Farren's hair slid across his chest. "Yeah, it would be nice if my cousin wasn't trying to drag us all under djinn control and possibly get us killed."

"Nicely put, love." Dan sank his fingers into Farren's dark locks rubbing and soothing.

He wished they could remain like that for the rest of the day.

He glanced over to the clock. "Damn, we don't have any time. Don't you have your first class?" Dan scanned Farren's body in appreciation. Frowning, he lifted the blanket. "Where's the snake?"

Farren's words were sleepy and his breath pulsed across Dan's skin. "It comes and goes."

Dan sat up. "You don't have control over it."

"No. It's more like a companion than an avatar. She doesn't really take my advice or guidance or really anything."

"What's its purpose then?" Dan frowned. A prickle of unease tingled along his spine.

"The god Xiuhcoatl asked me to take care of her."

"It's a her?"

"I guess, I never really checked, but Xiuhcoatl claimed it was a girl."

Dan slid a hand up and down Farren's back. "I'd feel better if she was watching over you when you ran into Betina."

"She'll be there if I need her," Farren said calmly. He remained relaxed against Dan as if he didn't have a care in the world.

Dan groaned. "We need to get up."

"Ugh." Farren crawled out of bed and pulled open the dresser. The werekin always kept spare clothes in each room for visitors.

Farren tossed a pair of sweats and a shirt to Dan. "Here you go, love."

100.

A warm sensation melted his bones. He dressed before he forgot the reason to get ready. Farren's skin glowed in the sunlight. The play of muscle beneath the bright skin had Dan entranced. He reached out a hand to touch before he snatched it back. School. He needed to go to school.

Shaking his head, he quickly dressed before he could get them both expelled from lack of attendance. Dan had a test in his potion class, but he'd dismiss it if Farren needed him.

"Call me if you see her," Dan cautioned.

"I will," Farren promised.

Dan's last sight of Farren was when the limo dropped them off and he headed to his class. He was pretty sure he passed his potions test-at least nothing exploded. Leaving class all he could think of was Farren. Was Farren doing all right in his class? Had Betina found him?

"Hello there, Dan."

Dan spun around to see a petite blonde standing behind him.

They'd made a huge miscalculation. They hadn't thought she was smart enough to get collateral. Dan concentrated on Dean, trying to get his sense of panic to his brother.

Hopefully Dean's empathy would kick in and he'd realise Dan was in trouble.

Fire arched across her fingers as she approached.

"I'm guessing you're Betina."

"Aww has Farren been talking about me?" Her syrupy sweet voice ground on Dan's last nerve. "He always loved me best."

Dan kept a careful distance. "That's not what I heard."

"Smart too." Betina stalked forward. A small dragon spilled from her purse and hopped beside her. Its tail drooped as it followed. The contrast between the sad dragon and Farren's elegant fire serpent was striking.

"What do you want?"

"You. Little Farren has fallen in love. I just need you for a little bit. I won't even hurt you much."

Dan clenched his fists. He could take her. Maybe. He silently called Kimo, his fire salamander, to his side. A glow to his left drew his attention. The large amphibian only *101.

casually resembled its smaller cousin. The avatar version was a foot and a half long from tip to tail. Yellow lines marked the black body like racing stripes.

"Ooh you brought a pet," she cooed in her sickly sweet tone.

Dan backed off a little more.

"Don't go too far, Dan. I'm going to think you don't like me."

"I'm comfortable with that." Dan folded his arms across his chest. His heart might be beating wildly, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing his fear.

A ball of flame landed by his feet, sparking the grass in front of him.

"That was a warning shot. If you come with me, I won't set you on fire."

Dan shrugged. "I can stop you." He almost believed those words.

"You might be able to stop me from burning you, but you can't stop a djinn from setting your dorm on fire or any of these other buildings. I doubt you have the magic to do anything." She shook her bracelet at him.

Dan flashed a look around at the buildings surrounding him. Each contained hundreds of students. "Fine, I'll come with you."

"Good, you can bring your little pet with you too."

Kimo hissed.

Dan tried to send more panicked thoughts to Dean, but he must've failed because his brothers didn't show up to save him.

"Where are we going?"

"My cousin found the perfect place for a calling. We don't want to make it too hard for him to find us. Come along."

She turned and walked away, the little dragon hopping after her. Dan didn't have any choice...he followed.

Farren had barely made it two steps out of his class before Devin and Dean waylaid him.

"Dan's in trouble," Dean said without a greeting.

"What happened?" Farren froze.

*102.

"We think your cousin has him. I got the impression he's panicked."

"That sounds like Betina." Farren's serpent shifted across his skin in response to his nerves. "I'm pretty sure I know where she went too."

"Your avatar should be able to track Dan. You've bonded with him, haven't you?"

Farren gripped his hair in his hands. "I don't know. I guess so. I mean we're not wolves or anything. He can't be my mate."

Devin patted him on the back. "Just because we don't bond doesn't mean we can't fall in love. Now send out your avatar."

He'd never tried to get the serpent to do anything before. He wasn't sure how to do it.

Farren rolled his shoulders, trying to relax his tense muscles. Childhood terrors tried to take over his mind. He almost didn't recognise the small whimpering sounds were coming out of him.

"You can do this, Farren. Don't let her win. We can't lose Dan. Focus!" Dean's voice brought Farren back to his senses.

"You're right." He couldn't let a lifetime of abuse stop him from protecting Dan.

"Come on, snake, let's find Dan."

He really needed to name the creature some time.

"I can smell him." The serpent slithered off Dan and wiggled across the grass.

The three of them rushed to follow the fast-moving reptile. It scurried off towards the old practice stadium.

"That's what I was afraid of, she's calling the djinn and using Dan for bait," Farren said.

"Why would she need you?" Dean asked.

"She can call him, but she can't open the plane and bring him. She needs my blood and magic." Farren swallowed the lump of fear in his throat as they entered the building.

The smell of fire and incense coated the air. It felt heavy against his skin. Farren didn't even realise how dark it had turned inside until he noticed the fire serpent glowed brightly in the dim light.

"He's already here," Farren said.

The door was open when they got to the stadium. Betina didn't even try to hide her tracks. Walking inside, they found what Farren had suspected. The djinn floated in the middle of the stadium. He smiled when he saw Farren.

*103.

"Child, you made it. I'm so happy to see you," the djinn said.

Dan lay on the ground beside him. Not moving.

"Dan!"

"I haven't hurt him. I just need a little of your blood." The djinn made it sound all so reasonable.

"Give him to me!" Farren didn't feel reasonable at all.

"Hello, cousin dear." Betina walked out of the shadows, grinning her familiar creepy smile.

Farren clenched his fists. Power rolled across him, livid flames burned along his arms.

The snake slithered around him adding to his fire.

"You've gone too far." Fury overcame his fear of his cousin.

Betina giggled. "Is it because I always hold all the cards?"

Farren pulled even more of his power. He touched the small lamp attached to his belt loop. For the first time instead of pushing his power away, Farren accessed even more.

The djinn grinned. "You are definitely worthy."

"Give me my lover and I'll let you survive on your plane." Farren didn't know where those words were coming from, but he couldn't stop them from spilling out of his mouth. "If you fight me, I will destroy you."

The djinn's laughter echoed off the walls. Betina giggled along with him.

Farren's body ached from the burning heat searing through his body. He had to protect Dan. Too bad Jay wasn't there to help him.

"There's nothing you can do to stop me now, Farren." Betina's voice had lost some of its glee the brighter Farren grew.

"Take her." Farren told the snake.

Dan stirred, but Farren couldn't step over the line to rescue him. If he broke the circle, he would free the djinn.

He ignored his cousin's screams as the fire snake backed her into a corner.

"I hope you kill her," the djinn said lazily, "she's annoying."

"Yes, she is," Farren snarled.

The djinn's sharp teeth showed even more prominently. He floated closer to Dan. "At least she brought me a good body."