“I know I don’t,” Jai murmured.
“Red,” Ari sighed heavily. “You know this is the only way.”
He held out his hand. “Let’s go.”
With one last glance around the room and one last long look into Jai’s eyes, Ari took her uncle’s hand and let him whip her through the unbelievable roller coaster ride to Mount Qaf.
Thankfully, Ari had become used to the sensation of traveling the Peripatos, so much so that even the more exhilarating ride to another realm didn’t affect her like it used to. She stepped out with grace and attempted to keep her face expressionless, even though she’d never before been hit by a more powerful wave of magic.
Sitting in a large, thronelike chair by the fireplace in an elaborate parlor, Azazil alone emanated enough power to make a human stumble back. Sitting in a room with his six sons—Red, Glass, Lucky, Gilder, Shadow, and Gleaming—and with Asmodeus standing by his side, the feeling was almost crushing on her chest. It took her a moment to get used to the thickened air. She checked out the two Jinn kings she’d never met.
From the description Charlie had given her from his very limited time spent in the Gilder King’s presence, Ari knew the tallest of the kings with the long golden hair was Gilder. His energy, in particular, pulsated with power. Ari was fascinated by his hair—each strand looked like real spun gold. He eyed her dispassionately and she felt a shiver ripple down her spine. Charlie had also told her Gilder thought she should have been eliminated in order to save all of the fuss. She was guessing after everything that happened in the last few days, his opinion had not wavered.
The other king who drew her gaze was the Lucky King. Despite the optimism of his name, the balding, handsome, and very young-looking king wore an expression so dour, Ari almost flinched when he lifted his wounded eyes to her.
What a depressed-looking soul he was.
“Ari, aren’t you brave,” Azazil murmured, bestowing a saccharine smile upon her. “My sons aren’t particularly happy they’re holed up in my palace in hiding from their mother. It goes against their natures to hide, you see, and they just so happen to blame this entire fiasco on you.”
Ari gulped and quickly glanced at them all, her eyes flicking away from Asmodeus’s dark expression. “You were the one who said yes.”
There was a moment of silence and then Azazil threw his head back in laughter, his white silky hair shimmering around his shoulders. His eyes glittered as they came back to her face. “Oh, I am glad you’ve developed some bite since the first time we met.”
“Being a pawn in a Jinn Sultan’s game will do that to a person.”
“Ari,” Red warned her under his breath.
However, Azazil waved off her comment. “Yes, yes. We have all played a part in the realization of this situation we find ourselves in. I said my sons blame you, not I. Why are you here?”
Steadfastly ignoring Asmodeus’s gaze, Ari replied, “When Lilif came to me in the graveyard, she was unable to command me.”
“Hmm,” Azazil nodded, “Red said something of that sort. Why do you think that is?”
“She’s the Seal. It didn’t work on Asmodeus, and when he attempted to use it on me, it didn’t work, either. I think we became so entangled in its power that it no longer holds any over us.”
Asmodeus’s voice rumbled throughout the room. “I think I’m going to be most displeased with where this is going.”
Deciding she didn’t have time to be afraid, Ari’s gaze snapped to him, her eyes flashing fire. “We’re the only ones who can withstand her command. It’s up to us to take her out.”
Asmodeus took a threatening step toward her. “We’re not killing her.”
Ari’s expression turned incredulous. “Are you kidding me?”
“Do not push me, Ari,” he growled and Red automatically shifted closer to her, as did Glass. Asmodeus curled his lip at them both. “Like you could stop me,” he taunted.
“Enough.” Her voice was cool, calm and totally authoritative, drawing surprised looks from all of her uncles.
“Asmodeus, listen to reason.” She took a step toward him now, letting him know she wouldn’t back down. “I know she’s your sister. I know that. But Lilif is never going to change her mind about destroying the realms. I know you might not care about my world, but what about Mount Qaf? What about the millions of Jinn she is going to destroy?” Ari turned, imploring Azazil. “You couldn’t kill her before because she was connected to too many threads in both worlds. Well, she isn’t any more. If we kill her, whatever tangible connection she has to the worlds may cause some disruption. For the greater good, I’m afraid that’s a risk I’m willing to take. It’s been centuries, Your Highness, and it’s time to end this once and for all.”
There was silence in the parlor and Ari was afraid every single one of them could hear her heart escalating as the quiet stretched on and on. Finally, Azazil nodded slowly, for once his expression entirely grave. “You are right, Ari. You are right.”
“No,” Asmodeus whirled on him. “You cannot be serious?”
Azazil glowered at his first lieutenant. “There is no other way, Asmodeus. Lilif must die. And you are going to help Ari kill her. That’s an order.”
With a roar of impotent rage, Asmodeus was suddenly a blur across the room as he flew at Ari. She found herself brushed aside, her hip landing hard against the tiled floor as she fell. Eyes round with fear and shock, she looked up to see Red and Glass holding Asmodeus back.
“Asmodeus, calm yourself,” Azazil commanded.
The lieutenant shot Ari one last vicious look before he breathed deep and stepped back, shrugging Red and Glass off him. He held up a hand to warn them off and backed up slowly, his expression quickly smoothing.
Glass growled under his breath and then turned to Ari, holding a hand out to her. She took it and as he helped her to her feet, he asked quietly, “How is Trey?”
She gave him a soft, trembling smile. “He’s well.” He misses you.