Page 24

Chapter Twenty-Two

I rubbed my hands together, wondering if there was a scrap of magic left in my blood that I could use to wish these nerves away.

“Don’t worry.” Jet reached for my hand, his touch soothing as he gave me a reassuring smile. “The sultan just wants to address the issue publicly; you’re not in any trouble.”

Even with his calming presence, my chest still felt tight, but looking at his charming attire certainly helped distract me.

We were alone in the gilded hallway, and he was dressed in a deep crimson color that contrasted the golden hue of his eyes.

His dark hair was slicked back and crowned with a gold circlet, and that dreamy tone of his voice was making my palms sweat.

“Easy for you to say, you’re not the one who pretended to be a princess,” I said with a nervous gulp.

“A princess is nothing more than a pretty girl with a crown backing her up,” he said, pointing at the golden circlet on his head.

“I’m behind you, Kya. Plus, you’re more beautiful than any other princess in that room.

” He raised my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss on the back of my hand without breaking eye contact.

I felt a blush sweep through my cheeks, my face hot as I looked down at the striking blue dress my handmaidens had chosen for me. I did look like a princess, but that didn’t make me any less of a fake.

A servant slipped out of the throne room doors, and my stomach plummeted when he motioned for us to step inside. “The sultan is ready for you now.”

I squeezed Jet’s hand before letting it go, then with a fortifying breath, I stepped through the throne room doors.

Jet followed two steps behind me, but I still felt like every eye was on me.

The sultan’s throne felt impossibly far away, and the entire stretch of floor between me and him was filled with nobles, servants, and the visiting princesses who were all witnessing my entrance.

It felt like the longest walk of my life, and when I finally reached the end, I was so nervous that I almost forgot to curtsy.

Jet bowed behind me, whispering a subtle “ You’re doing great ” before rising.

“Please rise, Lady Kya, keeper of the diamond,” the sultan called to me, and I was surprised that I could hear him over the pounding in my chest .

The moment I rose, everyone else bowed. I could hardly believe what I was seeing. I turned around, taking in the entire room as they all bowed like they had done to Adir during his announcement. Even the princesses lowered their heads, offering me a respect that felt entirely undeserved.

“Please, allow me to be the first to apologize for the wrongdoings of my son,” the sultan said, a heaviness lacing his voice.

“You may have noticed that he is not with us today. Prince Adir will be atoning for his sins in the palm fields until I see fit for him to return. The way he abused your gift is inexcusable, and I for one feel terrible for not seeing my son’s true intentions sooner. ”

Everyone rose from their bows, their eyes falling on me like I was some great deity that they were seeking forgiveness from.

Except, I wasn’t anything special at all. I was just…Kya.

“No apology necessary, Your Majesty,” I said with the most relaxed smile I could manage.

“While what Adirion did was wrong, I also made choices that I regret. I snuck into the palace, lied to everyone, and let a dangerous power fall into the wrong hands. I appreciate your apology, but I don’t deserve it. ”

The crowd murmured around me, but I didn’t care what they said. I wasn’t some perfect diamond anymore, I was just a lowly thief who’d made a few lucky wishes.

“Spoken like a true diamond.” The sultan smiled upon me. “But there’s more to this story than you know. You see, the truth is, I knew about your role as the diamond long before today.”

I knit my brows together, and even Jet seemed to perk up behind me. “What do you mean?”

“You see, your parents discovered your ability to grant wishes while holding you as an infant,” the sultan explained, and I felt my chest tighten at the mention of my family.

“They brought you to me in secret, searching for answers and begging me to protect you. It was then that I learned that the legend of the wishing diamond was real, and I created a secret society to protect you.”

I glanced back at Jet. He was concentrating on the sultan’s words, his shoulders stiff.

“Little did I know, that was a horrible mistake,” the sultan said with a drop of his head.

“A spy slipped into the society, one who sought to claim the diamond’s power for himself.

He killed your parents when you were still very young, and I sent the only member of the society that I could still trust to search for you—my brother.

” He looked straight at Jet, a silent exchange passing between them.

“ We have Prince Jeteran to thank for your safety. Before I sent you back with your parents, I made a wish on you. I wished that one day you would bless the kingdom with your gift. I see now that my wish is what brought you to the palace, and while I’m eternally grateful for how you’ve protected the kingdom from the greed of my son, I’m also forever in your debt for how I shaped your life. ”

Was it true? Had my entire life been laid out for me due to the sultan’s wishes?

I looked back at Jet, wondering what life would have been like if his brother never sought me out. I might have still had a family, a home, and even the power of the wishing diamond. I never would have grown up on the streets, relied on a bird for company, or fought against a crazed prince.

But I also never would have met Jet.

“The path you set me on is more than I could have ever wished for, Your Majesty.” I met his eyes, seeing the same kindness in his gaze that I loved in his younger brother.

“It’s been a pleasure to serve as your diamond, but now, if it’s all right with you, I look forward to starting a life as just Kya. ”

The sultan chuckled, the warm sound filling the room and spreading smiles around the crowd .

“As you wish, Lady Kya,” the sultan said cheerfully.

“Please know that even if your powers are gone, you will still always hold a place of honor in this kingdom. If there is anything I can ever do to express my gratitude for your kindness, please just say the word. Ask for anything, and it will be made yours.”

Anything?

I touched the soft silk of my gown, then looked at the glitzy jewels the princesses were wearing. There were so many things I would have asked for only a few weeks ago, but now, I knew that there was only one thing I truly desired.

“I wish to become a princess.” I turned around to face Jet, his playful smile already stirring up the butterflies in me.

“I don’t require riches or jewels or even a crown.

” I stepped toward him, and he held out a hand that I gladly accepted.

“I only wish to spend my days with the prince who always kept me safe.”

A gush of awws and swoony giggles echoed from the crowd, but Jet didn’t seem the least bit shy about the prying eyes. He pulled me closer, his eyes devouring me like I was the most incredible treasure he had ever found.

“That is, if he’ll have me,” I added, my heart hammering as he brushed his hand across my cheek .

“ Jean! Kya!” A familiar bird flew overhead, drawing the crowd’s attention as the servant who was supposed to be watching him tried to chase him down. “Love Kya! Love Jean!”

We both laughed, our noses brushing as he took advantage of everyone’s eyes being turned.

“Your wish is my command, Princess.”

And then I kissed my Jeanie.