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His eyes were twin pools of desperation, his British accent lending an odd formality to his plea. “Please, Tessa, you and your people are my last hope. Help me save Poppy from that infernal King Zayn.”
I tossed a glance at my team—Riker with biceps bulging enough to rival a Greek god’s, Niko brooding like a werewolf version of Mr. Darcy, Helen towering in heels that defied gravity, and Elijah, who looked as if he’d wandered out of a particularly chill stoner flick.
“Zayn doesn’t exactly sound like he’s up for a friendly chat over tea,” I said, trying to slice through the tension. Around me, my team exchanged looks that meant business – and not the good kind.
“Relentless pursuit is an understatement,” Riker grumbled. His jaw was set, a clear sign he was gearing up for a fight. “Zayn’s the sort who won’t stop until he gets what he wants. Or until someone stops him.”
Niko folded his arms, his piercing blue eyes narrowed in thought. “We’re talking about a fire-wielding ifrit here. One wrong move and it’s not just Cairo who’ll be toast, but potentially anyone in the vicinity.”
“Which means,” Helen chimed in, her voice as smooth as her perfectly contoured cheekbones, “the entire city of Dallas might as well be sitting on a tinderbox.”
“King Zayn’s got another think coming if he thinks he can torch his way through my city,” I declared with more bravado than I felt.
“Let’s not forget the reward we’ll get in addition to helping out our djinn friend here,” Riker added, a gleam in his eye that suggested dollar signs were floating around his head.
“Because, naturally, it’s all about the money,” Niko said, leaning back in his chair with a grace that made you think of jungle cats and stock market tycoons—both equally dangerous. His blue eyes flashed a challenge, not quite hidden by the nonchalance he wore like a second skin. “Don’t worry, Riker, my bank account can handle our expenses. No need to go hunting monsters for pocket change.”
“Pocket change?” Riker raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with amusement and a tinge of annoyance. “Last time I checked, ‘hefty’ doesn’t fit in your pocket.”
“Depends on the size of your pockets,” Niko shot back, a wry smile flickering across his face.
“Boys, boys, let’s keep our eyes on the prize,” I interjected before their testosterone could turn the room into a gladiator arena. The last thing we needed was a wolf and a mountain going toe-to-toe over who had the bigger... wallet.
I stepped between Riker and Niko, cutting through the electric charge of their standoff.
Riker shot me a look that could have melted steel beams. Niko’s eyes twinkled—those damn werewolf senses probably already sniffing out my next move.
“Time out, boys,” I snapped. “We’re a team, remember? And right now, we have a damsel in distress and a city to protect. Anyway,” I continued, waving a hand to disperse the lingering sparks of their rivalry, “money is great, but we’re talking about saving lives here—the whole fiery enchilada.” I glanced at Cairo, whose eyes held a storm of gratitude and desperation. “That’s worth more than any reward, right?”
“Absolutely,” Helen chimed in, her voice steady as a heartbeat. “But the rent won’t pay itself, so let’s not forget about that reward entirely.”
“Multitasking: saving the world and making bank,” Elijah added, his fingers still dancing across his tablet. “Now there’s a business model for you.”
“Only in America,” I said with a grin.
“Can we really take on King Zayn?” Helen asked.
“Guess we’re about to find out.” I cracked my knuckles.
“Great,” Elijah piped up, looking only slightly less baked than usual. “So we’re adding ‘saving Dallas from an incendiary doom’ to our to-do list?”
“Looks like it,” I sighed, pushing a wild curl from my face. As much as I wanted to keep things light, responsibility was starting to press down like this summer’s heatwave. But hey, wasn’t hunting supernatural monsters kind of my jam now?
“Okay,” I continued as Cairo’s hopeful eyes found mine, “we can’t ignore the fact that helping you is like putting up neon signs for King Zayn saying, ‘Hit us next!’“
Elijah nodded solemnly. “This won’t just be a storm we’re chasing, it’ll be a full-blown tempest.”
“True,” I acknowledged, “but if we’re talking about storms, let’s not forget who Zayn really is—a firestorm in a teacup. And he’ll burn anyone who gets in his way, not just our djinni friend here.” I gestured to Cairo, whose shoulders seemed to bear the brunt of an invisible desert’s heat.
“Poppy stands no chance against him alone, and neither do the innocents who might stumble into his path. Imagine the news headlines: ‘Mysterious Fires Engulf Dallas.’ Not on my watch,” I declared with a fiery glint in my eye.
“More like ‘Local Supernatural Bounty Hunter Saves City,’“ Riker chimed in, trying to cut through the gravity of the situation with a grin.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to either,” Helen murmured.
“Right then,” I straightened, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline, “we need a plan. We’re going hunting—but this time, it’s not just any monster. It’s a king of monsters.”
Cairo’s eyes shimmered with gratitude, and I could almost see the flicker of hope rekindling inside him.
