Page 35 of Bound By Wishes

“So, where are the horses?” I asked, distancing myself from the increasingly irresistible genie who made me feel comfortable in his arms.

Ranen’s dark eyes collided with mine. “Patience is a virtue, sayyida.”

“Sorry. Fresh out.” I tried to smile, but I was too tired to actually put forth much effort, let alone act like I cared about proper horseback riding.

In a flash, two majestic beasts appeared, a striking difference in their appearance, with each embodying grace and power in its own unique way.

The black horse was a magnificent stallion, his coat as dark as midnight shimmering under the sunlight. His mane and tail were long and flowing, reminding me of black silk. Muscles rippled beneath his sleek coat, flaunting his strength and agility.

Beside him, the white horse was a vision, something out of a fairy tale. Her coat was pure and pristine, almostglowing with a silvery luster. Her eyes were a clear, vibrant blue, radiating a gentle intelligence. Together the black and white horses created a perfect balance, much like the brooding genie and me.

I walked up to the smaller white horse, running my hand along her velvety soft nose. She pranced eagerly, ready to run free. I couldn’t blame her—the feeling was mutual.

The stallion pawed the ground, sending particles of sand flying as he snorted impatiently. Ranen gripped the saddle horn and effortlessly lifted himself into the saddle. I glanced at the saddle on the white steed, which was different than what I was used to. “Is this a sidesaddle?” I asked, cringing because of its odd shape.

“What else would a princess use?” Ranen taunted, his eyes dancing with amusement as he leaned forward in his seat.

I threw my arms in the air in frustration. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe something a little more comfortable. Like a man’s saddle,” I grumbled.

“It’s unheard of and very unladylike,” he replied, shaking his head as if the idea was absurd.

“Right. Play the part, no matter how daunting it may be,” I whispered under my breath, drawing closer to the saddle and trying to figure out how I was going to get into the thing in this long, tight dress.

“Sayyida, don’t make this difficult.” Ranen’s tone was laced with impatience. “Place your right foot in the stirrup. Then use it and the support of your left hand on the pommel to lift yourself up.” He waited for me to meet his gaze before continuing. “Swing your left leg over the horse's withers, keeping it bent at the knee. Your left leg should rest on thesaddle with your knee against the pommel, then sit down gently, ensuring your skirt is adjusted modestly.”

“Easy for you to say,” I groaned.

Using the stirrup, I easily lifted myself off the ground. My sweaty palm gripped the pommel and I attempted to swing my left leg over the horse’s withers. And that was when everything went wrong. I gasped when my hand slipped, bracing myself as I fell toward the sandy ground.

Strong arms snatched me midair, and the air whooshed from my lungs as I collided with a solid chest. His black smoke settled around us, indicating he’d used his magic to reach me in time. I blinked up at Ranen, who smiled down at me with a sarcastic smirk, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Not very graceful, sayyida,” he teased.

This was the second time I ended up in his arms, and both times did unspeakable things to my composure. My heart raced uncontrollably, and a warmth spread through me that I couldn’t ignore. His touch, his proximity, the way his eyes seemed to see right through me—it all left me breathless and unnerved. He sat my feet back on the ground, but his hands lingered at my waist much longer than was necessary. Our almost-kiss resurfaced in my mind, and it frightened me more than I cared to admit that I wanted it.

Ranen was the one to step back first this time, his eyes turning hard and steely. “We’ll practice mounting again later.” He lifted me into the saddle, quickly removing his hands and walking back over to his own mount.

The sting of his quick rejection felt like a pesky bee, small yet painful. I disregarded the feeling, focusing instead on adjusting my skirt to ensure my legs were properly covered.

Without a word, Ranen nudged his horse forward, and it reared before racing across the desert. The mare beneath me pranced eagerly, her muscles tense with the desire to chase after the stallion, but I pulled back on her reins, holding us both back from pursuing the pair of impressive studs. Instead, I allowed her to settle into a steady trot as I adjusted to the unfamiliar feel of riding sidesaddle.

I quickly decided I hated the thing. Every trot made me feel as though I might slide right off the horse. Gripping the pommel tightly, I fought to steady myself.

The urge to sling my other leg over and ride astride like a man was relentless, but the underlayer of my skirt was far too tight to allow such defiance. Ranen disappeared over the dunes, seemingly trying to distance himself from me. Once we reached the top of the dune, I paused to look at the breathtaking scene.

The desert stretched out in an expanse of shimmering sands, meeting the deep blue of the ocean. I hadn’t realized that Ranen had brought us to the sea. The sight soothed my tattered nerves. The sand, fine and soft, flowed in gentle curves down to the water's edge where it met the sea.

Gentle waves lapped against the sandy shore, the rhythmic sound soothing to my ever-souring mood. Ranen waited by the water’s edge, and I nudged my horse down the steep dune toward him.

We sat there in silence, at peace with each other and our surroundings. Ranen shifted in the saddle, the leather creaking softly under his weight. “Is there anything you’re good at?” he teased, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

“If you give me a man’s saddle, I’ll gladly show you howgood I am,” I responded with a smirk. “Or are you afraid that someone will better you in something?”

The challenge did the trick. Ranen’s magic brushed against the horse, replacing the horrid sidesaddle with one I was more accustomed to.

I reached down to the hem of my skirt, where the underlayer was seamed together, and ripped the material halfway up my thigh. I smiled while Ranen’s pupils narrowed and his gaze fixed on my skin. I swung my leg over the saddle and eased up on the reins, giving the mare her head and letting her run. Cool saltwater sprayed my face as we raced through the surf. The rhythmic pounding of my horse’s hooves blended with the sound of the crashing waves. Wind whipped through my hair, and the salty scent of the ocean filled my lungs as we sped along the shoreline.

I glanced back to see Ranen and his long-legged stallion quickly gaining on us. I urged the mare to go faster, and she happily complied. The gap between us and Ranen widened, the mare’s hooves flinging up sprays of saltwater and sand with every stride. I could hear Ranen’s laughter carried by the wind, deep and rich. The thrill of the chase coursed through me, and for a moment, all worries and fears were left behind, swallowed by the endless horizon.

The beach quickly gave way to rugged rock and dirt. I pulled my horse to a sudden stop, nearly toppling forward in the saddle. My heart lodged in my throat as I stared down from the top of a steep cliff, the ocean swirling angrily below with jagged rocks jutting out from the foaming waves. The mare snorted nervously, her ears pinned back as she sensed the danger below.

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