I still questioned the wisdom of such actions. Since learning more about djinn and their creation, I wondered if witches had scrubbed the information so such mistakes couldn’t be repeated or to try and erase the shameful memory all together. Eitherway, current lack of knowledge was incredibly frustrating and ultimately very unhelpful.
“Is there anyone you can ask?” As with most species, witch culture had a hierarchy, and the elder witches typically held information the younger ones did not.
Loretta gave a slow nod. “I believe so. I can certainly make inquiries.” She swallowed hard and paled a little more. “You said Aurelia thinks she might be able to contact this…Ajita?”
“Maybe. There are no certainties when it comes to Aurelia.”
“Too fucking true,” Franklin agreed.
I squeezed Franklin’s hand. “Perhaps the bigger question isn’tifAurelia can find and contact Ajita, but if sheshould.”
“Is Aurelia afraid of Ajita?” Franklin asked. “Because if she is, then I think we both know the answer to that question.”
I thought back on my conversation with Aurelia and shook my head. “I wouldn’t say she’safraid. I get the feeling she’s more upset about the fact that Ajita is—or I guesswas—a witch. I think she’s also jealous that Ajita can not only touch her object of attachment but keep it so no other can control her. Ajita’s never suffered amaster.” I considered those words and amended. “Or at least she eliminated the one who attempted to master her. If she was ever controlled, it was for a very short time as compared to the millennia Aurelia has had to deal with others dictating her actions and fate.”
“She’s understandably bitter,” Loretta said.
“I believe that’s true.” Bitterness tainted much of Aurelia’s personality and decisions. I didn’t hold that against her. If there was ever a creature that deserved every ounce of bitterness rotting their soul, it was Aurelia. Probably all the other djinn as well.
“Is it worth the risk?” Franklin’s tone was soft and filled with worry. “I mean, do we even know if Ajita knows anything about shadow borne?”
It was a valid question and one I had no answer to. “I don’t know. I don’t think Aurelia knows for certain. However, I have to think Ajita will know more than the rest of us. Aurelia is confident that the witches of her time knew more about shadow borne or at least spoke of them.”
“With fear,” Franklin pointed out.
“I won’t argue that.”
“Shit.” Franklin leaned back, his long legs stretched out before him. “Gotta say, that doesn’t add a damn bit of calm to the storm constantly plaguing my flight-or-fight instincts where Huxley’s concerned.”
“Nor should it,” Loretta said as she leaned an elbow on her desk, pointing a finger Franklin’s way. “We’ve seen what Huxley can do, and as far as we know, he was thousands of miles away when he murdered Erasmus’s attackers.”
A full-body shiver slithered its way from my head to my toes as memories of Titus McMahon and his wife assaulted my mind. Considering they’d been hell-bent on murdering me, I didn’t mourn their deaths. But the way they’d died… I could hear the crack of their necks as if they’d been broken mere seconds ago instead of months.
“Hey, you okay?” Franklin’s fingers gripped my shoulder, comfortingly applying just the right amount of pressure.
I swallowed hard.Was I okay?It was a good question, one I wish I truly knew the answer to. In some ways, the question wasn’t really important. What really mattered was that I didn’t have the luxury of not being okay.
“I’m fine,” I sort of lied. “At least as fine as I’m getting.” I added a bit more truth when Franklin gave me doubting eyes.
Opening his mouth, I think Franklin wanted to say something comforting but either couldn’t come up with anything or knew it would sound trite. In the end, he settled for a firmnod. “The captain’s right. We both need sleep, and you need a boatload of calories.”
A bone cracking yawn overtook me. Bringing back six souls for interrogation was draining. “Lots of carbohydrates?” I asked hopefully.
Franklin’s lips twitched. “Anything you want.”
“And ice cream?” If there was one thing that could be counted on in the South, it was every corner had a liquor store, church, or ice cream shop.
Leaning across his chair, Franklin’s lips softly brushed against mine, his previous words a whispered promise. “Anything you want.”
I could think of a lot of things Iwanted. Right now, I’d settle for a carbalicious meal followed by an ice cream cone or three, a hot shower, and falling asleep cuddled up to the man who woke up every morning and decided to keep loving me.
Chapter
Eight
Franklin
Saying I got more sleep last night than the previous twenty-four hours wasn’t a very high bar to reach for. Regardless, with the aid of a hefty dose of caffeine and at least five straight hours of pillow time, I was brighter this morning, although I was far frombushy-tailed. Three hours after arriving at work found me neck deep in missing persons reports from six different states. Maryland, New York, Alabama, Florida, Vermont, and Ohio.
