Ari sighed. “Yes, I did. Am I in trouble?”
“Not with me.”
“With anyone?”
“There is no one to care about the Qarin’s demise.”
Ari breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, that’s good to know.”
After a moment’s silence, Asmodeus picked up a small rock and with a flick of his wrist sent it skimming over the water. “You shouldn’t be doing it.”
“Working for the Guild?”
“Turning yourself into an assassin.”
Ari tried not to wince at the word. “Why? I’m doing good. I’m ridding the human world of evil Jinn.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Is that worth the loss of your purity?”
“I’m not pure, Asmodeus.”
“Your soul was clean, Ari. You’re marring it with this need to hunt Jinn.”
“It’s not a need,” she lied. “It’s a want. Even before all this …,” she gestured to her surroundings, “I was a high school graduate with a serious identity crisis. I didn’t know what I wanted out of life. I didn’t know where I fit in. Despite all the bad stuff that’s come with finding out who I am, at least I’ve also found my place in this world.”
“With the Ginnaye, assassinating Jinn?”
“With Jai, hunting bad guys.”
He grunted. “You are so naïve, it physically pains me.”
“Then stop pulling me into your dreams.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No.”
Ari tried desperately to rein in her irritation. “What do you want, Asmodeus?”
His regard was dark and fathomless. Ari couldn’t stop her gaze from roaming his strong face. Black eyes framed by long lashes, tanned, unblemished skin, sharp cheekbones, a strong but straight blade of a nose, and a perfect mouth—a full lower lip and a slightly thinner upper lip. If a human were to meet him, they’d think Asmodeus was an exotic but young twenty-something, not a twisted, ancient Marid who’d been around for God knew how many centuries.
“Tonight I wanted to see how you were faring after your first kill.” Surprise shot through her, forcing her head back. He caught her reaction, eyes glittering. “I’m not playing games with you.”
Ignoring the curiosity writhing inside, Ari gave him a cynical smirk. “Whatever this is, can we at least be honest with one another?”
“Okay,” he nodded, “I like playing games with you. But I’m not playing a game tonight.”
Ari found herself confessing. “I was sick at first. It was horrible. I didn’t expect to feel so ashamed.”
“And now?”
“Jai reminded me of all the things the Qarin did. I feel proud I was strong enough to do something about it.”
“So no guilt?”