“You are confused.” He waved his fork as he spoke. “You, Detective, owe
“I don’t have the monetary value of your two warriors,” I said carefully. “And I probably never will. But I do have access to the ITF, to things you might find useful.” Hank went rigid beside me. I was treading a very thin line between good cop and bad cop, but I had to find something that would satisfy Grigori for the time being. And then I’d arrest his ass for drug trafficking and murder. I’d say whatever I had to in order to walk out of there in one piece.
He thought as he chewed, eyeing me like a cat deciding how to first play with its mouse before devouring it. “I will consider debt paid for one of my warriors,” he began slowly, “if you arrange visitation for one of my jinn to see Lamek Kraw in cold cell” —he spat on the floor at those two words—“and you put my daughter on your payroll at ITF.”
Sian sucked in a horrified gasp, just as pleased as I was at the prospect of her working for the ITF.
Sure, getting her a position at ITF could be arranged if it came to that, but getting the folks at Deer Isle Federal Prison in Maine to pull Lamek Kraw out of cold cell confinement for a visit was going to be highly unlikely. But, with luck, I’d have Grigori Tennin joining his jinn brethren in the north as soon as I made it out of this cave.
“And for the second?” I asked.
“The second … I will think on it and let you know.”
“Done,” I said. “I’ll need time to make arrangements.”
Grigori shrugged as though he couldn’t care less, but I saw through the game. He had something brewing inside that huge skull of his and there was only one thing better to a jinn boss than extracting revenge in blood— putting the law in their pockets. Of course, I was lying my ass off and playing a dangerous game with a dangerous criminal, but I didn’t have any other options at the moment. I couldn’t hide from the jinn and the debt unless I wanted to leave town and disappear. And I wasn’t going to turn tail and run, not from my city.
“Jazel Tel is the name of my jinn who will go north. You have two days.”
My face was on fire, but I nodded, knowing full well he could see right through my lies, and that made me more concerned than anything else. With a dim glow in his cunning violet eyes, he leaned close and held out his massive hand.
The last thing I wanted was to make contact, but I wasn’t about to back down now. Gritting my teeth, I placed my hand in his, ready to shake on it, but he jerked me forward. My ribs crashed into the table as one of the female guards whipped out a wicked-looking blade, stepped to the table, and, in one swift movement, pressed the sharp tip against Hank’s Adam’s apple, blocking him from making a move.
Grigori slammed my hand down on the table and used his dagger to slice my palm clean open, the sting of cut flesh robbing me of breath. His hand held my wrist firmly, squeezing so hard I was sure the bones would crack. His wide nose nearly touched mine.
Indignation and rage fired my blood, surging through me with that familiar hum of power and clouding my vision so badly it was like wearing prescription eyewear that wasn’t yours. Nausea rolled through my stomach. I closed my eyes, using every ounce of strength to bank the power and stay in control.
“Swear it. Swear your oath now, Detective,” he demanded in a hiss of words, his eyes bright and fervent and his breath reeking of wine and steak. “In blood. At my table. Do it.”
My teeth ground together, as I wanted nothing more than to slam my fist into his overbearing face. “I swear.”
Grigori Tennin gave me one last hard look and then released me. “She is bound!” he shouted to the tribe, his words echoing deeply through the chamber.
I slumped against the table for a second to catch my breath and then pushed back, cradling my bloody hand and wondering if being “bound” was really as bad as it sounded. The guard sheathed her dagger and returned to her station behind Grigori.
Grigori’s mouth widened in a slow Cheshire grin. “Watch out for the rogues and sympathizers, though, Detective. There are many, I think, who would like to see your blood soak the ground.” He chuckled as though he’d made some intensely witty joke and then returned to his meal.
Without a parting look, I pivoted and limped out of the chamber, my ankle still sore. Asshole. The initial pain of the cut had subsided, leaving my palm with a strong, pulsating ache. “We need a sample of that drug,” I said to Hank as we passed through the stone archway.
“Not now.”
He grabbed my arm as I stumbled on the uneven ground, my chest burning with sour rage. His fingers squeezed my bicep, and he leaned slightly so our words wouldn’t carry down the corridor. “You’re bleeding, and unless you want to deal with the advances of a bunch of sex-crazed jinn, save it for another time.”
Our passing, well,
We had to press our backs flat against the wall as a group of females carried Len like a trophy down the corridor. I suppressed a shiver at the bright gleam in their eyes. Poor guy had gotten
Once we were through the bar and out onto Solomon Street, I had to pause to catch my breath. Every muscle ached and the damn heels were getting on my last nerve. I wanted to hit something or scream at the top of my lungs. Instead I jerked off one of the pumps and flung it with a low screech at the brick wall. It bounced back and nearly hit Hank.
I stood there for a long moment, my good hand on my hip, in utter disbelief at how wrong everything was going. Hank picked up the pump and handed it to me. I glared at him for a long moment before taking the damn thing and putting it back on.
The streetlamp gave me just enough light to inspect my wounded palm. It was angry red and still bleeding. He’d cut me with his nasty steak knife, which meant I needed to disinfect ASAP. I marched down Solomon Street and didn’t stop until I came to the plaza where Solomon converged with Mercy and Helios.
Hank was right behind me and grabbed my hand when I stopped. “Here. Let me see.” The grave sigh that followed and the grim set of his jaw made me snatch my hand away.
“What? It can’t be infected already.” I looked down. My heart skipped a beat. It was far from infected. It had partially healed. Already.
“You’ve started seeing auras. You went ballistic with those jinn in Underground. And you’re healing yourself.” He pulled me to large water fountain in the center of the plaza and held my hand underneath.
Cold water sent a welcome chill up my arm, and I gave up my anger and resistance, sitting tiredly on the fountain ledge as he rubbed the grime from my palm.
“There’s no doubt you have power,” he began, quiet and thoughtful. He didn’t have to tend to my wound, but I sensed he needed something to do. And for some reason, I let him. “It’s wild, sporadic, whatever it is …” A lock of sweat-dampened hair fell over his forehead and touched the bridge of his nose. He blew it out of the way, and it made me smile. “Your death could’ve unlocked dormant abilities, or maybe you’re just a late bloomer. We know it runs in the family because of your grandmother and Bryn …”
I didn’t enlighten him about the special relationship I’d had with my twin brother.
For so long I’d denied having or wanting any extra abilities beyond my own God-given human talents. But now, I couldn’t hide it. It was coming out of me whether I liked it or not. The lack of control freaked me out
“I know that look,” Hank interrupted my thoughts.
“What look?”
“The Queen of Denial look. It’s a little too late for that.”
“I wasn’t going to deny it,” I muttered. “I just don’t
“What’re you so afraid of? The average population would kill for any kind of psychic gift, much less the power to heal themselves.”
The rhythmic fall of water into the basin
