Darkness, Kindled
Page 19

“Father, you are joking, aren’t you?” Red was aghast at the thought. He could never tell when his mercurial father was being serious.
He laughed at his son’s expression.
“Of course I am. I’m bored, not a fool. I’ll find something else to entertain me.”
A moment of silence passed before Red finally said, “Speaking of,” he looked up at Asmodeus, “any reason you’ve been dreamwalking Ari Johnson?”
Red did not like the way the
lieutenant’s eyes glittered at the mention of Ari’s name. He did not like that at all. “I’m merely getting to know her.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to.” His mouth twitched, his expression antagonistic. “I find her quite lovely. Beautiful face, stunning body. I’m thinking she’d be a nice addition to my harem.”
For not the first time, Red felt a fatherly protectiveness rush over him—his blood heated at the thought of Asmodeus anywhere near Sala’s daughter. “She’s not for you, Asmodeus. She belongs to someone else. Leave her alone.”
“Hush now, son.” Azazil chuckled.
“Leave Asmodeus to his fun. The girl means nothing to us now. Let him do as he wishes.”
Jaw clenched, Red faced his father and tensed at the look in his eyes. Although Azazil’s tone was playful, his eyes were not. His was a command to leave Asmodeus alone to his games with Ari. Inwardly cursing the two of them, Red could do nothing but nod his acquiescence.
***
As Ari snuggled in Jai’s arms, she feared she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. It was the night before her battle with the Ghulah and Pazuzu, and although Jai had done much to take her mind off it, when he drifted to sleep with his arms wrapped around her, Ari was still awake.
For hours she lay there, staring into the dark, her stomach churning with nervous anticipation. And then, as though her lids could take any more weight, they drifted closed and Ari ventured into unconsciousness …
“Finally. Took you long enough.”
Ari burled around at the familiar deep voice, her whole body tensing.
Asmodeus.
She was back at his cove, dressed in the white dress he seemed to like so much. “Again?”
Instead of smirking at her snarkiness as he would’ve done in the past, his eyes narrowed and he approached her slowly, in a way that made her take a step back. There was something more menacing than usual about him.
“The Red King paid me and Azazil a visit today.”
Ari nodded. Red had promised her he’d find out what the hell Asmodeus wanted with her. She’d hoped that would mean the lieutenant wouldn’t be paying her any more visits. Clearly that hadn’t been the outcome of Red’s social call on Mount Qaf. “Yes. I told him I was concerned about your visits.”
He shrugged, coming to a stop inches from her so that Ari had to crane her neck back to meet his gaze.
“I’m merely trying to get to know you.”
She swallowed. “And if I don’t want to get to know you?”
He raised a hand and Ari flinched. His expression hardened at her reaction, but it didn’t stop him from brushing his knuckles across her cheek. Ari shivered. “Do you, like Red, think my intentions nefarious?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what you want from me.”
“Yes, you do.” He bowed his head, bringing his mouth to Ari’s ear. The hand at her cheek unfurled against her skin and she trembled as it slid down and around to grip her tightly by the nape. “I want you.” His lips grazed her jawline and Ari tried to pull back, but he wouldn’t let her. Suddenly, he was there, his nose brushing hers, his eyes searing into hers. They narrowed again as he squeezed her nape.
“But someone has already had you.” He gripped her close and bent her head away from his. Ari raised her arms, pushing at his chest in an effort to get him to release her.
“Stop,” she snapped,
feeling like a kitten caught in its master’s grip.
“You slept with the Ginnaye.” The disappointment was evident in his eyes, in his taut features. And just like that, he let her go. Ari stumbled and tried to steady her balance in the sand.
“That’s none of your business,” she huffed, her anger fueling her power and her intentions. For the first time she felt her energy tingle within Asmodeus’s dreamscape. The White fabric wrapped indecently around her body disappeared and Ari replaced it with jeans and a T-shirt.
She threw her head back in triumph, her ever-changing eyes defiant against the lieutenant.
Expecting anger, Ari was taken aback to find him staring at her with a soft smile. It was so unlike him, and for a moment he reminded her of the man she knew he’d once been.
“You’re growing powerful, Ari,” he murmured, his thumb brushing his lip in thought. “Perhaps all is not lost yet.”
Confused as all hell, Ari shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
He shrugged lazily. “I will not lie … I coveted the thought of seducing you first. I find now, however, that it does not matter. You were meant for more than the mortal realm, Ari. You were meant for more than a Ginnaye. I’ve always found patience to work in my favor. Your boredom will send you to me in time.”
Shocked that Asmodeus had openly declared his real intentions for her, and even more frightened by the intimacy of those intentions, Ari shook her head, trembling the whole time.
“I love Jai. I won’t ever leave him.”
The lieutenant smiled viciously. “We’ll see.”
Ari shot up in bed, chest heaving, head spinning with disorientation.
“Ari,” Jai murmured. She felt the mattress shift as he drew up beside her, his gentle fingers brushing her hair back from her face. He turned her chin and she looked into his sleepy eyes.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
Remembering her promise to not keep secrets from him, Ari’s stomach flipped with guilt as she pressed her forehead against his. “Bad dreams about tomorrow. That’s all.”
He wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her down so her head rested on his chest. “It’ll be okay. I promise we can do this.”
She nodded, swallowing hard, praying that Asmodeus would grow tired of his infatuation. Of course he will. I’m just a girl. He’s a centuries-old Jinn. And I’m not that interesting!