Queen of Shadow and Ash: A Seven Kings of Jinn Novel Page 2

  Guilt pricked her conscience as she remembered exactly why they were here.

  Good morning. Jai gave her a soft smile, his beautiful green eyes mesmerizing her. She felt dumbstruck for a moment. At her reaction, Jai’s soft smile turned into a cocky grin, bringing Ari out of her stupor.

  Ari made a face at him, and he laughed. She couldn’t help but smile. Jai rarely laughed, and when he did, it felt as if she’d dipped her toes into warm water. Morning. They’d decided that while on Mount Qaf, it would be wiser to talk to one another telepathically whenever possible.

  He took a purposeful step toward her and Ari waited, her breathing growing shallow. The spicy, masculine scent of him seemed to swim around her in heady waves, and she could have sworn she swayed a little just before he reached for her. There was barely space between them as she tilted her head back to hold his gaze. She felt the tentative touch of his large hands on her hips, strong fingers kneading softly, as if testing her reaction. Ari’s breath fled her at the expression on Jai’s face. No one had ever looked at her like that before, like she was precious and extraordinary.

  Like she was everything.

  His hands slid slowly up her hips and around her waist. Ari couldn’t help the shivers that rippled over her—shivers that made Jai’s eyes flash and his lips part with soft exhalation.

  Vaguely, Ari remembered she shouldn’t be doing this. That there was something important to be done…

  Jai’s head dipped toward hers and Ari’s thoughts went on overload. Jai’s mouth, his taste, his heat, the bed, the rumpled covers, Jai’s abs, his hands, a trial, danger, Charlie.

  Oh crap. Charlie.

  She froze just as Jai’s lips were about to touch hers. He halted and pulled back a little, a confused furrow between his eyebrows. What?

  Oh man, this would not go over well, but surely Jai wanted her to be honest with him? I don’t feel right about us… doing anything while Charlie is in trouble. Plus, the Red King said maybe we should keep our relationship under wraps for a while. I didn’t agree at first, but the more I think about it, he might be right. People might try to use my feelings for you against me and vice versa.

  Jai retreated, and Ari immediately regretted speaking up. She wanted his lips back and his hands all over her. She wanted to pull his T-shirt off and explore him. But more than anything, she wanted her potential boyfriend (oh God, that word made her want to grin like an idiot) to stop looking at her like that. Like he was pissed. So, you want us to pretend we’re not together?

  Just in public.

  He narrowed his eyes, his thick lashes almost obscuring the vivid irises. We’re not in public.

  But Charlie…

  A dark cloud shadowed Jai’s face and he brushed past her, his anger trailing at the back of him like open flames. Ari winced and turned to face him. Okay, she wasn’t stupid. She knew that sounded bad. This isn’t about me and Charlie, if that’s what you’re thinking.

  Jai scoffed and refused to look at her, instead standing with his hands braced on the balcony railings as he looked out over the mountains. His brooding silence filled the room until Ari felt like she couldn’t breathe.

  Great. Their first day as whatever they were, and she’d already hurt him.

  It’s not because I’m in love with him and feel like I’m betraying him. She tried to explain. It’s just, he’s here facing death because he saved someone’s life, and I don’t feel like I should be allowed to be happy until I know he’s safe. And being with you… well, it makes me more happy than I can say. Even with all this going on.

  Jai sighed and slowly turned his head to look at her. You promise?

  The question caused an ache inside of her. This was a side to Jai she’d never seen before. He really was insecure about Charlie, and he couldn’t hide it anymore. He was making himself vulnerable to her.

  Wow.

  A rush of overwhelming love caved in on Ari’s chest and she struggled for a moment to catch her breath. She had to reassure him somehow. He had to know how she felt. Taking tentative steps toward him, Ari smiled with her eyes. I told you I don’t think of Charlie that way anymore. And I also made it clear to him how I feel about you.

  Surprise lit his eyes, and Jai straightened to his full height, turning to face her. Just as quickly as the surprise had hit him, the spark of hope she saw in his eyes faded. He glowered at her. You told Fallon you’d die trying to save him here.

  Realization dawned as she closed the distance between them. Ari had almost died to save Jai from a Haqeeqah—the essence of the emerald of Mount Qaf in its purest form, a weapon—and it was what had finally made him realize how much Ari truly cared for him. Did he now think that, because she’d die for Charlie, it somehow meant the same thing?

  Shaking her head, Ari reached up to touch his face, something she’d wanted to do almost from the moment she’d met him. Her fingers gently stroked his cheek, tracing his high cheekbones and lower to the firm, hard cast of his jawline. Instead of leaning into her touch as she’d dreamed he would, Jai tensed. Jai, she pleaded quietly, if you hadn’t noticed, I’m a guts and glory kind of girl. I think I’d die trying to protect anyone I care about. It’s just the way I’m wired, I guess. I would die trying to protect Charlie because I love him. He’s my family, and I don’t want to lose any more family. She took another step so her body pressed flushed to him, her fingers falling to his lips. The sound of his shallow breathing emboldened her. But Jai… I would die a hundred deaths to save you because the thought of being here without you now, the thought of losing you, is unimaginable. Their eyes locked and heat bloomed in her cheeks as Jai pressed closer to her, his hand sliding across her lower back and gently guiding her even more tightly against him. Jai, you have no idea how hard I’ve fallen in love with you. I don’t think a person could fall any harder.

  His eyes widened, his lips parting with unspoken surprise. Suspended anticipation sprung between them and then was shattered by a loud knock at the door.

  He hadn’t responded to her declaration.

  Ari bit back a curse. Everyone was always interrupting them!

  The door banged open before Jai could answer the knock, and to Ari’s utter shock, the White King strolled casually into the room, his emerald robes billowing behind him. The snap of fabric barely missed the one-eyed face of his monstrous nisnas, Vadit, who trotted awkwardly behind him with his one arm and one leg. Ari vividly remembered his attack with a wince.

  Stunned at his flagrant disregard for his father’s wishes, Ari stood immobile as the White King eyed Jai blankly. “This is the ginnaye?” he asked in his flat voice.

  Jai studied him carefully, unaware who they were dealing with since he’d never actually met the White King. Ari wanted to grip his hand and tug him behind her. Instead, she sighed as if she was dealing with a mere nuisance rather than a powerful and dangerous immortal. Yeah, she was going to take a leaf out of dear old dad’s book and play the game his way. “Jai, this is the White King.”

  He lunged forward as if to attack, and Ari quickly yanked him back to her. Vadit let out a string of rumbling, warning growls.

  “Vadit, hush,” the White King commanded as he held up a beseeching hand to Jai. “I merely want to converse with my daughter,” he promised smoothly.

  Her attempt to push Jai behind her was met with angry disbelief and she resigned to letting him stand at her side. Jai reminded her of a pot boiling over, all frothy and impatient. Ari’s muscles tensed as fear coalesced in her chest. She didn’t want Jai anywhere near White.

  However, perhaps it was the memory of her dream in which she’d seen how White had once been ‘approachable’, but Ari found herself unafraid of him. At least unafraid that he would harm her. Or maybe she was just tired of running from him. Eyeing him suspiciously, Ari crossed her arms over her chest in defiance and took a step forward. “About what?”

  Something flickered in his gaze at her attitude, and she could almost see him re-calculating whatever plan he’d come here with. “I want to help you save Charlie.”

  “And we’re just to believe that?” Jai sneered.

  The jinn king’s eyes slid so slowly over to Jai it gave the room time to ice over with his menace. “Perhaps you should collar your dog, daughter. His refusal to show me deference might get him put down.”

  Instead of frightening him, Ari knew it only made Jai want to attack. She shot her guardian a warning look, and he glared at her. I’m not a fool. I’m a trained ginnaye. Do you think I’m going to attack an immortal jinn king?

  To be honest, she wasn’t sure. Jai was more impulsive where Ari was concerned. Just as she often reacted without thinking where he was concerned.

  “If you could make your point without being rude, we would appreciate it,” Ari replied to White.

  To her surprise, White nodded. “If you agree to return to my home here on Mount Qaf for an indefinite amount of time, I will speak for Charlie at his trial. Together, Red and I can save him.”

  The words unlocked the darkness. It uncoiled in her chest like a python lashing out at its nearest victim and Ari had to grab hold of it, slamming her eyes shut and gritting her teeth to stop herself from commanding White to be suppliant to her for daring to use Charlie’s predicament against her. She reined in the darkness and shoved it back down, her hands trembling so much she had to clench them into fists.

  She could say yes, and Charlie could walk away unscathed. But she’d be here at the mercy of White, who wanted to bring Azazil to heel. Had it been so long since his talk with his mother that he’d forgotten what such a thing would do to the world? Or was that what he wanted now?

  Praying Charlie would never find out that she’d walked away from a chance to save him, Ari shook her head. “I’m never going to trust you, you know. Your deals, your seeming patience… it’s all hiding the truth. You’ll destroy us.”

  She thought she caught a note of wonder in White’s eyes before he cocked his head to the side in that alien and disturbing way of his. “Your stubborn determination to ignore me is going to get one of your friends killed, Ari. I am surprised at you.” His eyes narrowed and then he looked at Jai. “Or maybe it's because we're dealing with the wrong friend.” Jai glared back at him, unflinching. “Is that what you want? Me to hurt him?”

  “As stupid as this may sound to you, all I want is to be left alone.”

  White shook his head. “I made you, Ari. I made you for a purpose. I will not walk away.”

  “Why?” She took an unthinking step toward him, and at Vadit’s growl, Jai’s hand wrapped around her wrist and he pulled her back. “Do you really think commanding your father to your bidding is in line with your supposed wishes to return things to the way they should have been; to maintain the balance? According to Red, commanding Azazil to your every whim could bring destruction to the realms.” Okay, maybe Red hadn’t said all that, but Lilif had.

  The White King froze at the knowledge she had acquired, and then he sighed as if deciding it didn’t matter. “I do not want to command my father for every little whim, Ari. I just want one thing from him. Something he will never hand over unless I force it from him. One thing.”

  Ari shook her head, disbelieving. “You said yourself you want to be sultan.”

  “Did I? I do not remember ever saying that. I said I want to return the order. Everyone else believes that my purpose is to dethrone Azazil. Let them. My father knows better. He knows exactly what I want, and he will play my brothers off each other to keep me from getting it. But he knows you can get me what I want. He knows, Ari, and he will do whatever it takes to stop that from happening. So you should consider carefully before you trust him.”

  Trying not to let him play mind games with her, Ari shrugged. “What thing? What’s the thing you want?”

  “Something that will restore the jinn world. Something that will ensure chaos remains within its own space and does not intrude into others and bring the destruction you have spoken of.”

  For a moment, Ari was lost in the unusual sincerity in White’s gaze, but the sound of Jai clearing his throat made her shake her head, spilling the strange and unwelcome questions out of it. “I’m sorry. I can’t help you. I don’t trust you, and I want nothing to do with the power within me. I’d quite happily spend the rest of my life pretending it doesn’t even exist.”

  White’s features froze, and then a grim determination etched into the hardness. “That is foolish and naïve. Soon, others will discover what you are. You are going to spend the rest of your life running and fighting unless you let me help you. Unless you help me.”

  “Here’s the thing… Red is just as powerful as you are, and he’s protecting me with no apparent strings attached. I don’t need you to protect me.”

  “My brother is my father’s puppet, Ari. He protects you as long as Azazil wishes him to protect you. You will discover that hard truth soon enough.” He took a step toward her, and Ari wanted to retreat. Her real father was so huge he could crush her windpipe with one squeeze of his hand. “I am not asking for much from you, daughter. I want one thing, and then you will be free. And I would even free your mother.”

  Cheap shot. Ari sneered, disgust awakening the darkness again. She shoved it back down and let her own genuine anger rise. “I might have a little more faith in your promises if you did anything that wasn’t ninety-nine percent selfish. Free my mom just for the hell of it, and maybe we’ll talk.”

  The White King shook his head, his expression blank once more. “I am a businessman, and that is poor business.”

  Ari shrugged again, looking braver than she felt. “Then I guess this meeting is over.”

  “I’d say it is,” Red growled as he moved through the open doorway with a predatory anger. “Azazil commanded you to keep your distance, White.”

  With barely a glance at his brother, White urged Vadit toward the door, and with a look of utter boredom he replied flatly as he brushed past Red, “As if I ever listen to Father.”

  As soon as he was gone, Ari let out the breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding.

  The Red King's body seemed to vibrate with uncoiled anger. “Are you okay?”

  Jai rubbed a comforting hand over her shoulder. “She handled herself beautifully.”

  She shot him a grateful smile and nearly melted at the pride in his eyes.

  Oh wow.

  A throat clearing broke their gaze and Ari glanced up at her uncle. He smirked at her knowingly, and then, just as quickly, grew serious. He nodded at her. “You can tell me what White said afterward. For now, it’s time for Charlie’s trial.”

  Chapter

  Two

  The Lawlessness of Kings & Courts

  It had taken a while for Charlie’s lungs to get used to the thick, rich smell of damp soil. It was everywhere. The ground was untouched, packed dirt. The walls, at least here, had been quarried of their emerald. If he’d had to sit all night in a room with emeralds, he might have gone insane with need. Charlie winced as he leaned his head back against the dirty rock and nicked his scalp. That was about the fiftieth time he’d done that.

  He eyed the bars that formed his cell down in the dungeons of Sultan Azazil’s palace. They were the only source of light, the iron aglow with a fiery magic. The huge shaitan that threw him in had warned him that if he touched the bars, they would incinerate him. After hearing a scream wrench the night air last night, followed by the vomit-inducing stench of burned flesh, Charlie was glad he’d chosen to sit in the farthest corner of the small space and take the shaitan at his word. After the scream of the dying man wrenched the air, the chatter all around him from the other prisoners silenced into death and somehow, impossibly, Charlie had drifted in and out of sleep.

  The Red King had visited him the previous night, the secret of Red’s part in turning Charlie into a sorcerer threading a fragile bond between them. Charlie didn’t know what Red wanted, or if he was only following the sultan’s orders, but he liked to think of Red as a decent guy. At least whenever he looked at Ari, Charlie was sure he detected feeling in the jinn king’s gaze. He had to believe that one of these scary ass creeps was on their side.

  He had to believe that Red would not let him die today.

  The jinn king had promised him that much last night, making an oath to do everything he could to save Charlie’s life. Charlie’s stomach roiled and his chest squeezed tight with fear. How had everything culminated in this? His life was weird, but this? Sitting in a dungeon in another realm, waiting to find out whether he was going to die for killing a maniacal sorcerer?

  Maybe he’d smoked a little too much dope this last year, he thought regretfully.

  A crackle hissed in the air and Charlie heard the mumblings of a guard and the shuffling of feet. Was that the first prisoner being released for trial?

  Was it only a day ago he was sitting with Fallon as she soothed him over the Jai and Ari situation? The Roes had been brilliant, helping him work his way through the guilt of killing a man.

  He’d killed a man.

  Worse still, his best friend was still too weak from her own attack at the hands of the same man to help talk him through it. And just to add to the shit storm circling his life, Jai had sat at Ari’s bedside, waiting for her to wake up so he could tell her he wanted to be with her, too.

  Charlie had lost Ari.

  Fallon was a comfort. Charlie could listen to her talk about nothing and everything, and for a while, it kept the world at bay. That’s what she’d been doing—talking to him about her first job as a hunter, her small hands tucking his growing hair behind his ear, rubbing his shoulders, stroking the tattoo around his wrist, measuring her small hand against his own. Silly, familiar stuff that made him feel close to her, that numbed the pain of losing someone so exquisite as his Ari. Especially when he had no one else to blame but himself for that loss.