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Chapter 20

The Coral Hub

~DOLLY~

Oh my god. I am wigging out!

In the cool tunnel, I clutch my neck, my chest reacting in ways I definitely consider negative—thanks to the way Arrik just gripped my wrist and spun me around like we were in some twisted dance. Then he pinned me against the railing with his stupidly hot body.

It’s been like this since I first sat on his freaking lap!

But now, I’m reading into everything. Every tense moment. The smoky hallway of that nightclub. Velis’s bedroom closet. My mother’s basement. Arrik’s bedroom. I’m obsessing over it all. Is it magical? The same way my interactions with Velis are magical?

Yeah, but like, leagues above. This feels supernatural. Is it because of our arrows? Is that what happens when tips touch?

My first kiss with Velis. And the first kiss I ever initiated with Arrik—my first willing kiss with Arrik. Both seemed to stop time. And somewhere, in a teeny-tiny part of me, I can’t help but wonder—if it’s true I have some freaky connection with that bottle, and I’m not really either of their soulmates, it won’t... end the magic, will it? We’ve always said it wouldn’t, in theory.

But Vel’s entire personality was already ripped away once .

“Hey, rash.” Arrik waves his hand in front of my face because he just vowed not to touch me. “Meet reason: my brother loves you, soulmate or not. Obnoxiously so. It’s unlike you to doubt it. Get that bottle out of your head.”

Sometimes, you need to ignore the shark in front of you if you want to swim to safety.

“Sorry, it’s a lot.”

“You’re telling me,” he mutters, pressing on along the secret walkway elevated above where the general populace traverses. Below, it looks no different than it did last night. Or last—whatever time it was when we arrived here. Same energy. The roadway below sparks with stars from the exhaust of passing vehicles. The walls glow with amber coral. I trail behind Arrik, trying not to think of the shark—when the shark is literally directly in front of me this time—as rocks crumble and bounce down a cliff that isn’t steep enough to trigger my phobias.

“How many times have you been here?” I ask him.

“Once or twice. Never with a human.”

“Is there a reason you chose this place, other than it being random and remote?”

He turns to walk backward, continuing his charade of normalcy. “It’s a vibe,” he echoes my earlier thoughts.

It is.

“How’d you sleep?” I ask.

It takes him a moment to answer. “The bed was nice. I appreciate it.”

I stay back from him, relieved to be out of the confines of a motel room with temptation incarnate. The warmth of the glowing coral becomes tangible as more and more of it clusters around the walls. Below, people travel on foot toward massive open doors that almost appear to be on fire, an illusion created by the coral scattered all around the rocks.

Arrik is quiet. I know him well enough to know he’s contemplating, theorizing, speculating. He told me to stop thinking so much, but it’s advice he’ ll never take.

If he figures out anything useful, I hope he shares it with me, because I’m kinda freaking out over here and worried about Velis, and him, and us.

The glow of the coral overtakes us, bouncing off our skin as our secret walkway finally takes us down a ramp to join the main population. It’s much harder to avoid running into people down here, especially since we’re invisible.

Wasting more magic, Arrik snaps. I’m still in those stupid overalls, but now I’ve got a cloak to match many of those around us. I assume, by the startled reactions of those nearby, we’re visible again.

I wish there were a noise or blinker or something to alert me—but I don’t dare say that aloud.

Arrik guides me through the crowd, weaving us between clusters of hooded guests, mingling and shopping. Merchants sit cross-legged on rugs lining the way to doors carved into the cavern walls. The air smells of spices and grease.

There are cages filled with small, live animals—monkey-like creatures, winged lizards—alongside an assortment of food, wares, and what I’m pretty sure is drug paraphernalia.

Arrik and I aren’t speaking, but I can see his subtle reactions in the chiseled lines of his face as he listens to my thoughts. He knows everything I’m thinking, everything I observe. Like a conscience, a shadow, a piece of my own mind. He doesn’t confirm it, though.

I distract myself with our exotic surroundings as he leads me into one of the hubs of the Arrowhead.

Wow. The path here was nothing compared to the inside. It’s a carnival of light, bathed in the glow of bioluminescent coral beneath dripping stalactites and between jagged stalagmites. Those floor vendors outside must’ve been rogue. Here, colorful tents shimmer with magical light, and hooded figures sweep in and out, toting goods like it’s a well-known black market.

A wide lake in the center reflects the dreamy light from boats strung with glowing decorations. The space hums with clandestine energy—like a secret carnival for the unknown, where everyone’s identity is hidden beneath cloaks, and beings from every corner of the universes slip through society’s cracks.

Arrik’s large, cool hand clamps down on my shoulder—involuntarily breaking his vow, as if the force of my reaction obliterates him. “Sorry, DJ,” he pants.

He pulls his hand back when he sees my eyes glistening with unshed tears. “DJ?”

“You chose this place for me, didn’t you? It’s not random.”

He straightens, regaining his cool composure. “It was the first place that came to mind. I figured if I was taking you somewhere anyway. You okay?”

It ticks all my Dolly boxes, and honestly, it’s one of the most dazzling man-/djinn-/Celestial-made places I’ve ever seen with my human eyes.

It’s so . . . beautiful.

I blink away the moisture, gathering myself with a small shake of my head. “Yeah. It’s just been a long few days. And I’m... worried about Vel.”

Along one wall is a staircase of flat coral, forming natural steps up to a particularly bright and busy area. “What’s that over there?”

“Casino. If there are other humans here, that’s where they’ll be. But...” He hesitates. “We’ll avoid that.”

“ Why ?”

“Let’s check out the gondolas.” He steers me away, clearly trying to divert the conversation.

Either humans are being bet on like dog races, or they’re being given out as prizes—that’s my guess.

“They’re in no danger. Their lives are decent. There’s nothing you can do.”

“Okay, but are they willingly—”

“Come here.” He hooks an arm around me to distract me from whatever human rights violations may be happening at the blinding casino on the ledge. His elbow around my neck feels different, heightened, date-like. I slip away tactfully, keeping the space between us. Velis would not approve of that. I follow Arrik toward the mirror-like lake, gleaming with stolen colors from the circus-bright cavern. At one stall, a small cart sells pouches of glowing stones in various shapes. They almost look like candy. Arrik swipes one off the top of the cart and scans his room key disc thing over what looks like a reader.

The magical machine makes a twinkling noise, and the hooded person behind the counter gives us a nod. Arrik strolls to a long stone pier that stretches across the water and ends in a rotunda with benches, where several other couples are gathered. He leans casually against the sagging, light-infused chain separating us from the water and drops the pouch into my palm.

“What do I do with them?” I ask.

“Toss some into the water.”

“Fish food?”

“Technically, a fish could eat one, I guess.”

I take a handful of tiny stars, cubes, and spheres from the loose pouch and toss them into the lake. They’re heavy enough to sink.

But instead of sinking, they explode the second they touch the water, releasing a mini firework display against the reflective surface. Colors shoot outward like liquid light, drawing an “Ooh” from the couple next to us.

“They’re—” Whatever word Arrik says doesn’t quite translate, but it sounds like ‘aquafulgor.’

I stand mesmerized, watching the last of the underwater flares flicker and fade.

I pick another stone from the pouch, pyramid-shaped this time, and dangle my hand over the edge of the pier. I let it drop, like a toy parachute, into the water, where it erupts in a brilliant pop of light.

The flick of a human lighter is an odd sound around genies, but I hear it as Arrik lights a roll of pink paper beside me. He glances at me with sidelong amusement as I experiment with the rest of the bag.

“Do you want to throw any?” I ask.

He waves me off, enjoying his fairy joint. Sparkling smoke swirls around us, blending with the mist around the water’s surface. The hum of excitement buzzes in the air, charged with magic.

Done with the aquafulgor, I turn to him. “So, these captive humans—”

“Forget it. I absolutely do not have enough magic to take you on a liberation mission, Dolly Jones. Let’s go find something to eat.”

He takes my loose overall pocket with his index finger and leads me away from the water’s edge.

The lake is surrounded by a collection of food carts that smell incredible. I’ll never be able to go back to human food—except fries and ranch, obvi —after what I’ve experienced in these realms. I choose something on a stick and deep-fried, the inside gooey with a paste Arrik promises wouldn’t violate my ethical code.

He pumps thick white liquid into a cup from a pumper bottle on an adjacent cart and tries to pass it off to me. “This is not ranch dressing,” he tells me upfront.

“Then I have no interest in it.”

He jabs it at me. “It’s better.”

“Well, now it’s a challenge,” I say, dipping the deep-fried filling into the small cup he’s holding out.

It’s not better.

But it may be on par. Or very nearly. Creamy, lightly seasoned.

I take the cup from him and finish the rest of the deep-fried delicacy. Arrik has none of it.

“What are you going to eat?” I ask, watching him toss my wooden stick over his shoulder, where it disappears.

He shrugs, then scans the food carts decorated with a rainbow of glowing light, settling on one with a blinking neon sign.

“Potstickers. ”

When he orders them, they look far different from any ‘potsticker’ I’ve seen in the human world. Mostly because the inside part of them is squirming. “You won’t like them,” he says before he crunches down on what looks to be an appendage of some unfortunate creature.

Arrik always looks particularly un-human when he eats.

I shift my focus to that ritzy casino flashing on the horizon. “Maybe you could try using my soul.”

His eyes flash to mine in what’s a definite display of even more un-humanness.

“For the . . . captive humans?” I finish.

“No. Wheel of light?” he distracts. The name of the Ferris-wheel-like ride closest to us, apparently. “Or is that too high off the ground?”

“I’m fine if there’s a rail.” It should help offer a vantage of this entire ‘hub.’ And maybe a better view of that casino holding human hostages.

A hearty eye roll from the king of them as he pays for two tickets and ushers me into a bucket-seat that’s not far off at all from those in the human world. The carriage rocks as he takes his place opposite me, and a man in a hood with gemlike red eyes closes the gate behind us.

Arrik Reilhander dangles another pink cigarette over the edge of the carriage, his legs taller than intended for this ride, forcing his knees wide to accommodate him.

Standardly human, the carriage rotates one spot as passengers exit and new ones take their places. Arrik remains silent, gazing out the window throughout the entire boarding process. We lift into the air, and the temperature pleasantly drops, a cool breeze channeling through from one of the many tunnels. Below, a breathtaking display of coral spreads across the cavern floor, contrasting with the darkest reaches. Magic and light paint everything, the air rich with indulgent fragrances.

Arrik savors his cigarette like it’s his last, drawing long breaths and exhaling over the hauntingly distorted water beside us, where carnival-goers toss firework rocks to watch them explode. There are so many contraptions, stalls, and activities I have no reference for. It feels like it would take a week to explore and learn it all.

But really, how could anyone enjoy it knowing there are people being held capt—

“There are no captive humans,” Arrik cuts off my thoughts and flicks his expelled cigarette into the depths below as we reach the top of the wheel for its final boarding.

“What do you mean?”

He shakes his head, meeting my eye, a trace of amusement forcing its way onto his lips. “I should have expected as much. There are no captive humans. At least, not that I know of.”

“But you said—”

“And you haven’t worried about Velis in—” He glances at an invisible watch, though I’ve never seen a genie wear one. “I didn’t expect this much worry out of you. Defeats the purpose. I’ll have to think of something else.”

Goddamn it. He knows me too well. That aside, did he lie to me at all during that exchange? If there’s a truth oath, it never triggered, and it isn’t triggering now.

“You don’t have to worry about that, Arrik. I’m trying to trust Velis is doing what he thinks is best. If we go too long without an update, I’ll wish him back. But I realize I’m super codependent and shouldn’t feel like this after a day apart. I’m going to respect his wishes—at least for a few more hours.”

Arrik’s eyebrow arches.

“Honestly, if you’re looking for a way to distract me, I know a better one. Will you share whatever you’ve been stewing on? I can tell you’ve been ‘creative solutioning’ in there. I’m not a bad partner for that, if you remember.”

So? You’re a smart girl. I’ll present you the problem, and you try to come up with a solution. A rational one.

He sticks his tongue into his cheek for a moment, then sighs. “Fine, but I don’t think you’ll like it. ”

“I can handle it. I want to know what’s going on as much as anyone.”

The wheel begins to spin, much faster than any Ferris wheel I’ve ever been on. The moment it takes off, I jerk forward, falling between Arrik’s open knees. His artful hands catch me, and I feel a prickly energy where his skin touches mine. “You okay?”

I raise my voice to fight the wind. “Yeah, just not prepared!”

He nods, his voice carrying effortlessly over the noise. “Fate. I’ve been trying to determine how to combat it, should we encounter your stalker again. And I think I’ve come up with an answer, but speaking it might defeat the purpose.”

Not sure what that means.

“What do you believe is the opposite of fate?” he asks.

“I’m not sure. Chance? Randomness?”

“Close,” he says, leaving the word hanging in the air before continuing. “And yes, I have been questioning something. You’ve never brought it up yourself, but maybe it’s because you don’t know enough about the rules of bonding and tethering.”

The whole system still confuses me. I try to think back through all the times I’ve been tethered or bonded to a genie...

“I don’t fully get the difference.”

“Magic likes intimacy,” he says, his tone a low purr, as if trying to downplay the significance of the topic. “When you kiss us, it allows for the moment of intimacy needed to sink our hooks into your soul. It’s not a conscious thing. After that, all we can think about is that first wish. We crave it like any other physical need—because until you make it, there’s a chance someone else could take you from us. And by then, you’re already the most important person in our lives.

“Everything about the process is designed to lead you to that first wish. The type of prey you are, the weight of your heart’s desire, how we’re immediately under your thumb—forced to obey, unable to deceive, compelled to protect—all of it is meant to make you feel safe. Because that wish forges the bridge to your soul, binding us together. Once that connection is made, there’s no getting away. We should be able to reach you no matter where you are.”

My stomach twists at the possessiveness in his voice. His sense of ownership over his masters, me included, feels more unsettling the longer he speaks.

But then, something clicks.

“Wait—so that first time, when I bonded all four of you... after I tricked you into giving Velis your contest earnings, while Velis was stuck in the past—why couldn’t you three just summon yourselves to me? You’ve always been able to do it, through time, space, even pockets of both.”

“Exactly,” Arrik affirms.

“Exactly what?”

“That’s the nature of wishing. You can’t control anyone else’s destiny—only your own.”

One of the first things Velis ever told me.

“And ours,” Arrik adds bluntly.

“Wait, what? How?”

“Think about it. Bond privileges override everything else. We’ve always been able to summon ourselves to you while bonded—except when it goes against your own desires. That’s why Jeb and Beckham couldn’t just summon themselves to you after you stole our earnings and fled with Velis that day. You wished they couldn’t.”

Right. That’s probably why Velis was so alarmed when I almost wished he’d ‘leave me the fuck alone’ during our first day together too. It also lines up with when Velis said his brothers were after me because ‘only his master’ could force him to forfeit the contest by wishing his earnings away.

“Are you saying a wish-granter’s destiny is placed in their master’s hands while they’re bonded?”

“It’s not a documented rule, but based on context logic, I believe so.”

I was bonded to Velis. Then I was bonded to all four of them—until Velis removed the lock on my soul and granted my first full wish. That’s when he and I tethered for the first time, severing my bond with the rest of them.

When the nymphs forced Velis and me to break our tether, that’s when Arrik stepped in and tethered me fully for the first time too. We broke that tether the night of the coronation, leaving me free for Beckham to steal and bond. Only he couldn’t turn that bond into a tether because none of my wishes stuck—thanks to whatever Arrik did in the past to protect my soul. Velis and I tethered again later that night, removing Beckham’s shackle. And it’s been that way ever since.

Until I kissed Arrik’s vessel. Now, we’re assuming that while I’m still fully tethered to Velis, I’m bonded to Arrik too. Does that mean Arrik’s craving my first wish for him right this very moment? Is that why a shadow crosses his face every time my soul comes up?

I glance at his hands, noticing his fingers digging into his knees as I acknowledge it. He catches himself and folds them between his open thighs instead.

“Point is, you may have even more power over your own destiny, and ours, than we’re assuming. We shouldn’t overlook that fact. And when it comes to you and your particularly potent soul... Fate allows strange things with you, Master.”

Don’t love that .

He’s quiet as the speeding wheel begins to slow. I’m quiet as I process.

“There,” he says when the ride comes to a stop, a little smug. “Aren’t you glad you pressed ?”

“I can handle difficult concepts, Arrik.”

“Except when it comes to poor captive humans, apparently,” he snarks, offering me a hand out of the carriage.

“Yeah, well, ‘captive humans’ aside, I’m glad you told me where your thoughts are at. I know you like to let them stew, but it’s a relief for those of us out here to know your brain is constantly working. I think you’re on the right track. ”

He stops to buy us a pair of drinks from a vendor peddling vials that look like they should hold potions rather than beverages.

“Is there anything else you’ve been keeping to yourself?” I ask.

“Of course there is,” he says, handing me mine. “That’s a vague question.”

We’ve yet to test if the truth oath is actually intact, but is it just me, or does that feel like skirting? I don’t want to know. The same reason I’m not asking about whatever happened that night on the balcony.

“Smart girl,” he mutters, glancing behind us like there’s someone there.

But there’s no one there. At least no one that appears to be paying us any mind. The air glows with hazy light as people consume, play balloon-popping games with balloons made of energy, and make conversation in a myriad of languages not being translated for my mortal ears. We continue along in silence, in unison, sipping a beverage that tastes—I have no idea how else to describe it—like a birthday party. Fizzy, festive. There are so many more tastes than I ever imagined possible.

Arrik finishes his first and lobs the bottle into a wastebin beside a square where people are swaying to music over a floor decorated with falling bubbles.

And then he stiffens and glances over his shoulder for the second time, saying slowly, “Hey, you okay if we head back?”

Abrupt, considering there’s still so much to see. From what I can tell, there’s no one there. Yet his strong hand is suddenly, protectively on my back.

“I can handle difficult news, Arrik,” I remind him under my breath, his alertness contagious.

“I think we’re being followed. Someone invisible ran into me on the way here. Before, I heard footsteps. And I believe I just heard conversing.”

How? There are, like, thousands of people ‘conversing’ in here.

He taps his temple .

He hears conversing in his mind ?

Without confirming, and while wasting even more of his rapidly declining soul balance, he whisks me away with him.

The world around us turns into a mess of light, energy, and color, and the next minute, I’m standing somewhere dark with a dominating palm clamped over my mouth.