Page 27

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

Mandy curled her fingers around the delicate porcelain teacup, grateful for something to focus on besides the lingering sensation of Kieran's kiss. The spiced tea's exotic fragrance filled her senses, but couldn't quite distract her from the memory of how perfectly she had fit against him, how natural it felt when his arms pulled her close.

Her cheeks burned hotter. She stole another quick glance at him through her lashes, admiring how the morning light caught his silver-white hair. The stern set of his features had softened somewhat, and was that actually a smile playing at the corners of his mouth?

Her heart skipped, then resumed its wild rhythm. She took another sip of tea, trying to calm her racing pulse. The kiss had been unexpected, overwhelming in its intensity. One moment she had been hugging Dinen, delighting in the magical cat's presence, and the next... Her fingers trembled slightly against the teacup as heat bloomed through her chest at the memory.

What did it mean? Should she say something? The silence stretched between them, not exactly uncomfortable but charged with unspoken questions. Mandy focused on her tea, watching the play of light through the delicate porcelain as she tried to gather her scattered thoughts.

That kiss had shattered something inside her, breaking down walls she hadn't even realized she'd built. The raw emotion in his voice when he said he couldn't let death take her - she pressed her free hand against her chest, trying to contain the surge of emotion.

A woman entered the alcove carrying an ornate silver tray, her movements graceful despite her burden. Her dark hair was caught up in an intricate arrangement of braids, and she wore flowing robes in shades of deep red and yellow that seemed to shimmer as she walked. The soft fabric brushed soundlessly against the marble floor with each step.

Dinen padded behind her, the magical cat's blue flames flickering with interest as it sniffed at the covered dishes on the tray. The woman clicked her tongue and gently pushed the massive spotted cat away with her hip.

"No, you greedy thing. This is not for you." Her voice held warmth and affection despite the scolding. "Go hunt your own breakfast."

Mandy couldn't help smiling as Dinen gave an offended chuff before stalking away, tail held high as he easily leaped the balcony railings to disappear into the shrubbery.

The woman set the tray on the table with practiced ease, arranging various covered dishes between Mandy and Kieran.

"Mandy, this is Aaliyah," Kieran said, his deep voice carrying warmth Mandy hadn't heard before. "She keeps this household running smoothly, despite certain feline interference."

Aaliyah's dark eyes crinkled with amusement as she gave a small bow in Mandy's direction. "Welcome to Qaf, my lady. I trust you slept well?"

My lady? Mandy blinked at the formal address, her fingers tightening around the warm teacup. No one had ever called her that before. The words felt foreign, almost surreal in this already magical setting.

"I... yes, thank you. I slept wonderfully." She managed a smile at Aaliyah, still thrown by the unexpected title. Aaliyah's dark eyes twinkled as she finished arranging the covered dishes. With another graceful bow, she glided from the alcove.

"Aaliyah and her family live in the village some distance away," Kieran explained, lifting one of the silver covers to reveal what appeared to be fresh flatbread. Steam rose from the plate, carrying an enticing aroma of herbs. "Many Djinn prefer the traditional lifestyle of the village."

Mandy glanced out the arched windows again, trying to spot signs of the village through the carefully tended greenery. The morning light played across the endless expanse of golden sand, but she couldn't make out any buildings or tents.

"You won't be able to see it from here," Kieran said, apparently reading her curiosity. "It's a few miles away, beyond those dunes."

Mandy turned her attention to the covered dishes, lifting each silver lid with growing curiosity. The aromas that wafted up made her mouth water - fresh bread, eggs that seemed to have been scrambled with unfamiliar but enticing spices, and what appeared to be honey but with an iridescent golden sheen she'd never seen before.

She selected a piece of the flatbread, still warm from the oven, and spread it with the mysterious honey. The flavor burst across her tongue - definitely honey, but with subtle notes of flowers she couldn't name, as if bees had gathered nectar from magical blooms. Next, she tried the eggs, discovering they were perfectly cooked and seasoned with spices that seemed to dance on her palate.

Kieran filled his own plate with practiced efficiency, seemingly familiar with each dish. The comfortable silence stretched between them, broken only by the gentle clink of silverware against fine porcelain and the distant rustle of leaves from the garden.

Mandy sampled one of the strange fruits, its flesh sweet and juicy with a hint of something that reminded her of starlight, if starlight had a taste. She found herself reaching for another piece almost immediately.

The peaceful quiet continued as they ate, giving Mandy time to absorb the surreal nature of sharing breakfast with a Djinn prince in his magical realm. Questions buzzed through her mind like excited bees, but she held them back, savoring both the extraordinary food and the ordinary comfort of a shared meal.

Finally, Kieran set down his empty teacup, the delicate porcelain making no sound against the table's polished surface. His silver-blue eyes met hers with quiet amusement.

"You must have questions," he said, his deep voice carrying a hint of warmth she wasn't used to hearing.

Mandy couldn't help but chuckle, the sound carrying genuine humor despite her confusion about her situation. "So many questions!"

"I asked Jacinth to be with us for this-" Kieran broke off as Jacinth materialized beside their table in a shimmer of blue flames. "Ah, here she is."

"Mandy! Oh, you look wonderful!" Jacinth's musical voice filled the alcove as she clasped her hands together in delight. Her dark eyes sparkled with joy as she studied Mandy. "That galabiyya is perfect on you - the color really brings out your eyes. Is that one of the ones from when you were in Cairo?"

Mandy nodded as she smoothed the soft fabric self-consciously, still adjusting to how comfortable she felt in the traditional Egyptian dress. "Yes, and good morning to you."

" Sabah al-khayr ." The traditional Arabic good morning made sense, given that they were in Qaf.

Jacinth dropped gracefully into the empty chair beside Mandy and immediately reached for one of the covered dishes. "Oh good, I'm starving!" She piled her plate high with flatbread, eggs, and several pieces of the strange iridescent fruit Mandy had enjoyed earlier. "Douglas had the kids up at dawn for some father-son-daughter bonding time, which apparently required pancakes. I love watching them cook together, but honestly, their pancakes are terrible."

Kieran sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as Jacinth practically inhaled a piece of fruit. "Perhaps we could focus on the matter at hand?"

"Mmhmm," Jacinth mumbled around a mouthful of flatbread spread thick with the magical honey. She swallowed and reached for her teacup, eyes dancing with mischief.

Mandy watched the familiar dynamic building between Kieran and Jacinth, their verbal sparring about to begin. While normally she'd enjoy their banter, right now she needed answers more than entertainment.

"So how come I'm not dead?" The words burst from her lips before she could soften them.

Both Djinn stopped and turned to stare at her. Jacinth's teacup froze halfway to her mouth, while Kieran's black brows drew together.

Mandy straightened in her chair, smoothing her galabiyya with nervous fingers. "I'm not stupid. I knew I was dying there in the hospital. The doctors couldn't hide how bad it was, and I could feel it." She lay her palm flat against her chest, remembering the burning agony of the coughs that ripped from her lungs, the terrifying struggle for each breath. "The COVID came on so fast, and turned to pneumonia, and nothing they did helped. I remember thinking that last time I fell asleep... I probably wouldn't wake up again."

She looked between them, noting how they exchanged quick glances. Something passed between them in that look, some silent communication she couldn't quite read.

The silence stretched for a moment, broken only by the gentle clink of Jacinth setting down her teacup. Kieran and Jacinth exchanged another meaningful look, this one longer and more weighted than the first.

Kieran leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze intent on her face. "Do you remember giving me one of your wishes?"

The memory rushed back - lying in the hospital bed, each breath a struggle, Kieran's voice urgent as he asked for her wish. She'd been so tired, barely able to form the words...

Understanding hit her like a thunderbolt. Mandy's eyes widened and she pointed at Kieran triumphantly. "Hah! I knew it! You needed a wish to free yourself from the genie bottle!"

Jacinth choked as she inelegantly snorted her tea.

Kieran turned to Jacinth, his face expressionless. "She said that in the hospital as well."

"She was running a high fever," Jacinth excused.

"She's not now."

Both Djinn looked at her. Mandy hunched her shoulders and mumbled "Judgey" into her teacup.

Something flickered in Kieran's silver-blue eyes as he watched her - a warmth that belied his stern expression. For a moment, the mask of ancient dignity slipped, revealing a tenderness that made her breath catch. Then he settled back in his chair, his usual composure returning as he spoke.

"I needed the wish," Kieran said, his deep voice carefully measured, "to make you a Djinn."

The words hung in the air between them like suspended crystals. Mandy's mind tried to process what he'd just said, but the thoughts kept slipping away like water through her fingers. She stared at them, her teacup frozen halfway to her lips, as they watched her with identical expressions of careful neutrality.

The morning breeze rustled through the garden outside, carrying that impossibly sweet jasmine scent. Dinen's massive form lounged in a patch of sunlight near the arched windows, blue flames flickering lazily along his spotted coat. Everything seemed suddenly to have frozen as time stopped for a few beats of her heart.

Her mouth opened and closed several times before she managed to form words.

"Excuse me, what?"

Jacinth's warm hand closed over Mandy's on the table, her touch gentle but grounding. "You were dying, Mandy. The COVID had destroyed your lungs beyond repair."

The truth of those words resonated through Mandy's body. She remembered the struggle for each breath, the feeling of drowning in her own fluids, the bone-deep exhaustion as her body fought a losing battle.

"The world needs your warmth," Kieran said, his deep voice unusually soft. "Your caring, your compassion." His silver-blue eyes held hers steadily. "You could be a Wish Bearer, if you wished to take on that role later."

"You mean…" Mandy's head spun. "I'm a Djinn? Like you? B-but how? And… I mean. My daughter… my writing?"

"You can continue your human life exactly as you planned," Kieran assured her. "Write your books, swim in your mermaid tail, live as you always have." He gestured elegantly with one hand. "We Djinn can look as young or old as we wish, and you can appear to age appropriately. When the time comes to leave the mortal realm behind, Qaf will be waiting."

The kindness in his voice, so different from his usual stern demeanor, made her throat tight with unexpected emotion.

Turning her attention inward, Mandy tried to sense any differences in herself. That overwhelming feeling of well-being remained - her body felt light and energized in a way she'd never experienced before. But aside from that, she felt... normal. Just herself.

"I don't feel any different," she said hesitantly. "I mean, I feel amazing, but not... magical?"

Kieran's lips curved slightly. "Hold out your hand."

Mandy extended her right hand, palm up, watching as Kieran held his own hand out beside hers. Her breath caught as a small blue flame flickered to life in his palm, dancing and swaying like a living thing.

Before she could comment, an answering flame appeared in her own palm. The warmth surprised her - not hot or burning, but pleasant, like holding a cup of perfectly heated tea. Her flame moved with a life of its own, swaying toward Kieran's as if drawn by an invisible force.

The two flames stretched toward each other, their edges blending in an intricate dance of blue light. Mandy watched, mesmerized, as they twirled together before separating again, each returning to its original palm. She glanced up to find Kieran watching her rather than the flames, something deep and unguarded in his silver-blue eyes that made time seem to slow around them. The moment stretched between them until Jacinth quietly cleared her throat, and Kieran's usual mask of calm settled back into place.

"Oh," she breathed, staring at the small blue flame dancing in her palm, still mesmerized by its gentle warmth and fluid movements. The sight seemed impossible, yet there it was - tangible proof of her transformation.

"To extinguish it, simply decide you want it put away," Kieran said, his deep voice pulling her attention from the mystical fire.

Blinking, Mandy focused on the flame. Put it away? She pictured the fire disappearing, willing it to vanish. To her amazement, the blue flame winked out instantly, leaving her palm empty and unmarked.

"Can I call it back whenever I want?" She flexed her fingers, searching for any lingering sensation of warmth.

"Yes, to a limited extent. I have banked most of your fire for now," Kieran explained, his silver-blue eyes intent on her face. "What you have access to is a small portion - enough to experiment with and learn to control."

"You'll need to master your magic before you have full access," he continued. "Starting with the basics of calling and dismissing your fire at will."

"Especially important before you return to the mortal realm," Jacinth added, her musical voice carrying a note of seriousness that caught Mandy's attention. "We can't have your magic accidentally flaring up while you're at the grocery store or during a book signing."

The image of blue flames suddenly appearing while she was checking out at Safeway made Mandy shudder. "Yes, that would definitely be bad."

Suddenly Jacinth's words hit her.

"Wait." She stared at Kieran and Jacinth, her mind struggling to process this new realization. "The mortal realm? I'm… I'm immortal?"

Jacinth's face lit up with that brilliant smile that seemed to fill any room with joy. She nodded enthusiastically, dark eyes sparkling.

Kieran's response was more subdued - a slight inclination of his head, but his silver-blue eyes held warmth as they met hers.

His voice in the hospital echoed in her memory - I do return your love - words she'd thought were fever dreams. Her heart stuttered as she realized they had been real. This powerful, ancient being hadn't just saved her life - he'd chosen to share his immortality with her, transforming her very essence because he couldn't bear to lose her. The enormity of that gift, that choice, left her breathless.

Not just healed, not just restored to health, but fundamentally transformed. She would never age, never grow frail, never face another ending. Centuries would pass like seasons, millennia like years. The concept stretched before her like an endless horizon, too vast to fully comprehend.

She set her cup carefully down before her. "I think I need more tea."

About to pour another cup of the fragrant tea, she caught Jacinth eyeing her sideways with a distinctly mischievous expression.

"What?" she asked cautiously.

Jacinth leaned forward, propping her elbow on the table and resting her chin in her palm. Her dark eyes danced with barely contained mischief as she studied Mandy's face.

"Did you know," Jacinth asked with feigned innocence, "that Djinn have wings?"

Mandy stared at her friend, the teapot frozen as she held it poised over her cup. "We what now?"

Jacinth's musical laughter filled the alcove. As Mandy watched, mesmerized, a pair of magnificent wings unfurled behind Jacinth's shoulders. They shimmered with iridescent colors that reminded Mandy of mother-of-pearl, catching the morning light and fragmenting it into rainbow prisms that danced across the marble walls.

"We... we can fly?" Mandy stammered, her mind reeling at the sight of Jacinth's shimmering wings. The iridescent colors reminded her of abalone shells she'd collected as a child, shifting between pearl and rainbow with each movement.

Kieran held up one elegant hand. "Yes, but only in Qaf." His deep voice carried a note of warning. "There are far too many cameras and satellites in the mortal realm now, as we have seen with the shifters. The risk is simply too great."

Mandy's initial surge of excitement deflated slightly at his words, though she couldn't argue with the logic. In an age where everyone carried phones and security cameras watched every corner, magical beings flying through the sky would be impossible to hide. Still, the thought that she could fly at all, even if only in Qaf, sent a thrill of wonder through her.

She tried to imagine what it would feel like - soaring above those endless golden dunes, watching the magical landscape unfold beneath her wings. Wings. She would have actual wings. The concept seemed simultaneously impossible and perfectly natural, like everything else about this extraordinary morning.

"How do I get wings?" Mandy leaned forward eagerly, her heart thumping with excitement. "I want to fly!"

"I'll teach you!" Jacinth's musical voice chimed at the exact moment Kieran's deep tones declared, "Not yet."

Kieran's silver-blue eyes narrowed as he turned to Jacinth, who dissolved into a fit of giggles, her iridescent wings furling and disappearing as if they had never been.

"First," Kieran's stern voice cut through Jacinth's mirth, "you must learn to control your magic. Your fire." His expression softened slightly as he met Mandy's gaze. "Wings require a level of mastery you have not yet achieved. The blue fire is the foundation of all Djinn magic - it must be second nature before you attempt more complex abilities."

A sigh escaped before Mandy could catch it, though she understood his reasoning. The memory of that small blue flame dancing in her palm, how it had moved with a will of its own, told her there was much to learn. Still, the promise of wings, of flight, beckoned like a shining dream on the horizon.

"You know," Jacinth said casually, "the villagers wanted to throw an enormous feast to welcome you properly."

Caught in the act of taking a drink, tea went down the wrong way as Mandy choked in alarm. The thought of being the center of attention at a huge celebration filled her with instant panic. She coughed, trying to clear her throat while her mind conjured horrifying images of crowds and formal ceremonies.

Jacinth's musical laughter filled the alcove. "Don't worry! I explained that you're what humans call an introvert." She ignored Kieran's disapproving scowl. "I told them you'd be much more comfortable with a quiet welcome."

Relief flooded through Mandy so strongly she sagged in her chair. "Thank you," she managed, still dabbing at the tea she'd spilled. The thought of facing a village full of strangers, all focused on her... She shuddered. "Really, thank you."

A new worry slammed into Mandy with the force of a freight train. She sat bolt upright, her hand clutching the delicate teacup so hard she feared it might shatter.

"Sabrina! Oh god, what about Sabrina? And the hospital - did I just vanish? Are they looking for me?"

The thought of her daughter frantic with worry, calling hospitals and police, made her stomach clench. She set down the teacup before she could drop it, her hands trembling.

Jacinth's warm laugh surprised her. "Mandy, breathe. This is exactly the sort of thing Wish Bearers deal with all the time."

"Your daughter believes you're back home, and doing fine," Kieran said, his deep voice soothing. "The hospital records show that your condition improved dramatically and you were discharged."

"All the paperwork is properly filed," Jacinth added. "The doctors' notes, the transfer orders, everything. Arthur - he's another Djinn, and a good friend - helped arrange it all."

Relief flooded through Mandy, but anxiety still twisted in her chest. "I need to call Sabrina. She'll be worried if she hasn't heard from me in..." She paused, realizing she had no idea how much time had passed. "How long was I asleep?"

"Two days," Jacinth assured her. "Which she'll consider perfectly normal for someone recovering from severe COVID. You can call her whenever you're ready."

Mandy reached for her phone, then realized she didn't have it with her. Her galabiyya didn't even have pockets.

"You'll need to make the call from the human realm," Kieran said, his deep voice gentle. "Cell phones don't function in Qaf - for obvious reasons."

"I can take you whenever you wish," he added. "Though perhaps you'd like to finish your breakfast first?"

Jacinth rose from her chair in a graceful swirl of silk. "And that's my cue to leave. Breakfast at home will be over by now, and Benny has soccer practice this morning." She bent to give Mandy a quick hug. "Welcome to the family, sister."

The warmth in Jacinth's voice made Mandy's throat tight with unexpected emotion. Before she could respond, Jacinth vanished in a shimmer of blue flames, leaving behind only a trace of jasmine scent.