The Angel: Tales of the Djinn, #3

by Emma Holly

  “My crew’s home is a sub-dimension of the Qaf. The transfer point that connects to our land is in the City of Endless Night. Once a door from your world to there is created, the empress’s store of power ought to be sufficient to charge it for all of us. I should mention we’ll need you to accompany us to the transfer point. Luna locked it to prevent us escaping her control. Fortunately, your human magic will overrule her spell.”

  Georgie scratched her cheek. “You want me to come with you to the djinn world?”

  “Just a little ways. You’ll be perfectly safe. Mainly light djinn inhabit Luna’s city. And it’s not as if the Moon Ruler will be around to cause trouble.”

  Georgie had a feeling the demon’s definition of “perfectly safe” was different from her own. “How long will I have to be there?”

  Taytoch waved his elegant blue hand. “No more than a week. A month at the most.”

  “A month!” Georgie gasped in shock.

  “The interval depends on whether the door you create holds up for more than a one-way voyage. If it does, you’ll only have to recharge it to get back here. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to gain access to a better established portal, which will have to be keyed to this location. That might take time, but I expect the sultan would vouchsafe your return.”

  “I absolutely would,” Iksander said, “though you might have to accompany me to the Glorious City before I could arrange it. Whether the empress is in residence or not, I don’t have authority over her people—nor would they be likely to treat me with respect.”

  Oh great, Georgie thought. Something else to worry about.

  When she looked at him, his emotions weren’t obvious. His face was guarded, his eyes intense but unrevealing. Obviously, he had a reaction to the situation. If he didn’t, his gaze wouldn’t have locked onto hers. Did he like the idea of her visiting his city? Probably, it would be cool to see . . . or any part of his world, actually.

  Georgie rubbed her lips unsurely. “You’re planning on Connor coming with us, aren’t you?”

  “Of course,” Iksander said. “He is your protector.”

  He was more than her protector.

  “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away,” Connor said. “Not that I don’t like them too.”

  “So it’s settled.” Taytoch swiped his palms together in businesslike fashion. “We show you how to build a door and then we all go home.”

  “Right now?” Georgie asked, startled. “Connor and I need to make arrangements. We don’t know how long we’ll be gone. We wouldn’t want our friends to think some serial killer made away with us.”

  “One almost did!” Pink laughed, enjoying her gallows humor. “And me along with you!”

  Taytoch squeezed his underling’s wiry shoulder, maybe remembering her brush with death. Georgie supposed his gang was a sort of family. They might have their disagreements, but they’d worked together a long time.

  “Shall we assemble again tonight?” Taytoch suggested. “Nine o’clock in Georgie’s former suite?”

  Though Georgie’s heart was tight, she couldn’t think of a reason to put it off.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  —

  ATTACHMENTS

  For all the use he was, Iksander might as well not have gone with Connor and Georgie. The pointlessness didn’t matter. The idea of parting from this woman he’d known only briefly unsettled him. At least Georgie would accompany him for some of his journey home. He’d wind his way as best he could to the Glorious City then see what he could accomplish from ground zero. Helping his people ought to be his priority, not how much longer he’d spend with a stranger.

  She’s not a stranger now, his less sensible half reminded. He’d seen her spirit. She’d opened it to him. She’d risked her life to save him from Luna.

  That the angel had as well unsettled him equally.

  He watched his rescuers move about their shared apartment, ticking off items from their to-do list.

  “I’ll talk to Jerry,” Connor said. “Let him know I had a family emergency and give him your letter transferring ownership of the shop just in case.”

  Georgie shook her head worriedly.

  “We’ll be back,” Connor assured her. “And if we’re not, he’ll be a good boss to Tom.”

  Georgie rolled her eyes in amusement. “There’s always a silver lining.” She turned to Iksander. “Do you want to try to send news to your friends?”

  “I thought of that, but our contact method doesn’t allow for complicated explanations. Now that I know they’re safe, I can’t afford to pass up this chance to return to my dimension. Joseph and Arcadius are more capable, magic-wise. They’ll probably have the puzzle solved by the time I get home again.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short,” Georgie said. “You’ve managed all right in the time you had. Got a job. Didn’t die. Found allies. I’m sure a lot of sultans would have crumbled at the challenge.”

  He smiled. “I suppose that might be true.”

  Georgie rubbed her temple distractedly. “Okay. Emptied the fridge. Stopped the mail. I still want to shove some stuff in our backpacks, but maybe I should settle Titus before it gets too late.”

  “You don’t have to give him to the Hamiltons,” Connor said.

  “I know.” Georgie sighed. “I just . . . I think maybe they need him, without remembering that they do. Titus must have been theirs in the other timeline. This is just putting him back where he’s already inclined to go.”

  “I could accompany you,” the angel offered, his brow furrowed with concern.

  “You have to talk to Jerry. If I say goodbye to him, I’ll cry. He’ll realize something’s wrong.”

  “I’ll go with you to Hamilton Salvage,” Iksander volunteered. “I need to pick up something I left at their store anyway.” He saw he’d surprised Georgie. To his surprise, that stung. “Sultans do more than lord over their subjects. I’m not without experience providing moral support.”

  “Okay then,” Georgie said. “I’ll grab Titus and his box of stuff.”

  SINCE GEORGIE WASN’T eager to face Francine and Tobias, she didn’t object to running Iksander’s errand first. The store was closed by then, and he let them in the back way. Apparently, he’d stashed his travel duds at the bottom of a sock bin in Hamilton’s secondhand clothing room.

  “Wow,” Georgie said when he shook out a colorful silk tunic. The jewels that studded it explained where he’d produced the big diamond for their spell. “Those are pretty, but I guess you didn’t blend too well wearing them.”

  “No.” He rolled up the silk again. “Sadly, I can’t wear these through the portal either. The ruler of a rival city won’t be popular where we’re going.” He smiled when he saw her nervousness. “We’ll be fine. Not wearing them is just a precaution.”

  “Sure,” she said, deciding she might as well pretend to believe him. She shifted the cardboard box with Titus’s toys and supplies to her hip. Naturally, Titus rode in it too. The cat thought being carried that way was the best game ever. “Okay, buddy. Let’s see if we can get you re-homed.”

  No one was in the machine shop. The light shining from an open door at the back drew them in further.

  Just do this, Georgie ordered as her palms broke into a sweat. This was small potatoes compared to the challenges she’d gotten through lately.

  As luck would have it, Francine was the Hamilton they found. She was in their old door graveyard, something every salvage operation seemed to collect, regardless of whether they had adequate ways to reuse the things. Francine swung along on her crutches as she inventoried what had gone out and in. Because she was juggling a clipboard too, her gait was awkward.

  Crap, Georgie thought. These weren’t ideal circumstances to try to hand off a cat.

  “Excuse me,” Georgie said because Francine hadn’t seen them yet. “Sorry to barge in this way. I was hoping—”

  Francine turned. Her gaze fell to the box with the happy cat and his belongings. She took only
a second to realize why Georgie must have come. When she did, her face darkened with anger.

  “No, no, no,” she said, unequivocally. “Tobias and I aren’t babysitting your devil cat.”

  “It wouldn’t be for long,” Georgie said, which for all she knew was a lie. “Titus is super nice. Really good company. And he keeps mice away. He won’t be any trouble. I’ve got his favorite toys and stuff right here.”

  “I said no,” Francine repeated. “You might have convinced my husband you’re not all bad, but I know better.”

  “It’s for the cat’s sake,” Iksander tried. “Titus is very likeable. You might find you enjoy having him around.”

  “You’re a man,” Francine sneered with her lip twisted. “None of you have a lick of sense when it comes to this slut.”

  Georgie had been called this before, but it hurt all the same. It infuriated the sultan.

  “Now see here,” he objected. “Your . . . Georgie isn’t—”

  “Let it go,” Georgie said, touching Iksander’s arm. Though she appreciated his defense, she doubted it would accomplish anything. At least he’d corrected himself before he called her Francine’s daughter. She didn’t want to contemplate the response that would have gotten. “Francine said no. We’ll ask someone else.”

  Titus hadn’t liked Francine’s angry tone either. He’d twisted around to Georgie and placed his paws on her chest anxiously. Not wanting him upset, Georgie hugged the box tighter. “Sorry to have bothered you.”

  She turned and retraced their steps. A heartbeat later, the djinni did too.

  “We could ask Tobias,” he said in an undertone. “He’d probably agree to take Titus.”

  Georgie shook her head, unable to speak right then. How much she’d hoped Francine would respond kindly for once shocked her. She guessed her mother issues weren’t past tense. When they hit the back lot outside, the brisk air was welcome on her hot cheeks.

  “Titus shouldn’t have to stay where he’ll be resented. We still have time to drive out to Tom’s place. They already know each other. Tom will be good to him.”

  “You’re sure?” Iksander asked.

  “I’m sure. Titus deserves to be loved.”

  Tom lived in Potter’s Woods in a brick rancher he’d bought cheap and repaired with skills he’d picked up from her and Jerry. His yard had more scruff than grass, but otherwise he’d done a good job. For sure he was home. His front windows were lit up. The sultan cradled Titus on one shoulder, where the feline purred like a motorboat. With a silent prayer this would go all right, she pushed her friend’s doorbell.

  “Hey,” Tom said when he opened up. Not expecting company, he wore a thin white T-shirt and torn blue jeans. Scooping shaggy hair off his brow, his gaze shifted between the pair of them. “Not that I’m not pleased to see you, but what are you doing here?”

  “Hoping you can do me a favor. Connor had a family emergency, and we need to leave town on short notice. Can you watch Titus while we’re gone?”

  “Absolutely,” he said, already easing the cat off the sultan’s chest. Titus dangled from this new hold and mrrp’d. “What do you say, bud? You wanna bunk with me and my girl for a bit? Hannah’s been bugging me to get a kitten. We can take you for a test drive first.”

  “Great,” Georgie sighed in relief. “I’ve got his favorite toys in the box, plus his blankie and a few cans of the food he likes. I’m afraid he prefers the expensive stuff, but there’s more at my place. Let me give you the key, and you can grab whatever I’ve forgotten.”

  Tom shifted Titus to his shoulder so she could lay the key in his palm. “Exactly how long will you be gone?”

  “We don’t know. The emergency is . . . indefinite. We’ll call as soon as we can.”

  She realized with a lurch that this might be never. She scratched Titus under his furry chin until he closed his eyes with pleasure. “Bye, sweetie. You behave for Tom.”

  Tom must have heard her emotion. “You all right?” he asked. “Hannah’s at her sister’s. You want to come in and talk?”

  When he asked that, her throat threatened to close up. “I’m afraid I don’t have time. We’re on a schedule. I’m just gonna miss this monster.”

  “He’ll miss you too.” Still holding Titus, Tom hugged her one-armed and kissed her cheek. “Good luck in Canada. And don’t worry about Titus. I’ll treat him like a king.”

  Georgie pressed her lips together and waved goodbye.

  Tom made her cat’s big black paw wave back.

  “Thank you,” Georgie managed to say without bursting into tears.

  She held them back until she turned the truck onto the quiet two-lane.

  Iksander put his hand on the wheel to steady it. “Pull over. You can’t drive like that.”

  Considering she could barely see, he was probably right.

  “I’ve had Titus since he was a baby,” she sobbed as soon as she parked the pick-up on the roadside. “Stupid Alma gave him to me when I didn’t know what she was. He fit in my palm. I bottle fed him.” She sniffed harder. “Tom was so nice to take him. He’s my oldest friend after Connor.”

  “Sh.” Iksander coaxed her against his chest. “You’ll see both of them again. I’ll make sure you can get home.”

  He was good at soothing, not stiff or standoffish. His hold was like any nice person’s—like Connor’s, if it came down to it.

  She pushed back to wipe her face on her sleeve. “Sorry for blubbing.”

  “You’re allowed. You had a stressful day.”

  “You’re the one who nearly died.”

  He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers, his eyes so kind they made her feel strange inside. “I haven’t thanked you for saving me.”

  “Oh that.”

  He smiled and leaned in to her. She could tell what he intended. She had time to pull away. She guessed she didn’t want to. As his lips molded gently over hers, her body went still and calm. It wasn’t like she knew him, but like something about them fit. Was this because of Najat? Because she and Georgie were skewed mirrors of each other and had tastes in common?

  She couldn’t focus on the question. Iksander’s lips were silky and distracting and sensual. As he brushed them ever so lightly from side to side, his hand rose to cup her face. He barely touched her, but she felt the contact intensely. Her body reacted, growing warmer and softer in places it shouldn’t. She and Connor were a couple. She shouldn’t be doing this. Despite the knowledge, the tips of her breasts tightened, her fingers curling into the sultan’s hard arm muscles.

  She supposed he noticed. He pulled back as slowly as he’d leaned in. The whole kiss had lasted ten seconds, not forever but too long to count as a friendly peck. Without thinking, she pressed her fingertips to her lips. They were buzzing the slightest bit. The sultan’s bright green gaze remained on hers.

  Right then, this seemed very intimate.

  “Well,” she said, trying to make light of what they’d done. “Is that how you djinn offer moral support?”

  He smiled ruefully. “Trust me, Georgie, you are a special case.” He cleared his throat. “I’d offer to drive, but as you know, I’m not much good at it.”

  As she knew? The other timeline’s version of her must have had this awareness.

  “Sorry,” he said, catching the mistake. “I’m having trouble keeping track.”

  “Sure. That could happen to anyone.”

  Anyone who’d experienced multiple realities anyway.

  She rubbed her perspiring upper lip. Don’t make a big deal of this, she told herself. Kissing like that had been an impulse. They wouldn’t do it again.

  She pulled herself together and got the truck back in gear. From the corner of her eye, she saw Iksander glance at her. He shifted uncomfortably on the seat.

  Don’t look at his crotch, she ordered, the temptation powerful. As it happened, his attraction to her wasn’t what made him squirm.

  “You didn’t confide in her,” he said. “Not everything any
way.”

  “What?”

  “In the other timeline. More than once, you asked me not to tell Francine something. I suppose even when you were close, you didn’t trust her completely.”

  “Well,” Georgie said. She guessed that was food for thought.

  THE MOMENT THEIR LIPS met, Iksander knew he shouldn’t have kissed her. Though the press of their mouths was chaste, his blood began singing instantly. He supposed he comforted her, but mostly he embarrassed both of them.

  His humming flesh reminded him he’d miscalculated all the way back to Ravenwings.

  Thankfully, the house was a distraction. With Luna no longer in residence and her ifrit slaves preparing to depart, the magic that had rehabilitated the structure was starting to unravel.

  Georgie shivered as they walked in the door. “Why does it feel weird in here?”

  “Luna used spells to pull the mansion up from a wreck. I expect it will fall back into one in a couple months.”

  “Really?” Georgie said, glancing around uneasily.

  “It was a ruin when you . . . the other you took me to see it. Established realities have a certain gravitational pull, for lack of a better term. When people and things are shoved out of their original orbit, they tend to want to revert to it. If this house falls, it will simply be coming around full circle.”

  She stopped and stared at him. Without understanding why, he stopped too.

  “Gravitational pull,” she repeated. She rubbed her chin uneasily.

  Ah, he thought. She’s wondering if that explains our kiss. He wasn’t sure he wanted her to ask. When she shook herself and didn’t, he wasn’t sure he wanted her to ignore it.

  You want her, he thought, forcing himself to face it. No matter who she does or doesn’t resemble. No matter if she’s a good girl or a rebel. You want her naked in your bed.

  In truth, he might want the rebel more.

  “Well,” she said, dragging her thoughts back on track. “I’m glad Connor and I fixed our place with plain old sweat and nails.”