“You said—”
“I promised you nothing,” Tenzen coldly stated. “And Shadow is correct. None of you can conceive a djinn’s true power—manipulation. Collateral. The key to every successful negotiation.”
We’d come full circle, and the truth of Tenzen’s words hit their mark. He’d use the same tactic with Fairy that he was using with me. Take something—someone—that was important. Use that individual to invite the snake into the garden. In this case—djinn.
I couldn’t allow that to happen. I loved Momma and Franklin. I loved them beyond measure, and yet in that moment I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I couldn’t allow Tenzen to wipe out a whole species.
And it wasn’t just about Fairy. We might grumble and complain about Fairy Law, but if it were to suddenly vanish, then what? It would leave a power vacuum. One that Tenzen would happily fill. I couldn’t imagine the world would be better off. Fairy Law was strict, but it was also fair. The law was in place to protect all species. Fairy might have been heavy-handed when they’d taken over Earth, but they’d also saved it from self-destruction. Gaia only knew where we’d be—if we’d even still be here—if Queen Silvidia hadn’t intervened when she did.
I could stop this madness if I shoved the djinn’s souls back into their bodies the moment they were released. But if wecouldn’t stop Tenzen Huxley, here and now, then it would only be delaying the inevitable. Tenzen would most likely murder me and everyone else in this room. He’d be pissed, but he’d continue his search. There were still more djinn out there to find and Tenzen had all the time in the world to hunt them down.
Everyone said I was one of a kind, that I was a necromancer anomaly, but most likely that wasn’t true. I might be rare, but I couldn’t be the only one who’d remained sane enough and who had enough power to do what Tenzen wanted. Eventually he’d find another necromancer and the cycle would repeat itself.
Head tilted toward the floor, tears pressed against the back of my eyes. I knew what I’d have to do. I also knew what that meant. None of us were walking out of here alive.
“I’m sorry.” Those words were barely a whisper that I knew Phlox and Leon would hear.
Phlox’s hand found my shoulder again, and I felt the press of his chest against my back. “We understand.” A well of sadness and determination enveloped those two words. “Your momma and Franklin will understand too.”
They would. I was certain. I wasn’t so sure about Pops. He’d understand why. I wasn’t so sure he’d forgive me though. I just… I just wanted to see Momma and Franklin again first. I wanted a chance to explain, to tell them again how much I loved them. I wanted to feel Franklin’s arms around me, to feel his flesh against mine. Franklin touched me so freely and happily. His touch was a gift. Knowing I’d never feel it again gutted me.
“You are thinking something very foolish, Necromancer Boone.” Tenzen’s voice hardened. “I doubt you are as irreplicable as you think.”
Head still hanging, I nodded. “Oh, I know.” I pressed my eyelids closed, squeezing tight and pushing back tears. I’d no more than raised my head when I heard Phlox gasp and Leon roar. Shadow flew apart, black tendrils racing toward us.Instinctively taking a step back, I slammed into Phlox and Leon. I threw my arms wide, trying to shield them but the shadows raced forward anyway. Like a child, I squeezed my eyes closed, waiting for the inevitable.
Seconds ticked by. Phlox’s heavy breaths rattled against my ear and shifted my hair. Leon’s growls continued echoing above my head. Eyes slipping open, I found myself staring at a squirming wall of black. Snake-like tendrils danced around us, snapping forward only to bounce back, unable to get through. Mouth hanging open, I twisted my head this way and that only to find the same situation surrounding us.
“W-what the…?” I wasn’t sure what to say. Hands still raised, I noticed a brilliant glow coming from my finger. My eyes widened as I stared at the ring Pops had insisted I wear—the wedding band he’d made especially for me.
I couldn’t stop staring as I ignored the angry curses Shadow spewed. My grin was slow to form but quick to expand into something manic. “He warded my ring.” I threw my head back, nearly smacking into Phlox. “Sweet Gaia. Pops warded my ring.” I had no idea how he’d done it, how he’d packed so much power into such a small band. Leave it to Pops to figure out a way.
Space developed behind me, and I felt Phlox pushing away. “Don’t! Don’t move back. Stay next to me.”
“They’re hurting Leon.” Panicked rage filled Phlox’s voice.
“We need to get him closer to me. I’m not sure how far Pops’s protection stretches.” It seemed to be covering Phlox, but Leon was at Phlox’s back.
“I am fine, beloved. Stay—”
“Like hell I will.” Phlox flew up but not far. Quickly transforming into his Pallas’s cat form, Phlox managed to make himself smaller. Now propped on Leon’s shoulder, it was Leon’s chest at my back instead of Phlox.
“You good now?” I asked Leon.
“I am well. Thank you. Truly, Holland is a master at his craft.”
“Do not tell the warlock this.” Aurelia’s voice cut through the static filling my ears. “He is difficult enough as is. As you requested, your progenitor is restrained within the vehicle we arrived in. He is very displeased. He should be thankful. I left him company.”
“Company?” I questioned.
“Hikaru is with him.”
Oh, I’ll bet Pops was more thandispleased. If we survived, he’d never let me hear the end of it. That didn’t matter. What was important was that Pops would be alive enough to be angry. I hadn’t been able to keep him at home, but I could keep him out of this house and away from Huxley’s immediate grasp. At least, with Aurelia’s help. She’d agreed a little too easily, eager to get permission to irritate Pops.
With Aurelia’s presence, the shadows pulled back as quickly as they’d arrived. I didn’t know if Tenzen could harm Aurelia and had no desire to find out. “Careful, Aurelia.”
“I am always cautious,” Aurelia answered. “Cautious and calculating. This is not the firstmasterI have had to deal with.” There was a well of spite and hatred wrapped into that one word.
“I don’t doubt that but—” The house shook, sounding like it was ready to come off its foundation. “What in Gaia’s name is—” I slammed my hands over my ears. Tenzen’s head flew back, his mouth gaping unnaturally wide as an unearthly scream ripped from his throat.
