Page 10 of Bound By Wishes

“Let me go.” A sharp hiss escaped through my clenched teeth as I grasped a carving knife.

“Do you intend on using that on me, sayyida?” Ranen’s eyes danced with a blend of excitement and anger.

Every muscle in my body tightened until I feared that they would snap under the pressure. “I will most certainly stab you if you do not let go of me.”

“You have spunk. Razoul will like that.” Ranen smiled down at me before ever so slowly releasing my arm. “Sit back straight in the chair. A princess never slouches.”

I wanted to tell him exactly where he could shove his princess manners, but I bit my tongue and did as he asked. I had agreed to this, so I would endure his lessons for the time being, but if he grabbed me again without my consent, Iwould carve his lovely face in two. I refused to be manhandled.

Ranen took a step back, which was wise because I still had the hilt of the knife clenched in my sweaty palm. “No one eats until the king has been served and he grants permission to do so. Normally by a simple nod of his head.”

“You told me to eat,” I mumbled, setting the knife back on the table. “I guess chivalry is dead. What ever happened to ladies first?” I asked, delicately laying my hands in my lap. I wasn’t completely clueless when it came to fine dining. I had endured many fancy feasts. The museum liked to send me to talk to potential investors, hoping my feminine charm would help them shell out more money.

“No one is above the king,” he declared, his tone firm, as if it were an undeniable truth.

“So that explains your pompous behavior. Duly noted.” A hint of satisfaction tugged at my expression as I watched his cool, composed demeanor crack, giving way to a flicker of anger in his eyes. It was a small victory, but I relished the moment.

His jaw clenched for a moment before he regained control. “That attitude of yours is going to have to change,” he said smoothly, flipping everything back in his favor.

Something about those words made me see red. “Excuse me?” I’d give him a chance to choose better words before I let my temper shatter the fragile peace between us.

Ranen crossed his arms over his chest, a strange expression tugging at his features. “My kingdom is different than the world you are accustomed to,” he began slowly, like I might not be able to keep up with his words. “My family descends from an ancient bloodline of djinns.”

I held up my hand, stopping him. “I’m confused. I thought the whole purpose of this princess makeover was to break the genie curse, but you’re telling me you’re djinns. What’s the difference?”

His smoldering eyes darkened, and the crease between his brow deepened, like my question insulted him.

“What?” I shrugged. “That’s not an illogical question. It’s not like we’re taught these things in school.”

At my words, some of the tension in him started to relax. “Djinns are very powerful immortal creatures who do not need masters.”

“Immortal?” My upper lip curled. “How old are you?”

Placing one hand on the table, he leaned in closer, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “I surpass time itself, sayyida. Age is merely a trivial detail when you’re as timeless as I am.”

“Well, you look good for your age.” I laughed nervously, squirming in my seat. “Ugh, what am I saying?” I grumbled, placing my head in my hands. The dulling headache returned with a vengeance at the ridiculousness of this conversation.

Ranen blessedly allowed me a few moments to gather myself. I peered up at him. “Is everyone a djinn?”

“No,” he answered. “Only members of my family.”

With a sigh, I sat up straighter. “What does that have to do with my attitude?”

“Time is different once you enter the gates of my kingdom,” he clarified. “Time is slowed down to the pace in which we age, and therefore is very different from the modern world.”

“So, we’re basically stepping back in time?” I asked. “Where women’s rights are nonexistent?”

His brow furrowed. “What are women’s rights?”

“My case in point.” I huffed, leaning back in the chair and crossing my arms over my chest. What did it matter? I was used to being treated like an object, just another pawn in a game played by men in power. I should refuse and return to my mundane life, but I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that helping these people might somehow change the narrative, even if just a little. For once, someone needed more from me than pushing papers and getting coffee.

“I cannot promise that I’ll lose the attitude, but I will try for the people’s sake,” I said, sitting up straighter and folding my hands neatly in my lap again. “Luckily for you, I’m knowledgeable of old-world customs. What’s next?”

Ranen walked to the other end of the table, his smoldering eyes never leaving mine. With a smooth wave of his hand, the air hummed with magic as plates materialized before both him and me, piled with mounds of food.

With a deliberate and measured grace, Ranen brought the first morsel to his lips, savoring it with unnatural slowness. Meanwhile, my stomach rumbled loudly in protest, aching with hunger as he forced me to watch him eat. I held his gaze, refusing to react to his impolite display of dominance.

Ranen laid his fork down on the table, then reached for a napkin, his movements slow as a snail. With a subtle nod in my direction, he granted me permission to eat. I bared my teeth at him, hoping that he mistook the expression as a smile before picking up my fork and shoving a particularly juicy piece of chicken in my mouth.

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