The Forbidden Wish(50)

“Can I hold it?” I ask.

Darian blinks, and then his eyes narrow. “Of course not. It’s extremely dangerous. If you dropped it and it broke—”

“I only want to look!” I snap, my facade cracking, and at Darian’s suspicious scowl I drop my eyes and whisper, “I’m sorry. It’s just, I’ve never seen anything like this. You truly are a great warrior. The terror of the jinn!”

“Yes,” he muses, his face relaxing. “Well, I’ve had a lot of practice.”

Zhian, is that you? I focus the words on the clay jar above Darian.

The reply comes like a clap of thunder

GET ME OUT OF HERE!

I stumble at the force of his words, and Darian steps forward to catch me.

“Wine catching up to you?” he asks, grinning.

I just nod distractedly, stiffening a little when his hands slide up my arms.

Zhian, I’m here to help you.

GET ME OUT NOW!

Darian’s hands are far too familiar, one on my back now, the other cupping my jaw. His touch is repulsive, his heartbeat erratic and too fast. I feel assaulted on all sides: by Zhian’s shouting, by the jinn clamoring, by Darian’s desire.

“You really are quite pretty,” he says, his eyes dropping to my lips. “I’ve shown you something secret. Now what are you going to show me?”

Steeling myself, I grasp his coat and step forward, backing him into the shelves, and around him bottles shake dangerously.

“Easy,” he cautions, but his eyes brighten greedily. Our faces are just inches apart, his eyes locked on mine. “You’re a feisty one. I knew it the moment I saw you. No wonder Rahzad likes to keep you close.”

“What about the princess?” I murmur, working a hand behind him as if to thread my fingers in his oiled hair.

“Caspida hardly appreciates the finer pleasures in life. I, on the other hand, have a king’s appetite.”

He kisses me forcefully, stepping away from the wall, and I’m barely able to grab Zhian’s jar before it’s out of reach. No bigger than my hand, it’s simple to let it slip down my sleeve. The jinn prince rages inside, but I ignore him and focus on the human trying to force his tongue down my throat. I can feel myself hovering on the very edge of the lamp’s boundary. Ripples of smoke race under my skin as I strain to keep from shifting, the effort bringing tears to my eyes.

I shove Darian hard, and he shouts as he slams into the wall of bottled jinn. A few topple from their shelves, and panic springs into his eyes as he struggles to catch them all.

“Bleeding gods, you whore!” he growls. “Are you mad?”

“My master is probably looking for me,” I gasp. “I should go.”

I turn and flee the room, letting out a soft, relieved cry as the lamp’s pull on me slackens. Darian pursues too quickly for me to shift into a more speedy form. Zhian’s jar rattling in my sleeve, I hurry through the dark crypt and up the stairs, the prince close on my heels.

“Stop!” he shouts. “Or I’ll have you whipped!”

Sister! Zhian cries. Set me free and I will devour the wretch!

Shutting them both from my mind, I take the steps three at a time, barely keeping my feet as my skirts tangle around my legs.

When I reach the corridor on the main level, I put on a burst of speed, but Darian catches up to me. He grabs my arm, yanking me backward.

“Whore!” he snarls, slamming me into the wall so hard stars burst in my eyes. I hiss at him, the tiger in me threatening to emerge and rip out his throat, but a shout brings me back to myself.

“Zahra!”

I turn my head and see Aladdin running toward us. When he sees that it’s Darian holding me roughly against the wall, his face twists into such rage that he seems unrecognizable.

He crashes into Darian before the prince has a chance to say anything. The two slam into the ground, Aladdin throwing a punch that cracks against Darian’s jaw.

“Stop it!” I cry. “Prince Rahzad!”

The boys ignore me, rolling and thrashing like dogs.

Leave them! Zhian roars. Let me out!

“How dare you touch her?” Aladdin spits, grabbing Darian by the hair and pressing the prince’s face into the stone floor. “You bastard!”

“I didn’t give her anything she didn’t ask for,” Darian hisses back. “Get off me or I’ll have you executed!”

I start to step in, but a cold voice behind me makes all three of us freeze.

“Darian.”

Turning, I see the vizier standing in the shadows, his face a mask of cold fury.

Aladdin lets go of the prince, who scrambles to his feet, his face reddening.

“Father, I—”

“My own son, scrapping in the halls like a dog over a bitch in heat? Disgusting.”

Darian drops his head, shooting Aladdin a dark look.

“As for you, Rahzad,” Sulifer says, his icy gaze sliding to Aladdin, “is this how the princes of Istarya behave in the houses that grant them hospitality?”

Aladdin, no fear in his eyes, spits on the floor before rising haughtily to his feet. “It’s how we behave toward cowards who can’t keep their hands to themselves.”

Sulifer’s gaze flickers to me disinterestedly. “Darian, straighten yourself up and come with me. Prince Rahzad, perhaps it is time you retire for the evening. I think our Amulen wine has proven too strong for your senses.”