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The wind blew harder around them as Lilif’s dark eyes sparked with a terrible fire "I command you, Ari Johnson I command you to my army" She came to a triuhtily

For afor the compulsion to seize her It didn’t

What the …

Of course

When As the power of the Seal, it hadn’t worked

He took hold of her left ar her body into his "How is it possible?" he breathed angrily "How can you withstand the command of the Seal?"

"Maybe the sa hi to be far, far away fro, protective presence

"You had the Seal around your neck for centuries and I had it inside ure"

She and Asht with newfound hope, Ari rose to her feet to gaze up into Lilif’s s herself, Ari curled her lip in derision as the flames surrounded her "Rot in hell"

Lilif’s piercing screa-quick hand wrenched Ari out of the Peripatos

Fear gripped her She’d never encountered anyone who could ers around Ari’s throat and pulled her close "Not so fast, granddaughter"

"You cannot leave," Azazil shook his head at Red

"If Lilif goes after Ari, she ht be able to use her to break the protection spell around the palace"

"Exactly," Red growled "Which is why I have to help her"

Six of the Jinn kings, Azazil, and Asathered in Azazil’s favorite parlor Azazil was back to his full strength and back toabsolutely no sense

Asmodeus crossed his arms over his chest His uess Lilif’s return was pricking soet the feeling that you are enjoying this, Your Highness?"

Red shot his father a disbelieving look "You cannot be Even you reatest threat we’ve faced This is not a laughingto appease your boredom"

The Sultan drew him a low-lidded, unirinned, flashing his white teeth in a event to happen in a long tiroan of disbelief behind hiain that he at least had one saneafter Ari I can’t leave her to Lilif"

Azazil took a sharp step toward hi me"

Loyalty to his father warred with the promise he’dthe Red King prided himself on, it was his sense of honor And that honor, that honor he had pledged to his father and his lover, were noar A quick decision had to be made and he knehichever one it was, it would cut hih his stoave his father a bow of his head as he su you"

Ari wheezed for air as Lilif straddled her, pinning her to the ground as she squeezed her hand around Ari’s throat Deterht, Ari threw her hand up and sainst Lilif’s nose The crack was alrip on Ari loosened and Ari blasted the witch with her defensive e to her own feet when Lilif forced her back onto her ass, an ice-cold enchant painfully into her skin, trying to wedge itself into her blood

Ari ihter and hotter and the ice enchantment melted into oblivion Her victory was cut short as Lilif pounced on her again like an enraged cat, her claws out as she slashed at Ari’s face

And then suddenly, she was flying over Ari’s head as if a gust of wind had blown her off

Ari sat up, fear lodged in her throat Not a gust of wind

It was Red

What the hell was he doing here?

NO!

She whipped around in time to see Lilif rise to her feet and adjust her dress A shocked but pleased smile widened her mouth "I never realized you were such a fool, Son"

Red, get out of here!

Red shook his head, his bright hair swinging across his back He looked every inch the badass as he strode casually toward his mother "Ari is under my protection"

"Oh, really" Lilif’s eyes flashed dangerously, as though she did not like that one bit Ari remembered that the Sultana had never really been keen on her sons showing affection to anyone asn’t her "Is her life worth yours?" The air around Lilif changed in a way Ari recognized, the colors of her growingon the Seal

Not knohat possessed her to do so, other than the instinct to protect her uncle, Ari jurass and as Lilif uttered the words, "I co around theht off

For a second she lay on top of her uncle, staring into his astonished eyes