Page 31 of Bound By Wishes

Her commanding tone had me gnashing my teeth. “I am not your servant,” I snapped. “Call one of your servants if you wish to bathe.”

The magic in me swirled, eager to do anything she requested of me, but the king in me refused to yield to such demands. I physically had to hold back the magic trying to leak from my pores, the pressure building to an uncomfortable ache with each passing moment.

Caleena poked her head around the screen. “Oh! I thought you were.” She smiled viciously as she motioned to the cursed cuffs on my wrists. “Besides, I can’t call Arwa to take me to the bathing chamber. How would I explain being soaking wet when I was supposed to be in my room all day?”

The anger within me started to roar like a caged beast, desperate to break free, but I held it back with what little restraint I had left because she wasn’t wrong. Why did she have to be so delectably tempting and smart?

Against my will, dark smoke poured from my fingertips, conjuring a copper tub filled with steaming water. Before she had a chance to ask, I added a large screen in front of it to give her some privacy.

Caleena peered around the changing screen with a soft smile that made her eyes sparkle. “Thank you, Ranen,” she purred, her sweet tone bristling like briars against my skin. Her sincerity caught me off guard, especially when it was paired with gratitude. I didn't like it. Well, I did, but I didn't want to.

The water sloshed, and she sighed. I quickly busied myself feeding Namir instead of focusing on the frustrating woman behind the changing screen.

A few minutes later, Caleena rounded the screen, tying the robe I had left for her around her midsection.

“Okay, zap me! I’m ready for my pajamas and a good night's sleep,” Caleena announced while stretching her arms out. “Tomorrow, I’ll do everything in my power to find that book so Razoul gets what’s coming to him.”

“Not going to happen, sayyida.” I watched her as her face scrunched in confusion. “Razoul is holding a feast tonight for all of the marriage candidates,” I explained. “Sono pajamas and no sleeping for you. I’m sure your servant will be here any minute to dress you.”

Caleena’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “How do you know that?” I opened my mouth to answer, but she interrupted me. “Wait. Where were you this morning? You weren’t here when I woke up.”

“Did you miss me, sayyida?” I purred. I couldn’t control the wicked desire that coated my tone nor the smile that touched my lips when her cheeks turned crimson.

She fiddled with the ties of her robe, obviously flustered by my question. “Of course not,” she huffed. “I just didn’t know what to do with myself without your overbearing presence.”

My question had the intended effect, making her forget her earlier inquiry about where I had been that morning.

I stalked toward her, surprised when she didn’t retreat. Embracing the boldness that came so naturally to me, I leaned in until our breaths mingled. Her scent of vanilla and citrus flooded my senses, making me dizzy with the need to touch her. “I’m so glad I’m becoming a comfortable part of your life, ya amar,” I murmured in an intimate tone.

She tilted her head up, bringing her lips dangerously close to mine. “I told you before, I am not your moon.” Her honey eyes sparked with anger, but her voice had the same longing as mine.

I continued to goad her. “Amidst twinkling stars and blazing planets, you shine brighter than anything in the sky,ya amar.”

Her breathing became short and fast at my nearness as I lowered my lips to hers, but before they touched, someone pounded on the door. Caleena’s eyes widened in surprise asif she had just awoken from a trance, and I vanished in a puff of smoke before Arwa slowly opened the door and asked permission to come in.

I watched from a distance as a flustered Caleena allowed Arwa to dress her for the feast. Her cheeks were flushed and her movements jittery. The intricate layers of silk and embroidery wrapped around her, transforming her into an ethereal beauty. I silently scolded myself for almost kissing her. Caleena was a means to an end and nothing more, a pawn in my carefully laid plan of revenge. But being trapped in that lamp for so long had clearly taken its toll on me, leaving me desperate for the touch of a woman. I had to regain control over myself before I jeopardized everything I had waited so long for.

I allowed myself another glance at Caleena. Her hair flowed like silky chocolate down her back, and I had to cram the urge to run my fingers through the lustrous strands deep down. There were more pressing matters I needed to deal with, especially after Caleena discovered the dig site. It had to be extremely important to Razoul to allow that many people to venture outside the kingdom. If he was searching for what I feared, we were all doomed. Suddenly, his plan dawned on me. Trapping me in that lamp was his way of clearing the path for that abomination to reclaim power. Time was slipping away, leaving no room for distractions, no matter how tempting she might be.

Apainful buzzing in my chest wouldn’t go away after Ranen had almost kissed me. And I’d almost let him. Had I completely lost my mind? I couldn’t believe that I’d let him get so close, let alone allowed him to lower his lips to mine.

The fear of men, of their closeness, had become an ever-present shadow. The feeling of hands that had been painful and rough, the suffocating grip, the sense of helplessness—I could still feel it all as though it had happened yesterday. But with Ranen, all of that seemed to disappear.

When Ranen leaned in, the closeness of his face to mine, the warmth of his breath, and the masculine scent of him made me want to lean in instead of run away. My heart raced not with terror, but with excitement. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to push him away, to protect myself from the potential hurt. Yet a part of me had faltered, allowing him to come close. That hesitation was whatscared me the most. Even if he wasn’t a monster like Mathew, there was still no future for us. He was a king, or he would be after I helped him find the book, and then he wouldn’t need me anymore. I had to remember that.

“What do you think, Highness?” Arwa interrupted my jumbled thoughts, and I focused on my reflection in the mirror.

Arwa had left my hair down, and it cascaded down my back in dark waves. My makeup was subtle yet striking, with kohl-lined eyes that emphasized my dark eyes and a hint of gold shimmer on my eyelids. My lips were painted a deep ruby red, completing my transformation.

The dark purple bodice I wore featured delicate beadwork in gold, forming an elaborate pattern that looked like a starry night. The sleeves were long and billowing, made of sheer gossamer fabric that caught the light, creating a subtle glow around my arms. The skirt streamed down my legs, flowing down to the floor in layers of silky chiffon. Each layer was embellished with fine gold threads, creating swirling patterns that matched the bodice, and the hem of the skirt was bordered with delicate beads of gold. It was stunning as usual, making me believe in a fairy tale that wasn’t real. I was no princess, and there was no happy ending for me in this tale. Especially not with Ranen.

Arwa rushed to the door, and I reluctantly followed. I was exhausted, and all I wanted to do was curl up in my plush bed. She led me down a long hallway into a massive room overflowing with giggles and gossip from the other marriage candidates. The moment they saw me, all chatter ceased. Arwa guided me to a low table surrounded by silken pillows on the floor thatserved as seats.

I glanced to my left and right, observing the other women. They were seated gracefully on their knees, backs straight and hands resting delicately in their laps. Mimicking them, I lowered myself onto my knees, trying to ignore the fatigue that weighed heavily on me.

I disregarded the silent stares and curious eyes of the other candidates, focusing instead on the elegant dining hall. The room was huge, its arched ceilings covered with intricate geometric patterns. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their crystal prisms casting a soft, shimmering light that danced across the room.

The walls were lined with detailed carved wooden panels, each depicting scenes of desert landscapes, majestic palaces, and ancient myths. Between these panels, there were tall, narrow windows draped with silk curtains that offered glimpses of the moonlit courtyard beyond. It was stunning, just like every room in the palace, except the poor servants’ quarters. Just thinking about the horrible conditions they were forced to live in while the rest of the palace looked like this was enough to make me lose my appetite.

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