Page 33 of Bound by Wishes (Enchanted Deceptions #1)

C aleena slept for what felt like an eternity. Each day that she did not awaken felt like a weight pressing down on my chest, heavier with each passing hour. The physicians assured me it was normal, and her body was healing itself from the damage inflicted by the Nightshade, but I wondered if they said that to pacify my rage.

I had everything I wanted. My kingdom was mine again, and my djinn powers surged rampantly through my veins. But I felt emptier than ever. Without her, everything else seemed hollow.

"Your Majesty?" Mozenwrath's voice pierced through the tranquility of my secluded spot. It was hidden deep in the garden, a place I often fled to escape my subjects and the haunting thoughts that often plagued me. The soothing scent of jasmine mingled with the crisp fragrance of citrus, attempting to calm my ravaged nerves .

I sat up straighter, beckoning him forward. Hope flared in my chest at the possibility that he might tell me Caleena had finally awakened.

“You need to rest, your Majesty.” He eased forward as if he were on shaky ground, and at the moment, he was.

“You dare to interrupt me just to tell me that?” I growled, rising to my feet with the stealth of a predator about to pounce. “Get out of my sight before I lose what little patience I have left.”

Mozenwrath’s eyes widened with horror as he backed out of the garden. I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling the beginnings of a headache clawing at my temples.

“Wait,” I called. Mozenwrath froze, bending low before me. “Gather the council and have them make preparations for a royal wedding.”

His mouth fell open. “Who exactly are you marrying, Your Majesty?”

“Caleena,” I answered him with a flicker of hope.

“Who?” Mozenwrath’s brown furrowed in confusion.

I didn't have the patience to explain everything to him. "Princess Soraya," I said, "is actually Caleena, the direct descendant of King Thalorian."

“Marrying one of her kind is forbidden,” Mozenwrath sneered with a look of disgust.

"Forbidden to who?" I thundered, leaning forward. "Last time I checked, I'm the king."

“But she…she may not recover,” he stuttered, his voice quivering as he struggled to meet my gaze.

“She will,” I roared, the force of my anger shaking the very air between us. “I will not accept anything less. Her recovery is nonnegotiable.” My voice was a thunderclap, each word a heavy blow. “I refuse to entertain the possibility of her death. Do you understand?”

“Yes, your Majesty.” Mozenwrath said, bowing low before scampering out of my line of fire.

I emerged from the secluded spot, each step heavy with exhaustion that seemed to drain my spirit. The soothing scents of the garden faded behind me, replaced by the numbing silence of the palace halls. The burden of hope and the sting of despair intertwined, driving me forward despite the ache that settled deep in my bones. Even with the genie curse lifted, I was unable to stray from Caleena’s side for long.

I stormed through the door, and everyone in her room froze before bowing in respect. The air constricted with a tense silence, broken only by the soft shuffling of feet and the rustling of fabric as they moved out of my path.

Namir was perched on the edge of Caleena’s bed, his tail flicking back and forth in clear agitation. His feline eyes darted nervously between the crowd of onlookers and Caleena, who lay motionless beneath a tangle of covers. The potent scent of medicines stung my nose as I made my way to her bed and sat down beside her.

Her skin was cold and clammy and glistened with a sheen of sweat. Despite myself, I ran my hand down the smooth skin of her arm. The scars and damage inflicted by the Nightshade had healed. The once-ravaged surface appeared inviting again with its creamy texture.

“There has been no change, your Majesty,” one of the physicians said as he stepped toward the bed.

“I can see that,” I snarled, my desperation morphing into anger. “Get out. All of you. ”

Feet scampered across the marble floors, fleeing from my fury. The tension in my muscles began to uncoil once I heard the door click shut behind them. I bent over her and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead only to receive a low warning growl from Namir.

“You were supposed to be my pet, not hers, beast,” I grumbled, though deep down I was grateful she had a constant protector in my absence.

It was against protocol, and I was once again bound by the formalities of being king. I should keep my distance from the woman I intended to marry, following strict boundaries and using chaperones. I certainly shouldn’t be lying in the bed beside her, or gathering her in my arms, but death would come on swift wings to anyone who tried to stop me.

Caleena moaned softly in her sleep as I cradled her close to my chest. "Get up, ya amar," I murmured into her hair. "I am waiting for you, and I am not a very patient man." My chest felt as though it were sprouting thorns, each one prickling painfully from within. "But for you," I whispered, "I would wait a lifetime."

Time seemed to creep by without a care for my suffering. “You were supposed to wake up after that heartfelt declaration,” I scolded her, my voice strangled by both frustration and sorrow. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the room in hues of burnt orange and pale pink. “Will you awaken if I kiss you, like in one of those fairy tales?”

“Don’t you dare,” she rasped against my chest, jump-starting my crumbling heart.

I froze, barely believing my ears. Her voice, though weak, was music to me. I eased her back, my hands trembling as I cupped her face. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing the depths of her dark eyes that were heavy with fatigue but filled with a spark of defiance.

“You promised not to kiss me until I was well again,” she muttered, pushing my hands away and nestling her face back into my chest. “And as you can see, I’m far from well.”

A smile touched my lips as I tightened my hold around her, feeling her warm breath against my skin. She squirmed in my arms, my embrace tighter than necessary, but the fear of letting her go, of losing her to unconsciousness again, made me gather her closer.

Caleena gasped, bracing her hands against my chest as she shot upright, a look of pure horror etched across her face. “Malik!”

“He’s fine,” I said, as I ran my fingers through her disheveled hair. My touch was gentle and cautious as I tucked her under my chin. I let the warmth of my breath brush against her hair, holding her close, as if I could ward off any lingering fears. “He’s been awake for days now. It’s you we’ve been waiting on.”

“I want to see him,” she said, her breath a soft whisper against my chest, as delicate as a feather brushing my skin.

“I’ll send for him,” I promised. “Just allow me a few more minutes to hold you.”

She seemed satisfied with my answer, snuggling deeper into arms. “I think I’m a little disappointed,” she said. “You’re not my genie anymore.” She brushed her fingers over my wrist where the cuffs used to be.

“What if I offered to chain you to me in another way?” I asked, my voice deepening as I whispered into her hair.

She stilled, slowly sitting up. “What do you mean? ”

My gaze lingered on her tousled hair and the dark circles beneath her eyes, and yet, she remained the most enchanting creature I had ever seen. “Marry me.”

“Marry you?” she echoed, her voice soft and trembling. The weight of my proposal hung in the air. The world outside seemed to pause, holding its breath as if waiting for her response. She remained silent for a heartbeat, then another, her breath hitching as she tried to process my question. “Why? You don’t love me, and I don’t love you.”

I sat up straighter, my chest burning as I looked into her eyes. She wanted to believe that as much as I did. "Love is such an unnecessary word," I said with a practiced diplomatic tone. “The simple answer is I am going to be forced to take a bride just like Razoul was,” I explained, meeting her gaze. “And I have no desire to choose from the candidates who have already been sent home.” My words were empty of the romantic pretense, despite the feelings that stirred within me. “I think that we work well together and have a mutual respect for each other after everything we’ve been through.”

Caleena slipped from the bed, standing on trembling legs, and I let her flee, giving her space to decide. “This is madness,” she argued. “I don’t know anything about being a queen.” She was panicking, and I sat back and let her have a moment. “What would make you think I would agree to this?”

I stood from the bed, my gaze never leaving her as I chose my words carefully. “These people are yours by blood and birthright,” I began, my voice strained. “You have every right to be their queen, to lead them, to protect them. And after everything we’ve endured, can you really imagine returning to the life you once knew?” I paused as her gaze rose to meet mine. “Ordinary is no longer an option for you, not after discovering who you truly are.”

Her voice was a fragile whisper, barely loud enough for me to hear as she confessed, “I don’t know who I truly am.” She looked away, as if ashamed. “And while my life was far from perfect, I worked hard to become an archaeologist. There’s nothing in this world I’ve ever wanted more than to follow in my father’s footsteps.” The words hung in the air between us as I tried to think of the right thing to say to get her to agree to my proposal.

“As my queen, you’ll have all the resources you could ever need.” I stepped around the bed. “You’ll have the freedom to play in the dirt as much as your little heart desires,” I coaxed her, pleased with myself when her eyes sparkled with excitement.

She took a step back, distrust tugging at her features. “You truly expect me to believe you’ll let your queen roam the world, digging up ancient artifacts?” She scoffed. Her eyes narrowed, as if searching for the hidden catch in my words. “I know what it means to be queen, and it’s not freedom. It’s a fancy gilded cage, no matter how pretty you make it sound.”

I stepped closer until I was mere inches from her face. “A cage I will gladly open for you if you agree to my proposal.” My voice deepened, bordering with desperation. “And you can start in King Thalorian’s mines. I know you wanted more time there to uncover your heritage, to dig deeper into the past that calls to you. I’ll give you that freedom and more.”

Caleena’s eyes darted away, her gaze sweeping across the floor as if searching for a hidden door to escape through. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she said, pressing a trembling hand to her chest. “I can’t listen to any more of this, my heart is about to beat out of my chest.”

I grasped the hand pressed against her ribcage and drew it to my mouth, placing a kiss on each of her knuckles. “I’ll make your heart behave,” I murmured, a sly smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. “If you agree to marry me.”

“You’re not doing a good job of making my heart behave at the moment,” she said, pulling her hand from my grasp. “Quite the opposite, actually.” Seconds ticked by as she nervously chewed on her bottom lip, a simple gesture that sent a rush of heat surging through me. “Can Malik stay with me if I agree?” she asked, her voice wavering slightly.

The council would have a stroke if I agreed to let her friend stay, especially since that friend was a man. “Yes,” I agreed without hesitation, despite the consequences. I would agree to anything if she agreed to my proposal.

My pulse slowed to a sluggish rate as I waited for her response. It was as though my blood was thickening in my veins, making the seconds drag on painfully. She appeared to be weighing her options, searching for a reason to refuse. Finally, she met my gaze.

“Okay,” she said, her voice soft but clear.

Relief flooded through me, but I refused to let any emotion show on my face. “I’ll get everything arranged. We will marry within a fortnight.”

“Why so soon?” She gasped.

“I told you before that you’re a perfect little disaster, just looking for a place to land.” My laughter rumbled through the room, lightening the tension that had built between us. “ I intend to marry you before something else goes wrong.” I paused in the doorway. “I’ll have your servant sent to you so you can bathe and change. Then, I want you to join me in the great hall for dinner.”

“Very well, as long as you promise that snakes aren’t on the menu,” she said, a playful glint lighting her eyes.

“I think we’ve had more than enough serpents for a while,” I said, turning to leave.

Caleena called after me. “What about Malik? Can he join us, or is this a date?”

I paused, glancing back with a wry smile. “Kings do not date,” I said, dismissing her mirth. “Malik is welcome to join us. After all, it seems only fitting that your friend shares in this unexpected turn of events.”

I left the room without another word, only to find Mozenwrath lurking in the shadows just beyond the door. His eyes flashed with caution as he stepped forward.

“She has awakened,” he said, a faint smile of satisfaction on his lips. “What good news. But I must warn you, Your Majesty, you cannot be left alone with her again, not until your wedding night.”

“Don’t quote the law to me, Mozenwrath,” I warned, frustration evident in my tone. “It was burned in my brain since infancy.”

Floods of my childhood memories came pouring back in. I remembered my mother’s imposing presence, her sharp gaze never missing a single infraction, no matter how small. I was made to memorize every decree and tradition, and failure to adhere to them was met with swift and often painful correction.

"Forgive me," Mozenwrath beseeched, pulling me from my less-than-pleasant walk down memory lane. “I have contacted the council and have put the marriage preparations in motion as you requested.” He followed me down the hallway to my new chambers. “How does six months from today sound for the ceremony?”

“We will marry in a fortnight,” I said as the guards opened the doors leading to my chambers.

I had allowed Caleena to keep my old rooms and had taken over the ones that used to belong to my father. As a child, I had always loathed entering his chambers after his death. Everything about them reminded me of him. I swore the smell of cedar and old leather still lingered in the air, even after all these centuries. I had sealed the room and forbidden anyone from entering—until now.

“A fortnight?” Mozenwrath gasped, stopping behind me. I continued walking, my pace unwavering until I reached my room. Mozenwrath scurried in after me, concern etched across his face.

“Arrange everything just as I said and ensure that all preparations are in place. I will not wait any longer.” There was an edge to my voice that dared Mozenwrath to argue.

“Yes, your Majesty,” he said with a shocked expression before he hurried out of the room.

Alone with my thoughts, I wandered toward the balcony doors, framed by rich midnight drapes, their fabric so dense that it absorbed light rather than letting it in. I drew the curtains aside and stepped outside to be met by a starlit sky stretching endlessly above the palace grounds. The cool night air brushed against my face but did little to ease the tension coiling between my shoulder blades.

Inhaling deeply, I took in the fresh night air to steady my nerves before returning inside. The room was dark and elegant, its walls painted black with swirling silver patterns that caught the flickering light of a few candles. I leaned against the cool black marble of the grand fireplace, its firelight casting a warm glow over the thick dark rug that covered the floor. The silver threads woven in the rug caught the light like diamonds.

My gaze wandered over the room, taking in the black furniture with silver accents. Each piece was meticulously chosen by my father to maintain a delicate balance between darkness and light. He had always said that true power lay in balancing the two. How disappointed he would’ve been to discover that my darkness reigned supreme, overshadowing any hint of light.