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Helios’s eyes narrowed, his grip on Jima never wavering. “I am claiming a pet.”

“Oh, I see.” Gray nodded as if this made perfect sense. “Do you think that’s wise? Claiming a sentient being as a pet?”

Helios stared, expression unreadable. Jima’s wiggling slowed, his body lax within Helios’s firm grip. Fear took hold. I could barely make out Jima’s whiskers twitching. He was still alive, but I didn’t know how long that would continue.

Undeterred, Gray moved closer still. If not for the anxious piece of his magic contained within me, I would have believed Gray’s relaxed demeanor. “You might want to loosen your hold a little. Looks like Jima’s having a hard time breathing.”

Helios immediately glanced at Jima, relaxing his grip when he found Gray’s words true. The perplexed expression pulling at his lips would have been comical if my friend’s life hadn’t been in danger.

“Ferrets are fragile.” Gray held out his hand and asked, “May I?”

Helios’s eyes narrowed. “You wish to take what is mine.”

Gray’s fingers lit with blue flames, a sad smile twisting his lips. Instead of answering, Gray asked, “Do you know what I am?”

Helios studied Gray before nodding. “You are a treasure finder.”

“That’s right. I’m a will-o’-the-wisp.”

“I do not know what that has to do with my pet.”

“I know you don’t. I’ll explain. You see, I find all kinds of treasure, and what I can tell you right now, is that Jima is calling out to me. You’ve claimed him, and although that claim is new, it’s already kicked off a chain reaction. You view Jima as treasure, and so now I hear his call.”

Helios appeared interested in the concept. “My own treasure.” His voice was full of awe. I had no idea what Gray’s plan was, but making Helios even more interested in Jima didn’t seem conducive to getting Helios to let him go. At least Jima appeared to be breathing easier now, although I was even more worried about how little he fought now that Helios had given him more leeway. The rapid-fire beating of his heart, visible against his lean chest, ramped my concern further.

“Yes,” Gray agreed. “Your very own treasure. Do you know that treasure sings?”

Helios tilted his head toward Jima, his larger-than-typical ear leaning in close as if he were listening. “I hear nothing but his rapid heartbeat.”

“That’s because you’re not a will-o’-the-wisp.” Gray swayed, eyes slipping closed. “Martin has a treasure; it’s his soil. Its song is full of love and joy. It’s so soothing. I could lie on top of that plot of land for the rest of my life and feel nothing but peace and happiness.”

I sucked in another breath, Gray’s description soothing my inner dryad. That soft feeling didn’t last long.

“Do you know what Jima’s song sounds like?” Gray suddenly asked, eyes slipping open but remaining at half-mast.

Helios remained quiet.

“Pain,” Gray said, voice strained. “His song is full of fear and pain. Listening to it is difficult. It is the worst kind of song treasure can sing.”

Doubt slithered across Helios’s face. “What is my song?”

Gray’s eyes widened and he appeared taken aback. “You have no song.”

“You lie.” Half a dozen tattoos flared to life, making Helios’s skin glow. “I am djinn. I am coveted. Others waste years of their lives trying to find us. They use us, covet us, and enslave us. I am treasure.”

More blue flames lit up Gray’s fingertips before he fisted those hands, dousing the flames. “Maybe that was once true. I’m not certain what’s changed, but I can tell you that is no longer the case. No one holds you in that regard. You are no one’s treasure. You are simply you. You belong to no one, Helios of the djinn.”

“I would suspect that is due to who Helios’s current master is.” Keir finally spoke up, his voice scratchy as if it hadn’t been used in far too long.

Before Gray could ask, Helios ground out, “Peaches.”

Gray glanced back at me, a single eyebrow raised. “Peaches is a nature pixie. From what I understand, he never wanted to be a master. Peaches believes djinn should have their own say, that they should lead their lives as they will.” Peaches gave Aurelia and Helios very long leashes.

“I see,” Gray answered, although his pinched eyebrows indicated that wasn’t completely true.

Helios stared at Jima’s lax body, his foot twitching now and again. Ferrets really were fragile creatures. They could only sustain so much anxiety and fear. Helios had pushed Jima to his limits.

“He doesn’t want to be yours,” Gray said, voice low. “Do you truly wish to enslave another as you have been?”