An ache throbbed in her chest and Ari felt her lips curl softly at the corners. “For future reference, that’s a question you never have to ask me.”
Jai’s smile deepened, melting Ari’s insides. “Good to know,” he murmured against her mouth before softly pressing his to hers. She expected it to be sweet and short. Instead it was … emotional.
Jai held her to him, his hand wrapped around her nape. Ari let her lips fall open as Jai brushed his back and forth over hers, his tongue teasing her lips before licking inside—light, quick strokes against her tongue that made her breath catch and caused the weariness to flee. She arched her body into his and breathed him in, her heart accelerating at the hot taste of him.
But Jai refused to speed up the kiss. It was a seduction of deep strokes, teasing, nibbling, brushing … an imprint of him on her. A possessive kiss without the aggression. He was handling her gently but telling her she was his.
As he reluctantly pulled back,
Ari’s hands fluttered to his chest, her eyes closed, her lips tingling and swollen. “I’ll see you in the morning,” he told her hoarsely, clearly as affected by the kiss as she was.
Ari sucked in a breath at the heat in his expression. There it was. Every time they reached the point in fooling around when his eyes got that scorching, I-want-to-ravish-you-like-a-dude-in-a-romance-novel look in them, Jai backed off.
With a predictability that was growing annoying, he took two steps back. “Night.”
She gave him a half-hearted smile and hurried into her bedroom. After a few seconds, she heard Jai’s footsteps move away and his door open and close. She sighed and flicked on the light.
The room Jai had given her was as beautiful as it was huge. A massive four-poster bed sat in the center, flanked by a large wardrobe, vanity table, and matching bedside cabinets. The furniture was modern chic with a twist of Morocco. She had her own bathroom and even a walk-in closet. He was trying to give her a home again, and for the most part, he was succeeding. But Ari was growing tired of that strange distance between them. It wasn’t just about sex. It was about his family. Every time she tried to talk to Jai about his dad keeping him locked in that bottle for the White King, he’d shut her down and tell her he was fine. She knew he wasn’t fine. How could you be fine after a momentous betrayal like that?
Head pounding, lids drooping, Ari decided tomorrow was a new day to worry about this stuff. Thankful she was too tired to dwell on the Qarin she’d assassinated, Ari clumsily stripped and reached for her new silk nightie. Once she’d slipped it on, she dove under the covers and snuggled her head deep into her pillow, smelling her own perfume on it. Comforted, she let the world disappear …
The water was still in the moonlit lake. The surrounding mountainous rocks provided privacy to the mystical cove. As soon as Ari took it in and felt the rough sand against her skin, she groaned. She’d been here before.
Dammit.
“Asmodeus,” she griped, spinning around from her seat in the sand to peer into the dark.
As expected, he melted out of the shadows, coming toward her wearing loose black pants, nothing on his upper body except for a bronze circlet around each strong bicep, his long dark hair flowing freely over his broad shoulders. Ari tore her eyes from his ripped physique and glared into his hauntingly beautiful face.
It was so unfair someone so psychotic was so fantastic looking.
Asmodeus smirked at her as he approached, his bare feet kicking the sand. Ari stood, scowling at the revealing white fabric he’d dressed her in. It showed a lot of cleavage and a lot of leg. Disgusted, she crossed her arms and tilted her head back to stare up at the handsome giant of a man.
“Stop messing with my dreams and let me out of here. For the hundredth time.”
His smile deepened, a flash of white teeth in the dark as he stepped around her, two fingers sliding down her arm.
Ari shivered and pulled away. “I’m serious.”
“I know,” he replied nonchalantly as he came to a stop.
“Why won’t you stop tormenting me?”
For the last two months, Prince Asmodeus had been ripping her out of her own dream world and pulling her into his. At first he’d been determined to know why she was impervious to the command of the Seal of Solomon, but he’d soon discovered that she was as clueless as he was. And Ari knew Asmodeus was clueless as to why the Seal did not work on him. He wouldn’t have been so desperate to seek answers from her otherwise.
Upon discovering she knew nothing, Asmodeus continued to keep returning her here. There seemed to be no purpose to these visits other than to tease and try to charm her, and occasionally threaten Jai’s life.
“It’s fun.”
“Fun?”
He shrugged.
“I’m too tired for this. Every time you visit my dreams, I’m exhausted in the morning.”
A wicked glint entered his dark eyes. “I think if you’re going to be exhausted, you should be exhausted for a reason … and since the Ginnaye isn’t willing to accommodate you, I’d be more than happy to see to any of your … needs.”
“Not even in your dreams.”
Asmodeus chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest, studying her. As they stared at one another, his smile slipped. “You killed today.”
Ari flinched back from him. “How did you …?”
“I make it my concern to know.”
“You’re watching me?”
“Whenever I’m bored, yes.”
Disgusted, Ari shook her head. “You’re a creepy son of a bitch.”
His demeanor changed instantly from relaxed to bristling. “Be careful.”
A shot of fear tingled down her spine and she had to bite her lip to stop herself from saying something even more foolish.
Satisfied, he turned and sat in the sand, his arms dangling over his braced knees. “Sit.”
“You have no manners, you know that, right?” Ari grumbled as she lowered herself to the ground, keeping a careful distance between them.
The Marid sliced her an amused look. “Stop deflecting. You killed today.”
Ari sighed. “Yes, I did. Am I in trouble?”
“Not with me.”
“With anyone?”
“There is no one to care about the Qarin’s demise.”
Ari breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, that’s good to know.”
After a moment’s silence, Asmodeus picked up a small rock and with a flick of his wrist sent it skimming over the water. “You shouldn’t be doing it.”
“Working for the Guild?”
“Turning yourself into an assassin.”
Ari tried not to wince at the word. “Why? I’m doing good. I’m ridding the human world of evil Jinn.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Is that worth the loss of your purity?”
“I’m not pure, Asmodeus.”
“Your soul was clean, Ari. You’re marring it with this need to hunt Jinn.”
“It’s not a need,” she lied. “It’s a want. Even before all this …,” she gestured to her surroundings, “I was a high school graduate with a serious identity crisis. I didn’t know what I wanted out of life. I didn’t know where I fit in. Despite all the bad stuff that’s come with finding out who I am, at least I’ve also found my place in this world.”
“With the Ginnaye, assassinating Jinn?”
“With Jai, hunting bad guys.”
He grunted. “You are so naïve, it physically pains me.”
“Then stop pulling me into your dreams.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No.”
Ari tried desperately to rein in her irritation. “What do you want, Asmodeus?”
His regard was dark and fathomless. Ari couldn’t stop her gaze from roaming his strong face. Black eyes framed by long lashes, tanned, unblemished skin, sharp cheekbones, a strong but straight blade of a nose, and a perfect mouth—a full lower lip and a slightly thinner upper lip. If a huma
n were to meet him, they’d think Asmodeus was an exotic but young twenty-something, not a twisted, ancient Marid who’d been around for God knew how many centuries.
“Tonight I wanted to see how you were faring after your first kill.” Surprise shot through her, forcing her head back. He caught her reaction, eyes glittering. “I’m not playing games with you.”
Ignoring the curiosity writhing inside, Ari gave him a cynical smirk. “Whatever this is, can we at least be honest with one another?”
“Okay,” he nodded, “I like playing games with you. But I’m not playing a game tonight.”
Ari found herself confessing. “I was sick at first. It was horrible. I didn’t expect to feel so ashamed.”
“And now?”
“Jai reminded me of all the things the Qarin did. I feel proud I was strong enough to do something about it.”
“So no guilt?”
She looked away. “There will always be guilt, Asmodeus. I’m quickly learning to set it aside for the bigger picture.”
He shot her a narrow look and drew up to his feet. “That’s how it begins. Setting aside things for the bigger picture.”
Confused as she always was after one of their encounters, Ari stood too. “Why do you care?”
When he reached out a hand, Ari braced herself from flinching back, knowing from past experience that he didn’t take rejection lightly. His fingers brushed against her cheek. “I can’t decide whether I want you to change.”
She scowled at him. “I don’t think that’s really any of your business.”
At the sudden dark heat and annoyance in his bearing, Ari tensed, her breath catching as he leaned into her, his mouth brushing her ear. “I’m making it my business.”
Ari’s lids flew open and she struggled to draw breath, panting with fear and something else as she stared up at her dark bedroom ceiling. She turned onto her side, pulling the covers tightly around her. She didn’t know what to do about Asmodeus. She hadn’t told Jai he’d been visiting her dreams. She hadn’t told anyone. But Ari knew his increasing attention was a worry and the only person she wanted to tell was Uncle Red. He’d know what to do. But it depended on whether Red wanted to talk to her … and if he would help her if he did.
2
The I That I Am Is Not Me
Emotionally exhausted, Ari managed to drift back to sleep, but her conscience couldn’t seem to rest. She woke at 6 a.m., an hour earlier than usual. Mouth dry, Ari shuffled sleepily out of her room to fetch a glass of water from the kitchen. It would’ve been easy enough to conjure one, but Trey and Jai had been raised to use their Jinn abilities when it mattered, or when it was the only convenient solution. Otherwise, they lived their lives like humans. It was partly an attitude—the Ginnaye believed using Jinn magic for everyday living was lazy—and partly about living as a human so they wouldn’t slip up in front of one.
Tired gaze to the floor, Ari was about to hit the stairs when Trey’s bedroom door opened. She glanced up, and stopped at the sight of a huge, gorgeous, blue-haired guy wearing jeans and a slim-cut T-shirt. “Glass?” she said loudly, more than a little shocked to see him there. It wasn’t that she didn’t know the Glass King—aka one of her uncles, aka an all-powerful, scary Jinn king—was seeing Trey romantically, it was that she’d never seen him in the vicinity of Trey’s room before.
It caused her a note of panic on behalf of her friend. She didn’t want Trey to get too deeply involved in the dangerous world of Jinn royalty, but he seemed smitten with his new boyfriend.
And frankly more alarming was the face that Glass seemed completely into Trey.
Glass raised a finger to his lips, hushing her, and she winced apologetically. He gestured to the stairs and Ari hustled down them, feeling the potency of the Jinn behind her but not hearing his movements at all. She entered the kitchen in the back of the house, a huge space with an island in the middle and a large dining table on the far left.
Sliding doors opened out onto a decent-sized backyard.
“Would you like some water?” she asked politely, pulling a chilled bottle of water out of the fridge.
Glass shook his head. “I will get myself a coffee.”
This was so weird.
Ari merely nodded.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like
Glass, it was just that she’d never become as comfortable with him as she was with Red. Red smiled and joked with her, whereas Ari had never seen Glass smile unless it was backed by sinister intent. Trey was his opposite in every way.
Thinking about Red caused Ari to ask Glass for the fifteenth time, “Have you heard from Red?”
As the Jinn king lifted the mug of coffee he’d conjured (clearly he was okay with taking shortcuts in life), his expression grew more focused. He took a sip and pulled back to study her. “I have.”
She refrained from rolling her eyes. The thing about a Jinn king … they never answer unspoken but obvious questions. “How is he?”
“He’s fine, Ari.”
“Will you tell him I asked for him?” Again.
Glass bowed his head, letting her know he would honor her request. Despite her stomach knotting up over the distance between her and Red, Ari couldn’t help but think that a bow of the head was a pretty cool and dignified way to answer somebody.
Before the two of them could be subjected to awkward silence, Ari was relieved to hear footsteps on the stairs.
Two seconds later, Trey wandered into the kitchen. As always, Ari felt an affectionate squeeze in her chest, as well as an honest appreciation for his masculine beauty. Trey was tall with an athletic, rangy build, messy dark blond hair, and tip-tilted gray eyes. His face was an artist’s dream, and he dressed like a modern-day James Dean. In other words, he was Hot with a capital H.
Trey instantly turned his regard to Glass. He grinned. “Morning.”
To Ari’s utter surprise, she watched Glass’s lips twitch as he muttered, “Morning,” before taking a sip of his coffee. Almost immediately, Glass put the mug down and it disappeared. With a casual nod to Ari, he passed her and then stopped at Trey’s side. “Until later.” Glass squeezed his shoulder and Trey nodded, his eyes burning in such a scorching manner, Ari couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable. She was intruding on something intimate and private. Then, to not just Ari’s shock but obviously Trey’s as well, Glass bent his head and brushed his mouth over Trey’s. Without another word, the Jinn king stepped back into the Peripatos.
Trey looked adorably dumbfounded for a moment. He glanced over at Ari with an almost boyish smile. “He’s definitely warming up to me.”
Ari laughed. “Yeah, I think so.”
As quickly as he’d flashed the smile, Trey grew serious. His long strides ate up the kitchen floor until he held Ari tightly in his arms. She felt his lips press a kiss to her head and she wrapped her arms around him, feeling safe and loved. It was a wonderful feeling to have after everything that had happened to her.
“Jai told me what happened. You sure you’re okay?”
She nodded against his chest, not ready to let go. “I’m fine. Honestly. It was a shock at first, but I’m over it.”
“Well, at least you weren’t lying to me about that.” Jai’s voice broke through the comforting, warm fog of Trey’s embrace.
They pulled back from one another to find Jai leaning against the wall, his features hard, his green eyes spitting angry, gold flints. “Can we have a minute?” he asked Trey but didn’t take his focus from her.
Ari’s heart rate sped up a little.
What had she done now?
“Sure thing.” Trey held up his hands almost like he was surrendering. “I’ve got training this morning, anyway.
I’ll catch you guys later.”
As soon as the front door slammed shut, Ari braced her hands on her hips. “What was that about?” she demanded snippily.
Jai pushed himself off the wall and took a few short, anger-infused steps toward her. His perused her body meani
ngfully before coming up to her face. “What are you wearing?”
Feeling sideswiped, Ari glanced down at her nightie. “Uh … a nightie?”
“Where are your pajamas?”
She quirked an eyebrow at his caustic tone, not at all impressed. “Probably in my drawer.”
“Why are you wearing that instead of them?”
“I just bought it. I liked it.” She shrugged. Truthfully, she’d bought it to try and entice Jai. It was a short lilac silk nightie with a low neckline trimmed in lace. The hem, which barely covered her ass, was trimmed in lace too. She’d bought five in different colors.
Ari wasn’t going to tell him that, though.
Unease crept over her as Jai’s face grew even darker. She’d thrown it on last night because it was the closest thing at hand, and she’d been too sleepy that morning to think about what she was wearing. Crap.
“Jesus Christ, Ari, it barely covers anything,” he snapped. “Can you not wear it in front of my best friend?”
Double crap.
“It’s just Trey,” she argued, trying to make it seem not so bad. “He’s like a brother.”
“Except he’s not. And I know for a fact that he doesn’t see you as a sister.” Jai’s jaw clenched. “You may be friends but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t appreciate a hot girl when he sees one.”
Feeling a little resentful, Ari turned away from him to put the rest of her water back in the refrigerator. “At least someone thinks I’m hot,” she mumbled under breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“No. I heard what you said.” She detected a deepening anger in his voice. “What the hell does that mean?”
Ari’s shoulders hunched up at the question, not sure she was ready to talk this out with him after all, but saved by the bell, Jai’s cell rang. He cursed in frustration before answering it.
Turning around, she watched him as his one-word answers gave nothing away. “I’ll be right there,” he finally said.
He hung up and looked at her, his mien grave. “That was Michael. He needs my help on something, but when I get back, we’ll talk.”