Darkness, Kindled (26 page)

Michael shrugged. “I could start alternating you so you don’t go out as a team of three and two, but individually.

That way you’d each get a break.”

Ari wrinkled her nose. “But not 
together.”

“There’s no rest for the wicked, I’m afraid.”

Fallon sighed. “Quick, Mom, give Dad some food, he’s starting to speak in cliché.”

Caroline chuckled and brought out a large tray of roast potatoes. She placed them next to the chicken and everyone settled in, plenty of food on their plates. Jai spoke to Michael about the possibility of setting up language classes for the rest of the Guild since his lessons with Ari had gone fairly well; Caroline and Trey discussed the latest sale of one of Trey’s paintings.

That left Ari and Fallon with Ari’s nosy curiosity over a rumor she’d heard. “So spill,” she murmured, tilting her head toward Fallon.

Fallon frowned. “About what?” she asked quietly.

“About a visitor Michael had and his interest in you.”

Fallon rolled her eyes. She knew exactly what Ari was talking about. Two weeks ago the young leader of a neighboring Guild—the McEttricks—paid Michael a courtesy visit. He’d just taken over the Guild after the passing of his uncle. And young Eli McEttrick was easy on the eyes.

Ari met him briefly when Michael introduced her, Jai, and Trey to him. The neighboring Guilds now knew Michael had assassins on retainer in case they ever needed them, and Eli had been curious to meet them. A big guy, tall and well built, Eli came across to Ari as the kind of guy who didn’t like BS. Well, Fallon Roe was the queen of zero-tolerance for BS.

Two days prior, upon returning from assignment with Jai, Ari bumped into Megan at the training center. She gleefully told Ari that Eli had paid another visit to Burlington, and he and Fallon had been seen getting rather cozy by his car.

Ari wanted to know what the deal was.

“It’s nothing,” Fallon replied in a hushed voice. “We met, we argued, we sparked, we argued some more, and then he kissed me out of the blue. It was nothing.”

Ari grinned. “Was it hot?”

Fallon kept her eyes on her plate and grumbled, “So freaking hot.”

“This might just—” Ari’s words were cut off into frozen silence as cutlery clattered to the table. Flames hissed to life in the Roe’s dining room and two tall, unfamiliar Jinn wearing stony expressions appeared out of the Peripatos.

Michael shot to his feet, his skin darkening with anger at the rude intrusion. “What is the meaning of this?”

Neither of the Jinn answered him; instead their gazes were fixed on Ari and Jai. Ari’s chest grew tight, a tingle of warning shivering down her spine. “Ari, daughter of the White King, and Jai Bitar of the Ginnaye Tribe, you have been summoned to appear before His Majesty, Azazil, Sultan of All.”

“What? Why?” Ari asked, slowly 
standing.

“It is not for us to question.” The two Jinn rounded the table and Ari backed into Jai. His hands gripped her shoulders.

“Just do as they say,” he told her quietly, the concern evident in his voice. Then he turned to Trey. “Tell Glass.

I want to make sure he and Red know what’s happening.”

Trey nodded, his jaw clenched in anger as he watched the Jinn take a hold of Jai and Ari. Ari felt cold at the Jinn’s touch and closed her eyes, letting him steal her into the whirlwind ride to Mount Qaf.

***

Azazil sat casually in his throne upon the dais in his large ballroom, eyeing Ari in a way that suggested he was bored. This was where she’d first seen him, in this mirrored room, a space as vast as an airplane hangar. Unlike last time, Azazil was not only accompanied by his Shaitans but also by Asmodeus, who studied Ari with gloating triumph.

Ari did not like that expression.

She did not like that expression at all.

She cursed herself for thinking Asmodeus had moved beyond his idea of retribution.

“Your Highness,” she finally spoke, sensing Jai’s tension increasing beside her, “why did you request our presence?”

Before Azazil could answer, the 
huge double doors at the front of the hall swung open and to Ari’s great relief, Red and Glass entered. They strode determinedly to the other end of the hall, ignoring the awed looks of the Shaitans as they passed. As they drew closer, Ari could see the solemnity in her uncles’ faces.

“I don’t remember inviting you,”

Azazil murmured, definitely amused as Red and Glass came to a halt beside Ari and Jai. They bowed deferentially to their father.

Once straightened, Red eyed his 
father, completely unamused. “We’re here to make sure nothing untoward happens to Ari and Jai.”

“Oh, how very noble,” Azazil 
snorted and shot Asmodeus a grin. “I shall hand things over to you, my friend.”

Asmodeus nodded militantly and then turned his cruel gaze on Ari. “I have petitioned the Sultan for his granddaughter’s hand in marriage, and he has granted my request.”

In the wake of his announcement, an utter, crisp, cold, disbelieving silence fell upon the room.

Ari quickly ran his words through 
her head again, bile rising in her throat as her brain processed their meaning.

Slowly, she and Jai turned their heads to look at one another. She saw the horror she felt reflected in his eyes and knew she hadn’t misunderstood.

“WHAT?” she yelled, whipping back 
to Asmodeus, wishing she could set him on fire with her eyes. “Over my dead body,” she growled.

She felt Red and Glass shift closer to her, tension mounting.

Azazil chuckled quietly to himself, enjoying it all immensely.

Asmodeus again wore the smug expression of victory. “Oh no,” he took a few steps down the dais toward her, “that would be over his dead body.” He nodded his head to Jai as he came to a stop, towering over them both. “If you do not comply, if you do not marry me and join my harem, I will see to it that your young Ginnaye here dies. So,” 
Asmodeus reached up and stroked a finger along her jaw, down her throat, trailing his touch across her upper chest, “I think you best agree, and agree quickly.”

Jai growled and lunged toward the lieutenant.

Red, however, saved him from the consequences of his impulsive attack. As if having already sensed Jai’s oncoming loss of control, Red was a blur of movement, binding his arms around Jai, holding him back.

Asmodeus curled a lip at him and 
then swiftly transferred his sneer to Ari. “Jai Bitar is a prince among the Ginnaye. Do you know this, Ari? Not yet twenty-four years old and he has garnered the respect of the Ginnaye Tribes for his unwavering determination, power, and self-control. However, it seems when it comes to you, he loses everything that makes him remarkable. He loses control because of you, Ari, and I find I can relate. I have lost control of my existence around you. A girl.

Not yet even nineteen.” He took a threatening step toward her. “You have brought two princes to their knees, and I find I am in the mood to give you a taste of how that feels.”

“You can’t do this.” Ari gazed up 
at him in hatred, her fists clenched by her sides.

“I’m afraid if Father has granted 
his petition, then he can,” Glass murmured as he eyed Asmodeus in disappointment.

“Father, I beg you to rethink 
this.” The Red King, still holding Jai, looked up at Azazil with far more calm than Ari hoped he was feeling. “Ari and Jai have done much for us. Is this how you would repay them?”

Azazil scoffed. “I am giving her to 
Prince Asmodeus as a bride. Do you know how many young Jinn girls would be kissing my feet in gratitude at such a gift?”

Desperation flooded Ari and she found her eyes drawn back to Jai. He was no longer struggling against Red, but she could see his loss of power cut him deep. She could also tell he was deliberately not looking at her, and she knew it was because if he did, he would lose it completely.

“I won’t do it.” Ari shook her head.

“And I won’t let her do it,” Jai added darkly.

“It has been commanded of you by Azazil. If you defy him, you both die.” Asmodeus eyed Jai. “If you defy me, I will kill you, boy. So let me ask you something … how much do you really love her? Will you let her go willingly and give her the peace of mind that the man she loves at least is out there somewhere, alive and healthy, or do you get in my way and I kill you? If I kill you, she has to live with the fact that she is responsible for your murder. Would you put her through that?”

Jai registered the threat and although the fight did not leave his eyes, he relaxed. Red reluctantly loosened his hold. At the same time, tears fell silently down Ari’s cheeks.

They were trapped.

She couldn’t think of a way out of this one.

As if he knew she’d come to that 
realization, Asmodeus whispered, “I told you I would make you feel what I felt when I had to kill Lilif. You took my other half, Ari. Now I’m taking yours.”

***

There appeared to be no oxygen in the chamber where she and Jai had been put for the night. As an act of “kindness,” Azazil was allowing Ari and Jai one last night together. In two days’ time, there was to be a celebratory feast announcing Asmodeus’s betrothal to Ari and then two days after that, the wedding.

As extra punishment, Jai was to 
remain on Mount Qaf until the ceremony was complete. Asmodeus wanted Ari to feel the pain of having Jai bear witness to his utter loss.

In the end, when even Glass and Red could do nothing to change Azazil’s mind, Ari had given in that this was happening. She couldn’t think of what lay ahead with Asmodeus. All she could feel was that what lay ahead did not include Jai. And the pain she felt … the pain was unbearable. It radiated out from her chest and formed a lump in her throat and a knot in her stomach.

Her life, her future had changed in the matter of minutes and although she should be used to it by now, she couldn’t process it. She couldn’t process how her future happiness had been destroyed in an instant.

She was alone now with Jai. She 
stood by the end of the bed, gazing at him in heartbreak, his eyes dark with rage and denial. “We have to leave,” he suddenly said, his voice different, thick and hostile.

Ari shook her head. “Jai, they’ll 
kill you.”

“Do you want to marry him?” he 
asked hoarsely, his eyes flashing as he strode toward her. He gripped her upper arms and gave her a little shake, causing her to gasp and reach for him. “Do you want to spend your life in his harem? Bending to his every whim? His every whim, Ari? You’ll be his bride. You’ll be in his bed.” Jai’s grip grew more painful. “Do you want me to just stand by and let that happen?”

“Jai …” The tears spilled over her lids now and she blindly reached for him, trying to soothe him. “Stop …”

His breath shuddered as he pulled 
her closer, his voice choked with emotion. “We’ll never see each other again.”

He ducked his head so their faces were inches apart and for the first time ever, she saw tears shimmering in Jai Bitar’s eyes. It killed her. An anguished sob broke between her lips. “I can’t live without you.”

She fell against him and his arms 
came around her tight as she cried her heartache into his body, his own still trembling. Slowly, their knees gave out and they sat together on the floor, clinging onto one another in desperation.

Hours seemed to pass before Jai 
finally placed fingers gently to her chin and lifted her head to stare into her eyes. “I’d die so you wouldn’t end up in his hands.”

She shook her head, everything 
hurting, even her gums. “I’m going to end up in his hands no matter what, and he was right. I’ll only be able to survive it if I know that you’re out there somewhere and that you’re okay.”

“Why aren’t you fighting this?” Jai asked roughly. “You’ve fought everything. Why not this?”

“Because,” she sniffed, brushing 
frantically at tears that wouldn’t stop flowing, “you didn’t see him when he killed Lilif. It destroyed any little piece of light that was left in him, and all that darkness, all that darkness in him is directed at me. He’s got Azazil on his side, Jai. The Sultan. There’s nowhere we could go to escape that. The last time they wanted something from me, they got it—the Seal. There was nothing I could do to stop Asmodeus punching a hole in my chest. The only thing I had left was bargain. I bargained for a favor. Well, this time you are my bargain. If I do this willingly, he’ll let you live.”

“Not without first making me watch the moment I lose the woman I love forever.”

“Jai—”

“I’m not giving in!” he roared, 
standing, glaring down at her, his chest heaving with passion. “There has to be a way!”

“Jai—”

“I’ll fight him for you.”

Ari stood up slowly, her expression aghast. “You can’t be serious.”

“Would you die for me?” She stared at him in silent panic. He knew she would, but she couldn’t admit it and strengthen his argument. “Ari, would you die for me?”

She closed her eyes and two more 
tears slipped down her cheeks.

“Ari?”

Stop.

“Would you die for me?”

“Yes.” As soon as she uttered the 
word, she knew there would be no talking Jai out of it. Although it killed her to do it, she called in help.

Red, I need you to come 
take Jai. I need you to watch over him until this is all over so he doesn’t do anything to get himself killed.

The last word was barely sent when the flames flickered into the room. Red and Glass stepped out of the Peripatos and immediately took hold of a surprised Jai.

“What the hell are you doing?” he 
bit out, struggling against their grip. His eyes flew to Ari. “What are you doing?”

Ari hurried over to him and 
ignoring her uncles, she stood on tiptoes and pressed a hard kiss filled with longing against Jai’s mouth. When she pulled back, his expression had dimmed from rage to desolation. “I won’t let you die for me.”