“Only amongst Jinn royalty.”
“Touché.”
Kadeen cocked his head to the side, a habit he’d probably picked up from Azazil. It was funny that he stil had it even centuries after leaving the Sultan’s side. “You have come to see me for a reason, Master Red?”
“You were one of my father’s favorites. His affection for you is the only reason he alowed you to leave in peace.”
“Yes.”
“You must have witnessed things, Kadeen, heard things—perhaps private things?”
“Make your point, Master Red. I am not getting any younger.”
Red acknowledged his comment with an amused smile, but underneath he was anxious—anxious for knowledge. “I wasn’t there when my father produced the Seal.
He has never trusted my brothers as he trusts me, but even with this I do not have his trust.”
“This?”
His suspicions of the Seal’s true origin burned in his eyes. “The Seal, Kadeen. Do you know where it came from?”
Darkness fel over Kadeen’s face as though al the candles had been blown out. He shook his head and stood to his feet, his lanky, trembling frame belying his age.
Kadeen was a Marid coming to the end of his life. “I know nothing of this. Please leave, your majesty.”
Unconvinced, Red stood to his feet, towering over the Marid by at least four inches. “You are dying, Kadeen. Who wil protect your daughter once you are gone?”
“My daughter?”
Red nodded, his jaw clenched with determination. “You would do anything to protect your child, would you not Kadeen? I understand this. I am also trying to
protect a child. Tel me where the Seal came from, or I wil slaughter your daughter and al of her children.”
Pure hatred sparked in Kadeen’s eyes. “This is why I left. There is no honor among you anymore. This war, this infantile, mindless war has poluted what was once resplendent about the Royal Seven and their Sultan. She should have been torn limb from limb for what she created.”
“My mother you mean?”
“Lilif. Doesn’t it always come down to Lilif.” Kadeen shook his head sadly. “I wil tel you what you want to know if you promise to protect my kin.”
“You have my word.”
“And does that mean anything anymore, Master Red?”
Red sighed, his chest twisting a little at the bitter truth in Kadeen’s distrust. “Today it does.”
17 - One Red Riding Hood and Too Many Wolves
The revelations of the last few days stil clung to Ari, but as she sat in a junior English class in the wel-funded Emmett Bradford High School, she tried her best to shrug it off and concentrate on her assignment. Being back in school was weird, especialy pretending to be a junior and pretending to be a new student. She’d never been a new student. She’d grown up surrounded by most of the same people her whole life. Sitting at a desk, barely listening to a teacher drone on about Fitzgerald reminded Ari of Staci and Rachel. A pang echoed in her chest as she thought about her friends, wondering how they were doing. They’d be heading off to colege now and Ari couldn’t quite believe that it had been a whole summer since she’d seen them last…
…since she’d lifted the comforter off the world and saw what was lying on the mattress.
A whole lot of scary.
“And what about you, Marissa?” the tal, skinny English teacher was asking her, her face pinched as if she knew Ari hadn’t been listening to a word she said.
Ari sat for a moment, deciding which way to play this. It wasn’t like she needed the class. And she’d always been such a good girl. Maybe Marissa was a pain in the ass.
Roling her eyes, she shrugged. “I have no idea.”