tried to reassert dominance over her own mind and body. She blinked, shuddering and heaving. Asmodeus’ shocked question had brought Ari back in control. “What?”
she breathed in utter confusion.
“Your eyes,” Asmodeus growled and strode towards her threateningly. “They changed.”
Ari stumbled back and held her hands up to ward him off, the darkness already awakening at the new threat. To her surprise he stopped and so did the darkness.
“Changed?”
“They turned dark. Dark brown.” He moved again and Red’s warning took hold of her as Asmodeus crowded her against the wal. His hand wrapped around her
throat to hold her in place, his eyes blazing with furious questions.
Terrified his attack would cause her to use the Seal again, Ari pushed the telepathy, searching for Red. Red, I need you! Asmodeus is in my room!
Asmodeus squeezed her throat, cutting off her air supply. And then just as suddenly he loosened his hold. “Tel me what you know.” He pushed her a little and her head smacked against the wal. “Tel m-”
Fire erupted behind him and Ari sagged in relief as Asmodeus let go of her to turn around and face the intruder. Not intruder. Ari met Red’s angry gaze and she slid along the wal away from Asmodeus only to stil at the sight of Azazil. He towered beside The Red King, eyeing Asmodeus carefuly. His gaze shifted to Ari and he smiled politely. “You look lovely, Ari.” And then he turned back to his Lieutenant. “Come, Asmodeus. You know it’s ungentlemanly to pay a cal to a maiden’s room alone. Let us leave Ari to gather herself before dinner.”
Asmodeus looked down at her like he was considering disobeying the Sultan. Ari stared back at him warily, completely bemused by his aggression towards her.
Finaly he nodded and with one last piercing look, Asmodeus turned and folowed Azazil out of the room.
Ari sagged against the wal as the door closed behind them. “He seriously doesn’t like me.”
Her uncle nodded. “I want to find out why.”
“Can you?”
“Not if my father doesn’t want me to know.”
Ari’s face fel and she gave him a nod of understanding.
Red sighed. “But I can try.”
Thanking the heavens for her uncle, Ari gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
He smiled back at her and held out an elbow for her to take. “You look beautiful by the way. Just like your mother.”
Ari blinked at the mention of Sala. “You knew her?” she asked softly as she took his proffered elbow.
Red’s expression smoothed out to perfect blankness. “A long time ago.”
4 - Feast on these Words Before the Plate is Removed from the Table
Stil shaken from her encounter with Asmodeus, and desperate to keep how unnerved she was under wraps so that Jai and Charlie didn’t suspect she had been
accosted, Ari tried to keep her expression serenely blank as she approached them. They stood together at the end of the halway at the exit to Red’s quarters in the palace. Standing by a window, the air of thick tension around them was obvious; Jai gazed outside at something that had caught his interest while Charlie stared determinedly at the floor.
I must say I don’t think I’ve been quite as entertained by a love triangle since Meyer’s novels. Red chuckled, throwing her a sarcastic look.
Ari roled her eyes and gave him a friendly nudge with her elbow. Why am I not surprised you read paranormal teen fiction?
Because I read everything. I was particularly delighted by the one about the girl who fights in the arena with the other tributes from different
districts… like gladiators of ancient Rome. It was blood-thirsty and very entertaining.
Grinning, Ari shook her head. “Again, I’m not surprised.”