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It’s been nice And it’s wonderful to know Charlie is happy too"

Jai’s right hand drifted across her lower belly, , baby, but Michael called while you were out" Ari tensed and Jai felt it, his eyes lifting fro bad We have a new assignainst his "Assassins are us"

He squeezed her waist "We don’t have to keep doing this if you’re unhappy with it"

Ari leaned back in surprise "You know that’s not it I like keeping people safe It has a price, but it’s worth it I’ because vacation is over"

He nodded and leaned forward to kiss her gently "Vacation is over"

23

A Star’s Light Di a break, right?" Ari teased Michael as they settled around the Roes’ dining table "I mean, Jai, Trey, and I have dealt with two Ghulahs and a Qarin, one after the other That ed "I could start alternating you so you don’t go out as a team of three and two, but individually

That way you’d each get a break"

Ari wrinkled her nose "But not together"

"There’s no rest for the wicked, I’ive Dad so to speak in cliché"

Caroline chuckled and brought out a large tray of roast potatoes She placed them next to the chicken and everyone settled in, plenty of food on their plates Jai spoke to Michael about the possibility of setting up language classes for the rest of the Guild since his lessons with Ari had gone fairly well; Caroline and Trey discussed the latest sale of one of Trey’s paintings

That left Ari and Fallon with Ari’s nosy curiosity over a ru her head toward Fallon

Fallon frowned "About what?" she asked quietly

"About a visitor Michael had and his interest in you"

Fallon rolled her eyes She knew exactly what Ari was talking about Teeks ago the young leader of a neighboring Guild--the McEttricks--paid Michael a courtesy visit He’d just taken over the Guild after the passing of his uncle And young Eli McEttrick was easy on the eyes

Ari met him briefly when Michael introduced her, Jai, and Trey to hi Guilds no Michael had assassins on retainer in case they ever needed theuy, tall and well built, Eli cauy who didn’t like BS Well, Fallon Roe was the queen of zero-tolerance for BS

Two days prior, upon returning fro center She gleefully told Ari that Eli had paid another visit to Burlington, and he and Fallon had been seen getting rather cozy by his car

Ari wanted to knohat the deal was

"It’s nothing," Fallon replied in a hushed voice "We ued so"

Ari grinned "Was it hot?"

Fallon kept her eyes on her plate and gruht just--" Ari’s words were cut off into frozen silence as cutlery clattered to the table Fla roo stony expressions appeared out of the Peripatos

Michael shot to his feet, his skin darkening with anger at the rude intrusion "What is theof this?"

Neither of the Jinn answered hiazes were fixed on Ari and Jai Ari’s chest grew tight, a tingle of warning shivering down her spine "Ari, daughter of the White King, and Jai Bitar of the Ginnaye Tribe, you have been summoned to appear before His Majesty, Azazil, Sultan of All"

"What? Why?" Ari asked, slowly standing

"It is not for us to question" The two Jinn rounded the table and Ari backed into Jai His hands gripped her shoulders

"Just do as they say," he told her quietly, the concern evident in his voice Then he turned to Trey "Tell Glass

I want to "

Trey nodded, his jaw clenched in anger as he watched the Jinn take a hold of Jai and Ari Ari felt cold at the Jinn’s touch and closed her eyes, letting him steal her into the ind ride to Mount Qaf

Azazil sat casually in his throne upon the dais in his large ballrooested he was bored This here she’d first seen hiar Unlike last time, Azazil was not only accompanied by his Shaitans but also by As triumph

Ari did not like that expression

She did not like that expression at all

She cursed herself for thinking Asmodeus had hness," she finally spoke, sensing Jai’s tension increasing beside her, "why did you request our presence?"

Before Azazil could answer, the huge double doors at the front of the hall swung open and to Ari’s great relief, Red and Glass entered They strode deter the awed looks of the Shaitans as they passed As they drew closer, Ari could see the solemnity in her uncles’ faces