I waited for the others to finish their journey back, and even though I was exhausted I didn’t let my guard down. I walked in a circle, keeping an eye on all angles, making sure nothing or no one got the drop on me. I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on with the jinn, but if they came for me again I needed to have a plan. But how was I supposed to find any helpful information on a race, that until this moment, I’d thought was no more than a supernatural fable?
A shimmer appeared in the air right before Jacob exited the doorway. I reached out and captured his hand, holding it tightly in my own. I was so glad to see him again. Braxton was next, and Louis the last through. He’d have held the shield until the rest of us were safe.
Braxton straightened to his full height, which was like somewhere in the clouds, his head shifting around as he took in the surroundings. He got right to business. “First thing, we need some rest, and then we have to deal with the potential future threat of the jinn.”
He’d had the same thoughts as me.
“A jinn sent you to Faerie?” Louis showed no surprise or fear in regards to the appearance of these ancient fey. Of course, he didn’t seem to fear anyone, so that wasn’t the best indicator.
Braxton growled low in his chest. “Yes, it was a jinn. I just managed to grab on before she disappeared.”
Louis’ expression didn’t change. I wasn’t sure he was grasping the true seriousness of the situation. “It was an elemental jinn.” My voice had a ring of challenge.
Louis pushed back strands of his light hair. Something flashed across those eyes, but still his relaxed expression remained. If it was still there in a minute, I was punching it right off his face.
“An elemental you say … well, there was no way lizard here just attached himself. That jinn allowed him to go with you.”
I wasn’t denying that. I remembered the words the scary-ass thing had spoken. “It seemed to think I was dangerous and was sending me to Faerie to die.” I looked between my friends. “The Four said that dragon marked can’t die, so… what was that all about?”
Louis answered: “Just because nothing on Earth can kill you, doesn’t mean nothing in Faerie can.”
And suddenly the jinn’s actions moved up to another level of deadly.
On that ominous note from Louis, we started to trudge toward the main part of the community. I was actually looking forward to the death ride up in the elevator, just so I could fall into bed. Even food wasn’t number one on my mind, although I wouldn’t say no to a piece of cake if it landed in front of me. My stomach rumbled then, as if it had been slumbering and my thoughts had awoken the beast.
My eye started to roam over Jacob and Louis, as if I could discern their secrets with a glance. “Did you bring me any cake?”
I growled and Jacob actually paused. “She’s got that look on her face again.” His tone was as wary as it should be in these circumstances.
Louis’ laughter rang out, breaking whatever tension had been layering our group since we ran into each other in Faerie. Braxton even joined in, his deep tones sending those tingles down my spine. These two supernaturals were so powerful that to watch them together, well, it was beyond captivating. Jacob could hold his own with almost any other supe in the world, but he was not of the level of Braxton and Louis.
With another chuckle, Louis waved his hand, and in the blink of an eye he was holding a medium sized white plate. Resting on it was heaven. Chocolate … and caramel … with flakes of dark chocolate coating the side.
He held it out to me and I actually drooled a little. “I’m sure they won’t miss this in the dessert shop,” the sorcerer said, and he rapidly moved up my list of favorite people in the world. He might be in the top ten now.
Wait a minute … there was a dessert shop?
I pounced on the cake. The first bite crumbled in my mouth and I had to close my eyes. It was so good that it took every part of my control to not shove the entire thing in in one go. Rich creaminess danced across my tongue, the bitterness of dark chocolate tempered by the velvety ganache and caramel filling.
Holy shit.
My eyes flew open to find three males staring at me. Each expression was a little different, and I was reading a hell of a lot in those gazes.
“You will be showing me which shop this comes from,” I warned Louis. He had created a monster. I was hooked.
Jacob was the first to straighten. He looped an arm over my shoulder and pulled me into his side. “Come on, Jessa babe, it’s time for you to get some rest … and a shower wouldn’t go astray.”
I elbowed him, although he definitely had a point. I smelled like old ass that had been left to sit in the sun for a week. We made quick work of the distance to our room. I finished the cake and Louis kindly disappeared the plate for me. He grinned when I asked him he wanted a tip. If this sorcerer thing didn’t work out, he had a very successful career in hospitality waiting for him.
The ride up in the elevator was as horrible as always, but clenched hands were the only sign of my discomfort. I hoped anyway. I couldn’t wait to see the rest of my pack, and Mischa too. I’d actually missed my sister, she was working her way into my life.