Of Wish and Fury (Seven Kings of Jinn)

“Hey,” Jai said as Ari blinked up at him, confusion turning to remembrance.

Her eyes widened and she struggled to sit up. He leaned around her, his arms under hers, pulling her up gently into a sitting position. Ari grabbed his arm before he could take it back. “You’re okay?”

Jai smiled despite himself, bemused that was her first question. “I’m okay.”

Ari gazed at Jai like he was the first man she’d ever seen. Relief throbbed through her and she clutched tighter to his arm. She felt icky and disorientated, but the pain she remembered was completely gone. What had happened? She was back with the Guild?

Her fingers slipped down his arm as Jai tried to gently remove them, the pads of her fingertips tingling as they brushed over his hand. Don’t let go. She almost pouted when he pulled back, his smile disappearing as wariness crept over his face. Ari blinked up in confusion, not understanding his expression. “What happened?”

When he was done explaining everything to her, Ari pulled her bed clothes back.

“What are you doing?” Jai frowned, blocking her path.

“Getting out of bed. There’s another asshole after me. I have to deal with it.”

“Get back in bed. You almost died,” he growled. “And don’t think I’m letting you away with the stunt you pulled.”

Ari gaped at him, indignation flooding her. “Is that your idea of a thank you?”

Jai raised an eyebrow, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Thank you?” he huffed. “You want me to say thank you for almost killing yourself?”

I want you to say thank you for saving your life! I want you to say Ari, I get it now!

Bitter disappointment tingled on her tongue, and Ari shook her head. “I want nothing from you.”

Before he could react, the door to the bedroom burst open and Charlie took three huge strides toward her, brushing Jai aside and crushing Ari up into a hug so big it pulled her onto her feet. She hugged him back, comforted by the familiar feel of him.

“I was so worried,” Charlie said hoarsely, his words tickling her ear.

“I’m okay.” She gave him another squeeze and stepped back without letting go. She still felt a little unsteady on her feet.

Fallon stood in between Jai and the Red King, their intimidating height and presence making the girl look diminutive. Ari barely had time to acknowledge the Red King with a grateful smile — he had saved her life — when Fallon punched her playfully on the upper arm. “Check you out.” She grinned. “You survived a haqeeqah. I think I’ve found a new god to worship.” She bowed her head with an insolent spark in her eyes.

Ari threw the Red King a quizzical look. “Haqeeqah?”

Her uncle smiled indulgently and Ari caught that quick look of fondness he tried so hard to hide. Was she coming to trust him, after all? “It’s female for truth. It’s the essence of the power of an emerald carved from Mount Qaf itself and is pure in its source, its power. As pure as truth.”

“And it nearly killed me?”

His eyes darkened. “Yes.”

Charlie’s arm bristled under her hand. “Did you find out who did it?”

Red didn’t flinch under their expectant and aggressive regard. Instead, he gave a quick shake of his head. “No one will admit to it, and those I suspected have been proven innocent by Azazil.”

Charlie glowered. “So that’s it? This is ridiculous. How are we supposed to protect Ari from not one, but three enemies, and not even know who the last one is?”

“We don’t know who he is,” Jai interjected. “But we do know he wasn’t coming after Ari. He was coming after me.”

“Yeah,” Fallon threw him a ‘duh’ look, “but only to get you out of the way so he could get to Ari.”

They began talking over one another, and Ari’s head throbbed. She gazed passively at the Red King and he gave her a sympathetic smile.

Thank you for saving my life, she told him telepathically.

His eyes sharpened. You’re very welcome. I will always be there.

Thank you for saving his life, too.

Red’s smile dropped as he shot a quick look at Jai before turning back to her. You did that. Not I.

Yes, she did. Because the thought of losing him…

Ari.

Her eyes met Red’s bright blue ones again. Yeah?

That’s why he was hurt. They’ll try to use him against you. Hide it. How you feel.

Shaking her head infinitesimally, Ari straightened her spine. I’m done hiding. It’s time to hunt.

A rakish grin flashed across the Red King’s face and he clapped his hands to hush the squabbling. “Enough. One enemy at a time. And it seems Ari is ready to kick some ass.”

They all looked at her with raised eyebrows and pursed mouths.

She quirked her own eyebrow at them, acknowledging that pretending she was alright might actually help her. “You heard our liege,” she teased. “Let’s put this behind us and knock at least one of these guys down.”