Bitterness sharpened her features. “Humans have raped and plundered their earth, their arrogance proclaiming superiority over all other creatures. It is time to show them the truth: we are the superior beings and we are going to undo their mar upon this world.”
Ari had no words. What could you say in the face of irrational insanity?
“Don’t look at me that way, Ari. I know you understand my pain. I know you’ve seen my memories and how much I’ve lost. I also know you’re kind and compassionate and loyal. I am not so cruel that I do not admire those characteristics. Especially in a friend. I could use a friend like you, Ari. And I promise that if you come to me, if you stand by my side and help me take down Azazil and my sons, I will protect you and your Jai. I will lead you into The After.”
Trembling, Ari took a step back, preparing to leave. “It’s never going to happen. Never.”
“Ari—”
“Go—” Before Ari could say another word, her stomach dropped as she was lifted with invisible hands and thrown through the air. She crashed against the nearest tree, the wind knocked out of her upon impact. Her arms were spread-eagled and pinned in place. She struggled against Lilif’s hold as the Jinn casually strolled toward her, her chin tilted so she could meet Ari’s gaze.
Frustration and fear of being under Lilif’s command tore through Ari in a scream, and she smashed through Lilif’s hold on her left arm before beginning work on her right.
“Impressive,” Lilif murmured.
“Exactly why I need you. I’m guessin—” She tut-tutted as Ari worked her right fingers loose. “Stop that, Ari.”
“Bite me, you evil succubus,” Ari growled and sent a bolt of ember out of her left hand against her right wrist.
She dropped to the ground, rolling as Jai had trained her to do. As she came back up, she sent a wave of defensive magic toward Lilif, only to have the viper blast it back and knock Ari off her feet before she could summon the Peripatos.
The wind blew harder around them as Lilif’s dark eyes sparked with a terrible fire. “I command you, Ari Johnson. I command you to my army.” She came to a triumphant stop at Ari’s feet and stared down at her haughtily.
For a moment Ari just stared up at her, waiting for the compulsion to seize her. It didn’t.
What the …
Of course.
When Asmodeus tried to force a kiss from her using the power of the Seal, it hadn’t worked.
He took hold of her left arm in a bruising grip, pulling her body into his. “How is it possible?” he breathed angrily. “How can you withstand the command of the Seal?”
“Maybe the same way you can,” she countered aggressively, hating him in that moment and longing to be far, far away from him. She longed to be near Jai’s comforting, protective presence.
“You had the Seal around your neck for centuries and I had it inside me for eighteen years. Go figure.”
She and Asmodeus were immune to it.
Eyes bright with newfound hope, Ari rose to her feet to gaze up into Lilif’s smug face. Summoning the Peripatos and feeling somewhat smug herself, Ari curled her lip in derision as the flames surrounded her. “Rot in hell.”
Lilif’s piercing scream caused her to flinch as her lightning-quick hand wrenched Ari out of the Peripatos.
Fear gripped her. She’d never encountered anyone who could move that quickly.
Lilif curled her fingers around Ari’s throat and pulled her close. “Not so fast, granddaughter.”
***
“You cannot leave,” Azazil shook his head at Red.
“If Lilif goes after Ari, she might be able to use her to break the protection spell around the palace.”
“Exactly,” Red growled. “Which is why I have to help her.”
Six of the Jinn kings, Azazil, and Asmodeus were gathered in Azazil’s favorite parlor. Azazil was back to his full strength and back to making absolutely no sense.
Asmodeus crossed his arms over his chest. His mood had been black for days, and Red could only guess Lilif’s return was pricking some very painful memories for her twin. “Why do I get the feeling that you are enjoying this, Your Highness?”
Red shot his father a disbelieving look. “You cannot be. Even you must realize that Lilif’s return as the Seal is the greatest threat we’ve faced. This is not a laughing matter, Father, or something to appease your boredom.”
The Sultan drew him a low-lidded, unimpressed look. “Well, of course not.” And then he grinned, flashing his white teeth in amusement. “But one must admit, it is the most exciting event to happen in a long time.”
Hearing Glass’s groan of disbelief behind him, Red thanked Mount Qaf once again that he at least had one sane member of the family to count on. “I’m going after Ari. I can’t leave her to Lilif.”
Azazil took a sharp step toward him. “If you go after that girl, you are directly disobeying me.”
Loyalty to his father warred with the promise he’d made to Sala to always protect Ari. If there was one thing the Red King prided himself on, it was his sense of honor. And that honor, that honor he had pledged to his father and his lover, were now at war. A quick decision had to be made and he knew whichever one it was, it would cut him in some way.
Although his stomach churned and his heart pounded as he did so, Red finally gave his father a bow of his head as he summoned the Peripatos. “Then I’m directly disobeying you.”
***
Ari wheezed for air as Lilif straddled her, pinning her to the ground as she squeezed her hand around Ari’s throat. Determined not to go down without a fight, Ari threw her hand up and smacked the heel of her palm against Lilif’s nose. The crack was almost silenced by Lilif’s furious shriek. Her grip on Ari loosened and Ari blasted the witch with her defensive ember, knocking her off. She was clambering to her own feet when Lilif forced her back onto her ass, an ice-cold enchantment crawling up Ari’s legs and prickling painfully into her skin, trying to wedge itself into her blood.
Ari imagined the sun growing closer and brighter and hotter and the ice enchantment melted into oblivion. Her victory was cut short as Lilif pounced on her again like an enraged cat, her claws out as she slashed at Ari’s face.
And then suddenly, she was flying over Ari’s head as if a gust of wind had blown her off.
Ari sat up, fear lodged in her throat. Not a gust of wind.
It was Red.
What the hell was he doing here?
NO!