The Binding Stone (The Djinn Series) by Lisa Gail Green

isn’t true, Leela. You
are just as much a person as I am, and you deserve to be treated like one.” He
reaches for my face, and I lean into his touch. “As soon as I can, I’ll fr...fr...”
He chokes on the words again, unable to say it, and beats a fist against the mattress.
I place a hand on his arm and smile through my tears.
    “I
believe you,” I say. And I don’t need Sophie to confirm it is true.

The Benefit of Company
     
     
    “have an idea to cheer you up,” I say, fingering Jered’s cell phone, which he’s relegated
to the nightstand. Each time it rings, he reaches for it eagerly. But when he
finds it’s Gabe and not the hospital, he abandons it again.
    “What’s
that?” he asks. He is trying to be brave but looks so drawn and tense that I
want to scream.
    “Gabe,”
I say, and before he can protest, I wave a hand, and Gabe appears between us,
wrapped in only a towel. His wiry body is baby smooth and glistening with
water.
    “Hey!”
he shouts, whipping around like a crazed animal. “My glasses–”
    I
snap, and they are on his face. He relaxes.
    “Seriously,
you need to stop doing that! It’s very unnerving. What if I were still in the
shower?”
    “Then
you’d be naked and covered in soap?” I ask, trying to hold back my laughter.
    “I’m
not here for your amusement,” he says.
    “No.
You are here for Jered’s amusement. Now, get to work and cheer him up.” I clap
my hands at him, and he flinches.
    “I’ve
been texting and calling you for hours, bro,” he says, turning his attention to
Jered. “What’s going on? Where are we?” He looks around, adjusting his glasses
with one hand, while the other firmly grips the towel at his waist.
    I
suppress a smile while Jered explains the situation to his friend. I was right,
of course. Just having Gabe to confide in has brought back some of his spirit.
I watch the colors in his aura spark and build.
    “I’m
so sorry about your mom.”
    “Thanks,
man. I know. Now put some clothes on, okay?”
    I
snap, and Gabe is dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt. He frowns at me.
    “These
aren’t the kind I usually wear,” he says.
    “Beggars
can’t be choosers. Besides, I hate those low-riders. I’m always afraid they’ll
fall down, and I don’t wish to be blinded by your scrawny ass.” It feels good
to be so brazen. Now that I am not so afraid of retribution by an angry master.
    “So
what do we do now?” Gabe asks, turning back to Jered with one final glare in my
direction.
    “ We don’t do anything,” Jered says. “You need to go home and forget you even know
me. At least until this all blows over.”
    Gabe
and I exchange a look.
    “No
way. Uh-uh. I’m in, and unless you plan on lifting the no-hurt ban on the
Leester here, you’re stuck with me,” Gabe says.
    “I
can have her put you back,” Jered says.
    “I’ll
keep coming over.” Gabe crosses his arms and plants his feet firmly on the
ground. I have to admit, I’m proud of him.
    “He
does have a positive effect on you,” I say.
    “Wait
a second, did you just say something nice about me?” Gabe asks. “Who are you,
and what have you done with the real Leela?”
    “Watch
it, Gabe,” Jered says, stepping up next to me. The air between us sizzles with
energy. A genuine smile plays at the corners of my mouth.
    Gabe’s
eyes dart between Jered and me as a huge grin breaks across his face. “You two
did it, didn’t you?”
    I
roll my eyes, and Jered turns as red as a beet.
    “I
knew it!”
    “Actually,
you know very little,” I say. “I know firsthand. I’ve seen your brain.”
    A
knock at the door stops me from saying more. Both boys flinch.
    “Jered?”
Sophie’s tiny voice calls from the hall. Jered relaxes and lets her in.
    “You’re
home,” he says as she bursts inside and flings her arms around his
waist.
    “Daddy
says you’re staying with us!” she bursts.
    “Only
until my mother gets better,” he says.
    “Daddy
doesn’t think she will,”