Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The spell decided to dump Arkon in the middle of a guest room in Zahir and Ezra’s house in Cannaregio. He had stayed there a few times so the djinn’s wards didn’t throw him immediately out again.

The panic attack was still riding him, so Arkon opened the doors to the walk-in wardrobe and hid behind a collection of silk kaftans. It was a trick he’d learned when he was a small boy when he couldn’t handle the noise and constant drama of his six older brothers.

He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his head on them. His mind and magic were a mess, and he needed to be where no one could see the Grand Sorcerer have a complete meltdown.

"Arkon?" the door to the wardrobe opened, and the outline of Ezra’s curly hair appeared through the lamp light. "Hey, are you okay?"

"No," he grumbled. If it had been Zahir, Arkon would have told him to fuck off, but he couldn’t do that to Ezra. She wasn’t only Zahir’s consort; she was a brilliant mage and was a genuinely kind person. How Zahir had managed to convince her to be with him, Arkon still couldn’t figure out.

Ezra sat down on the floor beside him. "Are you hurt?"

"I don’t know," he mumbled.

"You want to tell me about it?"

He really didn’t, but he did anyway. He told Ezra about Zarya’s magic, the interrogation of Vlad, the teleportation spell, and the kissing. Ezra wouldn’t judge him, so he told her about the longing and how Zarya had written the whole incident off as the magic fucking with them.

"I don’t know what to do about any of it," he finished, leaning his head back against the wall with a thud.

"Would you like my opinion, or do you just need to sit here for a while?" Ezra asked softly.

Arkon tugged at his curls. "Advice, please. I think... I think I have fucked up."

"You haven’t." Ezra looped her arm around his. "I understand what it’s like when you link your power with someone else’s. It’s overwhelming and rips into the very heart of you," she said. "But unless there are other emotions already involved, then it’s just a power share. The lust, the longing... Those were already there for you two. The magic only amplified it."

Arkon didn’t say anything. There was no point trying to lie to her.

"Zarya’s meant to be my enemy," he finally murmured.

"Those closest to you know that’s never been true. Zahir was meant to be the last person I exposed my magic to as well. He was supposed to be the devil himself. But when we were finally together, it just...worked. You like everything to make sense, and it’s not something that’s ever going to. She’s the only thing you’ve cared about for years, Arkon. Now she’s here at last, and she is beautiful and terrifying. How could you resist? You aren’t afraid of anything, but she could crush you like a bug, and you like that too."

"You’re making me sound like a sadist."

Ezra laughed. "She’s your equal, Arkon. It’s okay to want her."

"She doesn’t want me. Not in that way. I feel like a complete idiot."

"You are so smart, so I can’t believe I have to spell this out to you." Ezra cuddled his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. "Are you listening?"

"Yes."

"She absolutely wants. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have kissed you back. She’s probably just scared of finally having to acknowledge it. I don’t think either one of you was ready for your magic to expose it to the other. Like you, she’s probably freaking out about it."

"I’m not freaking out."

"You’re in my wardrobe for the fun of it?"

"Fair point. What am I meant to do about any of this, Ez? I have to go and assassinate someone with her tomorrow. It’s complicated enough," Arkon complained.

"Do what you need to do for the mission, and when you have your words in order, talk to her. Don’t do an Arkon and rant yourself in circles. Figure out what you’re actually feeling for her and go from there. You’re on the same side now, it’s okay for you to want her. We all know you do anyway."

Arkon let out a frustrated groan. "I don’t like feelings. They are weird and gross."

"I know," Ezra said and gave his arm a conciliatory pat. "But it’s okay to let someone finally see all of you. She’s the only one who will truly understand you."

Arkon was still struggling with that when Zahir filled the doorway and let out a soft laugh.

"Ezra, my love, if you are trying to convince Arkon to finally come out of the closet, you’re wasting your time. I’ve been trying for years," he said.

"Fuck you. I’ve never hidden what I am," Arkon replied.

"Ah, so it’s a threesome you are after. Excellent," Zahir said, squeezing his way in between them on the floor and making them both groan in annoyance. "Shall we talk safe words?"

"You’re the worst," Arkon complained but started to laugh in spite of himself.

Ezra rested her head on Zahir’s chest. "Don’t tease him too much. Our dear Arkon is having a crisis."

"Realized you want to fuck the Wolf Mage, did you? I’m so shocked," Zahir said, sounding anything but. "Best be careful of that bond. She’ll be able to feel your nefarious intentions if you’re not careful. Or has she already?"

Arkon covered his face with his hands. "Oh my god, I hate you so much."

"That was only a guess! You dirty boy, what did you do?" Zahir asked looking at him with laughing eyes.

"Angry wank," Arkon mumbled behind his hands. Zahir and Ezra howled with laughter.

"Oh, habibi, you really are a wreck over this woman, aren’t you? Block the binding and go and visit one of your courtesans, for god’s sake."

"I don’t use them for that," Arkon admitted. He hadn’t for years.

Zahir lifted his head up in alarm. "What did you just say? Arkon Ziani, you visit them multiple times a week. What the hell are you doing..."

"They are his spies, love," Ezra interrupted and giggled. "You are brilliant, Arkon."

"I know."

Zahir looked him over. "Now I know why you have been creating bombs that vaporize whole ships. You needed to unleash in more ways than one, it seems. You poor mad monk of a sorcerer."

Arkon rolled his eyes. "I’ve been busy."

"Pining over the Wolf Mage." Zahir’s whole expression softened, and Arkon wanted to punch him. "And this is why you are hiding in my closest. My poor little psychopath is in love."

"Fuck you," Arkon snapped.

Zahir just put an arm around him and patted his head. "Hush, habibi. It will be okay."

"You are the worst," Arkon muttered but accepted the hug.

Ezra smiled at him. "Sometimes it’s easier to let him have his way."

"Have you given him some good advice, Ezra, or do I have to do it?" Zahir turned to Arkon. "Don’t be an ass, and tell her how you feel. There. Job done."

"Thanks to your stupid bond, she already knows," Arkon pointed out.

"No. Thanks to the bond, she knows you want to angry wank all over her," Ezra replied, making Zahir laugh all over again.

"Sexy, Arkon."

"If you two are just going to make fun of me, I’m going home. I should have gone to Stella and Dom’s instead."

"Stop pouting because of your own stupidity. Did you get the teleportation spell to work at least?" Zahir asked. "Every djinn in Venice felt the pulse of power. Overdid it a bit in your excitement, I think."

"Something like that. It did work. We will go after Stas tomorrow night. It’s a big leap geographically, but when our powers are linked, it feels…" Arkon struggled for the right word for the roaring sea of magic. "Limitless."

"Dangerous," Zahir corrected. "Try not to tear yourselves to pieces in the process, hmm?"

"No promises. We might just be as crazy as each other," Arkon said with a wry smile.

Zahir frowned. "Then it’s even better that you’re going to be on the other side of Europe when you decide to let loose."

"I’ll be good, I promise."

Ezra reached across Zahir to poke Arkon in the shoulder. "Talk to her, Arkon. Don’t let it become a misunderstanding."

"It already has. It could only be about the magic for her."

Zahir rolled his eyes. "Sure, because making a grand entrance like that and claiming to the whole Council of Ten that she came to Venice just for you clearly are signs of platonic intentions. Please don’t be more absurd than usual. If you were shifters, she would have pissed all over you by now just to mark her territory."

"I already tried to tell him she’s probably just scared," Ezra added.

"So, she should be. Arkon has basically turned himself into a virgin again over her. There’s no way he’s going to last⁠—"

"Right, I’m leaving," Arkon said, untangling himself from his two giggling friends and their absurd number of kaftans.

"Good," Zahir replied and rolled on top of a grinning Ezra. "Shut the door on the way out."

Arkon locked them in the wardrobe, warded it in revenge, and went home, his heart a little bit lighter than it had been.

Back at the palace, he was collapsing into bed when he felt the bond with Zarya stir to life.

"What is... Oh, no." Arkon bit his tongue as hot pleasure rolled over him. He knew exactly what she was doing. It meant that she had definitely felt the angry wank earlier and also knew what had been going on.

Was this some kind of revenge? Arkon’s hand was on his dick before he could think it through. There was a small flicker of surprise through the bond. She had sensed it. Arkon held his breath, waiting to see if she would stop. After the slightest hesitation, he was hit with another wave of pleasure.

"Holy fuck," he groaned and jerked himself harder. "This can’t be happening... Fuck." His vision went dark, fire scorched his nerve endings, and he came with a shuddering gasp.

He was hit again by whatever Zarya was doing to herself, and his dick jerked as if it wanted to come again. His heart was hammering too fast in his chest with two separate pulses.

He couldn’t move, too stunned and satiated to lift his head. A dark smile crept over his face, and he knew one thing for certain—no matter what she claimed, it wasn’t just about the magic, and he was going to prove it to her. He wasn’t going to be a gentleman about it either.