Guardjinn: Djinn, #4

By Laura Catherine

She saved the ones she loves and now her bloodlust is out of control. But she has come too far to stop now.

 

Kyra Lockhart survived her time in De Morte under Alec's torture. It left her blood crazed, a murderer and her relationship with Will broken. Her body is deteriorating from her new abilities, but she pushes on because the Guardjinn's freedom is within reach as a Djinn civil war breaks out.

 

Pushing herself beyond her limits, Kyra will do anything to save her loved ones and put an end to King Tibal's reign, even if it kills her. But a new threat looms in the form of the mysterious Razier who is declaring a war of his own. Who is he and what is his connection to Kyra?

 

Will Kyra live to see her dream for the Guardjinn fulfilled? Will she be able to repair her relationship with Will or has too much happened for them to live happily ever after?

 

Guardjinn is the dramatic final book in the Djinn Series. If you like strong female leads, broken romances and magical wars, then you'll love Laura Catherine's epic final tale.

 

Buy Guardjinn to enter an urban fantasy world of genie magic and fights for equality today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Catherine
• Release date: Sep 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201497743

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

WHEN I OPENED my eyes, snow-covered trees surrounded us. Light flakes fell from the sky onto my face.

Where are we? Alec asked, glancing around.

She teleported us somewhere, Pyke replied. Kyra, where did you . . . Pyke trailed off as he looked out at the horizon. My head fell to the side, cold snow pressing against my cheek.

The forest was beautiful with trees towering to the sky and white everywhere. Standing at the edge of the tree line were four figures: a girl in dark clothes and dark make-up, a boy with a burned scar across his face, another girl with deep-red eyes, and a boy with blazing golden hair.

They stood still, watching us as if we were a dream—or maybe they were the dream. All I could hear was the wind whistling through the trees.

Mia stepped forward, sinking further into the snow with every step. Pyke? Her eyes widened. Is that really you?

I’m losing her! Alec shouted.

I could feel the healing energy fading even as he poured it into me. Alec was injured; he couldn’t save me.

Try harder! Pyke yelled, tearing his eyes away from Mia.

Before Alec could reply, a golden blur brushed past me, tackling Alec to the ground. The healing energy disappeared completely, and the life began draining from my body. My slowing heartbeat pounded in my ears, and blood trickled from the many wounds the Blood King had given me back in De Morte.

You bastard! Will shouted, fists pounding down on Alec’s face. You sick son of bitch!

Will, stop! Pyke grabbed hold of Will’s shoulders and yanked him off Alec, whose face was a bloody mess. A spurt of blood came from Alec’s mouth as he laughed.

Will struggled against Pyke’s grasp. He deserves to die!

Pyke held on tighter. I totally agree with you, brother, but right now he’s the only thing keeping Kyra alive.

Will paused, his gaze turning toward me, our eyes locking.

A nice sight to die on.

Pyke, I don’t understand . . . how are you here? Mia said, having caught up to us with Kellan in tow. Sofie, the Blooder who had been imprisoned with Will in De Morte, hung back behind the group.

No time, Pyke said, turning to Alec. Get up and heal her.

Pyke and Will grabbed Alec’s arms and dragged him back to my side. He placed his hands on my open wounds, but I felt no energy.

You’re going to be okay, Will said, looking down at me with those kind golden eyes I had missed dearly.

I did . . . something . . . terrible, I slurred.

It’s not working, Pyke said. I can feel her fading.

The tether between Pyke’s spirit and mine was failing and thinning. He was sliding back to the spirit plane, and I would join him shortly.

I might be able to help, Sofie said, stepping forward. Does Kyra have a healing ability?

Yes, Pyke replied.

Sofie sank to her knees into the snow beside us. I’ll drink her blood and heal her. She cupped some of my blood in her hands and lifted it to her lips.

Will grasped Sofie’s wrist. Are you sure you want to do this?

No, Sofie half-laughed. But she sacrificed herself to save us. I owe her.

Will’s expression was stern, clearly torn between letting Sofie drink blood and saving my life. Sofie pulled her wrist free and smeared the blood into her mouth.

Instantly, her pupils widened, and her chest started to heave. It was the Hunger, calling her to drink more blood. I knew that feeling all too well because in that moment—if I were able to move—I’d have torn open Will’s throat.

Breathing heavily, Sofie placed her hands on me. A wave of healing energy passed through my body, and I could feel my wounds closing and the life being pulled back into me.

I didn’t deserve to be healed. They should have let me die. Once they found out what Alec had done to me, the monster he had created, they wouldn’t be able to look at me the same way. I could barely think about what I did to the Blood King in De Morte.

I wanted to tell Sofie to stop, to give up on me, but no words came, only darkness.

My pulse pounded through my veins before I even knew what being awake felt like. My head ached like a bad hangover. My eyes were sensitive to the light when they flickered open, and every inch of my body burned as if the muscles were tearing apart.

Take it easy, a voice said. You’re going through the Hunger withdrawal.

I turned away from the light and toward the woman. What really stood out were her piercing red eyes. Her cheekbones were high and shallow as though she hadn’t had a lot of food in her life. A long dirty blonde braid hung down her back.

Sofie? I pushed up on my elbows, but my veins screamed and spilled lava under my skin. I fell back down, breathing heavily.

Sofie sat on a wooden chair, her right knee bobbing slightly under her hand. I said take it easy. I healed your wounds, but blood withdrawal is another matter. Especially after the amount you’ve had.

Alec—

She gritted her teeth. Pyke told us everything. Alec forced blood into you with many different abilities. That would be difficult for a normal Blooder, I can’t even imagine what it will do to you.

I clenched my fists. Where is Alec?

Chained up. He’s not going anywhere.

I noticed the hint of a smile on Sofie’s lips. It must have felt good that her and Alec’s roles were now reversed. He had kept Sofie captive in the cells of De Morte. I wasn’t sure how long she’d been there, but it had been long enough to form a bond with Will.

There was a knock on the door. Sof, do you want some food? Will entered in a thick tartan coat trimmed with fur around the collar. His hair was slicked back, much longer than I remembered. I liked the wilder look, though it could’ve done with some styling.

Will stared at Sofie, but then his golden eyes turned to me. You’re awake.

She’s in withdrawal. She needs to rest, Sofie said, knee still bouncing.

So are you. Go have some food, Sof, Will said, hardened eyes turning away from me. I’ll stay with her.

Okay. Sofie squeezed his shoulder as she left, and the gesture made me feel cold inside.

Will closed the door and took a seat. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees and hands clasped together.

How are you feeling? His gaze was focused on the floorboards.

I didn’t know how to respond. How long had it been since we were together—just the two of us? Months? I wanted to tell him I was in pain and craving blood. That it was taking all my strength not to attack him. I wanted to tell Will how much I’d missed him. I wanted to know if he was okay, if he thought about me while he was imprisoned. I wanted to ask about Sofie and what she was to him. I wanted to explain what had happened while he’d been gone. Tell him about Pyke and apologise for cheating on him.

But I couldn’t talk to Will about the past. Couldn’t tell him that I’d slept with Pyke. Couldn’t tell him I had become a murderer by killing the Blood King. I couldn’t tell him about the shame I felt. I couldn’t put my feelings for him into words because I didn’t know how I felt anymore.

Instead, I merely said, I’ll be fine, and reached for his hand. But before I could touch him, Will pulled away and stood a distance back from me.

Did he already know what I’d done? Sofie had said Pyke had told them everything. He let Sofie touch him. Was he afraid of me?

Sorry, he said, but offered no further explanation.

This wasn’t my Will. The Will I’d been with before he was captured. There was something deeply off about him—his posture, his expression, his tone. What had Alec done to him in De Morte?

I supposed I wasn’t the same Kyra, either.

Is everyone else okay? I asked, changing the subject.

Yes, Will replied. Sofie had some withdrawals, but she seems to have gotten past the worst of it. She healed Alec enough so he wouldn’t die—though I didn’t see the point. Mia is excited to be talking to Pyke—

Pyke?

That didn’t make sense. He was dead. A ghost only I could see or feel. I thought back to that moment in the snow. Pyke had spoken to Will, had grabbed him. And Will had noticed.

Is he . . . alive?

No. Will shook his head. He describes it as being a solid ghost. You’re doing it somehow. Though he can feel it fading.

I stared at the ceiling. All that blood must have made me incredibly powerful, and somehow, it was lasting much longer than normal.

Will sighed. You should get some more sleep. Sofie says it’s the best way to deal with withdrawal.

Sure, I replied, fighting back the tears welling at the corners of my eyes.

I’ll come check on you later. Will approached the door. As he opened it, he paused and looked back at me. You look different. Red hair?

I touched the short, fiery locks. Part of my disguise in De Morte.

He studied me for a moment. I like it.

After I don’t know how many hours’ sleep, I was able to move again. I staggered to my feet. My muscles still ached, but the Hunger was causing my empty stomach to do backflips with the acid. I breathed through the nausea.

The room was empty, but someone had draped a maroon knitted jumper over the chair. I pulled it on immediately to combat the chill in the room.

A warm light and the murmur of voices flowed from beneath the door as I approached it.

The adjoining room was a large lounge and kitchen combined. We were in some sort of hunting lodge from the pelts and animal heads hanging from the walls and the large fireplace at the far side crackling with life.

A circle of chairs surrounded the hearth where everyone was sitting. Mia was next to Pyke on a three-seater leather couch, her legs draped over Kellan.

Kellan sported a black eyepatch over his right eye. I was glad to see that despite losing his eye in the battle at Tibal’s compound, Kellan’s face was mostly healed except for a burn on his cheek.

The trio smiled at one another, which was something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Pyke had said something funny, and Mia was laughing, slapping her cousin’s shoulder.

I knew Mia had missed Pyke immensely since he died, and it must have been nice for Pyke to talk to someone other than me.

Opposite them on two matching emerald armchairs were Will and Sofie. Sofie sat with her legs to her chest, watching the exchange intently. She probably felt out of place with people who knew each other so well. I remembered that feeling when I first came to the Djinn compound. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Will had a smirk on his face as he listened to what Pyke was saying, but his eyes seemed cold, like his mind was elsewhere and whatever had his attention was painful. Will may have changed since we last saw each other, but I could still read his emotions.

Glad you’re awake, gorgeous, came Alec’s voice from next to me.

He sat cross-legged on the floor with his hands in shackles, a chain running up to a hook on the wall. His face was a patchwork of purple and blue bruises from the beating Will had given him, and yet Alec appeared to be completely cheerful with his situation.

You’re looking strong and beautiful, even more so than usual.

I ignored the attempt at communication, eyes still locked on the happy scene in front of me.

Alec pulled his chains to lift himself slightly from the floor. Is it weird seeing your two lovers in the same room? Are you wondering if they’ve been talking about you?

I clenched my fists, a burning anger flowing through me. Do not talk to me.

Alec only smiled wider, as though this was all a game to him. His actions of late had been haphazard: kind and thoughtful one minute, unhinged and manic the next. The Blood King had been cruel to Alec, had twisted him to the point where I didn’t know if he could be redeemed.

Do you think Will knows you’re in love with his best friend? he asked. I’ve been watching them together. I could tell you.

Shut up, Alec. You’re lucky to even be alive at this point. I suggest you don’t push it.

Is that the thanks I get for saving your life? Alec growled, seeming to be actually offended by my reaction. I was the one who freed you from De Morte. You’d be dead if it wasn’t for me.

I whipped my head in his direction. You gave me blood against my will! That’s not saving my life. You took my life from me! I lost all control and you made me a murderer!

The ground shook beneath my feet, and dust fell from the ceiling. The room fell silent, and I felt everyone’s eyes on me. I took a deep breath and calmed down.

Great, another new ability I don’t know how to control.

Kyra? Pyke lips were turned down, his eyes filled with worry.

I’m fine, I said and walked away from Alec.

You should be resting, Kellan said. Are you hungry? I can make you some food.

No, I’m fine. Really. I sighed and slumped on the floor by the fire. Can you please just fill me in on what’s been happening? Did you find Ivan or the journal?

There was a moment of silence as Pyke, Mia, and Kellan exchanged looks. Will’s gaze was stuck on Alec as though he wanted to charge across the room and strangle him. Sofie remained silent.

We’ve tracked Ivan to his family house, just like you suspected, Kellan replied. It’s a few kilometres down the road from here.

We’ve been keeping tabs on him for the last few days while you’ve been recovering, Mia said, swinging her legs off Kellan’s lap. "It appears to be just him in the house. He hasn’t left, keeps most of the windows closed, but