Darkness, Kindled Read Free Page B

doing it.”
    “Working for the  Guild?”
    “Turning yourself into  an assassin.”
    Ari tried not to wince at the word. “Why? I’m doing good. I’m ridding the human world of evil Jinn.”
    He raised an eyebrow.
    “Is that worth the loss of your purity?”
    “I’m not pure,  Asmodeus.”
    “Your soul was clean, Ari. You’re marring it with this need to hunt Jinn.”
    “It’s not a need,” she lied. “It’s a want. Even before all this …,” she gestured to her surroundings, “I was a high school graduate with a serious identity crisis. I didn’t know what I wanted out of life. I didn’t know where I fit in. Despite all the bad stuff that’s come with finding out who I am, at least I’ve also found my place in this world.”
    “With the Ginnaye, assassinating Jinn?”
    “With Jai, hunting bad guys.”
    He grunted. “You are so naïve, it physically pains me.”
    “Then stop pulling me into your dreams.”
    “No.”
    “No?”
    “No.”
    Ari tried desperately  to rein in her irritation. “What do you want, Asmodeus?”
    His regard was dark and fathomless. Ari couldn’t stop her gaze from roaming his strong face. Black eyes framed by long lashes, tanned, unblemished skin, sharp cheekbones, a strong but straight blade of a nose, and a perfect mouth—a full lower lip and a slightly thinner upper lip. If a human were to meet him, they’d think Asmodeus was an exotic but young twenty-something, not a twisted, ancient Marid who’d been around for God knew how many centuries.
    “Tonight I wanted to see how you were faring after your first kill.” Surprise shot through her, forcing her head back. He caught her reaction, eyes glittering. “I’m not playing games with you.”
    Ignoring the curiosity  writhing inside, Ari gave him a cynical smirk. “Whatever this is, can we at least be honest with one another?”
    “Okay,” he nodded, “I  like playing games with you. But I’m not playing a game tonight.”
    Ari found herself confessing. “I was sick at first. It was horrible. I didn’t expect to feel so ashamed.”
    “And now?”
    “Jai reminded me of all the things the Qarin did. I feel proud I was strong enough to do something about it.”
    “So no guilt?”
    She looked away. “There will always be guilt, Asmodeus. I’m quickly learning to set it aside for the bigger picture.”
    He shot her a narrow  look and drew up to his feet. “That’s how it begins. Setting aside things for the bigger picture.”
    Confused as she always  was after one of their encounters, Ari stood too. “Why do you care?”
    When he reached out a hand, Ari braced herself from flinching back, knowing from past experience that he didn’t take rejection lightly. His fingers brushed against her cheek. “I can’t decide whether I want you to change.”
    She scowled at him. “I don’t think that’s really any of your business.”
    At the sudden dark heat and annoyance in his bearing, Ari tensed, her breath catching as he leaned into her, his mouth brushing her ear. “I’m making it my business.”

    Ari’s lids flew open and she struggled to draw breath, panting with fear and something else as she stared up at her dark bedroom ceiling. She turned onto her side, pulling the covers tightly around her. She didn’t know what to do about Asmodeus. She hadn’t told Jai he’d been visiting her dreams. She hadn’t told anyone. But Ari knew his increasing attention was a worry and the only person she wanted to tell was Uncle Red. He’d know what to do. But it depended on whether Red wanted to talk to her … and if he would help her if he did.

2
    The  I That I Am Is Not Me

    Emotionally exhausted, Ari managed to drift back to sleep, but her conscience couldn’t seem to rest. She woke at 6 a.m., an hour earlier than usual. Mouth dry, Ari shuffled sleepily out of her room to fetch a glass of water from the kitchen. It would’ve been easy enough to conjure one, but Trey and Jai had been raised to use