CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE—ROOT OF THE LAMP

Shiro disappeared from the void—taken from her, back to the physical realm. Jessamine didn’t know how he had done it, or why it had happened at that point, but she smiled, knowing he was safe from Darius.

She regarded the empty void with her eyes, waiting for Darius to approach her. The other man with Shiro—she didn’t know who he was, only that he had a familiar presence she couldn’t quite pin from her memory.

“Ah, Jessamine,” Darius said, revealing himself as he came to her, his arms and legs outstretched as if he were floating in water.

Swallowing, she regarded her bonded one. “Darius.”

“It has been some time, has it not?”

She said nothing.

“What—are you not pleased to see me?”

“After you exiled me to Mebkubazir for half a century would you expect me to be pleased?”

Darius laughed as if he had only played a small joke on her at her own expense. “You look good, Jessamine. It is wonderful to see you.”

“You haven’t aged a day.”

“Are you surprised? I am immortal after all.”

She signed, sorry she had ever bonded him, giving him such gifts to abuse the world by.

“Come. Embrace me.”

She didn’t move, so he went to her. Then without warning, he backhanded her.

The hot sting blossomed through her cheek. She touched the affected area. Still, she said nothing.

“You whore.”

He turned and began to move through the void. “Come,” he said, “or be left here forever to go mad.”

“Perhaps that would be best,” she said. “I do not wish you to gain any more of my powers, even if it does mean bringing me back to my territory.”

Turning, he laughed. “Vindictive. Jessamine, your precious Shiro will not be able to rescue you if you do not come with me. Do you not want him to kill me so he can take my place?”

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That was exactly what she wanted.

I do want you dead, she thought. But not only for myself, but for Shiro’s protection, and for all those who have suffered and continue to suffer under your evil reign.

Come, he conveyed, the word not a request.

She went, following Darius as he led her back to her territory, to the root of her lamp, her entrance and exit to and from the void.

“Darius was there?!” Ali asked, his mouth hanging open. “How is this possible?”

Shiro shook his head and wiped his brow. He had no idea.

“He was looking for her,” Debaku said “I believe that we—you and I, Shiro—attracted Darius to our presence. My battle with him, was like a beacon in the night for your jinni.”

Shiro’s eyes widened.

“I am glad you are all right, my friend,” Ali said. “Can you stand?”

Glancing about, Shiro nodded and took Ali’s hand. Afterward, Shiro helped Debaku to his feet.

“We have to go to the palace,” he said. “We have to rescue Jessamine.”

“That is what we are doing,” Ali said.

“He knows we’re coming.”

Kami-sama!

How will we accomplish this task?

“We must be well prepared,” Debaku said. “I am strong, and both of you are capable fighters, but what of your friend, Ali?”

“Razul?” He made a disgusted sound. “I hate to admit it, but he is quite the fighter, and good with magic too. He could take Shiro and I put together. Maybe he can even beat you, my Black Cobra friend.”

“Is this one of your boasts?” Shiro asked. “You have a habit of showing off.”

“What?” Ali asked, indignant that Shiro would even suggest such a thing. “Of course not! Listen, Razul—I hate the bastard!”

“Why?”

“Because!” Ali practically screamed. “He’s stronger then I am. He’s better looking. Always gets all the women. Everyone loves him. Gods, I hate him.”

“You are married,” Shiro said. “Why do you care who he beds?”

“Well,” Ali said, “that was a long time ago. But he’s still loved by everyone, I have no doubts in my mind.”

“You’re not bad yourself,” Shiro said. “You are rich and I like you.”

Ali shrugged appreciatively. “Thank you.”

“If we are done stroking the wounded Abassir’s ego,” Debaku said, “perhaps we can decide what to do next?’

“WHAT?!”

“I am glad you are back,” Darius said, as he guided Jessamine back to her territory. Her aural tether was relinked.

She can now leave the lamp or return as she wishes, Darius thought.

The whore—after he had saved her—actually had the gall to look away from him. “Hate me if you must,” he said. “But when Shiro comes to claim you—to take you from me—I will kill him.”

“How do you know? Perhaps he will be the one to kill you.”

Darius laughed. The very idea was absurd. Though his friend was strong, Shiro himself was pathetic.

“If you swear to obey me, I am certain that I can be persuaded to let him live. Think about it.”

Then he jumped, like he was pushing himself off a cliff. With his arms spread and his body falling away, he left the void.

Eyes snapping open, Darius breathed heavily. He had been in extreme danger while in the void. That black that Shiro had with him—the man with the snake eyes—was powerful.

Will he be equally as powerful outside of the void?

Darius did not know, but he needed to find out who that man was.

He smiled and sat up, surrounded by robed lizards with heavy hoods and red eyes. Even with the Mar’a Thulian, Shiro could not defeat him.

Not now that Jessamine was returned to him.