Page 95 of Dance of the Phoenix

Plans?

Wode smiled again, and something about this particular smile was especially twisted, and it made me freeze yet again. “See, long ago, we Jinn were promised a bride. A descendant of the Morrow Gods, to be exact.”

My heart dropped as that foreboding feeling from before returned with vengeance.

“To summarize a long, tragic story, the birth rate of pure-blooded Jinn is close to nil,” he said, smile gone. He looked the most serious he had been so far. “Our numbers have been dwindling for centuries. There are only a few hundred of us left.”

“What the fuck does that have to do with me?” I bit out, a sense of panicked urgency making my heartbeat quicken.

Wode didn’t beat around the bush. “Once every few centuries, a Sultan is born,” he said, his gaze locking mine in an unbreakable hold. “Once the Sultan sets his sight on a Hemet, a bride of his choosing, no matter the bride’s race, he can impregnate her over and over again and have her give birth to Jinn just as pure blooded as the others.”

“No,” I said, realizing where this was going now.

He nodded with a somewhat wistful look. “The moment I saw you here in Vegas that first time, I sensed you were my Hemet, Aileen. You’re the most perfect Hemet I could find: a descendant of the Morrow Gods, a bride we were promised many centuries ago. It all fits—but for one thing.” He paused. “You’re a vampire.”

And vampires were infertile.

“No,” I insisted, feeling as though hives had risen all over my skin.

“This is why I’m going to conduct a ritual to get rid of this Imprint you were given by Rayne,” Wode said and gave me an almost fond smile. “And then, once you’re human again, I’ll make you my Hemet.”

I wanted to flee, but Wode had anticipated it. Because the moment I got out of bed and put distance between us, shaking from head to toe, he smiled and said, “I drugged the blood. You’ll be fast asleep again soon.”

And as if on cue, I sank into the darkness once more.

Chapter 51

Aileen

It was nighttime when I woke up, back in the bed from before.

And despite the fact I’d slept enough to rest for a lifetime, I was utterly exhausted and numb. So numb that I could no longer feel a thing.

Pain? Agony? Shock? Disgust? I had no energy to feel any of it.

I was just ... tired. So fucking tired.

I just wanted someone to carve my heart out and kill me. Because apparently, it was either that or become a broodmare for the Jinn.

Should I call the Phoenix? Should I use that last resort? What else could I do?

The door opened, drawing my attention to it. Into the room walked a man that made me think only violent thoughts. He was even worse than Wode.

Atalon smiled at me as he took the vacant seat next to my bed. “And here I thought you would’ve run away already,” he said by way of greeting. “I guess Wode charmed you despite everything.”

Since I had no energy to even speak, thanks to whatever drug Wode had put in my drink, I did the only thing I could.

I spit at him.

Atalontsked as he wiped the spit from his cheek. “How crude,” he said, “but why should I expect anything else from you?”

I bared my teeth, unsheathing my fangs. If only I could move, I would tear his head off. But aside from my head, I couldn’t move a limb. Great.

“Anyway, I won the Hecatomb, fair and square,” he said with enough nonchalance to stir awake the slumbering rage inside me. “So you should really respect the rules, don’t you think?”

Fuck you,I thought, wishing he could read my mind like the Phoenix.

But apparently, he didn’t need to, since it was written all over my face, if his smirk was any indication. “Now, now,” he said, “I’ve been waiting for this moment for months. Don’t ruin it for me.”