Bound (Secrets of the Djinn) (17 page)

Jalynx inclines her head.  “Of course, though I don’t suppose she remembers me.”

“Her memories are coming back slowly,” Malik says.  “Have you come alone?”

“Yes.  A legion of troops coming through the veil would
be noticed.  I came ahead to investigate.  I will send word back to the others that you are alive and well.  Then they will join us.”

What??  “What do you mean?” I ask.

“Perhaps we should check on the others,” Malik says, changing the subject rather too quickly for my liking.  He is right; we do need to make sure everyone else is okay.  The images in my brain stopped and I’m praying it’s because the fight has ended and all the djinn are gone.  I don’t want to contemplate the other possibility.

Impatient to find out what’s going on, I nod reluctantly.  “Fine.”

Malik smiles at my reluctance.  “After you,” he says, gesturing up the long driveway.

I don’t think so.  “Since I don’t know your friend, I’d rather not walk ahead of her.”

Anger flashes in the other woman’s eyes but she quickly tamps it down.  “Of course.”  She takes the lead.  Malik catches up to her and I walk behind the pair, not caring how paranoid I seem.  I have the right to be paranoid.  Though, at the moment, I’m much more concerned about Brielle.  I don’t think she’s going to like this new development.  If I don’t like the possessiveness Jalynx has in her eyes every time she looks at my brother, Brielle will like it even less.

Zane is already walking towards us when the house comes into view.  He’s sweaty and a little banged up, but nothing major.  His eyes find Jalynx first and his brows slam into a scowl
and his hand slips to the gun on his hip.  His face softens when he sees me.  His long strides soon bring him in front of us and instead of demanding to know who the stranger tagging along is, he sidesteps her and Malik and pulls me into his arms.  He kisses me deeply, showing how glad he is I’m unharmed.

A clearing of Malik’s throat brings us back to reality.  “I may like you, human, but she is still my sister.”

My face flushes at the rebuke.  Zane is unrepentant.  “My sister has seen unending danger by your lead.  I think that gives me some leeway with your sister.”

“Your sister has chosen a human for a mate?” Jalynx asks.  The rabid disdain in her voice doesn’t go unnoticed by any of us.

“Most of my memories may be suppressed but I seem to recall the Marid are supposed to like humans,” I say, anger beginning to seethe through me.

“As a master cares for a dog,” Jalynx says.  “We keep them from harm, but we don’t invite them into our beds.”

Zane and I both take a step towards the djinni, but Malik’s tall form suddenly blocks our path.  He’s facing the newcomer.  “Jalynx, it is not wise to upset my sister.  You may not survive her wrath.  As for your distaste for humans, you will either suppress it or return from whence you came.”

Is that betrayal
washing over Jalynx’s face?  It’s gone before I can be sure.  She bows her head to Malik.  “As always, your wishes are my future actions.”

“Who the hell are you?” Zane
finally demands.

Not wanting a brawl, I take Zane’s hand and encourage him to walk towards the house instead of Jalynx.  “Malik will explain when everyone is together.” 
He had better.  Zane’s as pleased as I am about having to wait, but he bites his tongue and walks with me.

The others
are gathered in the sitting room again.  Weapons are being returned to the closet and a small pile of copper items is set aside.  Apparently, not all of the djinn were disintegrated when Malik and I joined forces.  The horror of the whole thing hasn’t quite sunk in yet, so I turn my eyes away from the copper in an attempt to keep it at bay a bit longer.

It doesn’t take long for Brielle to narrow in on Jalynx.  “Who the hell are you?”

“A friend,” Malik says. 

Zane snorts.  “A friend who believes she is better than us lowly humans.  Why was it again the djinn were sent behind the veil and the humans were given the earth?” 

Jalynx takes a step towards him and it’s Malik again who intervenes.  “Unfortunate comments aside,” Malik gives a warning look to Jalynx who keeps her mouth tightly closed, “Jalynx has been fighting for the safety of humans for many years.  She is an ally.”

Trying to cool her temper down, Jalynx’s eyes scan the room.  They stop on Roman
and her temper is far from cool.  “You are keeping company with the Defiler?”  Whirling on me, she demands, “Why haven’t you killed him yet and removed his mark?”  Malik has to give Roman a warning look filled with dire consequences to keep him from crossing the room and attacking Jalynx.

“You
’re really at making friends,” I drawl.  “Should we call the human neighbors over so you can spread your sunshine even farther?”

I knew Mrs. Gregori wouldn’t be able to remain silent. 
Because of her heart condition, she was forced to stay in the house and she’s gunning for a fight.  “You bring another under this roof?  You won’t stop until we are all dead.”

“You’re makin’ it damn hard to keep my promise, son,” Hank adds, standing close to his wife.

With this many sparks flying, we need to get out of this small room before someone explodes.  “The sitting room upstairs has more room.  Perhaps we should finish this conversation there.  Away from the weapons,” I can’t help but adding.  It hasn’t escaped my attention that Jalynx keeps her hand close to her side, ready to pull gun or knife if needed.

Jalynx’s eyes flash with ire.  “I do not lay down my weapons for anyone.”

“Then you will leave,” Malik informs her. 

The two of them stare long and hard at each other until Jalynx gives in.  She places an impressive amount of firepower and blades on a small end table.  “I hope we do not regret this,” Jalynx says, her eyes darting to Roman.

“I have no quarrel with you,” Roman tells her.  Disbelief clear on her face, she doesn’t bother to respond verbally.

Tugging on Zane’s arm, I practically drag him out of the room.  The other
s follow at their own pace with Hank and Mrs. Gregori taking the rear.  I don’t think it’s a mobility issue.  I think it’s more that they don’t want any of us djinn at their backs.

At the top of the stairs, I let go of Zane who
moves near the sliding glass doors and folds his arms over his chest.  Roman takes up the same stance across from him.  They may both be considering throwing Jalynx through the glass.  Jalynx takes only a few steps away from the stairs to be sure her back is to no one, and Brielle is glaring daggers into her as she moves to the center of the room.  Brielle’s eyes haven’t met Malik’s since seeing Jalynx. 

To my brother, I say quietly, “Are you sure this is a good idea
having her here?”

He purses his lips slightly.  “No.”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Malik chuckles and addresses the room in general.  “I believe introductions are in order.  This is my friend, Jalynx.  She
is of the Marid djinn and she and I are part of a rebel faction that still fiercely clings to the belief that humans need to be protected from the war behind the veil.  Many of the djinn leaders began to put the need for victory ahead of this ideal.”  Before anyone can get even as much as a snort out, he continues, “Jalynx, you know Skye.  The dark haired gentleman over there is Zane, Skye’s lover.” 

My cheeks pink and I glare at my brother.  “He is more than my lover.”

Malik inclines his head in agreement.  “Yes, he is.  Zane and his sister, Brielle, this beautiful woman here, have been fighting their own war on this side of the veil.  They have done as much to save the human race as any Marid has.”

Brielle is not taken in by the flattery.  Sardonically, she says, “We do what we can.”

Malik’s eyes soften as he says, “You far surpassed any expectations I had.”  I want to elbow him in the ribs.  I think he meant it as a compliment, but it was a backhanded one at best.  Not having a clue why Brielle is still glaring at him, Malik hastily continues his introductions.  He points a finger in Roman’s direction.  “You know Roman.  He has left behind the Saitan and decided to fight on our side of the war.”  Roman’s face betrays no emotion, making it difficult to tell if he agrees or not.

“And the elderly?” Jalynx asks, making Mrs. Gregori’s blood boil so hot, I can feel the heat from here.

Malik shakes his head.  He is quickly losing patience with his friend.  “Age is not relevant in this war, Jalynx.  Hank can still take down the lower djinn as fast as you.  His wife has her own special skills that make her essential.”

Hmm, I wonder what those are. 
Instead of asking Malik, I say, “Why are you here, Jalynx?”  I don’t believe she simply came looking for Malik.  Unless it was for something other than the war.  Her admiration for him obviously goes beyond comrades in arms.

Jalynx’s response is terse. 
“I will not expose anything with the Defiler in the room.”

I shake my head and sigh.  “Please don’t call him that.  His name is Roman.”

“I know both who and what he is,” Jalynx snaps.

I’m beginning to wish she was blown away like the other djinn. 
Maybe it’s not too late.  Squelching the thought so I don’t dwell on the murder aspect, that will come later, I say, “Roman can be trusted.”

To my surprise, it’s Roman who speaks against him remaining.  “I will leave.  It is important to me to prove I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.  If that means making myself scarce for the moment, then so be it.”

“Thank you,” Malik says begrudgingly.  I think it pained him to say those words to Roman. 

Jalynx is unmoved by his words and glares at him until he has disappeared down the hall and into the bedroom he uses.  When she is convinced he is no longer within hearing distance, she says to Malik, “Your aunt comes for you and your sister.  She is bringing her personal guard and they intend to take you both prisoners.” 

Malik is unmoved.  “I appreciate you coming to warn me, but there is little chance of their success.”

Jalynx shakes her head.  “You underestimate her.”

By her, I assume she means our aunt.  “Jalynx…” Malik begins but lets his words die when Jalynx walks away from him. 

Moving farther into the room, Jalynx says over her shoulder, “Do you think she is stupid enough to try magic?”  Moving so quickly she is almost a blur, Jalynx gets close enough to me to hit the side of my head so hard, I fall to the floor, the edges of my vision turning black.  I close my eyes to fight the nausea welling up as my body feels the effect of yet another head wound.  My brain will not survive much longer if this keeps up.

I hear more than see the entire room converge on Jalynx.  When I am able to open my eyes without vomiting, I find her on the floor not far from where I lay.  Brielle has a knee on her back and a gun to the back of her head.  I guess she disagreed with the no weapons idea.  Apparently, it’s a family trait.  Zane is in front of Jalynx, his hand holding a large amount of her hair pulled taut and a knife to her neck.  Hank has pulled a shotgun from somewhere and has it trained on her face.  Even Mrs. Gregori has a gun trained on her from across the room.  Roman has energy crackling from his fingertips.  He is kneeling next to Zane and Brielle, ready to take over the fight. 

By far
, the scariest reaction is Malik’s.  His face is a shroud of black ire.  “Move away from her.”

It is clear he is the greatest danger to Jalynx at the moment
no matter how many physical weapons are trained on her.  Malik hasn’t left the spot he stood before Jalynx attacked me and he doesn’t move towards her now.  He doesn’t need to be close to her to hurt her. 

In almost perfect synchronization, Brielle, Zane and Roman back away from Jalynx
without a word.  As soon as they do, her body begins to rise in the air.  Any attempt at speech on her part is squelched by a surge of energy shooting through her and every part of her spasms.  She’s not just shaking, she’s having a seizure.  Malik is frying her brain.

“Stop it,” I rasp, trying to sit up. 
No one helps me because they are too focused on the scene in the middle of the room.  Malik ignores my weak words and I try again, louder.  “Malik, stop it.  She was proving a point.”  I don’t know why I’m defending the woman who just punched me in the head, but somehow, I understand what she was trying to do. 

“So am I,” Malik growls.

Zane finally helps me from the floor and I need to take a deep breath and stand perfectly still to make the world stop spinning.  “Malik,” I say even louder.  “She was proving to you I’m still vulnerable regardless of how much power you and I can wield.  She doesn’t deserve to die for being right.”

Slowly, Jalynx’s body stops twitching.  Malik’s power ebb
s and he lowers her to the floor.  I expect him to just drop her, but he seems to remember she’s his friend.  Still, no one rushes to check on her when Malik pulls his power back.  I can see she’s breathing from here.  That’s enough for me.  She did punch me in the head, after all, even if she was proving a point.

“What do you mean, she was pointing out that you’re still vulnerable?” Zane asks
, putting his arm around my waist to steady me.