The Forbidden Wish(95)

Caspida raises her eyebrows. “The ring has its own legend, you know. The Amulen scholars studied it and found that it was imbued with jinn magic. The Watchmaidens took it into safekeeping, trying to hide its existence, but stories of the ring leaked out. Some believed it was the handle of the lamp, that it had broken off during the battle. Others believed Roshana had it made for the jinni, or vice versa. Through the centuries, the ring has always been linked to the queen’s jinni—to you, I should say. But no one knew how it worked.”

I slide the ring onto my finger, and it fits as perfectly as it ever did. Half-truths and lies guided it through the years, somehow bringing Aladdin to me. It is not just jinn magic that hums in the gold, but something deeper and older.

“Thank you, Caspida.”

She nods. “You will always be welcome here, Zahra of the Lamp. Imohel guide you.”

“And you, O Queen.” I turn to go, but Caspida stops me with a brush of her fingers. When I turn back, her eyes are solemn.

“You’ve ruled before,” she says. “So tell me, does it get easier?”

“No,” I reply. “But you get stronger.”

? ? ?

“I’m so happy,” says Aladdin, “I could kiss you. In fact, I think I will.”

“Not now, you fool, the queen is waving.”

He sighs and genially leans over the ship rail to wave. The crowd is small, but everyone there matters: Caspida and the Watchmaidens, Captain Pasha and several Eristrati, and various nobles and bureaucrats. Even Dal and a few of Aladdin’s old friends from the Rings.

It isn’t long before we pull around the head of the cliffs and into the open sea, leaving them all behind in the misty morning gloom. The salty sea spray and pitching of the deck make me uneasy, and I hold tightly to Aladdin.

He’s laughing, of course. “It’s just like our old voyaging days, eh?”

“I’m surprised you remember much of them,” I reply. “You spent most of the time leaning over the rail.”

“I did? Ha. You’re hilarious. Come and kiss me.”

I do, and the now-familiar warmth of his lips steadies me. He tastes of salt and the wine we shared with the others at our small farewell party.

Aladdin pulls away first and lifts one of my hands to his lips, kissing the delicate henna patterns on my skin, then turning my arm over to kiss the inside of my wrist. The ship’s crew makes themselves busy on the other side of the ship, giving us privacy.

“You’re the most beautiful girl in the world,” Aladdin murmurs. “Have I ever told you that?”

“Enough to make me wonder if your father was a parrot.”

He laughs. “Look, we can see the sunrise from the stern.”

Taking my hand tightly in his, he leads me at a run across the deck, both of us wobbling and stumbling from the roll of the waves. We are laughing and out of breath when we reach the stern, just as the sun begins to peek over the far horizon. The mist on the water catches the light and begins to glow soft and gold, until it seems we are sailing across a sea of clouds.

“My lady,” says Aladdin, extending an arm toward the sun, “I give you gold as a token of my love.”

“All I want is you,” I reply. I turn and kiss him, pulling him against me, feeling the warmth of the dawn in my hair. Then I rest my head on his shoulder, simply feeling his arms around me, his heart beating against me.

“Are you cold?” asks Aladdin. “You’re shivering.”

“A little.”

“I’ll go get a blanket. And breakfast. If I can find the kitchen.”

“Galley, love. It’s called a galley.”

“Right. Galley. Got it. I’ll ask the captain. What was his name?”

“Sinbad, I think?”

“I’ll be right back.”

But I catch his hand. “I’m all right. Don’t go yet.”

He stays with me, and together we watch the sun stain the sea and sky a thousand and one shades of gold. My thumb rubs the ring on my finger, its dents and contours as familiar to me now as my hand.

So this is what it feels like to have all your wishes come true.

The End





Acknowledgments


Zahra’s story has been calling to me for years, but without a wildly talented team alongside me, this book would never have been possible. I owe a mountain of gratitude to the team at Razorbill and Penguin Random House: Jessica Almon, my peerless editor, thank you for believing in me and in Zahra, and for your critical insight as this story took shape. Working with you has been such a wonderful experience, and I’m so lucky to have your guidance! Thanks to Ben Schrank, who has believed in me since the beginning. Phyllis DeBlanche, for combing this book line by line and making sure all the i’s were dotted and the t’s crossed. Thanks to Theresa Evangelista for your gorgeous cover art. Tara Shanahan, Anna Jarzab, and the tireless team of marketers and publicists who helped Zahra find her audience: many thanks!

Lucy Carson, you’ve encouraged, guided, and inspired me all the way, and I don’t know where I’d be without you. You’re part agent, part jinni, part warrioress, and if I had three wishes to give, they’d all be yours!

Like Caspida and her Watchmaidens, no writer could get far without the support and encouragement of friends, and I have many to whom I owe special thanks: Lauren Miller, Tamara Ireland Stone, Beth Revis, and Megan Miranda, you were some of the very first people I told this story idea to, and without your encouragement I might never have mustered the courage to write it. Morgan Matson, Marie Lu, Jen Johansson, Brodi Ashton, Jennifer Bosworth: You were there at every stage, whether it was encouraging me early on to write it, helping me hash out the first draft with fierce word battles, or brainstorming titles around the pool. I couldn’t ask for a more inspiring group of women to have around. A very special thanks goes out to Jessica Brody, without whom I’m not sure this book would have ever seen the light of day. Thank you for being my plotting guru, and for lending me your late-night brainstorming superpowers, your willingness to read, chat, or advise at any moment, and your friendship.