I nodded, but it was hard. Everything simmered inside me, ready to explode at the smallest opportunity. I felt very much like the storm growing outside, and it took all my control to hold back. A rush of calm flooded the bond as Kai buried his head in the moldy sheets. He pushed another surge toward me until I thought clearly once again.
Thanks, I squeezed out before the door slammed open against the wall.
The boat rolled as the djinn appeared, an annoyed glower forming on his face when he saw Kai still “unconscious.” I tugged on my bond’s arm, looking for all the world like I was trying to get him on the bed and failing spectacularly. Trying to keep my balance while the storm did its worst helped add credibility to our act. I was out of breath and red in the face, my curls hiding the calculated gleam in my eyes.
“Can you help, or are you just going to stand and watch?” I snarled and leaned into the next shift of the waves.
The djinn sneered at me but cursed and moved down like he was about to help. It put him in perfect range and easily distracted. I waited until his hands were both occupied—sorry Kai—before slipping my fingers onto the back of his bare neck, the only skin accidentally exposed. His reaction was instantaneous.
He jackknifed, face frozen in a mask of horror as my magick sank deep into his subconscious. Kai moved without my having to ask, trapping the djinn’s arms and holding him until I got a firm grasp on his mind. It was easier than with the vampire heir,but still difficult. He’d had some training on keeping my kind out.
I doubled down, worming through cracks in his defenses and planting triggers I could use later if I needed to debilitate him. Tossing him overboard was still an option, but Kai was right when he warned I might not be able to live with myself after. When I knew the djinn was well and truly mine, I nodded, and Kai released him.
Unseeing eyes stared at the wall above my head. When I released him, he would look and act as normal, but with my directions guiding his every move.
That’s a solid trap you have him in, princess. I’m impressed.
I smiled at the pride I felt from Kai’s side of the bond and took a second to pat myself on the back. Step one was complete, and so far, so good. Thunder camouflaged the sound of Kai breaking the lock on the window. He stuck his head outside, drenching his hair in seconds, but he nodded at whatever he saw. The djinn guard stood silent and unseeing through it all.
There’s a small ledge right outside, Kai called, then shook the water from his hair like a dog.You should be able to get to the driver from here.
Then why are you frowning?
This was good news. We had one djinn under our control, and once I got to whoever was at the wheel, we basically controlled the boat. But Kai’s frown and the growing concern I felt told me he was second-guessing our plan. We were running out of time.
It's dangerous.
I rolled my eyes. This whole thing was dangerous. My entire life has been one giant ball of danger, and I’d just rolled with it. Right now wasn’t any different. It couldn’t be. If we focused on what could go wrong, we’d screw ourselves, overthinking everychoice and hesitating when the slightest pause could mean failure. There was no turning back.
Kai’s fear wasn’t something he could hide, not from me. It was choking and thick, an exact mirror to what I felt when I thought of losing him to the asshole pirating this whole situation. But we had the element of surprise, and we had to move. Refusing to answer his overprotective pleas to think about this, I released the djinn and sent him out of the room.
There’s no turning back now.
I ignored Kai’s glare and closed my eyes, tapping into my net. Ezra wasn’t far. The strong flicker of power I saw pacing along the shore told me he was in position and just waiting for us to get within range. Movement on the ship warned us a second before my enthralled djinn returned with a friend in tow.
The new guard glared at both of us as he ducked into the room. He had no idea the trap that was waiting for him, and my fingers practically vibrated with nerves. Like his comrades, he was covered head to toe with no exposed skin aside from his face. I could work with that. Just a little closer.
Easy, Kai warned with a side-eye toward me.You’re practically smiling.
Oops. I fixed a scowl on my face and tried not to jump out of my skin as the djinn slunk closer.
“No fucking funny business,” he warned, obviously meaning Kai. “Any shadows, and I’ll knock out your pretty little bond.”
He stepped toward me in a warning, and Kai’s fists clenched. Gods, I hoped he kept it under control. Being knocked out would put a huge damper on my plans. Completely demolish them, actually. The level of hate stemming from Kai’s side of the bond had to be a record, but he kept his magick tightly leashed. I felt it whipping around inside him, stronger than the storm outside and just as impatient.
A feeling, that was all I needed. Just a little thrum on thebond, not even a word, and it was time to act. Kai struck, using the barest hint of magick to knock the djinn off balance. Combined with the unsteady waves and his friend under my thrall, the new guard was forced to his knees before me in a matter of seconds.
Hurry,Kai pleaded.They felt that.
The djinn struggled, but a band of shadows over his mouth silenced him, and my enthralled buddy kept a firm grip on the back of his neck. A few brushed fingers over his cheek were all it took. I was in. This guy either hadn’t trained as hard or wasn’t very good at mental exercises because there were almost no barriers keeping me out. I planted the same traps I left in the other and locked down his thoughts as my own before releasing him.
Just in time too.
When backup arrived, having felt Kai’s flicker in power, the enthralled djinn had my bonded strung between them and turned to face their comrades in mock surprise. Things went a little off-script after that. We had hoped Kol would want to brag to Kai in private, leaving me in the cabin and able to sneak out through the window.
That’s not exactly what happened. Apparently, the psycho wanted a show. Escorted out of the bowels of the boat and onto the rain-drenched deck, I squinted against the wind that threatened to topple us with one well-placed breeze. The rain was at least little more than a mist. The waves on the other hand….huge. Why the hell were we on the deck? And could I get a life jacket?
The shore loomed gloomy and gray in the distance, a long pier sticking out like a sore thumb to greet us, but the ocean tossed too much for us to safely dock, so we sat idling while the creep in front of us played his little games. My second look at the djinn heir was no more flattering than the first. In fact, he lookedworse. Soaking wet and half-deranged, he twitched before us like a junkie overdue for his fix.
