I turned on my heels and strolled through the crowd of gawking Beneathers with Verin grinning at my side and Idris following us with stilted movements. The Beneathers started to applaud; they weren't sure what had happened but I had obviously won.
“It's all good,” I called out. “Just a loose end I had to tie up. Party on, everyone!”
The cheering followed us down the street but thankfully faded by the time we got back to my men. The guys were waiting anxiously with Cerberus, right where we'd left them. They stood up as we approached, looking both relieved and annoyed.
“Dude, I get that you're not yourself right now, but you can't just go running off... holy shit,” Gage gaped at the Jinni.
“Fuck me!” Cerberus added. “Is that who I think it is?”
Verin grunted in affirmation.
“Look who the cat dragged in.” I grinned. “That name came in handy after all.”
“That's some perfect timing,” Banning noted. “For us, I mean. Not so good for you, Mr. Non-Jinx.”
The Jinni frowned at Banning.
“Long story.” Banning winked at him.
“Anyone remember where we put that bottle?” I asked.
“It's in Kyanite,” Darc said. “I'll fetch it.”
The Jinni's stare shot around our group in a panic. He started to ree.
“Stop!” I shouted.
The Jinni's shift to spirit stopped suddenly and left him in a half-transparent state that—judging by his expression—was painful.
“Reform,” I ordered.
He became physical again.
“Do not try to ree again, and don't move from that spot,” I commanded.
The Jinni trembled, his eyes narrowing and his lips compressing into a furious line.
“You've got a Jinn slave!” Cerberus exclaimed. “Do you know what you could do with him? Oh, my fucking Gods; this is fantastic! Can I borrow him?”
“I'm putting him in a bottle and handing him over to his people.”
“Aw, come on, El,” Cerberus whined. “Are you kidding me? If you don't want him, give him to me. Pretty please with whipped cream on top.”
“Cer, he may be insane and evil but he came after us for killing the woman he loved,” I said softly. “That's valid. I'm not going to torture him. I trust the Jinn Royals to punish him fairly. They can decide his fate.”
Cerberus let out an irritated huff of air. “Sometimes your morality is a buzzkill, El.”
“Don't act as if you're any different, Hellhound.”
Cerberus rolled his eyes, but I knew that deep down, he agreed with me. Cerberus had guarded the Gates of Hades and guardians tend to have a certain type of honor. He wouldn't take advantage of Idris either; not after I'd pointed out my reasons for standing down.
Darc returned. “Here it is.” He handed me the bottle the Jinn enchanters had made for us.
I uncorked it and faced Idris. “I'm sorry about Petra; for the loss you feel that drove you to seek revenge. And I'm sorry that I have to do this to you to protect myself and the people I love. But I won't regret it because I would do anything to protect them.”
“You stand there amid your lovers and dare apologize to me?” Idris asked scornfully. “Fuck you, Elaria Tanager. You've never known loss like mine. You can't possibly understand it.”
“I have known it,” I said firmly. “I was torn away from my husband and separated from him for centuries. We made worlds together and birthed one of the greatest Beneather races in existence but all of that paled in comparison to our love. And it was taken from us. So don't you dare stand there and judge me, Idris. You have no idea what that kind of love feels like.” I leaned in and snarled, “Or what if feels like to lose it. You think you loved Petra? You think you suffered? You have no idea what true suffering is. I'm tempted to show you.”
“My fire,” Darc said gently as he laid a hand on my shoulder. “He's not a God; he'll never understand what we had and that's okay. Mortal love has its own beauty and power. The suffering they feel can be just as great as ours. We can't judge his pain because we felt our own. Nor should we diminish it because we believe our love was greater.”
I hung my head and laughed but it was a self-condemning sound. I turned to look at my husband and shook my head. “You've always been the best part of me, Darcraxis.”
Darcraxis wiped away the tears I didn't realize I was crying then kissed me tenderly. “We make each other better. That's how it's been from the very beginning.”
“I don't need your apology or your pity,” Idris declared. “Just do what you're going to do.”
“Very well,” Darc growled in irritation. His sympathy would only go so far. He nodded at me.
I held up the bottle. “Get in the bottle, Idrisanigal.”
Idris lifted his chin as his body became transparent then vanished. The bottle shifted and warmed as his spirit spiraled into it. I plugged it with the golden cork then held it aloft triumphantly. The Beneathers around us, who'd been eagerly watching the drama unfold, cheered and held their plastic cups up in unity.
Chapter Fifty-Four
“Anybody else feel as if that was a bit anticlimactic?” Gage asked dryly.
We were at our table again, this time with a bottled Jinni sitting beside the snacks.
“I'll take anticlimactic over a dangerous any day,” I said.
“Fair enough.” Gage tipped his head.
“Slate,” Binx walked up with Achira, Daha's sister.
Slate turned to his brother with a smile then got to his feet. “There you are!” He hugged Binx, who's eyes widened in shock and arms stuck straight out to the sides. Slate stepped away from his stunned brother and greeted his girlfriend, “Hello, Achira.”
Achira bowed her head.
“I wanted to tell you how very sorry I am for my part in your brother's death. Will you forgive me?”
“Of course, Zone Lord,” she said immediately. “You played no part;
