Page 42 of Bound By Wishes

My spine stiffened at his question. Pride begged me to lie to him. “Years,” I answered truthfully.

His hand gripped mine, forcing my resolve to further crumble. “Tell me what happened to you,” he urged.

I stood up from the bed, my gut roiling. No matter how much I trusted Ranen, I could never tell him about that night. It lived within me like a plague, ever-present and haunting, a shadow I could never escape. I was too ashamedto voice out loud what had nearly happened to me. “It’s nothing to concern yourself with,” I said, brushing off his concern.

I rushed into the bathroom before he could ask more questions. My resolve was already weak after what had happened yesterday and the way he’d held me in his arms while I fell apart.

I splashed cold water on my face to soothe my red-rimmed eyes. I blindly reached for a towel, only for my hands to brush against a rigid chest.

Gasping, I stepped back, but Ranen ventured closer. I froze as he wiped a fluffy towel across my face, the unexpected softness and gentleness contrasting sharply with the tension I felt.

“You don’t have to tell me, sayyida,” he said in a tone that was entirely too understanding. “We all have demons we are trying to outrun. I only wish I knew how exhausted you were so I could have helped you.” His words shattered the fragile remains of my composure. “You have my word that as long as I am around, you will never have to worry about those nightmares again,” he swore.

It was a sweet thought to have someone promise me no more nightmares, but the truth was, our time together was running out.

I stepped away from his touch, pulling the towel with me. “You’re not going to be around much longer. Once this whole mess is over, you’ll go your way, and I’ll go mine.” Something darkened his gaze, but he didn’t contradict my words. “I thought you wanted me to go in search of the book last night?” I asked, remembering his words from yesterday. “You didn’t wake me.”

He crossed his arms before his chest. “The book can wait. After the day you had yesterday, you needed some rest.”

“Thank you,” I said, barely above a whisper. I could scarcely believe this harsh, brooding genie was putting my needs ahead of his agenda.

It looked as though Ranen was going to say something else, but he was interrupted by Arwa. “Princess? Are you in there?” she squeaked. Ranen vanished in a puff of smoke.

“I’m coming,” I answered with a huff and walked out of the bathroom.

To my surprise, she was not alone. There was a vaguely familiar man standing in the doorway with greasy hair that was slicked back out of his face.

He bowed before me. “Princess, I am Mozenwrath. The king’s adviser. From now on, I will be in charge of you,” he said as he slowly rose. He reminded me of an eel as his dark, beady eyes locked onto mine.

I became acutely aware that I was wearing a silken deep purple nightgown. Last night, when Ranen had scooped me up in his arms, I’d been wearing that awful blood-stained dress. He must have used his magic to change my clothes to keep Namir from going predator. Now, I was kicking myself for not grabbing a robe before walking out of the bathroom. Embarrassment pinched my cheeks as I folded my arms protectively in front of me.

“What do you mean, in charge of me?” I asked, suspicion creeping into my tone.

Mozenwrath’s head bowed slightly. “I will be at your beck and call, Princess. I’ll ensure you are dressed appropriately and arrive at the right place at the right time,” heexplained. “Everything about you has to be perfect, and I am the man who will ensure that you are.”

My pulse quickened. “Is there a reason why I suddenly need your assistance?” I asked with a little too much anger in my tone.

He stepped closer. “The king will be selecting his bride today, and I am to ensure everyone and everything is perfect.”

I took a step back. “I see.” Suddenly I was an endless pit of nerves.

“I’ve selected your clothes for today’s announcement,” he said, waving his arm, and suddenly the room was filled with servants, their arms draped with clothes, silks, jewels, and other finery.

Inwardly, I cringed. The last time so many people tried to dress me, I ended up passing out and Ranen had to revive me by ripping my corset. The memory made my cheeks flush.

“What are you thinking about, sayyida?” Ranen’s deep voice echoed in my head, and I was sure my blush deepened.

“Oh, be quiet,” I scolded him a little too loudly, causing all eyes to turn in my direction. Ranen’s deep laughter rumbled in my head.

Once their relentless torture was done, I turned, catching my reflection in the mirror. The bodice was form-fitting, accentuating my figure, and was adorned with jewels and gold beads that flowed down the length of the A-line skirt like a thousand sparkling stars. The neckline was a delicate V-neck, trimmed with golden threads.

They draped a ruby necklace around my neck. Its central gem was as large as a quail's egg. It shimmered with deep,fiery hues, encircled by a halo of smaller diamonds that sparkled with every tilt of my head. Arwa brought over matching stud earrings, adding a final touch to the look.

Mozenwrath, who had been observing everything from the shadows, held out his hand. I reluctantly took it, and he led me out into the grand hallway. The marble floors echoed our footsteps as we made our way toward the throne room. Just outside a grand velvet curtain stood the other two candidates, their dresses as extravagant as mine. A pang of sorrow twisted in my chest as I thought of Elenor. She should be here with us, but her life had been cruelly taken by the Canaari Medjai.

The other two princesses' gazes swept over me, as frigid and indifferent as a winter wind. I exhaled and leaned against one of the marble columns.

“Princesses should always stand up straight,” Ranen scolded.

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