“Is there a limit on how many times I can sayshit?” Franklin asked. “Because I’m pretty sure I’m going to push the boundaries on that one.”
“I think the situation earns a pass,” I answered. If Ajita was to be believed, charms didn’t work against Huxley. If that were the case, he was probably laughing his ass off at our pitiful efforts to keep our conversations from his ears. We always knew it wasa possibility. Confirming it sucked, but it was information we needed.
There was something else I needed to know, something I’d been worrying over. “Can shadow borne hurt djinn?”
Ajita’s chuckles faded. “Why would that concern you?”
“Aurelia. I don’t want her getting hurt or something worse. She’s bored, and that might lead her to take unnecessary risks.” Choice was everything to Aurelia. I didn’t want to take that away from her and have Peaches wish her to stay away from Huxley. I’d do it if I thought that was the only way to keep her safe, but I loathed the idea and didn’t want to cross that line.
Expression blank, Ajita stared at me long enough the silence became uncomfortable. “An interesting reason, necromancer.” I thought that might be all Ajita would say, but after a few more moments of silence, she added, “It is doubtful, though I have not personally tested the theory.”
I was only slightly mollified. Doubtful didn’t mean impossible.
“You truly care what happens to a djinn? With no personal gain to yourself?” Confusion colored Ajita’s words.
“I wouldn’t say I don’t gain anything. I consider Aurelia a friend. Some would say friendship is priceless.”
“Only fools.” Obviously, Ajita wasn’t impressed with my opinion.
“Then I guess I’m a fool.”
“Of that, I have little doubt. However, I am beginning to comprehend Aurelia’s interest. As I said before, millennia of monotony take its toll. It is rare to find something so…intriguing. I find myself in unusual territory. You are a danger, necromancer, but you are also fascinating. At least you are entertaining.”
“I—” Whatever I was going to say was moot because just like Aurelia, Ajita left without so much as a goodbye. “They really don’t teach djinn greeting and leaving pleasantries, do they?”
“That’s what you took away from that conversation?” Franklin sounded incredulous.
“It’s the only thing from that conversation that I can properly wrap my head around without it exploding or ending with me in the fetal position on the floor.”
Franklin’s strong arms pulled me close, protectively wrapping around me. It was a false sense of security but one I clung to, nonetheless. “We’ll figure this out. And before you ask, I have no idea how. I only know that we will.”
While I loved Franklin’s optimism, I had no idea how to share it. “How can you be so certain?”
“Easy. There’s no other acceptable option.”
Burying my face in Franklin’s chest, I allowed his words to sink in. Franklin was right, but being right wasn’t always enough. Many times, it wasn’t nearly enough.
Chapter
Twenty
Franklin
“I suppose we always knew it was a possibility,” Agent Frost said. “The silencing charms were probably a long shot.” Phlox and Leon arrived two hours before dawn, and we were sitting in Boone’s living room. Well, three of us were sitting. Phlox was pixie pacing by flying back and forth, retracing his route and filling the space with pixie dust. Not for the first time, I was grateful for the charms Warlock Kines sent with Phlox. I didn’t need a snotty, red nose on top of the dark circles cupping my eyes.
“True,” Leon agreed. “However, do we know if this djinn is to be believed?”
“Leon’s got a point.” Phlox flew behind Leon’s chair and placed his hands on Leon’s shoulders.
“I don’t know why she’d lie about something like that,” Boone answered while glancing my way.
“Neither do I.” I had my arm draped over the back of the couch where my fingers could tangle themselves in Boone’s hair. We never made it to the naked cuddling part of the plan last night. We had showered and lain together on the couch, both ofus in casual loungewear. “We can’t rule out the possibility, but I get the feeling she’s right.”
Phlox started pacing again. “Then our little trip to Leander’s place was a waste of time and a good pair of pants.” Phlox gave his shredded pant leg a sorrowful look. “At least that little mutt didn’t get ahold of my skin.”
The story of how one of Leander’s smallest dogs had leapt into the air and latched onto Phlox’s pant leg was the first thing out of his mouth when he and Leon got back. Given any other circumstances, I would have found the imagery funny.
Phlox crossed his arms, his nose pointed skyward as he huffed. “Leander didn’t even properly scold the mongrel.”
