“You mewl and whimper like a kicked kitten when I have already been exposed to your plotting!” The jinn whirled on the Architect. Ahmad had been sure, up until now, that there was nothing that would make him feel sorry for spoiled, pampered, utterly heartless Amari.

Now he knew differently.

“You would have died in the cradle if it wasn’t for my mercy,” the jinn seethed. “Your father groveled on his knees and gave his very life so that you might be able to breathe. I taught you how to wield the game’s finest tricks. I helped you lay pitfalls, stir up ancient bones, and enslave souls. What thanks did I get from you both? I was cast into a box and released only to see you trying to steal my world!”

The jinn’s voice rose with every word until it was a roar.

The cowering Lord Amari scrambled backward on his hands, bumping into the MasterMind’s knees. She made no effort to help him up.

“And here you lie, with more demands for my forgiveness—so like your mother, when she tried to escape my punishment. I took care of her. Now it is your turn. It is time for you to realize that you were at the mercy of my pleasure, rather than the other way around.”

The MasterMind let out a slight whimper. The jinn turned to peer down at her.

“Ah yes, I nearly forgot the other conspirator. What did you intend to gain, my dear—riches greater than you could imagine or hold in your hands, or perhaps the satisfaction of a world laid out at your feet?”

Under his gaze, the MasterMind shrank.

“Hey!” Winnie stepped up, putting her hands on her hips. If she was nervous, she hardly showed it. Ahmad felt ashamed that his own knocking knees wouldn’t let him join her. “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”

“Ah,” the jinn said. He threw his head back and laughed. “Ironic that a human should tell me that. Your kind have gone up against mine throughout history, in spite of your size, in spite of your humble clay origins. Admirable, but foolish.”

He turned to face the distant, glittering city, shaking his head in disgust. “My poor, darling Paheli—strung through with that horrid electricity and other cannibalistic enterprises. It is way past time for you to be purified.”

He raised a hand, and in response, the Minaret let out a painful keen. Winnie winced. “Poor thing.”

“You pity the ones that played with you?” The jinn raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Interesting, you humans. I thought you would thank me. I did give you that extra task to test your mettle. You pulled through better than I thought you would.”

“Last task?” Winnie’s eyes widened. “You were the one behind our goose chase? The fake challenge?”