart pounded. “Okay.” He nodded, grim-faced. “I’ll go get it.”

The crushing weight on her chest eased and Ari had to wrap her arms around herself to stop her from diving into Jai’s arms in gratitude. “Thank you.”

Without another word, the air around him flickered and he went up in a blaze that brought a surprised curse from Charlie’s lips. He departed and the silence afterward was thick and uncomfortable. Ari didn’t know what to say to Charlie.

How was it possible to miss someone when they were standing right next to you?

When he took a few steps toward her and wrapped his arms around her, Ari let him embrace her. She couldn’t speak.

She wanted more from him than this and now she was finally beginning to believe he might never be capable of more.

Little over two minutes later, the air in the room crackled, the lights flickered, and shadows seemed to slither across the walls. Flames erupted on the other side of her dad’s bed and both Ari and Charlie jolted at the unexpected appearance of the Red King. He stood in a black T-shirt and jeans, his massive frame seeming to occupy the entire room. His red hair shone under the fluorescents and his blue eyes cut through them like shards of opal.

“What the…” Charlie stepped in front of her.

Ari made a huffing noise as she pushed him gently aside. “Charlie, this is…” How should she introduce him? She grimaced, feeling awkward.

The Red King, however, merely smiled. “Nice to see you again.” Then he turned to Charlie and his eyes turned to ice chips. “This must be Charlie Creagh. I’m Ari’s uncle, the Red King. You may call me Your Highness.” He shifted his gaze back to Ari. “Jai doesn’t trust this guy. I’ll remain wary of him.”