Claimed

Weather Warden #2.6

by Rachel Caine

A free Weather Warden short story

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Romance, Magic, Paranormal

7 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Rachel Caine was a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad.

She has also published as:
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell

Her Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/rachelcainef...

Her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/rachelcaine...

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You could make me talk,” he said. I thought he meant in the usual way, with bribes of hot sweet kisses and skin, but he continued without looking up at me again. “You can make me do anything, if you ask it three times.”

Claimed is Caine finally addressing her own flip-flopping stance on the “master-Djinn” relationship. Up to this point, the conversation has veered in every direction imaginable: a perfect symbiotic union, a torturous act of control, etc.

There’s this underlying notion of a “good” master that left a bad taste in my mouth.

David has a nightmare and Jo wants him to talk about it. His reluctance is charged with the imbalance of power in their relationship; Jo can make him tell her anything — she just has to ask three times. Its the first genuine sign of discomfort David has shown at being claimed by her, even as he goes on to discuss the terrible things he’s done while claimed by others.

Naturally, Jo absolves him of acts he committed against his will, unequivocally using the word rape to describe any and all commands made from a master:

“Anyone who forces their Djinn to do something against their will, against their nature, that’s a kind of rape, whether it’s physical sex or torturing prisoners or killing people.”

Of course the issue here is that, by her own definition, Jo is guilty of that with David. In the last short story, Oasis, David wouldn’t reveal where he’d been and Jo makes him by asking him three times. And that’s not getting into the fact that all commands are ultimately no different, and Jo is more than comfortable commanding him.

They reach an impasse: Jo wants to release David, but David believes he’ll be able to help with him at her magical beck and call. Jo tells him she loves him for the first time.

I’m glad this conversation exists. Would I have liked if it existed in one of the main instalments more? Yes. But I’ll take what I can get.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read online here http://www.rachelcaine.com/shorts/ww/...

If anyone knows where this fits into the series timeline can they please let me know?

[Jay DeMoir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wayyyyy too short for a story on how David came under Bad Bob’s control. Ugh! Wish this was so much longer! David deserved more.. this story deserved more

[Charlotte Hodrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful story

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read here: https://www.rachelcaine.com/shorts/ww...

[Kes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a scene from Joanne's perspective where David awakens from a nightmare and she comforts him. Short and sweet.

[Cass · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, man, this story had David remembering when he was claimed by Bad Bob! Though I kinda hope we get that story someday!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this were longer :( but enough was said to fill in the blanks…poor David.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interlude short story before the next novel. This one didn’t do much of anything. It brought up topics, feelings and interactions between David and Joanne that have already been discussed in the previous novels.

It does reiterate that claiming a Djinn is a form of rape. They don’t have control of themselves and are subject to the whims of their master. Even a good master is still a master.

I don’t see the point of this story, unless someone used it as an introduction to the series, without having to read the first novel or two.

[Hasini | bibliosini · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG David and Jo FTW!!! I just love the two of them together!!!

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably occurs somewhere between book 2 and 3.

Joanne and David are at a motel on their way to Las Vegas where he has a nightmare.