Jericho Read online

  Jericho

  The Jinn Cycle – Book One

  By Nini Church

  Jericho

  By Nini Church

  Copyright 2016 Christine Monteith

  Smashwords Edition

  This is a work of fiction.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

  Contents

  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

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Epilogue

  Stay Tuned

  Reno

  Dedication

  This one is for you, Tracey. Love you forever, girl.

  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.

  Long enslaved, for centuries they toiled in servitude to their gods, their freedom all but forgotten. Jinn were born protectors, yet 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, 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 ancient gods of old long forgotten now. Using their combined power and skill honed over centuries of servitude, they annihilated their gods with no mercy – to gain total freedom meant total destruction.

  Jinn were born with free will and able to read the natural elements. 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, enacting laws and tenets to govern their new society, were henceforth named First Order. 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. Indeed, as warriors they are cunning and strong, arrogant and powerful. Masters of the hunt.

  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 has 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 – most often this kind of sex left Jinn males feeling empty. In this way they evolved, knowing they wanted so much more – craving their true mates. Only one for a Jinn male.

  So rarely does it happen – finding a mate – many males no longer believed it true.

  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

  Five fucking thousand years.

  Right now Jericho felt every one of those five thousand years.

  Not one single day prepared him – not for this offensive display of raw power.

  Long black hair brushed the hard line of his muscled shoulders as he shook his head. He couldn't figure it out – the draw was so powerful he couldn’t ignore it. Against his will it guided him using sheer force.

  Before now, he had never experienced such potent defenselessness, leaving his mouth bitter as rage torqued every muscle in his big body. He needed a clear head to deal with whatever the fuck was going on as he clamped down on his spiraling anger.

  He was being blindly summoned.

  In the passenger seat of the SUV, Jericho eyed the narrow two-lane road, waiting for the turn off. He fucking hated surprises – really, really hated them.

  Who would dare force him to their command?

  Him – a powerful Jinn who obeyed no one.

  Yet the draw was so compelling it consumed his every thought.

  Cursing with frustration, Jericho shoved his Jinn senses beyond his body. There was nothing – no sense of evil, no rotting stench from Demons gone wrong, no fresh offal from those abominable Grunts turned Vampires created. Nor was there any scent of blood.

  He growled – it was turning out to be a cluster fuck day.

  Irritated, he didn’t want to piss around out in the middle of nowhere. The entire afternoon spent on recon a total fucking bust. Sandro, a notorious turned Vamp, was still out there. They hadn't located his lair nor any sign of his legion of Grunts and they stunk so bad there was no hiding them. Today, their mission to off one piece of shit turned Vamp produced zilch.

  Sandro and his Grunts were currently eating off the edges of Wainesboro’s seedier side. Last night Jericho suspected they killed an entire human family – draining them dry. Massacre didn’t describe what they had done and it brought unwanted attention from the human population.

  Sandro wasn't the only turned Vamp in the vicinity and the very reason why Jericho had moved to the compound – to annihilate the exploding population of killers.

  Three weeks ago, Jericho and a handful of his elite team of Jinn warriors returned to the old compound in Bellsville. They spent the better part of the first week getting systems up and running. All new security was installed using the latest technology, including every communication in or out of the compound went untraceable.

  Caleb, their tech wizard, was truly a master of electronics and security. Fifi with her mate, Elron, arrived the second week to ready the big house – a tall order as no one had lived at the compound for years.

  Over the last week, Jericho and his team had studied the terrain within a ten-mile radius of the comp
ound, poured over maps along with filtering local satellite feeds. Reno, Jericho's second in command, created training grids to keep everyone in peak condition.

  Jericho drew his senses back. In his mind a single image flashed – a tiny cabin. It was his only clue. His anger roamed as irritation ratcheted up a notch, burning into his brain. He didn't often lose it, but when he did – he went nuclear.

  Right on the edge now, rage, disgust and frustration peaking, Jericho was ready to explode. His ass burned that some unknown quantity dared summon him.

  Never again if he had his way and by fuck, he would have his way.

  Evidently, Jinn could be summoned – it was happening to him right now. Summons were never used – at least in his memory – for Jinn found it offensive and now he knew why.

  Again, Jericho combed his mind – no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pin down what or who summoned him. It was impossible to distinguish if it was an entity drawing him in or something else altogether. Uneasiness settled over him, whatever it was remained completely hidden.

  He continued to focus trying to capture anything, but it was simply a distinct compelling ripple carried on the natural elements. And, he was very good at reading natural elements. In this case, it wasn't a voice, not even a sensation, but a driving urge he had no control over.

  That burned his ass – hard.

  Could it be a trap? An ambush?

  Jericho stilled his mind and the call of the summons, mentally stepping aside to briefly study the problem. There was absolutely no evil, no danger. Since not much got by him and he always went with his instincts – he needed to nail down whatever the fuck was happening.

  He also knew there was a distinct possibility whatever summoned him could be very powerful.

  Perhaps even more powerful than him.

  CHAPTER 2

  He scanned the open fields of brush as Reno drove down the center of the old two-lane road Jericho ordered him to turn onto a mile or so back.

  “Dunno,” Reno spoke into his com-link. “Boss? Connor’s bitching hard. He wants answers on where we’re going.”

  Jericho pointed to the side of the road, “Pull over here.” He shoved the door open so hard it made the SUV rock. He paced back and forth with his head down and long black hair hiding his features while ignoring Reno waiting for answers.

  Reno hand signaled the others to stay in their vehicles.

  “My man, what the fuck’s happenin’ here?”

  Jericho hissed out, “Someone or…something is summoning me.”

  “How? Who?” Reno scanned the area, all flat land on this side of the road, fields left fallow, but on the other side were rock embankments layered with old growth forest. Palm flat and fingers curled, he signaled the others.

  Conn, Caleb and Zulu exited their SUV’s and moved to form a protective wall around Jericho.

  Reno realized Jericho wasn’t in a chatty mood and quietly filled in the others.

  Caleb’s hazel eyes burned as he let out a long gust of air. “I’ve seen it. Once.”

  Jericho’s deep blue eyes focused on Cal.

  “It consumes and the compulsion is powerful. It’s not possible to deny it. Don’t waste your energy even trying.”

  By Jericho’s low grunt they knew he’d been struggling to do that.

  Jericho’s black brows drew together, forming a solid line as his blue eyes turned dark. “Enough pissing around. Let’s see where it leads me.” Jericho strode back to the SUV and climbed in as Reno slammed his door closed and threw the vehicle into gear.

  Several miles down the deserted two lane road Jericho barked, “Left! Hang a left!”

  All three black SUVs roared up a narrow shady lane leading to the cabin Jericho suspected might be here. The draw so incredibly powerful he couldn’t stop the compulsion – it was simply impossible to ignore. He sighed with pure frustration when the cabin came into view. It was the same as the image he’d seen.

  One sidewall had collapsed into the tiny wood frame cabin nestled on three sides by massive evergreens and sprawling old oak trees. Long shadows slanted across the western side of the property as the sun drifted lower. Dark within an hour, they would have to move fast.

  Jericho leaped from the vehicle before it came to a stop.

  Reno braked, the back of the SUV fishtailing as he stomped harder. Vehicle rocking – he slid out the driver’s side door.

  Silently the other warriors, Conn, Zulu and Cal, climbed from their vehicles and took off to secure the property.

  Jericho paced around the shack, his long strides eating ground – it only took him seconds to return to the front. Slowly, he retraced a few steps, stopping where the wall had collapsed inwards. He was rooted to this spot. Whatever summoned him was close. Real close. He tried to capture what it might be only to find it was there but not and yet the forceful compulsion was intense.

  Brow creased with worry, Reno needed answers. “My man? What’s happenin’?”

  "It’s right fucking here. Draw is unbelievably powerful.”

  Reno's big brown eyes grew round as understanding came. "When did the summons start?"

  "After we ditched the search for Sandro. I couldn't think of anything else once we got back on the road. It’s fucking offensive to be taken over by some unknown quantity."

  Reno's worried frown deepened as he swept the immediate area. It was so quiet – surrounded by old growth forest providing a protective barrier from the outside world. It wasn’t creepy nor was he picking up any kind of threat. “Any idea who might be doing it?”

  Jericho shrugged his broad shoulders. "Not a clue, man. Couldn't tell you who or what it is. Never been here before. But I’m right fucking on top of it.”

  The cabin showed no signs of life. Faintly clinging to the air was the foul stench of Grunts, but their acrid rank odor had faded somewhat. There wasn’t any scent of blood in the air. Had Grunts gotten into the cabin and taken whoever lived here back to their master?

  Jericho grimaced and shook his head – it didn't bear thinking about. Grunts and their masters, turned Vamps, liked to play with their food, often fortifying their victims when near death, giving them life only to retake it again and again.

  He tilted his nose high, drawing in air, sifting through it revealed nada. Fuck – could it be the wrong cabin? Again, he shook his head, and then an incredible scent spilled over him.

  Nose higher this time he captured the notes.

  Fruity? Nah. Citrus – yes.

  Ah, lemons mixed...with sweetness...

  He scented a hint of clover. Lemons, honey and...?

  So fresh and revitalizing.

  Rain.

  Honey, lemons and rain.

  So fresh, so alive. Fucking incredible.

  Exquisite.

  He stood mute, suspended, as the scent soothingly wrapped around him. Old memories sprang to life; his mother gently tending him after a bad fall. His father lecturing him on the merits of honor. Deep grief pinched his heart. Old memories of life before his parents disappeared only served to haunt him even after all this time. They never returned and no one heard from them again.

  Fuck! Why was he digging at old wounds? He never went back in time – couldn’t deal with it. After his parents disappeared, as the next King of the Jinn and overwhelmed with new responsibility, he had shouldered the mantle even though it was too heavy for his young shoulders. Silently, he had grieved for his parents – he still did.

  Deftly, he turned his attention back to the present, wondering if it was a trap to break down his defenses.

  Hands on his hips, Jericho shoved his grief away. Chin dipped and black hair cascading over his handsome face he listened to the silence. “Reno, talk to me, man.”

  Reno’s focus honed in on the natural elements. He could read them – his way of communing with nature and his strongest gift as Jinn. He scanned and filtered for anything out of place.

  Sometimes the minutest detail was a tell. A small animal traveling through t
he undergrowth, but not native to the area. Sometimes smells lingered and told a story of their own. He waited and sifted. “Boss, Grunts are long gone. The stench is maybe a day or so old. Got no fires lit, my man. And that’s too bad, ‘cause I got me a few fires I’d like to put out.”

  “Yeah, tell me a fucking bedtime story,” Jericho shot back. He sympathized, he too wanted – no needed – to get his hands on something, anything, and rip it apart.

  Reno blinked. A gentle pulse echoed across the elements. “Jericho, I’m getting a faint signal right here. Don't sense any threat or danger from it.” Head turned to one side, silently he waited to catch the pulse again, but elusively it was gone.

  “Yeah I'm not picking up any threat either, but what is it? Let's go in. I need to check it out.”

  Reno followed Jericho closely – real uneasy and unsure why. Might be due to them being out in the middle of nowhere, working an unscheduled stop that Jericho would’ve normally torn anyone’s ass off for. Against fucking rules and the very reason why it was never done. With no area Intel and no one on backup made for an uneasy situation when a nest of Grunts and their master could be over the next hill.

  Normally, Reno embraced any kind of face off, killing the bad guys always eased his personal demons, but with Jericho, King of the Jinn, along for this ride – he wanted out fast.

  Anxious from the moment Jericho admitted he'd been summoned, Reno knew the legends and rumors and they weren’t pretty. Knowing that only enhanced his uneasiness.

  The two big Jinn picked their way over the collapsed wall. With both of them inside there wasn’t an inch to spare – shit-kickers toe-to-toe and crunching glass shards littering the floor. Jericho stood at six foot five and Reno was barely an inch shorter, but with his blonde mane, he appeared taller. Between them over six hundred pounds of hard muscle stood in a four-foot space.