The Brothers Djinn by Cate Rowan

Author:Cate Rowan [Rowan, Cate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Enchanting Ink
Published: 2019-12-19T16:00:00+00:00

At mid-morning, the three brothers swung up their travel packs and made their way toward Ina, who waited for them in the center of the castle courtyard. Once in the open air, Darius turned his gaze and stared up; above them was only sun, yet outside Ina’s magical grounds, low clouds hovered. It was as if the gods were inside the yard, bequeathing peace.

Or as if they were outside it, sending a warning that rain and pain were on their way.

His gut had been churning for some time now. He had a dark feeling they might regret this job, but it seemed the best of their meager options. Here was a chance to earn not merely a good wage for a change, but a life-changing one. A chance to start over, anywhere they liked, in comfort. A chance to lead lives he could only have dreamed about until last night, when Ina had come to him.

When she had come to each of them. All three brothers. And problems come in threes.

He didn’t trust her — how could he? — but he was a mere man, not a sorcerer, not a god. Just an eldest brother.

Safety had never been guaranteed to orphaned street rats. Neither had long lives. And something had to change if he wanted more for himself and his brothers.

Feeling something prick his foot, he glanced down at his leather boots. A blade of green grass had poked right through a loose seam. His boots may have been cleaned and shined by the invisible magic in the bathroom, but they were still falling apart. Maybe magic was mostly an illusion — it could only go so far, and the rest had to be done in the real world, with work.

So they would do the work. And when this job was done, he would commission new boots for himself and his brothers. They’d find a good place to stay — somewhere far from the slums this time. Somewhere Jasper was less likely to find people to fight with, and Val was less likely to find women to get in trouble with.

Instantly he remembered the feel of Ina under him. A cold rivulet snaked down his spine even as his groin twitched.

Maybe, Darius thought, Val wasn’t the only one likely to get into trouble with women.

Ina stood as still as a queen as she waited for them. Tall she was, and mysterious, and smiling in a way that did not light the day.

“Ah, my three,” she said when they neared. “Come and collect the gift you will take to my friend, as well as my own presents to you.”

“Presents to us?” Val said, perking up.

“Indeed. You first, Valerian.”

Val stepped forward and bowed.

“You yearn for adventures,” Ina said. “To visit places unknown to you and to do things others have never done. To you I give this.” She brought her hands together and turned her palms up, and across them appeared a rolled-up rug with golden tassels.

“Is . . . Is this .

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.