I leaned against the shower wall and let the hot water flow down my back. Grains of sand started to pool around the drain. I watched them fall away into the dark hole, a few at first, then, like a dam bursting, the rest of them. That was my life now. An out of control spiral leading to a dark unknown. I nearly jumped out of my goddamn skin when arms wrapped around me.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” Em said, pulling her arms back.

I reached behind me and pulled her arms back to my waist. She leaned her naked body against mine, and her warmth flooded me. Shivers ran up my spine as she rested her cheek on my back and groaned.

“I’m just a bit jumpy,” I said. “been a rough few days.”

“I know,” she whispered, “just stand still and let me help.”

She grabbed the soap and washed my back. Her touch was gentle as she glided the washcloth across my skin. I felt her breath on my neck, hot and fast. Every pass of the washcloth got lower until she was washing my buttocks. She slowly eased her hands around my waist, and the rag fell as she grasped my manhood. Her soapy hands glided along my length until I was fully aroused. I tried to turn and face her, but she halted the attempt.

“Maybe later,” she said, “this is for you.”

I leaned against the wall again and let her do as she pleased. Her breaths came faster as she stroked harder. I felt my member swell, and she gripped it tighter. She kissed my neck as I thrust in time with her movements. My body convulsed, and I finished hard. She continued to stroke me, coaxing out every drop. When I was soft again, she removed her hand. My breaths came in gasps, and my legs felt weak.

“That was different,” I said.

She didn’t speak as she picked up the rag and washed me off. I jolted at the touch of the cloth on my sensitive genitals. She planted a soft kiss on my back when she finished and stepped out of the shower.

“I’ll be in bed when you’re done,” she said.

Despite the hot water, the shower felt colder once she was gone. I quickly finished cleaning myself and hopped out. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I left the bathroom. Em was lying on the bed waiting for me, naked. Her body was a magnet pulling me ever closer, and I was disappointed I’d just blown my load. There were so many things I wanted to do to her right now. She sat up and smiled.

“Still hungry?” she said.

“Heh, yeah,” I said, “I feel like I just ate Ramen Noodles when there was steak waiting for me in the other room.”

She frowned at me.

“Dammit, Em,” I said. “I didn’t mean it like that. That was a new experience, and it felt great, but as much as I like Ramen, I love me some steak.”

Her smile returned. “Good.”

We got under the covers, and I rolled onto my side, facing away from Em. The exhaustion of the day washed over me, and I closed my eyes. I felt Em sidle up to me. She wriggled around for a moment, then rested her head on my shoulder.

“So,” she said, “what was it you were trying not to say when Rawlins was around?”

I opened my eyes and groaned. “Can’t we just get some sleep?”

Em sat up. “You’ve got an eternity to keep secrets. I only get one lifetime with you, and I’d like to spend as little of it as possible running for my life. If you’re holding something back, just tell me.”

The hurt in her voice stabbed at my heart. I wasn’t trying to keep secrets, I was just tired. I supposed she had a point, though.

“Okay,” I said. “First, Jinn is definitely not gone, and it’s not the first time she’s been destroyed.”

“How do you know that?’ Em asked.

“Because I saw her in those memories,” I said. “She’s at least a few hundred years old, and she’s been fighting the Zaeim Aljiniy for most of it. Several of the memories I saw focused on her specifically.”

“But why?’ Em said.

“I don’t know,” I said. “but you wished for me to have the information I should, and that makes me think she’s important to my mission.”

“You’re mission?” Em said.

“Yeah,” I replied. “I’m an Alqanun. Ironically, Rawlins wasn’t far off when he asked if I was a rogue genie. The universe spits out one of us whenever the balance is threatened. We operate outside the Muqadas Nadis’s control, and we’re meant to keep everyone in line. Those two genies who were killed; they were both Alqanun.”

“So, you’re not bound by the rest of the genie’s laws, after all?” Em said.

“Em,” I said, “I’m not bound by any laws. Alqanun still have to abide by the Slaver’s Contract, which is why I can be enslaved by a mortal. Beyond that, I can do whatever I want without fear of being influenced by the Zaeim Aljiniy, Malak, or Shaytan.”

“That makes you a huge target,” Em said. “You think Jinn was trying to kill you because of that?”

“No,” I said, “but I think that’s why Haliniel and Rockslide came on so strong. If I agree to their deal, that binds me to them by my own choice. The fact that I’m an Alqanun won’t help me out of it. As for Jinn…I was telling the truth when I said I didn’t think she was trying to kill me at all.”

“You know,” Em said, her frustration showing when I didn’t continue, “you don’t have to make me drag the information out of you.”

I threw the covers off of me and jumped out of bed. “You’re right, Em. How about I just throw thousands of years of fading memories at you and let you sort through them! Did you think that maybe I wanted to get some sleep so I could process this shit? Or that maybe your questions help me organize my thoughts? Or maybe, just maybe I’m so fucking terrified I don’t want to think about it, let alone talk about it? Do you think I froze during those attacks because I’m lazy? I’m not a goddamn action hero!”

I paced back and forth, looking everywhere but at Emily. I wanted to hit something.

“I can’t just shrug this shit off and keep going,” I finished weakly.

I chanced a glance at Em, and her eyes blazed. “You’re not the only one who’s scared! I’m trying to be strong for you, but, dammit, I need help too! All I can do is try to help you figure this all out, and I can’t just sit back and ignore what’s going on because it’s scary.”

We stared at each other for a long time. Things were getting out of hand, and now that I had more information, I wanted to start acting on it. I just needed time to sort through those memories. My meeting with Haliniel and Rockslide was only a few days away, and I needed to be prepared for when I turned them down.

“Look,” I said, “just let me sleep on it, please. I’m wrecked, and my nerves are shot.”

Em pulled the covers over her and rolled over. “Fine.”

Well, shit. You’re not supposed to go to bed angry. At least, that’s what I’ve always heard, but there was no way I was going to apologize. Em was pushing too hard. I got into bed and pulled the covers over me, but sleep didn’t come easy.