Page 24 of Bound by Wishes (Enchanted Deceptions #1)

E xhaustion tugged at me, and my eyes became heavy. The rhythmic sway of the camel’s long strides deepened my drowsiness, the motion lulling me asleep.

A sudden, horrifying thought jolted me awake. If I fell asleep, could the Nightshade slip into my dreams and find me? The words on the sarcophagus replayed in my mind. A harbinger of nightmares that prowls the realm of dreams, feeding on the darkest fears of those who dare to confront it. What was that supposed to mean? Was there really a realm of dreams?

Great. As if I didn’t already have enough trouble sleeping at night, now the fear of being hunted in my dreams added to my torment. I straightened in the saddle, trying to shake off the creeping dread as the sun peeked over the horizon. My skin warmed as the sun's rays brushed across it, the gentle heat seeping into my tired bones and easing the chill of the night .

“We should be there soon,” Malik assured me, as if noticing my exhaustion.

I smiled at him, adjusting my position and shifting my stiff muscles in the saddle to ease the soreness that had built up from hours of riding.

Soon, the cave appeared, its dark entrance standing out against the brightening sky. A wave of horrifying memories hit me—chaos, screams, and the sight of the other workers swallowed by the darkness. My heart clenched at the thought of so many lives lost, making the cave feel even more terrifying.

I tugged on the camel’s reins, bringing him to a halt. My sleep-deprived, hazy brain couldn’t remember the word Hassan had used to make the camel lower itself to the ground. So, I gave up and carefully slid out of the saddle. My legs felt like spaghetti when they hit the ground, and I leaned on the camel for support as they threatened to buckle. Once life flowed back into my limbs, I led the camel to a nearby post and tied it off. Malik followed suit, tying off his camel and then digging through the pack saddle for the supplies we needed.

I slung a backpack over one shoulder and lit a lantern, the small flame flickering to life as I turned toward the dark entrance of the cave. As I walked by, my gaze snagged on small crosses, similar to the one at the campsite. A lump of emotion formed in my throat as I realized that it was a memorial, placed here in remembrance of me and the others who had lost their lives. I glanced at Malik, touched by his gesture.

Malik shoved past me, obviously still upset with me for the unnecessary grief I caused him. As I followed him inside, the air grew cooler, a welcome relief from the rising heat of the desert.

Debris from the blast and cave-in lay scattered around, while loose sand and sharp rocks crunched beneath my feet with every step. The passageway narrowed, and I had to duck to avoid hitting my head. The silence was unbearable, broken only by the distant howl of wind as it passed through unseen crevices. Despite the coolness, a bead of sweat trickled down my spine as we neared the spot where the others had lost their lives.

Malik stopped, glancing at the deep crevice that cleaved the ground in two. Its jagged edges disappeared into a darkness that seemed to stretch on forever. A knot twisted in my stomach as I peered over the edge and remembered falling through it.

Without a word, Malik and I quickly set to work, fastening off the ropes. He used a hammer to secure the pulley system. The metal groaned as it bit into the stone, echoing through the cave and causing more debris to fall from above. I pulled my thick coat off, tossing it to the ground as I slipped into my harness.

Once we were both strapped in, I glanced at Malik. “You ready?”

“Do I have a choice?” Malik asked, skepticism written across his face. “You know I'm not normally a field person.”

“I’ve got your back,” I assured him as I slowly backed up to the edge of the hole.

I crouched low, feeling with my feet for the lip of the opening. My muscles tensed as I prepared to lower myself. With a final glance at Malik, I descended, shifting my weight carefully, inch by inch, letting the rope slip through my hands. The cool, rough surface of the rock brushed against my back as I leaned against the side of the shaft for support. The opening was narrow, barely wide enough for one person at a time, and jagged rocks lined its edges, ready to rip into our flesh with one wrong move.

My feet searched blindly for a foothold, finally finding a small outcropping of rock to brace against. With my heart pounding, I continued to lower myself, the lantern swaying on my hip as we ventured deeper into the darkness.

I heard the unsettling sound of Malik’s foot slipping above. “You okay?” I called out to him. Tiny particles of debris rained down from the ledge, sprinkling against my skin. My grip tightened on the rope, my heart skipping a beat as I waited for his response, praying he’d regained his footing.

“No, I am not,” he snapped. “I’m going to have a heart attack before I reach the bottom.”

“Take your time,” I coaxed him, trying to keep my voice steady. “You can’t fall. We’re using each other's bodies as a counterweight.”

“That’s so comforting,” he mocked, but I heard the sound of his boots against the rocky wall as he lowered himself further down, so I kept going.

My breath caught when my next step met nothing but air. “Uh-oh,” I murmured as I reached the end of the crevice. I peered into the void below, seeing nothing but calm water.

Malik continued to lower himself until he was side by side with me. “What? Why did you stop?” he asked, his voice tight with concern.

“We’ve reached the end,” I said, nodding downward. Malik’s gaze followed the direction of my head, and his eyes widened. The cavern beneath us was bathed in a faint, eerie glow, the light shimmering on the walls and illuminating the crystal-clear water below.

“I don’t think we have enough rope,” Malik warned.

I glanced down again, convinced he was right. “Let’s just keep going down until we run out,” I suggested.

With a final check, we continued our descent, our feet leaving the rock and sending us dangling in the air like two spiders swaying on a web. We lowered ourselves slowly, the rope slipping through our hands as the length dwindled.

Once we were out of rope, Malik turned to me, his body brushing against mine as we hung suspended in the air. “Now what?” he asked, his brows puckering together.

We were still more than twenty feet above the water. The dim light from our lanterns flickered, sending glimmering reflections across the smooth water as I studied the distance.

I reached down, carefully pulling a sharp blade from its sheath hidden in my boot. The blade gleamed, catching the faint light as I held it before us.

“What do you think you’re going to do with that?” Malik asked as he went deathly still.

“We need a way down,” I explained, reaching up to grasp both of our ropes in one hand. With the other, I pressed the dagger against them, preparing to cut through the fibers.

“Don’t you dare,” Malik threatened. “If you cut that rope, I’m gonna—”

Before Malik finished his sentence, I sliced through the rope. Malik’s curse was cut short as we plummeted toward the water below. The shockingly cold water swallowed me in a chilling embrace that took my breath away. I fought my way back to the surface.

“Have you lost your mind?” Malik shouted, water spewing across my face as he surfaced beside me. “How are we going to get back out without the rope?”

I started swimming to the rocky ledge. “There’s a genie down here, remember?”

Malik paddled alongside me, his hands gripping the rocky edge as he pulled himself out of the water. With a huff of frustration, he reached down and grasped my arm, pulling me up and onto the solid ground beside him.

A shiver ran down my spine as the dripping wet clothes clung to my body. We both shrugged out of our climbing harnesses, the metal of the pulleys clanging as they hit the ground.

Malik turned to me, his eyes wide with anger, as water streamed down his face. “I followed you down here because you’re my best friend, but now you’re gambling with my life,” he warned, leaning in, inches from my face. “Do you truly expect me to believe there’s a genie down here?” He scoffed. “You’ve trapped us down here. We’re going to die in this hole.” His words echoed off the cavern walls.

I reached up and patted his cheek. “Have a little faith,” I said with a reassuring smile.

The thought had crossed my mind that Ranen might not be down here. He had warned me the first time we met that wishes were tricky things. I tried to remember my exact words, but there was no telling what I’d wished with Razoul turning Ranen to a pile of black sand and the creepy Nightshade leering at me. If I’d made a mistake, if Ranen wasn’t here, I just condemned myself and my friend to a slow, agonizing death.

Fear and uncertainty churned in the pit of my stomach as I made my way deeper into the cavern. Malik followed behind me in silence, his wet footsteps making soft, plopping sounds that echoed through the cavern. The tension between us stretched into an uneasy quietness.

When I turned the corner, the tautness coiled between my shoulder blades eased, and a wave of relief washed over me at the sight of the familiar stone podium with Ranen’s lamp perched on top. Its eerie beauty seemed to beckon me, drawing me closer. Hope fluttered in my chest as I made my way toward it.

“There’s really a lamp down here,” Malik mumbled from behind.

I ignored him and reached out, my fingertips gliding over the intricately carved black metal of the lamp. The cool surface was smooth and comforting.

Black smoke poured from the spout, filling the small space with its swirling tendrils. Despite the thickening haze, I smiled as Ranen’s familiar presence wrapped around me like a comforting cocoon. The smoke twisted, and with each passing moment, my anticipation grew.

He manifested before me, looking every bit the handsome, rakish rogue I remembered. His form materialized from the swirling smoke with a magnetic grace, and his dark eyes, gleaming with charm, met mine.

“Hello, sayyida.” His deep, velvety tone washed over me.

Ranen lowered himself to my level, his face just inches from mine. I reached up to brush my hand across his jaw, but his gaze snared on the dripping wet bandanna tied around my palm. With agonizing slowness, he gripped my wrist, pulled me closer, and untied the bandage. He tossed the bandanna aside, his focus now solely on my wound.

My breath stalled as he brought my injured hand to his lips. The dark stubble of his face brushed against the sensitive skin of my palm, sending a tingling shiver up my arm.

“Allow me to heal the injury caused by my soon-to-be dead brother,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing. With a featherlight kiss that swirled with his dark magic, the skin wove together. In a matter of seconds, the wound was healed like it had never been there. The warmth of his touch lingered, leaving a faint, comforting glow in its wake.

“Ahem…” Malik startled me, clearing his throat from the entrance of the tunnel. “Should I leave the two of you alone for a moment?”

I pulled my hand from Ranen, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment at having Malik witness the intimate exchange. I turned away, trying to regain my composure as I faced Malik.

“Who is this, sayyida?” Ranen asked, his voice laced with a hint of menace as he edged closer to Malik. His gaze was sharp and assessing, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “And shall I turn him into a pile of sand?” The suggestion hung in the air, heavy with the dark magic that crackled around him.

Malik took an uncertain step back, his eyes darting nervously between me and Ranen. “Cal?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I stepped in front of Malik, placing myself between him and Ranen. “This is my friend Malik,” I said firmly. “He helped me find you.”

Ranen’s swirling dark magic curled menacingly through the air, but he recalled it. His expression softened. “Very well, ya amar.”

Malik gripped my arm, pulling me closer to him so that he could whisper in my ear. “Did he just call you his moon?”

A flush of heat pinched my cheeks as I pulled away. “Yeah,” I said, swallowing hard. “He has a habit of calling me that.” My gaze brushed across the stony floor as I shifted awkwardly.

Malik eyed me skeptically. “Why do I feel like you’ve left out some critical need-to-know information?”

“We don’t have time for this,” I said, brushing aside Malik’s concern. “We need to get out of here and stop the Nightshade.” I turned to Ranen. “My blood released that thing. Is that how we put it back?”

Ranen folded his arms across his chest, a serious expression settling on his face. “It’s not that simple,” he said. “The blood of King Thalorian sealed the tomb, but his scepter defeated it.”

“His scepter?” I asked. “Where is it?”

“In his mines,” Ranen answered, his gaze piercing mine.

Malik shook his head. “This just keeps getting better and better,” he said sarcastically.

Excitement surged through me at the thought of seeing King Thalorian’s mines, even though our situation was grim. The thought of seeing those legendary depths reignited a dream that my father and I had shared. The idea of stepping into the very place we had only read about in dusty tomes and ancient scrolls was intoxicating.

“What are we waiting for?” I asked with a smile, stepping closer to Ranen. The warmth of his body radiated against mine, a welcomed relief from the cold, damp cave.

Ranen’s gaze traveled the length of my body, and the cold I felt seemed to melt away entirely. His magic wove through the cave, crafting a tapestry that unfurled into an intricate rug on the ground. The fabric shimmered with swirling patterns, its surface a deep, rich crimson interlaced with threads of gold and silver.

At the center, a large medallion depicted a menacing serpent coiled around a scepter, its eyes seem to glimmer with evil.

“Umm, what are we supposed to do with a rug?” Malik asked, stepping forward.

Ranen ignored Malik’s question and extended his hand toward me, his eyes shining with a playful challenge. “Care to go on a magic carpet ride with me, sayyida?”