Page 33 of Bound By Wishes

“They’re stuffed in there after the female snake is roasted,” Ranen answered.

I clenched my fists beneath the table, forcing my voice to remain calm. “You knew that was getting ready to happen and you didn’t warn me?” I said through gritted teeth, my eyes never leaving the snakes now slithering across the table.

“Where’s the fun in that? Besides, Razoul is watching your reaction. It had to be genuine,” he said with a hint of amusement.

My gaze drifted to Razoul, who seemed bored with the spectacle he’d just created. Princess Lyanna drew my attention away from Razoul, her gaze locking with mine. I watched in horror as she picked up a baby snake and slurped it down like it was a spaghetti noodle. My stomach rolled at the sight, and I shot up from my pillow.

“If you are quite done with this display, can we move onto our real dinner?” I snapped, turning my attention to Razoul.

His eyes simmered with anger, and he huffed in irritation at my outburst.

“Are you not pleased with the meal I have provided, Princess Soraya?” Razoul taunted.

Soraya? Right, that was me. “No, I am not, and judging by the fact that you have yet to scoop up one of these little wiggly serpents, I would say that you have no intention of eating it either,” I hissed, barely containing my anger.

My challenge didn’t go unnoticed as the others in the room collectively gasped. The attitude that Ranen had warned me of returned with a fierce vengeance.

“Sit down,” Ranen berated me.

“I will not. This is stupid, and I am tired,” I argued, walking out of the room without being excused by that arrogant king. A person could only take so much, and I had reached my limit.

I marched into my room, and shooed Arwa away, who quickly left. I started slinging pieces of my extravagant costume off my body. The chiffon floated to the floor like dainty feathers from a bird.

I stopped my hissy fit when Ranen appeared before me, my hands stalling on the tight corset of the bodice tied at my back.

“Turn around,” he instructed in a frustrated tone. I did so reluctantly, scolding myself for foolishly sending Arwa away before helping me get out of these overly tight clothes. Now I had to rely on him to loosen the stays.

He tugged roughly at the ties, obviously upset by myoutburst at dinner. “Your display probably just got you thrown from the palace,” he spat.

“I don’t care,” I whined. “I’ve had enough. Once I get out of these frilly clothes, I’ll scour this palace from top to bottom until I find that book.”

“You won’t have the chance if your head is mounted on a spike.” Ranen growled, but his touch became gentler as I felt the top of the corset loosen.

His fingers danced across my flesh, causing goosebumps to erupt across my skin. “I know this is a lot for you, and you’ve done well until now,” he said, his tone softening.

“Is that a compliment?” I teased, trying to muffle the fact that his warm fingers felt nice upon my skin.

“Hardly,” he scoffed.

Once the last tie loosened, I quickly stepped away from him and toward the changing screen, only to have his black smoke surround me and silky pajamas replace the cumbersome gown.

I turned back to him, placing my hands on my hips. “Why didn’t you do that in the first place instead of taking the time to untie my corset?” I asked in exasperation.

“I’m afraid you wouldn’t like the answer to that question, sayyida, and neither would I,” he grumbled.

Something warm and pleasant fluttered in my stomach like a symphony of butterflies, and I quickly crawled into bed before I was tempted to ask him if it was because he wanted to touch me as badly as I wanted to be touched. That realization alone was enough to prompt me to find that cursed book as quickly as possible and to get away from this man who’d jumbled up my mind and my feelings.

Just as soon as my head hit the soft pillow, a knocksounded at the door. I groaned as Ranen whisked himself away.

“Enter,” I huffed.

Razoul shocked me for the second time tonight when he entered my room with a tray laden with food. I watched him with careful eyes as he approached my bed and placed the tray on my bedside table. A hearty meal of fresh bread and rich soup, swimming with spices and vegetables, awaited me on the tray.

“What? No snakes?” I winced as the sarcastic words tumbled from my lips. My father always said my smart mouth would get me in trouble one day, and it looked like today was that day.

“You’re very bold for a princess,” Razoul stated, crossing his arms over his chest. An apology was on my lips, but then I figured that Ranen would tell me that a princess would never apologize for her actions, so I kept quiet. “It’s refreshing.” I’m sure my mouth hung open. He liked my attitude. That was a first. “I came tonight to tell you that you’re one of my top picks of the marriage candidates.”

“Thank you,” I sputtered, unsure of what to say. I knew this was a good thing, but it felt like a boulder was sitting on my chest.

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