Although the news clearly came as a blow to his mother, she did not appear surprised by it.
“What are you going to do?” Horatio asked.
She furrowed her brows. “What do you mean?”
“Are you just going to stand by and say nothing? Father’s gone back on his word.”
The woman smiled affectionately at her son. Reaching out, she took his hand and held it in hers.
“Darling, we cannot expect that promises will remain unbroken forever.” She said the words firmly, as though she was speaking partly to comfort herself about the situation rather than solely for her son’s sake. “He carries the destiny of our tribe on his shoulders. Remember that Nuriya was meant to wed Cyrus. Now that he’s found her again, his plans to wed her shouldn’t come as any surprise. You know the value that she could bring him… that she could bring all of us. The marriage can only strengthen our clan, and that’s what we all want, isn’t it?”
Fire leapt in Horatio’s eyes. “No,” he said in a low voice. “That’s not what I want.”
His mother’s eyes widened. “What are you saying?”
“I said that’s not what I want!” he shouted. He brought his fist slamming down against a crystal side table, causing it to shatter.
“Y-you’re letting your bias toward the Nasiris blind you, my darling,” his mother said. “You never said such things before their arrival. Of course it’s only natural you have an attachment to the clan you spent much of your childhood with… but your father has the greater picture in mind.”
“A greater picture I want no part of!” Horatio hissed.
With that, he turned on his heel and shot out of the room, leaving his mother shell-shocked.
Lucas and I hurried after the jinni, my interest in him now increased tenfold. He made his way up through the palace until he reached the medallion exit. Pushing it open, he burst out into the desert, his chest still heaving, agitation marring his features.
I wasn’t sure where he was planning to go as he went hurtling in the opposite direction, toward the shore. Perhaps merely to blow off some steam. He stopped at the water’s edge, arms wrapping around his chest, and gazed out over the sparkling waves.
I looked around to check that nobody had followed him—half expecting his mother to come after him—but no. He was quite alone. We were quite alone…
Acutely aware of our escaping time, I didn’t stop to consider the consequences of the idea that had just flitted into my brain. I solidified myself behind Horatio and spoke his name.
He whirled around to face me, almost jumping out of his skin.
“What—”
Before he could finish his question, I said, “I’m Aisha’s friend.”
He was speechless as he gaped at me and then at Lucas, who followed my cue and solidified himself beside me.
“Who are you, and what are you doing here?”
“My name isn’t important,” I said. “For I am here on the bidding of Aisha Nasiri. She awaits at the other end of the portal, miles north from here. She wishes to speak with you.”
His frown grew more severe, although I couldn’t miss the flash of anticipation in his eyes. “What about? I-I banished her…. Why would she want to speak with me?”
“I’m afraid I do not know,” I said, bowing low. “We are only messengers. Will you come with us to see her ladyship?”
Horatio stumbled for words for several moments, narrowing his eyes on us and running a hand through his hair. Finally he shrugged and said, “A-all right. Take me to her.”
Clearly his affection for her was—or had been—as strong as I’d hoped for him to agree to come with two strange fae, on the promise of meeting her on the other side of a portal.
But I hadn’t expected him to agree quite so easily. And now, as Lucas and I sped with Horatio toward the portal, I found myself wondering what the hell I’d just done.
Ben
My gut was churning as we passed through the gate. My first instinct was to take him to Aisha, because she had a history with him. He had helped her before—albeit against her will—and if anybody had a chance of obtaining information from him, it was her, certainly not me or Lucas. Especially while he was in a mood over his father.
I’d entered the portal first, hoping to have at least a few seconds to warn Aisha of his arrival and what I had just gotten her into. On the other end, I flew out to find everyone sitting among the rocks, looking tense. The dragons had spread their wings to protect the vampires from the sun.