Chapter 23

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

The council wasn’t meeting that day, and Zahir was relieved to have the day to try to get himself together. He was worried about Ezra, his growing feelings toward her, and the Cabal that wanted to sell them out to the Varangians. Really, the amount of traitors in the Republic was getting out of hand.

Zahir picked up the obsidian chip that still held the faint traces of Ezra’s magic. It shouldn’t have been possible. He needed answers, and there was only one djinn who he knew might have answers. Of all the djinn in the Republic, Zahir was the oldest. That didn’t mean that other djinn in the world weren’t older still.

Ashirah knocked on his cabin door before entering. She took in the tumbled bed and the smell of female perfume in the air.

"Should I ask?" she said, crossing her arms.

"Do you need to?" Zahir straightened his robes of red silk.

"She’s a human, Zahir. Be careful with that old heart of yours," Ashirah replied, looking genuinely concerned.

Zahir wondered if he was that easy to read. "Maybe that’s been my problem lately, little sister. I forgot how painfully good it was to feel this way."

"And what feeling is that?" she asked innocently.

"To care." He was being tactful, but she saw through it. "I need to go and see the old king."

Ashirah didn’t look pleased with that idea. Zahir knew that they used to be close, but he never had the balls to ask how close. All he knew was they had a falling out a thousand years ago and hadn’t spoken since.

"Are you sure? He said he didn’t want to be disturbed," she said coolly.

"I don’t have a choice. Something strange is happening with Ezra. And before you start, I’m not talking about an obsession with something new and shiny. Her magic is so strange, and it concerns me." Zahir tucked the obsidian chip into his pocket. "I need advice. Will you look after the rabble for me today? I will be back at sundown."

"Of course I will. Be careful of him. The old ones are all insane, and him most of all."

Zahir kissed her cheek. "I’ll give him your love, shall I?"

"He’s never accepted it before, so I don’t see the point in bothering," she said under her breath. "I’ll make sure we have eyes on your girl while you are gone."

"Thank you, my sister," Zahir replied and vanished in a haze of red smoke.

* * *

Zahir hadn’t always beenthe king of the djinn. He had been offered the role by the previous one, who thought someone younger was needed. Karsudan had wanted to enjoy the return of magic in the world, and he’d had enough of keeping the unruly young djinn in line. Zahir sometimes wondered why he said yes to the job, but deep down he knew. He wanted a purpose, somewhere to belong, and to have a real home again. Venice seemed the answer in many way

Karsudan resided on an island near Cyprus. Unless you were a djinn, you could never find it. Karsudan knew most djinn hated water, except for the marids, so his chances of getting disturbed were slim to none.

Zahir didn’t bother to announce himself before he teleported himself to Karsudan’s villa. The old king would have told him to go fuck himself, and unfortunately, Zahir couldn’t take no for an answer.

The wards let him through, and Zahir re-materialized under a palm tree in Karusdan’s garden. Two large, black panthers were sunning themselves on the marble stones, and water was trickling from the fountains. The house before him was reminiscent of an ancient Arabian fairy tale palace, with a library Zahir loved to spend time in. It was so extensive, most of it was held in another dimension. Karsudan was a scholar, amongst other things, and all he wanted to do was read his many books, contemplate the stars and universe and their place in it.

Zahir let the sun and silence wash over him. The old djinn definitely knew what a retired king needed. Silence wasn’t something Zahir got much of anymore.

"I thought I felt trouble heading my way," a deep bass voice called through the trees. Zahir found the massive djinn lounging in the shade in a dark purple sarong and nothing else. His curling dark hair was streaked in silver and hung to the center of his broad chest. He had a closely trimmed beard on the sides with a longer goatee decorated with small silver cuffs to match the silver studs up both of his pointed ears.

Karsudan’s black eyes were as intimidating as ever as he looked Zahir over. He shut his book. "And what brings you to my doorstep, young one?"

He was the only one that could get away with calling Zahir ’young.’ Zahir smiled and bowed to him in the old style.

"You seem to be enjoying retirement," Zahir commented and sat on a white wicker chair.

"I earned it." Karsudan glanced around. "Ashirah isn’t with you?"

"No. She’s in Venice," Zahir replied. Disappointment flashed on the other djinn’s face, there and gone in a second. "She is well, Kar. You were right. She does make an excellent second in command."

Karsudan sighed. "She was a queen more than once. She can play the game better than anyone. What brings you here, Zahir?"

Straight to the point, as always.

"I’ve met a human girl. She has sigil power unlike anything I’ve ever seen. She is strong enough to be able to trap djinn," Zahir began.

Karsudan’s eyes narrowed. "You should kill her."

"I know, but I… I can’t. There’s something strange about her. I need your knowledge." Zahir ended up telling him the whole muddled story. He gave Karsudan the obsidian chip that held her magic. The older djinn studied it for a moment before putting it in his mouth. Purple light flashed in his eyes, and he spat it back out. He took a deep drink from his wine cup before sparking up a small brown cigar. The scent of blue lotus filled the air, and Zahir smiled at the fact that both he and Ashirah smoked the same ancient blend.

"You have wandered into an ancient mystery indeed, my young friend," Karsudan finally said. He pulled on his goatee thoughtfully. "You said you felt her distress?"

"Yes. I’ve never had the tie of a bargain do that before," Zahir said.

"Hmm, it’s because it’s not bargain magic linking you," Karsudan said, having another draw of his cigar. "There were stories in the early times that when the Creator made djinn, it made us as a pair. That our magic would be able to be shared with another."

Zahir scoffed. "What? Like the shifters have mates?"

"Exactly like that. The beasts have a physical connection. The djinn are rare creatures of magic, flame, and air, so that is what binds us. I’ve never seen it happen with a human before."

"But you have with a djinn?"

Karsudan nodded. "Let’s just say I have it on good authority that it can happen. I would bet my library that the girl Ezra has djinn in her bloodline. Test it. You will see that I am right. Djinn magic can sleep for generations before it awakens in the right child."

Zahir ran his hands through his hair, panic building inside of his chest. "So you’re saying Ezra is my mate?"

"I don’t like that word," Karsudan complained. "She is your consort in magic. It’s why your power misbehaves when you are together. Have sex, you’ll see what I mean." Zahir huffed out a breath, and Karsudan smirked. "Already, Zahir? You waste no time."

"She doesn’t have it to waste. She’s not djinn. She won’t live forever," Zahir replied.

Karsudan hummed thoughtfully. "You could bind yourself to her. It would give her immortality as long as it was in place."

"She might not want it. Ezra is very much her own person," Zahir replied.

Karsudan chuckled. "If your skills as a lover are so terrible that she would say no, then you don’t deserve her."

"I don’t deserve her anyway."

"On that, we can agree." Karsudan lifted his wine up to him. "I bid you good luck. If you can convince her to take the chance on what’s left of your heart, bring her here. I’ll officiate the binding to make sure you don’t screw it up."

Zahir laughed. "Thank you, Ancient One. I might even be able to convince Ashirah to come with us as a witness."

Karsudan’s eyes softened. "I would like that, but we all know it’s not in the Star of Nineveh’s nature to be told what to do. She knows where to find me. She always does."

"One day, you two are going to tell me whatever the fuck happened to cause this rift between you," Zahir replied.

"Oh? And how will you do that, little flame?" Karsudan teased. Zahir knew there was no point in trying to argue with him. Karsudan could squash them all like bugs. He was the closest to a living god that the djinn had.

Zahir rose to his feet and bowed deeply. "Thank you for your advice and knowledge."

"You’re welcome." Karsudan tossed the obsidian chip to him. "Don’t waste this chance to claim your consort, Zahir. You won’t get another."

Zahir smiled his most carefree smile. "I won’t. I want her too much."

He only needed to convince Ezra to want him back.