Harley Merlin 12 by Bella Forrest (story books to read TXT) 📗

if this is happening to djinn across the world. Erebus is a go-big-or-go-home guy.”

Raffe’s gaze flitted to his father, still in deep sleep beside us. “You think having a human body might have blocked his link to the djinn?”

“If it looks like a dog and barks like a dog… yeah, that’s my current hypothesis.” I took another long sip of coffee. “The timeline fits too perfectly for it to be a coincidence.”

“No manches! I knew you were holding out on me, you scheming sack of pelotas!” Santana appeared out of thin air, jabbing her finger at me. I glared at Raffe, thinking he’d set this up. But he looked as shocked as me, if not more so.

“Have you been eavesdropping this whole time?” Raffe gaped.

“You bet I have. I knew he was lying! You let me pour my heart out, and you didn’t say a damn thing, even though you had all that tucked up in your head!” She raised her hands to unleash a hailstorm of Orisha at me. I put my arms up in defense, hoping a wall of Chaos would protect me from the buzzing, spiritual onslaught.

“Hear me out before you set your sparky balls of peeved spirit at me!” I yelled. “I had no choice. I did it to protect you! Erebus is dangerous. You know that, Santana. I’ll ask Erebus about the djinn, but I’m at that bastard’s beck and call, in case it escaped your notice?”

She shook her head angrily. “You don’t get to play victim. I don’t buy this protection thing. We’ve dealt with danger before. How’s this different?” The Orishas spiraled around her head in a mesmerizing belt of blue-and-white light.

“I am a victim. Maybe not the only one, but that doesn’t mean I’m not one. I’m a servant of Erebus, same as the djinn—we’re linked, in a sense, because of that.” I let Air spill out of my palms, creating a wall between me and Santana. “And this is a new level of weird and dangerous.”

The Orishas spun faster, in time with her swelling anger. “Then you should tell us all. If it affects us, then—”

“It doesn’t affect you all!” I shot back. “That’s just it. I’m trying to keep as many of you away as possible, because this isn’t a Katherine situation. It’s a… pet project, I don’t know. He hasn’t been chatty, but it’s not like last time.”

The Orishas turned into a blur, and I knew they’d lash out soon. “How can you know that?”

“I just do!” I sounded desperate and I didn’t care.

“Even if that’s true, this does affect Raffe. You kept that from me. You knew my heart was breaking, and you still didn’t tell me. I gave you every opportunity.” Her fingers folded inward.

Frustration bristled through my body. “I don’t want Erebus gunning for every friggin’ person close to me!”

An almighty roar split the air.

“Would you stop your flaccid human mouths from flapping!” Kadar bellowed, silencing everyone. The Orishas abruptly halted, arcing over Santana’s head and hiding behind her shoulders. Their edges quivered in fear.

“Good morning to you, too.” I sighed. Kadar’s ruby eyes burned into me.

Santana chewed nervously on her bottom lip. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m not planning on driving one of Krieger’s hypodermic needles into Raffe’s heart, if that’s what you’re asking,” he replied.

“Better, then?” She sounded worried.

“I’m fine for now, so you can put those insipid fireflies away. I have much to discuss with Finch, so I prefer him breathing.” Kadar heaved an exhale that seemed to ripple across his skin, turning it a deeper shade of red. “And Raffe says I’m the one with anger-management issues.”

Santana twisted her hands, and the Orishas retreated. “I don’t like being lied to,” she said defensively.

“Maybe not, but you don’t have to assail everyone who keeps a secret, and, between us, we are quite capable of fighting our own battles.” Kadar smiled dryly. “After all, Raffe kept me secret for a long time, yet you don’t hold him to the same level of condemnation.”

“What do you want to talk to me about?” I brought the subject back around, to spare Santana. Love made folks crazy. And she’d dealt with enough to warrant an outburst or two.

Kadar relaxed slightly. “You mentioned servants of Erebus and djinn being linked. I realize it must be a topic of great interest to you, given your situation. You likely hope to gain some breakthrough from me, which is why you came with Raffe last night.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but I couldn’t exactly deny it.

Kadar chuckled. “Don’t worry, I have no qualms with a sliver of selfish motivation. I rather admire personal determination, at any cost. If you aid Raffe, you will aid yourself. A bargain, in anyone’s book.”

I nodded awkwardly. “That’s right.”

“Unfortunately for you, I do not know much about the relationship between djinn and the servants of Erebus, as I am not connected to the collective consciousness. But I listened to your assumptions about my predicament, and I’m inclined to agree.” Kadar’s smoke thickened. “Have you spoken to Erebus lately?”

“No. I’m still… waiting for a sign,” I replied stiffly. “A text” would’ve sounded anticlimactic.

Kadar scraped his nails against the coffee mug, and the sound cut through me. He was clearly nervous but holding it together, djinn-style. “At least there is comfort in understanding my separation from Erebus. And I believe you’re correct in thinking it affects all djinn. I may not be connected to the network, which is perhaps why I am not suffering as much as Zalaam, but my connection to Erebus has always existed. Ergo, him gaining a human body has severed the tie with me, too.”

“Is there anything you can tell me?” I urged.

“If I had reached the required age to connect to the network, I might be able to locate information for you regarding servants of Erebus and the djinn’s relationship to them. But I have not. And even if Zalaam were awake, the network has likely gone dark.”

“Not giving me much silver lining,