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Darkness, Kindled Sa 34390K 2023-08-31

"Thank God," he ed hi very loved When they stepped back, he nodded at Glass politely in front of the others, but his eyes shone with gratitude and tenderness that Glass surprisingly, openly, returned "You brought her back in one piece Thank you"

Glass smirked at him "Of course

Was there ever any doubt?"

Trey’s lips twitched "Well … yeah

Dude, you took her to Azazil’s palace"

"I told you not to call s

It’s hard to keep track"

Shaking his head and clearly trying not to encourage the young Ginnaye by laughing, Glass waved at the people behind Trey "I think Ari ht" Trey stepped away froaze

"Ari …" He took a step toward her, seee and then she was there … Fallon was there"

"How is she?" Ari asked hurriedly

"I ht be difficult for her Is she okay?"

Michael shook his head, still looking shell-shocked "She’s exhausted She had a difficult ti out the two realities We all have But the humans … the humans who knew she passed … they don’t seem to remember that"

"No," Ari replied, "they won’t

This change It only fully affects humans"

"Ari, what did you ask Azazil to do exactly?" Jai’s deep voice inquired softly from behind her

She turned to him now "I wanted to protect everyone I wanted to fix what happened to my dad, to Mikey and Charlie To Fallon The only way I kneas to ask Azazil to make it so that Sala never left me with Dad I didn’t want to lose what I had now You, the Guild … so ed, and neither has the memories of the Jinn who are in my life Except for Pazuzu I asked Azazil to specifically change that" Her eyes slid back to Michael "I know you were just doing your job, but I couldn’t let Charlie die Everything that happened to hi what happened to Fallon, it was all because of hed softly

"Ari, he won’t reht and tears threatened to fall, but she held strong and gave Jai a tre smile

"It’s worth it I hope I’d really like to check on things with hireen eyes "I’ll come with you"

"Ari" Michael took a hold of her arm to draw her attention back to him "I knohatever you did probably has its consequences … but I don’t care I can’t thank you enough for doing what you’ve done--for bringing Fallon back to me and her ht "I’m so relieved it worked I’ll cos back in Ohio"

"No, first, you’ll sleep," Michael insisted "You look exhausted"

Ari shook her head adamantly "No, I have to check I won’t be able to sleep until I check"

The Guild leader gave a deep sigh and looked beyond Ari to Jai "I’lad she’s yours to look after," he told him dryly

Jai snorted and Ari threw him an unamused look "I’m not that bad"

He held up his hands "I didn’t say anything"

"Well, I’ll leave you to it"

Michael nodded gratefully once an murmured their own thank-yous and followed him out

"Let’s do this before you fall asleep on your feet" Jai gave her shoulder a squeeze

The Glass King took a step back "I e in the threads as I did"

Trey frowned "You’re not staying?"

Glass gave hi smile

"I’ll be back"

And like that, he disappeared into the Peripatos

Trey grinned at theer?"

Ari huffed a laugh and leaned her head against Jai’s strong shoulder "Don’t crack jokes I don’t have the energy to laugh with the appropriate austo"

Jai’s ar her closer "You sure this can’t wait until after you sleep?"

"We’re just checking in We won’t be long" She blinked back weary tears "I don’t think I’ll be able to stand watching it for long, knowing they don’t remember me"

It armer in Ohio at this time of year, not that Ari could really appreciate it because of her weird Jinn teing as she gazed at her old house She hadn’t been back to Sandford Ridge in almost six months

It felt like six years

She could feel Jai’s energy next to her as they stood on the driveway of Derek Johnson’s house, hiding in the Cloak

I’ in, she told Jai

Okay Careful now

She headed toward the front door

It was a safe neighborhood and when Ari had lived there with Derek, they’d never locked the door Ari only ever did when Derek ay on business She was pleased to discover Derek hadn’t broken that habit in this new reality

Slipping inside quietly, Ari felt Jai follow her and then listened as he clicked the door shut behind them