Darkness, Kindled

by Samantha Young

  to the news channel and the devastating images flashing across the screen.

  “The 7.9-magnitude quake hit

  central Ethiopia in its capital city of Addis Ababa at six thirty eastern time this morning, causing devastating destruction in the densely populated city. Currently, the estimated death toll sits at over 100,000 people and growing—”

  “What’s going on?” Ari drew

  everyone’s attention from the news report, the blood whooshing in her ears as her fears began to whisper the answer.

  Her uncle Red took a step toward her,

  his expression severe but thankfully not accusatory. “The White King used Azazil’s current physical weakness to storm the palace, steal the Seal of Solomon from Asmodeus, and command Father to tell him where Lilif’s body is.”

  The news hit Ari in the gut. She shook her head frantically but Red continued, “Azazil had hidden her in a secret underground chamber built under the Menelik Mausoleum in Addis Ababa.”

  Ari’s eyes turned to the television

  screen where tear-streaked children clung to sobbing parents. “The earthquake?”

  “The result of Azazil’s will

  breaking under White’s command. Remember I told you Azazil was like a bridge between my brothers, my brothers and I the roads that connect the pathways in the mortal realm and all the others? This bend in his will broke a thread. It caused a crack in your world.”

  “Oh, God.” She felt sick as she

  gripped the back of the couch. “What the hell have I done?”

  ***

  She stood before him, waves of great power pulsing from her as it did from her twin, Asmodeus. It was a power almost as great as Azazil’s.

  This moment should’ve been the most

  glorious of White’s life, gazing upon his beautiful mother as she promised to right all the wrongs of the Jinn world. Instead, he felt only complete and utter despair. This was not the Lilif he remembered. The Lilif he remembered had been a soft-spoken, quietly commanding, ethereal beauty with a wealth of wisdom and experience in her eyes.

  This … this Lilif was just as the

  paintings had depicted her. Paintings White had declared slanderous in their wrongful portrayal of her as a selfish seductress.

  This Lilif … this Lilif was exactly

  as his brothers, even Ari, had described. Silken fabric wrapped around her youthful body showing far more skin than White could ever remember. Her dark curls fell down her back in a riot of black magic; rubies glittered from her ears and throat. From her deep red lips fell words of insanity, of destruction, and of The After. Red had attempted to tell him this was Lilif’s plan. To bring forth the legendary After—it was what would happen if balance was destroyed completely. The realms would collide and cause desolation to all. In its place would exist The After, and only those powerful enough would survive. They would find themselves alone in a brave new world.

  Despair kept White on his knees;

  self-derision kept his head bowed. He’d been so blinded by his love for his mother, so blinded by the falsities she’d shown him, the need to resurrect her had become irrational and illogical. It had taken her less than an hour to gather her strength after he’d punched the ring into her chest to awaken her.

  And here she was …

  “For centuries, White,” she spat in

  outrage, “I have waited for my time. Trapped by Azazil’s making and forced to live in darkness until Ari.” She shot him a look. “You created something remarkable in that one, son. Very clever of you. My time inside her was most edifying. I have seen what has become of you all, what has become of this world. Of Asmodeus, even.” Lilif shook her head in disgust. “My poor brother has lost all the meaning in his life. You all have. But I can return it, just as you wished me to.”

  She bent down on one knee to gently

  lift White’s chin, tilting his head so he had to meet her unbalanced gaze. “I will keep you alive, son, in compensation for your service to me. You were always my most faithful.” She stroked his cheek tenderly before pinching his skin with her harsh grip. “But your brothers must die. It is the only way to continue to break the threads. It is the only way to welcome our souls into The After. And now that I have the powers of the Seal at my command, nothing will stop me.”

  Despite the disbelief coursing through his veins, White managed to keep his expression blank as he nodded in acquiescence to his mother. While she offered him a smug smile, he did the only thing he could. He began telepathing as loudly as possible to the one brother who might be smart enough to save them all.

  ***

  Red gritted his teeth, the blast from White’s telepathy taking him to his knees as he clutched his head, trying to breathe through the pain and listen to the message.

  Lilif has awakened! I’m

  sorry, Brother. You were right. Worse, the power of the Seal remains within her. She’s coming for you all. I will warn Gleaming and Shadow. You warn the others.

  “Red?” Ari’s concerned voice drew his watery gaze from the floor. He turned to find her kneeling beside him, her hand anxiously clutching his arm. When their eyes met, he saw her genuine worry for him and felt a wave of fierce protection grip him. With a reassuring nod at Ari, he glanced up at his brother who seemed to sense the news before he’d even heard it.

  Red rose to his feet, bringing Ari with him. “That was the White King.”

  “Telepathing you?” Ari asked him, confusion in every syllable.

  “It seems Lilif wasted no time in revealing her true nature to him. He was calling to warn us. She is keeping to the old plan.”

  Glass’s eyes narrowed. “To kill

  us.”

  Red nodded grimly. “Yes. And worse, she has the power of the Seal at her command. White is warning Gleaming and Shadow. We will warn Lucky and Gilder and have them meet us at Father’s. If we combine our power, we should be able to keep her out of the palace until Father regains his strength. We will strategize where to go from there.”

  “You’re leaving?” Trey took a step toward them but his anguished eyes were on Glass.

  Red sighed, watching his brother’s expression tighten as he realized he’d have to leave the young Hunter here.

  When he shot a look at Red, he didn’t even have to telepath the question. Can I bring him?

  Red looked at Ari, wishing he could bring her also. But they couldn’t. It would be far safer to be away from them while they were Lilif’s targets. As if Glass realized this at the same time, he clasped Trey’s face in his hands. Watching the tenderness in his brother’s eyes sent a wave of grief over Red. But at least Glass had the reassurance of knowing that since the incident in Rancocas Park, Trey would be safe, as long as Lilif never laid a hand upon Glass.

  “Look after Ari,” Glass told him

  softly. “And yourself. I’ll come back when this business with Lilif is resolved.”

  “I want to fight with you.” Trey

  shook his head stubbornly. “If she … if something happens to you …”

  And from that point on, their

  conversation was silent. Red assumed love words were being exchanged using the privacy of telepathy, so he turned to his beautiful niece and laid an affectionate touch upon her shoulder, drawing her gaze from the lovers.

  Her soulful eyes, the exact image of her mother’s, pierced him. He found himself telling her fiercely, “No matter what, you must protect yourself. It would be prudent for you and Jai to go into hiding until I give the all-clear.”

  Ari took a step closer to him, her head craning to meet his eyes. “No.” She shook her head defiantly. “I’m not leaving the Guild alone to face whatever is coming.”

  Red closed his eyes briefly, trying to rein in the need to order her about. It would not be useful. Ari was too much like her mother, and Sala did not take orders well. Opening his eyes, he touched Ari’s cheek and sighed. “Fine. But watch out for one another.” His eyes lifted to Jai. “
Keep her safe.”

  The Ginnaye gave him a militant nod, and Red knew he could rest a tiny bit easier knowing the Guardian would die in a blaze of glory to keep his niece alive.

  13

  Immune to Your Charms

  Three days had passed and still no word from her uncles. At this point Ari would’ve been happy to be dreamwalked by Asmodeus, so long as it meant receiving some intelligence on what the hell was happening. It horrified her to know Lilif was out in the world using the Seal as she pleased.

  International news had reported a large influx of weather phenomenon. None of it was as disastrous as the earthquake in Ethiopia, but if Lilif got anywhere near Azazil or the Jinn kings, Ari feared they could kiss the world goodbye.

  She needed to know what was going on.

  It wasn’t like this was random, everyday running-from-a-sorcerer-hunting-your-best-friend-getting-your-ass-kicked-by-an-ancient-demon issue. This was end-of-the-world stuff.

  However, not even Asmodeus had visited, and Ari had the distinctly unpleasant feeling the lieutenant was furious with her for asking the epic favor from Azazil. Guilt had lodged permanently inside Ari, a heavy stone in her stomach, always there, never shifting. Guilt for demanding something so draining of Azazil. Guilt for still feeling happy that she’d done it if it meant Derek, Mikey, Fallon, and Charlie were alive.

  She stared at the ceiling, wondering what everyone else really thought of her. Red and Glass seemed concerned about her safety before they fled to escape Lilif’s wrath, but that didn’t mean they weren’t disappointed in her for using Azazil’s power for her own selfish means.

  What she had done … didn’t that make her as bad as Lilif?

  Discussing her guilt was difficult.

  She couldn’t with the Roes because they clearly were happy with her decision to manipulate Azazil’s power. She couldn’t discuss it with Fallon because she was working through her moroseness over Charlie, pummeling holes into training center punching bags. And Trey too was quiet these days, spending hours locked in his room painting and worrying about Glass.

  There was only Jai, and he was convinced that she’d acted with a pure heart. How could she possibly feel guilty for saving four lives?

  “You’re doing it again, aren’t you?” His sleep-roughened voice found her in the dark.

  Ari turned her head on the pillow, her eyes so well adjusted to the shadows, she could see he’d turned on his side to watch her. “I can’t help it.”

  “And nothing I say will convince you that this isn’t your fault?”

  She shook her head.

  “Ari,” he whispered sadly, his fingers trailing a shivery path across her bare shoulder and down her arm. “Baby, you made a decision to save lives. Azazil agreed. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s his.

  And it’s the White King’s. And if you really want to get into it, it’s Azazil’s and Asmodeus’s fault for not destroying Lilif centuries ago when they had the chance.”

  “They couldn’t. At the time … she was too connected to the world.”

  “Not anymore.”

  Ari nodded. “She can be destroyed now. If Azazil and Asmodeus allow it, that is.”

  “I think they’ll have to. For now, I want you to stop worrying and stop feeling guilty. She may be powerful but she’s up against seven Jinn kings and Azazil and Asmodeus. Azazil will have regained his strength by now. I’m sure they’re dealing with it as we speak.”

  “You can’t just say the words and expect me to stop feeling guilty. To stop worrying,” Ari insisted. “Azazil told me there might be consequences. I did it, anyway. I acted like Charlie, except I don’t have the excuse of being twisted by a piece of Mount Qaf emerald.”

  Jai heaved an irritated sigh. “Now I’m getting pissed.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.” He sat up on his elbow. “Okay, your actions led to Lilif’s reawakening. Did you intend that? No.

  You did what you did to save lives. Charlie’s actions lost lives and all to wreak revenge. How is what you did the same thing?”

  Jai Bitar, you are a pain in my ass. Ari made a grumbling noise. “It’s not.”

  “Are you going to stop feeling guilty?”

  “Can we not talk about this anymore?”

  “Ari—”

  She reached up swiftly, pulling his head down to hers. The annoyed, hard kiss she pressed against his mouth to shut him up quickly grew soft and heated as he groaned and wrapped his arms around her.

  “You don’t play fair,” he growled, trailing soft kisses along her jaw and down her neck.

  Needing to escape for a while, Ari was overcome with an urgency to disappear inside him. She gripped his hips with her thighs and flipped him so his back was on the mattress and she was straddling him.

  Jai smoothed his hands down her back and around her hips, a fire stirring in his gaze. Her lips hovered above his as she whispered desperately, “I’m going to make it so I don’t know where you start and where I end.”

  Abruptly, Jai sat up, rearranging her on his lap as he held her tight against him. “We’re already there.” He kissed her softly. “We’re deep inside each other. That’s why I can’t bear to see you blame yourself. I feel it. I feel it when you hurt.”

  Her eyes shimmered as she tenderly cupped his face in her hands, her thumbs stroking his bristly jawline. “Then I’ll stop blaming myself.”

  “As easy as that?”

  She brushed her nose along his, her bottom lip catching his top lip. “You’re the last person in the world I’d ever hurt. If hurting me hurts you … then, yeah. Easy as that.”

  Jai’s eyes sparked in the dark and he hugged her tighter. “I love you. I need you,” he whispered frantically, his hands coasting around her hips to draw her nightgown up. “Now.”

  Ari nodded, her cheek rubbing against his as she whispered in his ear. “I love you too.”

  Leaning back a little, she raised her arms so he could draw her nightie off, and as soon as it was gone and there was nothing between them but air, Jai crushed her against him, kissing her breathless.

  ***

  The sound of Jai’s cell ringing woke them. Ari sleepily lifted her head off his chest so he could reach for it on his bedside table.

  “Bitar,” he mumbled into the cell.

  Whatever the caller said bolted Jai upright. Ari instantly tensed, watching him.

  “Okay. We’ll be right there.” He hung up and looked down at her, his expression unreadable. “Michael wants to see us. He has an assignment for us.”

  Ari struggled into a sitting position, pushing her long hair out of her face. “Well, that’s good, right?

  Gives us something to focus on.”

  “Yeah. Let’s get ready and go see what it’s about.”

  “This is not good,” Jai grumbled, his arms crossed over his chest, his glower darkening Michael’s study.

  “Look,” Michael sighed. “You know I prefer having the two of you on assignment together, but I have an Edimmu Utukku haunting a graveyard only fifteen miles from here and a Labartu another Guild has tracked into northern Philadelphia. These two have been causing serious havoc and I have two assassins who can take the bastards out. I already sent Trey on assignment last night with Fallon. She was begging to get out of the house and I wanted someone I could trust with her, so they’re in Maryland taking care of a newbie sorcerer. That leaves me with only two legal assassins.

  You two. The Labartu is moving fast, so we need to deal with her while she’s under our jurisdiction. The Utukku killed someone last night, so I want him dealt with too. Jai, I need you on board with this.”

  Ari made a huffing sound. “As much as I love him, Jai is not the boss of me.” She ignored his glare. “He’s no longer my guardian and he no longer calls the shots. Just tell me what I need to do and this Jinn is mine.”

  “Ari—”

  “Jai.” She shook her head at him, her eyes narrowed stubbornly. “You don’t want me to feel gui
lty. Fine. I’m not.

  But don’t make me feel helpless, either.”

  “Red asked me to protect you.”

  “Yes. From Lilif, if she ever decides to come calling. She hasn’t. I’m pretty sure she’s being given the runaround by her sons and ex-hubby right about now and could give a crap about her long-lost granddaughter.” When his annoyed expression didn’t change, she sent him an appeasing look. “I know there’s danger. I’m not an idiot. But I’ll get in and out of there as quickly as possible. You do realize I need to be able to fight without you by my side?”

  After a moment of contemplation, Jai finally gave in, “Fine. But you go in there all guns blazing, no messing around. Just kill it and get out.”

  Ari smiled sweetly at him.

  “Whatever you say, baby.”

  ***

  “Perhaps we should rest, Your Highness,” a Marid from what was left of White’s army suggested. “Conserve our energy.”

  Lilif gazed at her husband’s palace towering upon the mountains and sneered. White’s army, now her army, was growing as she commanded more Jinn to her side. However, with her other sons, her husband, and her brother locked within the palace walls combining their power to keep them out, there was little she could do until she got inside.

  She narrowed her eyes on White.

  “Are you sure you are channeling your power at full strength?” It had not escaped her that White was more than a little disappointed to discover she’d twisted the truth and manipulated him centuries ago. However, Lilif was relying on his obsessive love to win him over. She thought that it had, but she was certain she wasn’t feeling the full extent of his energy battering into the protection shield around Azazil’s home. Still, she’d give him time. She was not yet ready to use the Seal against him. White was the son who’d always been loyal, and Lilif appreciated that loyalty. She needed it. It would hurt to lose it and then have to forcefully take it from him.

  “I am, Mother,” he assured her, his jaw tight with tension and anger. “But I fear we are just sitting ducks. Even with this army,” he sneered as he waved his hand over the masses behind them.