Reno
RENO
The Jinn Cycle – Book Two
By NINI CHURCH
Copyright
RENO
The Jinn Cycle – Book Two
By Nini Church
Copyright 2017 Christine Monteith
Smashwords Edition
This is a work of fiction.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
Reno
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue
Metatron
Dedication
Franc, my only wish – you were here to read it.
Love you tuns, Sister.
Nini
PROLOGUE
THE JINN
In the beginning of time …many races were created.
One race in particular – the Jinn – were powerful beings. Their skill as warriors, hunters and protectors was unsurpassed. The true depth of their skills was always kept hidden from all except those of their kind.
Long enslaved, for centuries they toiled in servitude to their gods, their freedom all but forgotten. Born protectors, their greedy gods ordered them to kill with abandon while ignoring the Jinn's strict moral code.
After killing innocents, corruption and darkness grew within those Jinn, eating away what they had once been, warping powerful warriors into malevolent beings – Djinn. For the first time ever, Jinn were forced to hunt their own kind.
Soon after, those enslaved Jinn turned to war, waging it on their masters – ancient gods of old long forgotten now. Using their combined powers and skills honed over centuries of servitude, they annihilated their gods with no mercy.
None were spared – for it was the Jinn’s absolute belief – to gain total freedom meant total destruction.
Jinn were born with free will and able to read the natural elements of this Earth sphere. Most could also read human minds, but other races, Demons and Vampires or Shifters, had the ability to block their probes. Highly skilled, Jinn could dissolve their physical bodies, converting into molecules of air or whatever matter they wished. They also spent centuries on warding techniques and many Jinn could cast a ward with their eyes closed.
There are rarities in Jinn culture too. Some fly and breath fire – called Dragon Jinn. Others have massive feathered wings that appear and disappear at will. Many confuse these Jinn with angels. Jinn are certainly not in that category.
In fact, the majority of Jinn appear quite human.
Most weapons have no power over them nor does Demon mind control and Vampires detest the taste of Jinn blood – most believing the ancient myth that it is poison. Instant death.
Once free, the Jinn formed their own culture based on a King line of old.
Those initial Jinn who aided their King were named First Order – enacting and up holding laws and tenets to govern their new society. A high honor that would stay with their bloodline down through the centuries.
Those first warriors with superior skills named First Blood aided their King's rule, ensuring his protection and safety and fighting in his wars. Indeed, First Blood warriors are cunning and strong, arrogant and powerful. Their lineage is a great honor, too, travelling down through bloodlines of old.
To this day, First Order, First Blood warriors walk this earth. They still protect, still hunt their own kind and over the centuries their scope broadened to policing other nasty races.
A master race, they generally mate only their own kind. As always, there are exceptions. Male Jinn warriors are hard to miss. Usually large, muscular and well built – they are often seen as beautiful to most races.
Have a care, for it’s said their scent and beauty is an irresistible thrall and can draw a female in, making her abandon both reason and willpower. Unfortunately, to protect the Jinn, none could ever recall likely the best sex of their lives as their memory was wiped clean. There was a drawback – after thousands of years of the same old – most often this kind of sex left Jinn males feeling empty. In this way they evolved, understanding forcing their growth, that they wanted so much more. Many came to crave their true mates. Only one for a Jinn male.
Sadly, too many turned Djinn before finding their mates, thereby damming their females to a wrenching existence without them. So rarely does it happen – finding a mate – many males no longer believe it true. To a warrior, they had taken the lives of those turned Djinn, those they knew and once loved. A hideous end.
Even though we might not know it, they still walk among us, living seemingly quiet lives.
But beware.
Jinn are always seeking their mates.
Chapter 1
Reno paced back and forth like a ghost in the night. He hated waiting. Didn’t matter what for, he hated it period. Jericho was with his mate Abe, Annabelle, who was about to pop – their firstborn ready to roll earlier than expected.
Reno never felt so unprepared in his life.
Conn should be returning any time with his cousin, a race doctor in quarantine for 48 hours on Jericho’s orders. The good doctor had been exposed to a virulent form of chicken pocks at the race hospital he ran and it was clear as a bell Jericho was taking no chances with his young.
He wondered about Jericho letting another male near his mate – doctor or not. For Reno, it was a private issue who touched his mate.
Huh?
Reno didn't have a mate.
Still, he knew innately he would be real uneasy about any male touching what was his. Not Jericho it seemed – he repeatedly asked if Dr. McFeerson had arrived yet. It irritated the fuck out of Reno.
So much so that Reno left the bedroom – hell, the fucking house – to get away from Jericho’s nagging.
A big male at six foot four and weighing in at a fair two hundred and ninety, gravel crushed under his boots, big nut–brown shit–kickers with steel plates wrapping his ankles for protection.
Dressed in black leather, Reno blended into the velvet night.
Expectant, it still startled him when a flash of blinding light came from his left.
In a blink an incredible lush scent filled his sensitive nose and his cock turned into a rigid, uncomfortable spear pressing into the waist of his low riders. He pivoted on the ball of one foot to gape at Conn holding the elbow of a gorgeous red head.
Gorgeous with a capital G, man.
The black, velvety night pressed in around Reno and all the air seemed to disappear in the world. His intense and interested blue eyes riveted, he took in her long, thick red hair tied at her nape and trailing down her back as stray red curls escaped to curve around her sleek neck.
Reno took a couple of big gobs of air as Conn fussed around his cousin.
A female! Doctor!
Her incredible chocolate brown eyes danced with intelligence as they landed on him.
Reno knew he was putting it out there by ogling her, but couldn't pull his attention away. He didn’
t even blink – his mind was spinning into places he never expected to ever go.
Amusement swirled in her beautiful eyes.
Reno continued taking her in, uncaring that Conn might notice. Her lips, lush on top and bottom, were cherry red and he wanted to kiss each one of the smattering of freckles dusting her pert nose and both cheeks.
Huh.
Thoughts tumbled and he realized why Jericho was unworried about the supposedly and assumed male doctor. Holy hell, she was the sweetest doctor Reno had ever laid eyes on. And more, man, so much more.
Her white blouse buttoned too high did nothing to hide her full rack. A black belt cinched tight around her waist drew his eyes down to wide shapely hips and legs that went on forever. Her sweet black skirt, well above the knee, and high black stilettos did it for him.
Completely.
His cock, now named Rock.
Rock. Hard.
Conn steered his cousin towards Reno, not yet realizing what was going on for the big male. “Me cousin, Aili. Arrrgh – apologies. Dr. McFeerson, this is Reno, Jericho's Second–in–Command."
Reno was riveted as one gorgeous brow quirked over her amused chocolate brown eyes.
Connor burst the moment. "How’s aer Abe? And aer King? Good, like?” A huge male, Conn hadn’t returned to his native Scotland for several centuries, but strangely his brogue thickened as time passed. In truth, he was banned from the Fair Isle – a good story in itself. A strategist and warrior, Conn was an integral part of an elite team ruled by Jericho Sullivan, King of the Jinn.
Reno shrugged. “Matty’s with her. Pain is getting worse. Nice to meet you, Dr. Aili." He gave her his best smile – wide and white – Hollywood style. "Let’s go inside. Jericho’s frantic. I'm hopin' he’ll settle now that you’re here.”
A gentle laugh in her tone, a lilt to her words, Aili said, “Oh, lordy, – he is the father. Well then, he won’t be trouble will he? Last thing I need is a fainter.”
Reno chuckled and stepped back to let the beautiful Aili enter the house first. There were lotsa pluses to being chivalrous. Tight skirt hugging her sweet ass, a cheek for each of his hands, the delicate and lickable turn to her calf and killer heels – hell, it was all good from back here.
Conn slammed the front door behind him, snapping Reno back to reality as his left shoulder drove into the archway beyond the door. He hadn't been paying attention, but was riveted on the good doctor's sweet ass, her sway...
The big Scot reached out, moving fast with one hand splayed, to slap Reno hard on the back of the head. He hissed with fury, “Don’t even think about it, ye fecking rotter.”
Reno elbowed the Scot and Conn rewarded him with a painful Ooof as he slid out of Reno’s reach.
Aili smirked. “Anyone care to lead the way?”
Reno refused to step forward. No fucking way. This was opportunity deluxe.
Conn shoved past him to take Aili’s elbow, leading her up the front staircase to the second floor.
Reno stayed behind the two, working hard not to trip up the steps, eyes glued to her ass, legs, high heels and back again – hell, again – it was impossible to stop his utter admiration of the feast before him.
In too short a time, they reached the top, but that didn’t stop his imagination from turning over possibilities. Ones that made Rock Hard tremble. Oh yeah, it had been a while since he’d had total satisfaction.
And – Aili had her name written all over that for him.
Reno finally moved ahead to knock on the bedroom door before swinging it open. “Doc has arrived,” he announced as Aili slipped past him.
The door closed right behind her.
In Reno's face.
Conn and Reno wondered what to do with themselves.
Waiting was a killer.
Shortly and abruptly, Zulu was ejected from the room, mumbling, “…burn sage, wild grass. We hunt. Fresh meat smoking, hot fire…”
Brows raised high, Reno cut into the warrior’s reverie, “Zu? You need to get a grip real fast here.”
Zulu’s big brown eyes turned on Reno, the beads woven into his long black hair clattering softly. A tribal warrior, born from an ancient line of chiefs, Zulu was also part of Jericho’s elite team and he had a few unusual skills taught exclusively to the males of his tribe. A killer who preferred his bare hands to any other kind of weapon, Zulu was a formidable opponent.
Abe’s scream cut the air. “Bear, out.”
Inside and outside the bedroom everyone braced for the massive beast.
“What the feck!” charged out of Dr. Aili McFeerson. “Somebody better start explaining.” Eyes riveted on the big bear, she commanded, "Out. Now!"
One roar and pounding came towards the closed bedroom doors.
Reno pulled back, grabbing Zulu as Conn shoved both doors open and jumped wide.
Instantly, Bear stilled at the edge of the door, taking a huff of air then two before sauntering – all five thousand plus pounds – into the hallway, working his massive frame to the side, making a move for Reno who got out of his way fast, shifting into the bedroom and closing the doors on the crowd outside.
Jericho focused solely on Abe, contractions coming hard and strong, even ignoring the good doctor’s demand for an explanation about Bear.
Reno caught Aili’s eye. “That’s Bear. He’s cool, he's part of…Abe. I vouch.”
It sounded lame and Reno saw it in her expression and lingering in those adorable chocolate brown eyes.
“We don’t need a crowd in here, including you. If you can’t help, you need to leave. We’ve got a situation here.”
Reno’s muscles locked as he went on full alert. “Situation?”
Aili’s chocolate brown eyes flicked back to Abe. “I need to be in theatre.”
Reno, the consummate chameleon, hid his alarm and simply inquired, “How soon?”
“Next hour. We may have a little more than that.” Aili glanced at Abe – taking in her somewhat grey pallor. Without thinking, she blurted, “We’ve got two.”
For the first time in his life, Reno sputtered, “Two? Two what?”
“Babies…twins.” It was then it dawned on her that she had spilled the big secret without even realizing it.
Aili’s lilting chuckle shivered over his body. She could talk all night and he would come and come.
He winked and left her to it.
Her sweet, trusting smile blew the roof off for him – he held it inside, savoring the possibilities, the what–ifs and why–the–fuck–nots.
Outside, he explained what they needed.
And how many were due to arrive.
In the now spic and span fully stocked operating theatre – Jericho had seen to it months ago – Reno stayed for the whole enchilada. But, remained discretely and safely seated to one side behind a tented sheet covering Abe’s lower half.
Aili worked her medical magic with Abe. Coaxing, demanding and cajoling, voice soft, layered with a mesmerising lilt from faraway lands. Abe focused on her breathing and managing the pain while Aili talked her through when to push and not until one shrill squall cut the air.
Jericho’s eyes lifted to drill into Reno as the first cry of his babe cut through the room – deep blue eyes dull as if he were in a trance – evidently still in shock they were having twins.
Aili smiled brightly. “Ah, a daughter. Well met my wee lass. Good lungs, healthy.”
“Well met,” Abe mumbled, “She is safe in my keeping forever more.” Both arms curled around the wet, hot mass of moving limbs and sucking mouth. It was glorious. “I name her Daisy Mary, after Jericho’s mother, Evergreen Sullivan.”
Cramps shattered the moment and Abe’s face turned white with pain.
Fifi plucked the baby from Abe, bundling her into a soft pink blanket before handing her to Jericho.
King of the Jinn looked down at the tiny bundle in his hands. Almost gasping, he held his small daughter tight to his chest, afraid he might drop her. When she wormed around, little ar
ms and legs flailing about and sucking a mouthful of his t–shirt, Jericho shifted her away, snugging her into the crook of his arm. Mommy wasn’t quite ready for her.
A guttural groan from Abe brought him back to earth. Jericho gripped her hand, kissed her face and gently licked away her tears. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his mate.
Daisy sucked noisily, mouth puckering, scenting her mother.
Aili glanced over the top of the tent around Abe’s wide spread legs. “Ready?”
“Yeeessssss!”
"Excellent. Let’s breathe and count it out. Push hard when I tell you."
Reno saw tears dripping down Jericho’s face as his eyes misted too. This birth shit was fucking awesome. Had an energy like nothing else.
And, his Aili was in total control.
Shocked, Reno’s lips formed into an O. Meaning – Oh, noooo.
As if reading his mind, Aili’s chocolate eyes lit on him, a wee smile turning up the corners of her red lips.
Rock Hard came back to life with vengeance, raging at the cage of his scrubs. Commando underneath, there was no hiding his shit. If Aili dropped her eyes it was gonna be all there – in the fucking flesh.
Abe screamed. Aili coaxed, then demanded one last hard push.
Into the world came a bellow.
“A boy! My, he’s robust.” Aili’s smile was wide with delight.
One bellow after another rang around the bedroom until the babe landed on his Mother’s chest. “Well met. He is safe in my keeping forever more. I name him Deos Metatron Evergreen Sullivan after my grandfather and father.” Beyond exhaustion, Abe yawned widely and her eyes drooped closed.
Jericho, face still wet with tears of joy, nodded to Reno.
Reno stood and stretched. “Everyone, the show’s over. Abe needs to rest now. D & D too.” His blue eyes landed on the babes. Their births changed Reno’s world. He’d just experienced one of the most powerful events. Ever.