Scorched Skies by Samantha Young Page A

’ s tongue flicked against his, responding to the ever deepening kiss. Every piece of her felt tight and overwhelmed, shaken and weak.
    I ’ m not weak!
    Ari made a startled noise as she realized what she was letting him do. Again! She shoved him  back with all her might, her Jinn energy sparking in her fingertips, ready to use against him if need be.
    Charlie staggered back, his chest rising and falling hard as he tried to catch his breath. “Don ’ t tell me I don ’ t want you.”
    Ari ’ s eyes widened ever so slightly at the vehemence in his words but she shook her head determinedly. “I didn ’ t say you didn ’ t want me. I said you didn ’ t want me more than you want revenge.”
    “You and it are two completely separate things. I don ’ t even… you ’ re making this more complicated than it needs to be.”
    “No. You did that for me when you became a sorcerer.”
    “So what… that means…?” He shook his head, anger etching back into his features along with panic. “You… we ’ re really not…?”
    Ari shook her head, her heart pounding as she gathered herself to voice something she couldn ’ t take back; something she didn ’ t want to take back. “I don ’ t want to be with you, Charlie. I love you, but I think the boy I was in love with died a long time ago…”
    “No.” He shook his head. “You can ’ t just switch it off.”
    “I ’ m not switching anything off. You ’ ve done too much damage to me.” Her eyes filled with tears now as all her old insecurities flooded back at her, compounded now by her dad ’ s last words. “I don ’ t want to lose your friendship — I don ’ t. I ’ m just saying that romantically — I could never trust you with my feelings.”
    The devastation on his face echoed into the harsh silence of the room. At least five tense and cold minutes passed before he nodded tightly at her. “Too much has happened to you. The Jinn. Your dad. And me — I ’ m not saying what you said isn ’ t true. I ’ ll have to live with that. I will give you all the space you need. And I will still be here as your friend as you go through all this crap.” He took a deliberate step forward, his voice lowering to a husky purr that knotted her stomach, “But I ’ m not giving up. One day, maybe next week, maybe next year… maybe ten years from now… you ’ ll be ready to let me in again. And I ’ ll be waiting, Ari. I ’ ll wait forever to make it right with you.” He nodded once more and brushed past her, his touch making her shiver. Her bedroom door closed behind him and she was left in the dim, lonely silence, her heart pounding hard against her ribs.
    I ’ ll wait forever to make it right with you.
    “Forever is an awfully long time.”

    ~10~
    Loyalty ’ s Betrayal

    “Brother, what a splendid surprise.” The Gleaming King smirked at Red as he approached the small dais.
    The Red King glanced around the dark, small throne room with mock hauteur, knowing his condescension would annoy him. He eyed the half-naked dancing girls at his brother ’ s feet and sneered. “I see your plebian tastes have not improved.”
    A whoosh of violent air rushed around The Red King as his brother flew from his throne to land noiselessly and inches from him. His brutal dark eyes bore into his and he felt a surge of excitement at the thought of fighting Gleaming — as he was called among his brothers. “Have you just come here to insult me, Red?” He spat, his muscles bulging in warning as he gripped his hands into readied fists.
    “No, Brother. I came here to question you about your son ’ s whereabouts.”
    Gleaming took a step back, his expression turning thoughtful. Which son? And why does he concern you? he telepathed for privacy.
    Dalí.
    The Red King was not surprised when his brother ’ s features softened at the mention of his son. In this realm and all the others, it was well known Gleaming was fond of only five people, and they were all his