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And maybe he’d finally claim Noah as his Bondmate.
* * *
Power sizzled in the air over the Shoshone. Brand-new, unlike any of the others he’d been watching over the past few months. Nowhere close to his own abilities, but . . . malleable. Those wielded by perhaps a novice. He’d felt it a couple of times now, and his curiosity was piqued.
Jinn rose, gathering his cloak around him and walked to the windows of the old house. Staring out, he expanded his senses to pick up the direction from which this new energy was emitting.
It was as he suspected—the crackle of raw power was coming from the direction of the Alpha Pack’s compound. Their haven, the one they believed Jinn couldn’t breach. And he couldn’t—at least in physical form. That damned Sorcerer of theirs had the place too well warded.
But Jinn was every bit as accomplished as Kalen, the nemesis he’d almost killed once. Probably should’ve finished him off, but that was the nature of a dark genie, or trickster such as himself. Sometimes he did what profited him—and sometimes he simply did what amused him.
Leaving Kalen alive fell into the latter category. The man was a worthy adversary, and a rarity.
Closing his eyes, he let himself relax. Opened his mind and let his own energy wrap itself around the new thread and follow it over the miles to the source. Through the forest, past lakes and streams, all manner of wildlife. All the way to the compound and into the main building. Once there, the thread grew wide and bright, leading him to a large room the humans called a gym, and inside were Kalen, Sariel, and another male Jinn didn’t recognize.
“That’s it, Noah!” Kalen shouted. “You’ve got it!”
The young man, Noah, wasn’t entirely human. That much was clear, as he was the source of the power that he was apparently practicing to improve. Noah’s hands were in front of him, palms out, as he concentrated on levitating a barbell. A fairly heavy one, if the huge weights at either end were any indication.
The weight rose and when it reached several feet above their heads, Noah lowered his hands slowly. The barbell started down accordingly. At the last second it landed with a loud clank. Though Noah winced at the noise, his friends slapped him on the back and gave him one-armed hugs.
“That was most impressive,” Sariel said, smiling.
“You think so?” Noah bit his lip, looking uncertain. “I want Nix to be proud of me.”
“How could he not?” The Fae prince shook his head. “You’re going to knock your mate’s socks off, as you humans say.”
“Hey, I’m a Halfling, remember? You said so yourself.” Noah looked pleased about that fact.
A Halfling? Is that so? Jinn smiled to himself.
Just then, Sariel glanced around the gym with a frown, as though searching for something. Jinn stilled, concentrating on making his presence completely untraceable. After a moment, the prince relaxed and returned his attention to his friends. Jinn focused on Noah again thoughtfully.
Young. Vulnerable. Half Fae. And the owner of untapped power.
The possibilities were endless.
Satisfied, Jinn withdrew. He would keep an eye on the young man, and wait for the perfect moment to spring his trap.
* * *
“So,” Nix began, eyeing his mate as they got dressed. “I’d really like to take you to lunch today, in town. Then I thought we could visit some of the shops. What do you think?”
Noah blinked at him. “Lunch, out? You mean it?”
“The way you say that.” He shook his head ruefully. “Am I that much of a jerk?”
“No. I just want to be sure you’re ready for this.”
“I wouldn’t have suggested it otherwise.”
Noah didn’t look too certain, but he didn’t question Nix further. Good thing, or Nix might’ve lost his nerve. Despite his outward calm, his insides were a tangled knot of anxiety. However, he was determined not to let anything ruin the day with his mate.
Grabbing a shirt from his closet, Nix was arrested by the sight of Noah wearing only jeans riding low on his hips. His mate wasn’t very tall, and he was built slim, but he had plenty of tight, compact muscle on his frame. His skin was smooth and just a bit sun-kissed, a healthy look on him. Especially with those blue eyes and all that blond hair surrounding his sexy face. The guy made pulling on a T-shirt, look like an erotic act.
Jesus, I’ve got it bad.
Forcing himself to get dressed, Nix pulled on a pair of jeans and boots. A dark T-shirt completed the ensemble, and he was ready to go. They walked to the hangar together, and as they approached the SUV Nix had borrowed for the occasion he frowned, wondering whether he should open the passenger-side door for his mate.
