Page 5 of Bound by Wishes (Enchanted Deceptions #1)
F aster than a scorpion’s strike, we were above ground, surrounded by endless miles of desert. I set Caleena on her feet, and she scurried away from me like a skittish hare, her eyes wide with disbelief. I scrutinized her in the waning sunlight, noting her confusion at the sudden change in scenery. She looked around, her breath quickening as she tried to grasp the reality of what just happened.
To my surprise, she was not as displeasing in appearance as I had originally thought. Beneath the layers of dirt and scrapes, her skin was radiant, glowing in the fading light. But shock puckered her brow as if the magic that had transported us here had not only changed our surroundings but her understanding of the world. This was going to be harder than I thought if she couldn’t grasp the idea of a little magic.
"Where are my crew members?" she demanded, her stature growing taller, commanding attention as her brown eyes shimmered with anger.
I stepped closer to her, surprised when she held her ground. “They have been returned to their camp with no memory of anything that has happened.”
She glanced around nervously, the setting sun's rays casting a golden glow in her dark earth-colored hair. “Where are we, and why have you stranded us in the middle of a desert?”
My gaze brushed down her tattered, dirty clothing. “We have a lot of work to do, and there are no prying eyes to witness my magic in the middle of the desert.”
“I think you could’ve picked a better place than under the harsh rays of the blistering sun,” she sassed, igniting my ire. I was not accustomed to being spoken to in such a manner or my choices questioned, but a still small voice reminded me that I needed this human—for the time being, anyway.
Without warning her, magic surged from my fingertips. Caleena ducked as inky darkness surrounded us, transforming the smoldering hot sands into a lush oasis. Palm trees swayed in a hypnotic dance, and a majestic waterfall poured into a deep pool, turning the barren landscape into a paradise.
Caleena's eyes widened as she took in the beauty of my creation. I was impressed with it myself. For a genie, I still outdid myself.
The air was thick with the sweet scent of tropical blooms, their perfume mingling with the crisp freshness of the waterfall's spray. I inhaled deeply, finding peace in anything other than the musty metallic smell of the lamp.
Birdsong filled the air, a symphony of chirps echoing through the canopy above. Caleena’s gaze swept across the top of palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. The sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, creating patterns that danced across the ground.
“This is amazing,” Caleena said as her gaze shifted to the ground. Beneath our feet, the smoldering sand had transformed into soft, powdery soil, alive with lush greenery.
With another wave of my hand, bottles of expensive perfumes, oils, and soaps materialized on top of the boulders encircling the pool. Each intricate bottle gleamed in the sunlight, hinting at the luxurious scents within them.
My gaze drifted from her to the inviting water, her eyes following mine.
Her face blanched as she took a timid step back. “You don’t expect me to bathe in that pool?”
I shrugged my shoulders in indifference. “It’s a heated pool.”
“The temperature is not what concerns me,” she hissed. “It’s the unwanted company.”
A deep laughter rumbled in my chest. “Do you honestly believe that I, Ranen, king of Jalam, would desire to watch you bathe?”
Her once defiant gaze softened, and a fleeting look of vulnerability flickered within her eyes as she glanced back at the rippling surface of the pool. A barely noticeable tremor coursed through her slender frame, betraying a fear that seemed at odds with the strength she had displayed moments before. Was she truly that afraid of me?
“Will you at least return to your lamp while I bathe?” Her chestnut eyes brushed across my face, forcing my resolve to crack a little.
"I will not return to that prison, not for you or anyone else," I said flatly. "But if it brings you peace," I conceded, my tone softening slightly, "I shall vanish for a mere half hour to allow you some privacy."
I could tell an argument was on the tip of her tongue, so I disappeared before she had a chance to speak it. With a flourish of smoke, I materialized just beyond the oasis, hovering in the air like a phantom tethered to my master . That word caused an angry bubbling sensation in my chest, but I would appease this wicked curse by using the term no matter how degrading it was. I glanced down at the shackles that kept me bound to her. They winked in the waning sunlight, almost as if laughing at my predicament.
I lounged further back into the fluffy cloud of smoke, feeling its soft tendrils caress my body. With a huff of impatience, I crossed my hands behind my head using the moment of silence to think.
Caleena had three wishes. Three wishes before I was cast back into the lamp, and she had already used one. My powers were not limitless like they were before, and I could not grant her anything she wanted without her using a wish. I could offer her small comforts, subtle uses of my magic to keep her content, but for anything significant, it would require the use of another precious wish.
There was also the small, nearly impossible task of telling her that she was about to step into a world unlike anything she had ever known—one ruled by djinns, creatures of immense power and cruel nature, who had little regard for humans, even those of royal blood. Turning her into a princess meant nothing in a kingdom where ancient magic and dangerous whims dictated the rules, and she was about to find herself caught in the middle of it.
Caleena
I glanced at my surroundings for the hundredth time, certain at any moment I was going to wake from this bizarre dream. And no matter what that egotistical genie said, I did not trust him. It did make me feel slightly better when he insinuated that I wasn’t desirable enough to peek at, but that didn’t stop me from watching for any wisps of his smoke.
I began to peel the damp clothing from my body, slowly, piece by piece. My shirt dropped to the ground with a plop, and I kicked my pants away, but I refused to shed my undergarments. I closed my eyes. The nagging headache still pressed at my temples. Here I was, in the middle of the desert, having been whisked away by a genie of all things. Maybe I was dead, my body splattered at the bottom of that cavern. I opened my eyes, feeling the heat rising from the pool and brushing across my bare limbs. How had I ended up in this ridiculous situation?
The pool called out to me, beckoning me to take a dip and wash off some of the grime clinging to my skin. With hesitant steps, I approached the edge, feeling the cool breeze whispering through the trees as I dipped my toes into the water. It was warm and inviting, like someone had just poured me a hot bath. Naturally, someone had—because why wouldn’t I have a genie draw me a large bathing pool? My very own magical servant, catering to my every whim. How utterly convenient. I nearly snorted at the irony.
As I waded into the pool, the cuts and abrasions on my skin protested with every gentle brush of the water. I clenched my teeth until the tingling sensation gradually subsided, replaced by a soothing numbness that eased the ache in my body.
I ducked beneath the surface, allowing the water to wash away the filth and grime. Breaking back through the surface, I reached for the expensive-looking bottles of oils and soaps that lined the edge of the pool. The tantalizing scents mingled, wafting through the air when I uncorked the bottles. I lathered the rich oils into my hair and skin, feeling a thousand times better as I washed away the harrowing day. Even though my world was brimming with craziness, I allowed myself a fleeting moment of indulgence.
I froze when a plush towel poofed on the boulder closest to me, along with a shimmering silk robe.
“Ranen, you promised me half an hour,” I hissed through clenched teeth, ducking deeper in the water and crossing my arms tightly over my chest.
“I have allowed you nearly an hour, ya amar. My patience is running thin,” his voice grumbled, vibrating in my head.
“Don’t call me your moon!” I spun in the water, looking for him. “Where are you? How are you speaking to me?”
“You can calm yourself, I am nowhere near the oasis. A genie can whisper into his master’s mind.”
“That is very disturbing,” I said barely above a whisper. “How do I turn that off? ”
“I am your genie, you are my sayyida. You are in control. No matter how horrific that sounds.”
“Then get out of my head.” I growled.
“As you wish, little sayyida.”
Seconds ticked by, and Ranen was silent, so I assumed he had vacated my mind. Had I really been in the pool for an hour? I pulled one of my hands from the water, and my skin was shriveled like a raisin. I guess I had.
I glanced around, still not trusting him to not show up unexpectedly. As tension coiled between my shoulder blades, a dressing screen materialized by the edge of the pool. Some of the tightness in my muscles eased as I waded toward the edge and to the sanctuary of the screen.
My gaze flickered between the coral robe draped over the boulder and the tattered remains of my old clothes. Though the robe was clean and dry, I knew I would feel too vulnerable in it. With shaky hands, I reached for my old clothes. But before my fingers could make contact, they dissolved in a puff of smoke, leaving nothing but wisps of ash in their wake.
A lump lodged itself in my throat. “What are you doing?”
“Stop being difficult and put on the robe,” he scolded. “That hour-long bath you just took will be pointless if you put those dirty clothes back on.”
“I thought I told you to stay out of my head?” I seethed.
His voice rumbled in my mind like the soothing sound of a distant thunderstorm. “You invited me back in once you spoke to me.”
Frustration oozed through my body like molten lava. “You could at least give me something more appropriate to wear,” I said, snatching the towel from the boulder and quickly ducking behind the screen.
“Little sayyida, put that robe on before I decide to take that away from you as well.” There was a growl in his voice that had me grabbing the robe and pulling it over my shoulders before he had a chance to fulfill that threat. I wasn’t pleased with him calling me his little mistress in his tongue either, but it was better than his moon, so I let it slide.
“Happy?” I asked, walking from behind the screen with my hands on my hips.
Ranen appeared before me in a billow of smoke. “Not in the least, but it will do for now.” He waved his hand, and a banquet table full of mouthwatering food appeared before me.
As I approached the table, the appetizing aroma of spices and herbs filled my senses, setting my taste buds tingling with anticipation. Each dish seemed crafted to tempt me in every way. There were platters full of vibrant pomegranates, their skins glistening with natural juices. Figs, dates, and grapes were piled high in fancy bowls. Towering stacks of freshly baked flatbread taunted me with their buttery goodness, mingling with the savory smell of slow-roasted lamb and chicken.
Ranen motioned to the closest chair. “Sit and eat. I know you must be famished by the way your pupils have dilated.”
I did as instructed, only because my stomach felt like it was rubbing against my backbone. “Don’t concern yourself with what my pupils are doing,” I snapped while shoving food in my mouth in an unladylike manner. With each bite, my taste buds danced with pleasure. The pomegranates burst with tangy sweetness, their ruby seeds exploding against my tongue. The warm flatbread soaked up the juices of the tender meats, flavored with cumin, coriander, and garlic. The creamy cheese melted in my mouth, pairing perfectly with the sweetness of the fruits.
I reached for another piece of bread, bringing the charred exterior to my mouth.
My heart soared into my throat when Ranen appeared beside me, striking out quicker than a snake and wrapping his meaty hand around my wrist. The flatbread fell to the ground.
“Your first lesson as a princess is to learn proper table manners befitting royalty,” Ranen grumbled.