Lucie scoffed. “How about ‘Oh, sorry you found out about Abaas being kept as the vampires’ slave.’ I think that’s a big detail my family missed.”
His eyes flickered slightly. “I’m sorry. It was a discussion that needed to happen a long time ago. When the vampires agreed to keep his soul as a servant, they had no clue that he was an enemy of your family. And afterward, I think they were afraid it would ruin the treaty, so they kept it quiet. I was going to tell you about him, though. He isn’t the same anymore, and you don’t have to worry about him.”
Lucie chuckled and folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not worried about him.” She watched his eyes darken.
“Who said something to upset you? What happened?”
This time, Lucie could feel a strange energy emanating from Jasper. Green energy swirled out from him. It was something she’d never seen before. She stood up and stepped into Jasper so that she could run her fingers through this strange energy. It felt as if it had a life of its own. Her actions must have startled him, though, because the energy began to fade quickly. She needed to see it more.
“Yes, someone did say something,” she said quietly as the energy flowed out of him again. Maybe if she grabbed onto it …
“Lucie, don’t!” Abaas suddenly appeared and pulled Lucie backward from Jasper. He watched as Jasper’s eyes began flickering back to normal before he dropped his protective stance. He turned and glared at Lucie. “What were you thinking?! Do you know what you were about to do?”
“What is it? You know what it is.” She looked at Jasper, who seemed to be coming out from a fog. “What’s controlling him?”
“It isn’t like that …” Jasper answered in barely a whisper.
“You said no more secrets between us, right?” Lucie said, raising her brows at him expectantly.
Abaas sighed. “When the two vampire princes were born, the Great Vampire King planted something in the youngest. It was something to make sure he never tried to take the throne for himself. This made him completely loyal to the royal bloodline. So loyal that he would kill without question. Once Derrick was born, it stayed with Jester and was passed on to his son.” Abaas watched Jasper, making sure what he was saying was allowed.
“Oh my gosh, that’s horrible. What is it?” Lucie gasped, looking at Jasper with pity.
“It’s a djinn … a type of demon that is bound to its master. The master, in this case, is the vampire royals. But it isn’t that bad. I make my own choices. It’s just that sometimes its bloodlust can take over,” Jasper admitted quietly.
“And you were about to grab onto the djinn’s energy, Lucie. It would have set its sights on you.” Abaas sighed loudly.
“Let it,” Lucie said confidently, making Abaas and Jasper’s eyes widen. “Let it put its focus on me. This djinn seeks a master, right? Which is why it serves the royals. That means it can be controlled. Maybe I can rein it in. I won’t have you disappearing like your father did.”
Jasper shook his head. “It’s powerful, Lucie. Just let it be. I’ll be fine.”
Aedan and Ryan showed up in the clearing. Aedan looked curiously at the stranger next to Lucie but was relieved to see his sister was fine.
“Ah, reinforcements. This is the perfect time. Besides, it’s this guy’s job to keep me safe, right?” Lucie said, smirking at Abaas.
He let out a low growl and nodded his head. “By doing this, you could very well speed up what is happening to you?—”
“I’m not worried about it. I’m helping Jasper,” Lucie said confidently.
“Lucie you have only just started being a fairy princess,” Jasper interjected, shaking his head.
“But I’ve always been a fairy. Jasper, just let me try. Please.”
“Okay, I walked in on the test but missed the lecture. What’s going on?” Aedan asked with a low growl. Whatever it was, he’d already figured out it could be dangerous to Lucie.
“Jasper has a djinn in him, and I’m going to try to help. I don’t know what I can do, but as a fairy princess …” Lucie pleaded with Aedan.We have to help him. It takes over sometimes and he kills. I can’t leave him like this.She locked eyes with her brother.
Aedan scowled and looked at the stranger next to Lucie. “Who are you?”
Abaas smirked. “You remind me so much of your grandfather. You have his arrogance. But I dare say, you’re stronger than he was. Yes, much stronger …”
“Long story short, he’s a soul bound in servitude to the vampires. Oh, and he also happens to be Abaas,” Lucie said, scrunching her face up slightly. Aedan’s eyes flickered to the half-demon. “He isn’t a danger to the fairies anymore. He isn’t what’s important right now. So, Aedan …”
“Okay, fine. Give it a shot. But after this, we’re getting the hell out of this place. I’m putting you under Aunt Reiya and Uncle Levi’s care. Let them handle my headache for a while.” Aedan gave her a crooked grin. The whole Abaas thing was whatever. He didn’t know the demon personally. He didn’t understand much of it, just that he was a servant now. Jasper was family to him, though. If he needed help, they would help him. He just hoped things didn’t go wrong.
CHAPTER 42
Lucie readied herself to provoke the energy from Jasper again as Aedan, Abaas, and Ryan stayed close. She was about to speak when a small, pale young woman with ivory hair appeared in front of them.
