Scorched Skies (19 page)

Holding in her breath Ari waited for Jai to react to Charlie
’
s insight. As she knew it would, her guardian
’
s face darkened. “Here
’
s a suggestion you might want to pay attention to.  Try to forget everything you learned on
Oprah
and if you can
’
t do that, at least refrain from regurgitating that crap at me. It spoils my appetite.”

Charlie grunted but surprisingly didn
’
t retaliate. Instead he dug into his breakfast and Ari ate slowly, tensely, waiting for the blowout to happen. It didn
’
t. Perhaps they were trying to be on their best behavior because of everything Ari had been through. She
’
d like to think they were both that considerate. They made it through breakfast and were just clearing up when the door to small dining room opened and in walked a very good-looking and very tall guy grinning from ear-to-ear. His pale grey eyes sparkled as they washed over them all. He headed for Jai and engulfed him in a manly hug, thumping him on the back. “Good to see you,” he said in a rich, deep voice. He turned around and Ari noted the tiny diamond earring winking in his ear just like Jai
’
s.

Recognition lit through Ari and she smiled at him, a warm, real smile. The first she
’
d produced in days. “You must be Trey.”

He grinned back at her as he walked slowly towards her. “Ari?”

She nodded and then gave a muffled laugh as she found herself swallowed in a tight hug. Trey pulled back and Ari flushed at his appraisal. He really was deplorably good-looking. Holding her at arm
’
s length Trey whistled, running his eyes down the length of her before returning them to her face. “Sweetheart, you are gorgeous.”

Ari blushed again and shoved him playfully. It was strange how comfortable she felt with this person and they
’
d only just met. Perhaps it was because she knew how good he
’
d been to Jai. She was grateful to him for that. “It
’
s so nice to finally meet you.”

“You too,” he replied sincerely and turned around, sliding his arm along her shoulders as he checked out Charlie. “And this must be Sorcerer Boy.”

Charlie held out a hand. “I prefer Charlie.”

Trey shook it heartily and threw Jai a look, his eyebrow raised in a way that Ari recognized. She suddenly remembered Jai confiding in her that Trey was bisexual. Apparently he thought Charlie was hot. Stifling a laugh at Charlie
’
s obliviousness, Ari looked up at Trey. “Are you joining us for the training session?”

“Training session?” he looked over at Jai.

Jai nodded. “You heard we were back, obviously. Did you hear why?”

Trey shook his head.

His pleasant expression disappeared as Jai told him how they
’
d been attacked by humans and had a dark sorcerer on their tails. Trey
’
s face darkened as Jai finished and Ari suddenly realized that under Trey
’
s charm and flippancy was a guardian Ginnaye just as protective as Jai. “You were lucky Charlie
’
s power woke up or Ari would have been alone. What the hell kind of drug did they come up with?”

Charlie cleared his throat. “Not to change the subject or anything but any chance someone might show me how to tap into more of my power?”

“No,” they all replied in unison.

Charlie glowered back at them. “You all suck.”

“What we will teach you is how to be more aware of your surroundings and how to channel and control your defensive power.” Jai strolled towards the door. “Let
’
s go kiddies. Time to get your asses kicked.”

~13~

I Would Reach Through Time…

The comedy played on the small cinema screen in the movie room. Charlie and Trey were laughing raucously at the insane farce about a bunch of guys
’
bachelor party gone wrong in Las Vegas. Normally Ari would be rolling around on the floor laughing too, but she
’
d already seen the movie and she just wasn
’
t in the mood. Training that day had gone well. She and Charlie had sparred with Jai and Trey and learned how to better control the kind of magic they
’
d used to fight off their human attackers. More importantly, they
’
d shown them how to create large air cushions so their attackers couldn
’
t get so close to them, and how to use objects around them as weapons without losing focus on the attacker. They
’
d also shown them how to listen and study the energy and air around them for change, to see the warning in the stillness of a room before an attack came. While Jai was stern and focused, Trey was forever cracking jokes and distracting them. For some reason that didn
’
t bother Jai. He just laughed right along with everyone else. Ari loved seeing him smile and decided Trey might possibly be the best person she
’
d ever met. Charlie liked him too. The two of them had a similar sense of humor and Charlie seemed relaxed for the first time in forever. There was no way she was telling Charlie that Trey was gay. Some guys could be weird about that, and while she
’
d like to think Charlie was more evolved than most, she wasn
’
t going to chance spoiling the good time he was having making new friends. She eyed him carefully. He did look so much happier. This warmth and energy had seemed to appear all around him since they
’
d started using their magic. Something niggled her down deep inside as she thought about how much Charlie got off on using his power.

“You want a tour?” Jai
’
s voice suddenly broke through her thoughts.

Ari blinked, looking over at where he was sprawled across an armchair. “Huh?”

He gestured at the screen and then eyed Charlie and Trey who were laughing again. “You don
’
t seem into it?”

“I
’
ve seen this movie.”

“So a tour then?”

“Of the house?”

Jai smirked. “No, of Mount Qaf,” he replied sarcastically and Ari threw him a dirty look. “Yes, the house.”

Alone time with Jai? “OK.”

They told the guys where they were going and Ari ignored Charlie
’
s gaze boring into her back as she left the room with Jai. They strolled quietly down the hallway, their footsteps echoing loudly around the tiled floor and walls. The whole place was so cold. Jai had just opened his mouth to speak when a tall figure appeared before them.

Ari came to a halt eyeing the man. Decked out in black slacks and a white shirt rolled up at the sleeves, he reminded Ari of someone, except for in the eyes. His eyes were cold. Ah Luca. Of course. She shifted her feet uncomfortably. This guy looked like Luca except younger, perhaps in his late twenties.

One of Jai
’
s half-brothers?

“The spawn returns,” the man bit out, his lip curling up in distaste as he eyed Jai.

“Hey,” Ari snapped and took a step forward. Jai
’
s hand immediately wrapped around her wrist, pulling her back.

Ari, don
’
t,
he telepathed and something in his voice pulled at her heartstrings.

“What
’
s this?” the guy flicked a look at her. “Is this it? The Seal?”

Jai
’
s hand tightened around her wrist. “You
’
ll refer to her as Ms. Johnson, Tarik.”

“Or what?”

Seriously, how immature is your family?

He
’
s not even the worst. Wait until you meet David.

Looking forward to it. Not.

“What are you smiling at?” Tarik glowered at Jai. “You two telepathing? That
’
s a little rude.”

“Well you
’
d know all about that,” Ari retorted.

Tarik
’
s eyes grew even colder as he continued to stare at her as he spoke to Jai, “Got yourself a new bodyguard, boy? What? Trey finally seen the light?”

I hate to tell you this, Jai, but your half-brother is a loser.

At her words, Jai relaxed. She felt his grip loosen and he sidestepped Tarik, drawing her with him. “Why don
’
t you go torture some kittens, Tarik.”

“No sharp implements needed. Just talk,” Ari added, as they walked away from him. “The sound of your voice oughta do the trick all by itself.”

They strode out of the hallway and through an arched room into another room. Ari was barely aware of her surroundings she was too busy glowing from the sound of Jai
’
s laughter. Finally he stopped and she stumbled to halt beside him. He looked down at her, his eyes warm, shaking his head. “You see how my family can reduce you to acting like a five year old.”

Ari raised an eyebrow, pretending to look offended. “Moi? Immature. And here I thought my comeback witty and sophisticated.”

He snorted. “Oh very.” And then he eyed her carefully and Ari felt that familiar flush under her skin at his appraisal. “You don
’
t have to defend me you know. I can handle myself.”

At the unspoken reminder that he wasn
’
t hers to defend Ari shrugged, finally looking around her. “So what
’
s this place?” she asked, eyeing the paintings on the walls and the objects locked up in cabinets. The lighting was lower here, the floor, walls and even the ceiling was tiled with dark Moroccan mosaics. Heavy silk curtains draped around the unusual arches of the entrance and exit adding an exotic and alien feel to the place.

Thankfully dropping the subject, Jai took a turn around the room, slowly strolling past each item. Ari followed, her curious eyes drinking everything in. “This is my father
’
s collectibles. Paintings. Ornaments. Items of worth. I used to come in here when I was kid because it was the one place my brothers found too boring to ever go near.”

Fighting the urge to wrap her arms around him, Ari passed him to look more closely at a beautiful hourglass. The two pieces of blown glass were held together with an hourglass frame made of gold and precious stones. It was locked behind a glass cabinet. “What is that?” she breathed, feeling drawn to the piece.

“That,” Jai replied, his breath on her neck as he stood close behind her, “Is very special. My grandfather paid a fortune for that.”

“Why?”

“Well, first I need to tell you something about Azazil.”

Ari twisted around to look at him warily. “Azazil?”