Page 32 (1/2)

So flashed in Red’s eyes and Jai finally saw for hiht of her with Asmodeus almost as much as Jai did "I will protect her if it comes to that And if it doesn’t … I will still ive up Asmodeus … even if we find a way out … he won’t stop"

Red’s jaw clenched as he turned to stare out at the night sky through the balcony"I’ll make it so he has to"

"No," Trey breathed, slu hard in his chest The rest of the Roes stood in tense silence, taking in what the Glass King had just relayed

"Isn’t there so we can do?"

Fallon asked Trey heard the panic he was feeling in her voice "We can’t leave Ari to that We can’t let that happen to Ari or Jai Not after everything they’ve done"

Trey looked up at Glass, hope in his eyes Surely Glass and his brother Red wouldn’t let As they’d all been through

Glass met Trey’s eyes and within, he saw love and deter for him

Trey knew this because he’d already sacrificed so incredibly precious for Trey It should’ve scared hiive such devotion The Glass King, like all the Jinn kings, could be a ruthless bastard when he wanted to be He would always ree with those choices It should terrify him But it didn’t He was in love with Glass So deep in love, that sometimes scared him There was the consolation, however, that he wouldafter all No one

So the ache Trey felt in his chest about Ari and Jai’s predicament wasn’t just because he loved Ari, it was because he loved Jai, and he knehat it would do to him to lose Ari He understood it because what Jai felt for Ari, Trey felt for Glass

"We have to do so," Trey murmured "There has to be a way"

Glass shook his head slightly, and Trey could see he hated delivering this news to hie possibility it won’t work I’ now to attempt to do what I can, but I don’t want to leave you with hope I need you all to coreat chance Ari will be lost to you"

Trey’s throat tightened and he nodded sharply before turning his gaze on his companions Fallon stood beside her father, fists clenched at her sides, face red with anger Her mother sat across from Trey, Caroline’s face pale, eyes sad Michael stood by his daughter, and Trey could only describe his expression as pained Trey knew Michael had become especially fond of Ari and even more so of Jai over the last few htness in his throat and glanced back at Glass "Do what you can"

Glass bowed his head and stepped back into the Peripatos to try to save their friends froedy

Sleep evaded Ari The entire night was a battle against despair, her ht back the inevitable loss of her future Whenvery hard not to be defeated

When Asmodeus turned up at her chamber and de with hi that she could find the Jinn who’d sat on sandy beaches with her in her dreaht, and a h the palace grounds, the warrins of the market sellers and patrons and knew that word had spread about their i nuptials "They know," she said flatly

He strolled beside her, arhtly toward the sky "Yes, they know"

"Doing this won’t bring her back"

"No However, it will destroy you and scratch an itch of mine at the same time" He slanted a darkly heated look her way "I’ve wanted you in my bed a while We both know that"

Ari blanched at the thought "How can you want hed, a bitter, horrible sound "Do you not understand yet, Ari?" He led her to end of the courtyard where they could be alone, perched upon one of the highest peaks of Mount Qaf The emerald chips in the reen light here and there Asmodeus leaned on the wall and Ari felt a chill bleed out of her veins at the sinister look on his face "I killed ain "And I don’t hate you That," he leaned into her now, his eyes roa this to you"

"Out of guilt," she curled her lip in anger "You’re doing this because of your own guilt?"

"If I can’t hate you, I need to find eance somehow" Asmodeus smiled, but it wasn’t the least bit pleasant

"I want you in my bed and I want you out of Jai Bitar’s life Not only will it break your heart to leave hi with sexual intent, "ill uilt you’ll feel when you discover you enjoy being in h her and she shoved her face aggressively in his, forgetting he could crush her in a second "I will never enjoy your hands on hed "A woman’s body can betray her Yours definitely will"

Tears shimmered in Ari’s eyes "I hate you"

In a blur of ripping her nape tightly, painfully, as he hauled her up against his body She strained against him as he leaned down to brush his mouth across hers He pulled back and his eyes bore into hers, heavy with malice "Good," he murmured softly