I screamed as the Tablet's magic shot directly into my star. My vision went hazy as unbearable pain flooded my body. The roar of a dragon melded with that of a lion and the howling of a wolf, slicing through my mind like razors. My nahual splintered apart into golden mist as tears poured down my cheeks. The cords binding me to everyone I loved went tight and thrummed with tension; a few more minutes and they'd snap. All of me would.
But then a strange disturbance filled the air behind Marduk. Wavering light like a heatwave. Energy gathered and faces formed in the haze. King Iblis grinned maniacally as he crouched over Marduk. All of the other Jinn Royals took shape beside him, even the canine Ibi. They circled us, leaning forward as Iblis did, and laid their hands—and a paw—on Marduk. Then they vanished.
Marduk trembled violently, his eyes going wide in fear and shock. His face bubbled, skin boiling like water. The pain in my body stopped instantly and my star snapped back together like a released rubber band. As my nahual reformed, my beasts settled, and my magic clicked back into place. I took a deep breath as Marduk began to scream, his whole body going rigid. I shoved him off me and stood, shifting into my weredragon form to cover my nudity. My dragon tail swished behind me with animal fascination as I cocked my head in curiosity.
“If you'll excuse me, Dragon Queen,” Zimri-dagan stepped past me, his boot heels clicking smartly on the stone, and knelt over the shrieking Marduk. He removed the Tablet of Destinies from Marduk's breastplate and then returned to my side with it tucked securely under his arm. “We should probably step back further. This is going to be messy.”
I lifted my brow at Zimri-dagan but backed away as he advised. Behind us, our army emerged from the earth, lifted out by jinn, while gods helped each other out from beneath boulders and other debris. The Mesopotamians didn't try to stop them nor did our forces re-engage with our enemies once they were free. Everyone was too busy staring at Marduk.
“What's happening?” I asked Zimri-dagan the question we were all thinking.
“The Kings and Queens have possessed Marduk,” he said as if it were obvious. “It's difficult to possess a god, but we foresaw that through unity the Royals could manage it with Marduk. They have taken control of his magic and body. Prepare yourself, Vervain. As soon as Marduk dies, you will need to reclaim this territory.”
“I'm on it.” I grinned and watched Marduk in anticipation.
I felt my lovers come up the steps behind me and reached for them without glancing away from the roiling mass of flesh that was Marduk. Hands caught mine and laid on my shoulders as my men pressed in around me. They were all alive and that was even more gratifying than watching Marduk writhe in agony.
“You traitorous she-dragon!” Marduk gurgled.
Then his body exploded.
As soon as Marduk turned to mush, I felt the magic of the territory burst free of his control. I barely needed to call for it; it recognized me and came to me automatically. Still, I yanked it quickly into my star and bonded it to the Lion magic before anyone else could claim it. The two merged and my lioness energy flowed into the land while territory magic circled back into me. Nothing crumbled as it had when I had transferred the magic to Marduk. Without Marduk there to destroy what he had created, they stayed as they were. I didn't care; I'd deal with it later, but I needed to add one thing immediately. I settled a new ward into place and spoke the chant that would open it. The Trinity Star glowed with pleasure, and I breathed in deeply, luxuriating in the feel of the magical place around me. My territory.
Out of Marduk's gory remains, eight flames swirled into existence and then took the shape of the Kings and Queens of the Jinn. As they formed, the Mesopotamians vanished, tracing away to save themselves. It didn't matter; they couldn't hurt me anymore. Not without the Tablet of Destinies.
“That's right!” I shouted after the Mesopotamians as they retreated. “This is our home!” Then, in a sing-song voice, I added, “I'm the Queen of the castle, and you're a dirty”—I glanced at the mess that used to be Marduk and changed my tone to one of grim declaration—“you're a dirty, disgusting splatter.” I eyed the Jinn Royals. “That was a hell of a way to kill someone. You know, they never would have upset you if they knew you had superpowers.”
The Jinn frowned.
“I guess you're not Stranger Things fans,” I noted dryly and glanced at the mess again. “Could've fooled me.”
The Jinn exchanged amused glances as they floated forward to join us, hovering over the Marduk-smear so they wouldn't get their shoes dirty. King Iblis set himself down before me and held out his hands. Zimri-dagan reverentially placed the Tablet of Destinies within Iblis' eager grip. King Iblis clutched the stone to his chest like a long-lost lover and sighed deeply. I stared at him in concern. Had I just killed one maniac only to empower another?
“Do not concern yourself about our intentions, Queen Vervain,” King Iblis said as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. “We rejoice to have the Tablet of Destinies returned to us, but we do not intend to use it. I have been given guardianship because my people live in a part of the Jinn territory that is the most inhospitable to other races.”
“You mean Hell?” I asked with a lifted brow.
“To some, maybe.” He grinned to show off his thick canines. “To the Shayteen it is
