“My lieutenant decided it would be fun to join the party. His words, not mine.” Azazil’s jaw clenched with emotion before he wiped it out of existence. “Do not concern yourself, son. I have dealt with Asmodeus and I have received his promise not to interfere in these matters again.”
As far as Red was aware, Azazil never exacted a promise from Asmodeus. He cajoled or manipulated or just cleaned up his mess. Red was glad he had done so this time, however. Ari’s enemies were powerful enough without adding Asmodeus to the mix. “Thank you. That will certainly make my job easier.”
The surrounding light dimmed, almost as if a rain cloud had blown over them. Azazil’s eyes narrowed and the Red King tried to hide his unease. “My question is… why did Asmodeus believe killing Jai would create such chaos for Ari?”
Because they love one another.
Red shrugged, the guilt clawing at his insides as he lied smoothly, “Jai is a powerful protector for Ari. Killing him would have made the game easier for the White King and Dalí.”
Azazil grinned, but it was malicious. “You’re making this so much more intriguing, son.”
Red straightened his spine, waiting for his father to pass judgment on his lie. His heart pounded hard in his chest.
The sultan sighed and eased back on his throne, boredom replacing his feral expression. “You are not to tell anyone about Asmodeus’s involvement. That is a command. Now… you may go.”
Not needing to be told twice, Red took measured steps into the peripatos while his heart demanded he run.
Jai sat on the opposite twin bed, watching Ari sleep. She’d been in and out of consciousness for about thirty-six hours, but Red’s healer, a young male jinn, had worked wonders on him and Ari. He didn’t know about Ari, but Jai felt almost 100% again. The guild was packing up. He could hear sounds of movement and the cadence of high and low voices rumbling through the walls as they prepared to leave for Ohio. They were a subdued bunch right now, uneasy and guilty over Anabeth’s betrayal. Jai didn’t blame them. He blamed the son-of-a-bitch whose betrayal came from Mount Qaf.
Fury tinged with panic burned through Jai and he dropped his gaze, glad that Fallon had finally talked Charlie into leaving Ari’s bedside. Ari’s near death experience had really shaken the kid up. Jai could only hope it had shaken him up enough to get his head out of his ass, along with all those talismans he had been obsessing over lately. Unable to keep from looking at Ari, from reassuring himself that she was alive, Jai glanced back up, relief tingling in his scalp when he saw how much color had returned to Ari’s cheeks.
She’d jumped in front of a jinn version of a bazooka to save him.
Jai still couldn’t wrap his head around it.
How was he supposed to act when she woke up? What was he supposed to say?
The vibration of his cell in his lap stole his gaze from her and Jai answered the call, glad to hear a familiar voice. “Trey.”
“I just heard,” Trey replied quietly. “Is she going to be alright? Are you?”
“I’m fine,” Jai assured him, but hearing his closest friend’s voice broke something within him and he whispered hoarsely, utter shock and confusion in the words, “She saved my life. She took the hit… and the last thing she did was to use her gift to command that kid to leave me alone. Why did she do that?” he ducked his head in embarrassment as tears pricked his eyes.
Trey was quiet for a moment. “I think you already know, man. And I think you’re a complete dick if you don’t make the right choice.”
“Trey.” Jai shook his head, frustration burning the softer emotion away. “It’s not that simple.”
“It is that simple,” Trey spat down the phone, and Jai's head jerked back at his vehemence. “They beat the shit out of you and he let it happen. For years. But she almost died to save you. There is a right and wrong choice here, Jai.”
“There’s too much going on.” Jai shook his head, glad to have a reason to postpone making any life-changing decisions. “We’re still hunting Dalí and Ari hasn’t even woken up y—”
A soft groan from Ari’s lips cut him off and Jai stood up, watching as she shifted in the bed, her head turning, her eyes opening in narrow slits until they widened at the sight of him standing over her. Her hair desperately needed washed and her cheek was creased from sleep. Although color had returned to her face, there was still a slick glow about her skin that spoke of fever.
Yet she was the most beautiful thing Jai had ever seen.
“She just woke up,” he told Trey quietly.
Trey sighed in relief. “Tell her I asked for her. And remember what I said.” He hung up without saying goodbye. Jai had a feeling his friend, for the first time, was truly pissed at him.