The Seven Kings of Jinn

He smiled, pleased with his son’s passionate oration. “Such fine words I weave.”

“Yes, Father.”

“So.” He straightened, his huge seven and a half feet tall frame moving sinuously on the throne. “The next phase is in place. Circumstances have forced Ari into using the powers gifted to her at birth?”

“Yes, Father. And I promised I would ask you to help her find the shaitan who has hurt her mortal father.”

Azazil nodded. “She has begun to trust you?”

“I believe so.”

“Good.”

“If Master would see fit to do this for her, I believe Ari would also come to trust you.”

Like a serpent slithering across Azazil’s face, a smile slid into place. “Excellent.”

Chapter 21

The realm of truth and lies

Charlie had a way of taking Ari’s mind off things. Jai might not like that, but he accepted it as he watched the two of them laugh through a foreign movie without the subtitles, translating for the actors on screen and coming up with ridiculous lines that even amused him. Sitting together on the couch, close, their arms brushing, Ari’s chin tilted up as she laughed into Charlie’s face, Jai could suddenly see the years of friendship between them. They were comfortable, in sync. Jai was still suspicious of Charlie and his interest in the jinn, but it hadn’t taken him long in close quarters with the two of them to see that the kid genuinely cared about Ari. Probably loved her, even.

Right now she needed that familiarity, and the comfort Jai was unable to provide her. All he could do was sit back and watch as she grew sadder and angrier over all the changes in her life. It had made him panic, that darkness in the depths of her forever-changing eyes. The last thing they needed was for Ari to spiral into the black, especially when she was just getting a handle on her powers. So it was a relief to see her acting like Ari again. Even if it was this little prick bringing her back to the light.

Keeping his eyes trained on his book, Jai sighed, wondering when and if the Red King would ever show up. Despite his tendency to distrust everything and everyone, there was something about that jinn king. If Jai didn’t trust him, he at least liked the ancient immortal. Had he been wrong about him? Was he going to leave Ari’s dad to die? Sliding a furtive glance Ari’s way, Jai tried not to worry. But what would happen to Ari if Derek died?

Are we irritating you? Ari’s voice echoed in his mind. Jai bit back a smile, keeping his gaze on the pages of his book.

Not at all. In fact, I’m amazed at your ability to rewrite a script on the spot.

Her laughter floated in his brain like champagne bubbles, making his heart throb. Jai slid his hand over his chest on the place that ached, wanting to contain the feeling somehow.

We used to do this when we were kids. She'd grown more than proficient at using telepathy. As she spoke to him with her mind, she still engaged in conversation with Charlie. It was difficult to do. Few could.

Ah, years of practice then.

Yeah. It’s nice. Feels like old times.

You know your boy hasn’t had a drink or a smoke in days. Why did he tell her that? He wasn’t supposed to encourage her with Charlie. Well, you can’t encourage her with you so…

I know. At least one good thing has come out of all of this, right?

Hearing the melancholy creep into her voice again, Jai hurried to reassure Ari. Everything will be fine. I promise.

For a moment he didn’t think she’d answer, but then:

If you say so, then I believe you.

Something in her tone made his heart pound, and he lifted his head to look at her. She gazed back at him, her expression unreadable but serious. Jai gave her a slight nod.

If she believed in him, there was no way he would let her down.

Ari mentally berated herself for her inability to ignore Jai for more than five minutes—using telepathy to talk to him behind Charlie’s back? What was that? She had little time to self-flagellate, however, as her attention was suddenly focused on the creepy dark, writhing shadows making their way across the living room walls. The atmosphere in the room grew charged and the spot in front of the television screen shimmered.

Jai muttered, “Incoming,” and he sprang to his feet to place himself between Ari and the shimmer.

Oranges, reds, and yellows burst before them and this time, Ari barely felt the heat of the smokeless flames as they licked at them. The flames disappeared and in their stead stood the Red King. Relieved, she shot to her feet, stumbling into Jai’s side. Charlie stood behind her and rested his palm on her lower back to support her.