Page 36 of Bound By Wishes

Ranen reined in his horse, bringing it to a halt beside me. “Why did you stop?”

I turned to him, my brows knitted together at his outlandish question. “Um, because I didn’t particularly feel like dying today,” I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Magic seeped from Ranen’s fingertips, weaving into a dark haze that surrounded both my horse and his. I bit down a scream of astonishment as shimmering wings suddenly jutted out from the mare’s sleek shoulders. They were massive and pearly white. Each feather seemed to catch the light in an iridescent array of colors.

My mouth hung open as I turned to Ranen’s stallion, now similarly adorned with magical wings as dark as a moonless night. He pawed the ground eagerly, as if sensing the freedom that his wings now gave him. My mind refused to accept the fact that I was sitting on a Pegasus, something straight out of Greek legend.

“Are you coming, sayyida?” Ranen urged his stallion forward, and its massive wings spread out as it leaped from the cliff. I held my breath as they plunged toward the sea, the horse's powerful wings beating against the air until the wind caught them, lifting them high into the sky.

Anxiety slithered through me as I glanced down at the menacing rocks below. The mare snorted nervously, her eyes wide with fear. I reached out cautiously, running my fingers along the smooth, ethereal surface of the mare’s wing. It felt cool to the touch, yet buzzed with energy and the lingering effects of Ranen’s magic.

“You can’t be afraid your entire life.” Ranen’s voice rumbled in my mind.

His words were like the talons of a beast, sinking deepinto my flesh and resonating with me deeper than he could possibly imagine. He was right. I would never experience life if I couldn’t take risks. Besides, he was my genie, and I his master—well, sayyida. Surely, he wouldn’t let me fall, would he?

“We can do this,” I whispered to the mare as I nudged her gently in the sides and she lunged from the cliff. Paralyzing fear gripped me as we plummeted to a rocky death below. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the sudden jolt as she spread her wings and we soared up into the air. I slowly pried my eyes open as I felt the cool ocean breeze across my face.

Ranen’s powerful black stallion waited impatiently nearby, he and his rider looking like something straight out of a hauntingly beautiful nightmare. Ranen urged his mount higher, and I followed. As we soared above the ocean, a rush of exhilaration replaced my fear.

Below us, the ocean stretched out in an endless span of deep blue, with whitecaps dancing on the surface.

The world beneath us began to blur as we soared straight into the billowing clouds. The mare's wings beat steadily, slicing through the dense mist, creating swirling vapors in our wake. The cool moisture cloaked me, clinging to my skin and clothes, and the air grew colder, filled with the clean, crisp scent of rain.

As long as I lived, I would never forget this magical moment. I was at peace, and I was happy. I followed Ranen as he veered left, taking us back across the desert. Below, the golden sand stretched endlessly, rippling like a sea of molten gold. Soon, the city of Jalam appeared below, a tiny speck in the endless stretch of sand.

“We have to get you back and prepare you for your outing with the king,” Ranen yelled over the loud beat of the horse’s wings.

The idea of going back to reality filled me with sadness. I wanted to spend more time with this broody genie who challenged me, but that thought concerned me. As we descended, the magic of the moment began to fade, and the heat returned when the mare landed gracefully. Her wings vanished, taking away the wonder of the moment.

Ranen dismounted, his movements fluid and confident as he walked up to the mare and extended his arms to me. I shocked myself by going willingly into his arms. I was always the girl who had to prove she could do things for herself, so why hadn’t I insisted on getting off the horse myself? Our gazes collided as he ever so slowly lowered me to the ground.

Ranen reached up, tucking a strand of my wind-tousled hair behind my ear. The act was so simple, yet his gentleness tugged at my heartstrings. I quickly turned away from him before he could see vulnerability flicker across my face.

“Let’s get you back to the palace so Arwa can help you change, and this time don’t rip your dress,” Ranen playfully scolded and offered me his hand.

I quickly pulled myself together and prepared to play the part of a princess eager to gain the attention of a king.

Ranen grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him. His hand ventured up my arm until it snaked around the back of my neck, urging me forward until our breaths mingled. “Forgive me, sayyida,” he pleaded. “I can’t fight it any longer.”

“Fight what?” I askedbreathlessly.

“This.” Slowly, he leaned in, the pressure on my neck increasing as he urged me forward. His touch was firm, sending a shiver through me. Time seemed to slow as his face drew closer.

When our lips finally met, it was as if a spark ignited between us. The kiss was tender at first, a gentle exploration that sent waves of warmth through my entire body. I instinctively leaned in to him, my hands finding their way to his shoulders for support.

As the kiss deepened, it became more urgent, more passionate. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. The world around us disappeared completely, leaving only the sensation of his lips against mine, the taste of his kiss, and the heady mix of emotions swirling inside me.

The cuffs on my wrists turned to white-hot metal, as if a blacksmith had just pulled them from the flames and pressed them against my skin. Apparently, kissing your master was also a forbidden trespass in genie etiquette, but at the moment, I didn’t care. If they singed the very flesh from my bones, I would sacrifice it to be locked in her embrace for just a few moments longer.

Caleena wrapped her arms around my neck, her fingers combing through my hair and pulling roughly as she urged me closer. Something about her excited me far beyond any other woman. She was forbidden, and I shouldn’t desire her, but that only made me want her more.

Caleena finally pulled away, and the sweet bewildered expression on her face and red swollen lips from our kiss nearly made me lose all control. I had to force myself to stay still and not pull her back into my arms. The addictive taste of her lingered on my lips, sweet like honey.

“Don’t do that again,” she said. It was more of a plea than a command.

I straightened, ashamed that someone like me had lost control, if only for a fleeting second. “You have my word, sayyida,” I replied flatly, more than a little burnt by her rejection.

I didn't dare touch her again as I whisked us back to her room in the palace. Caleena busied herself with anything but me, and for that, I was grateful. The tension between us was clear, and I knew that any further contact would only deepen the chasm that I had created.

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