“That's very generous of you, Count, we're most grateful,” Imani said, fluttering her long lashes at him.
Oh hell no.
Aladdin smirked, his eyes raking over her then falling on my other sisters in the room.
I shot him a glare which I hoped made my feelings on his flirtatious smile very apparent.
Keep your thieving hands away from my sisters.
“Cassian!” Kaminah, Alia and Zaria ran into the room, throwing their arms around me. Aladdin's eyes bulged as he took in the sight of them all. Kaminah was only in her undergarments and I thrust her sharply behind my back before he could get an eyeful.
“Go get dressed, Kaminah, we're in the company of a Count!” Ma-mar scolded her. Kaminah darted from the room, her laughter ringing back to us.
Aladdin's expression told me exactly how much he was enjoying this and I managed to dig an elbow into his ribs as my sisters swarmed around us. I gave him a sickly sweet smile, but my eyes flared with a warning.
Touch them and you’re dead.
“How lovely your hair is,” Zaria cooed at Kyra, admiring her.
“Oh thank you, it used to be purple but this is much better.” She bit her lip and Aladdin's eyes narrowed.
“That's a joke,” Aladdin said quickly and my sisters started laughing. Not just laughing. Giggling, staring at Aladdin with wide eyes and batting lashes.
I had to shut this down. Right now.
“Ma-mar we're due at the palace. Aladdin is offering himself as a suitor for the Princess,” I announced and my sisters' expressions dropped like stones. What’s worse: him fondling your sisters or your beloved Princess?
My heart beat harder and my hands curled into tight fists.
“Oh how exciting for you,” Imani murmured, her disappointment clear.
Aladdin brushed a lock of hair behind her ear with a roguish grin. “I'm having second thoughts.”
“Aladdin we should really go,” I said through my teeth and Imani turned scarlet as the rest of my sisters giggled wildly.
Ma-mar hurried toward me, taking my arm. “A word before you leave,” she said firmly and I let her guide me out of the room, glancing over my shoulder as I watched my sisters fall over Aladdin again.
Keep your paws off of my sisters, thief.
He threw me a wink and I ground my teeth, trying to curb my anger before I lost it and hauled him out of there by the scruff of his neck.
“My boy,” she said as we rounded into the hallway, her eyes glimmering. “Are you safe? Does this Count treat you well?”
“Yes,” I promised, cupping her cheek. “I'm fine Ma-mar. But don't speak of this to anyone. I need to lay low for a while.”
“Lay low?” she hissed. “You're going to march into the palace at the side of a count. What will the emperor think when he realises who you are?”
“He won't,” I swore, pulling her into my arms and resting my chin on her head. She was so small and yet she was the fiercest woman I knew. Most of my sisters had inherited the exact same quality. Anyone who thought women were the weaker species had yet to meet my siblings when one of them had been insulted. They were a vicious pack of dogs and would rip any man a new one if they felt under threat. But they couldn't protect themselves from a man like Egos. So I had to do it for them this time.
I placed a kiss on my mother's cheek then headed back to the kitchen. Aladdin was in a seat with Imani in his lap and I clenched my jaw at the sight. Kyra was watching, seeming fascinated as Aladdin whispered something in her ear.
“Kyra ask them,” I ordered, unable to keep the rage from my tone.
Aladdin spoke first. “I want to offer you the protection of my household as a gesture for how grateful I am to have Cassian's assistance.”
Ma-mar's eyes brightened. “That's very generous of you.”
“So you all agree?” Kyra asked and Ma-mar and my sisters nodded.
Fatima didn't, folding her arms and frowning at me.
“You must agree,” Kyra said uncertainly, biting her lip.
“Fatima,” I growled. “You will agree to this. As your brother, I insist on it.” Great, I was using the man card.
She sighed dramatically. “Fine.”
Aladdin was still running his filthy hands all over Imani.
“Perfect. Now we need to go,” I said through my teeth, trying to contain my fury as I glared at this thief who I had to fake respect for.
Aladdin promptly pushed Imani from his lap, his palm trailing over her back before he moved to join my side.
“It's been a pleasure,” he said to everyone, giving them a winning smile. Even my mother seemed to buy it and she'd just witnessed him pawing one of her daughters without any shame.
My shoulders trembled with fury as I hugged my family goodbye and headed back to the front door with Kyra and Aladdin. The second we stepped outside, I shoved him up against the gum tree in the front yard. “You touch my sisters again and I'll fulfil your prison sentence and castrate you.”
Aladdin prised my hands away from his shirt, rolling his eyes. “They were all over me, and I'm only human.” He shrugged, the smirk on his face setting my blood boiling.
“I've protected them,” Kyra sang. “Their house cannot be found and their skin cannot be broken.”
“That's not exactly what I wanted,” I said with a frown. “They could still be caught.”
“It's only a precaution. Egos is going to think we're dead anyway,” Aladdin said with a shrug and my heart rate settled a little.
It was the best I could do for now so I followed Aladdin to the camels once more, glancing back at my family home one last time, promising I'd bring honour on our name one day.
“Do you need to stop somewhere to protect anyone?” I asked Aladdin as I mounted my camel and Kyra climbed onto her own beast.
Aladdin shook his head. “There isn't anyone.”
“Oh,” I breathed.
“Not even a brother?” Kyra asked.
“No,” Aladdin said stiffly.
“Or a sister?” she asked hopefully.
“No,” Aladdin growled.
“A cousin?” she suggested.
“Just assume the answer is no to all family members you're about to suggest,” Aladdin said coolly and my heart pulled at his words. He had no one but a bunch of thieves for family. And they hadn't exactly been a decent bunch. Besides, he couldn't return to them now without Egos gutting him. So he really was alone.
We headed toward the palace walls and my stomach knotted at the thought of the Princess being unveiled today. I'd nearly lost my life for seeing her face and now a lowly thief was going to see it for free. Bullshit laws.
My hands curled into fists and I tried to shake the strange emotion that had me in its clutches.
You can't be jealous, Cassian. He's not going to win the pageant anyway. And it's not like you were any more worthy than him to see her face.
As we arrived at the outer gates to the palace where a crowd had gathered, Aladdin lifted his chin and cheers went up from the civilians.
I cried out to the guards barring the gates, “Count Aladdin Nazari presents himself as a suitor to Princess Rapunzel!”
I reached into the bag of gold attached to my camel’s saddle, tossing it at the feet of the guards. The crowd surged forward to claim it, but the guards shoved them back, scooping the coins up and tucking them into their pockets. The gates were opened for us and trepidation scored a path through my chest.
I was going into the palace undercover. A vigilante with a single cause. Gothel had to be taken down. But before that, Aladdin had to convince the Emperor he was a nobleman worthy of his daughter's hand.
Hell, how are we going to pull this off?
His smug-as-shit expression gave me cause for concern.
“Don't overdo it, pal,” I murmured as I drew my camel up beside his.
He blinked, turning to me and I realised that expression had been wholly natural.
“Last chance for me to m
ake you pretty,” Kyra whispered, cupping her hand with her mouth.
Aladdin scowled, drawing his shoulders back and I released a low chuckle. The genie was really starting to grow on me.
The courtyard was full of white flower petals and I sensed we were a little late to join the procession which must have already headed into the palace gardens. “Come on.” I kicked my camel into a fast trot and Aladdin spurred his on as we darted out of the courtyard on the other side.
The inner wall came into view at the heart of the finely kept gardens. An entourage of wagons, horses and camels were riding up to the doors and my heart twisted as I realised how sparse Aladdin's company was.
“Have courage, Cassian,” Kyra whispered to me. “It's too late to back out now. Unless you want to back out. Do you want to back out?”
“Shh,” Aladdin hushed her. “Act normal. You're not a genie now, you're a maid.”
“I'm a maid, I'm a maid, I'm a maid.”
If we screwed up now and someone figure out who Aladdin or I were, our criminal bodies would hang from the palace walls as an example to the entire kingdom for months to come. Hopefully the disguise the genie had laid on me was solid. But as I rode toward the inner palace wall, I felt like the truth was shining out at everyone.
I had to have faith in her power.
Remember who you are. Remember what you stand for.
For the kingdom. For the Emperor. For the Princess. I will bring Gothel down.
Osaria’s palace walls spread out before us and for the first time in my life I was about to breach them. I’d dreamed of doing such a thing most nights for years but I’d never really thought it would happen. No thief who’d ever set foot in there had ever been seen again. It was about the only place in the kingdom that I was fairly sure I wouldn’t have been able to rob. But now the crown might just have been within reach and I wouldn’t even have to steal it.
Cassian exchanged a loaded look with me and I gave him a confident smile. This was just a long game and I’d run enough hustles in my time not to be afraid of it. Confidence was key. If we believed that we were supposed to be here then everyone else would too.
Kyra was looking around at the outer gardens with her green eyes sparkling with intrigue. She was holding it together and keeping the awe she felt off of her features, though she still muttered to herself from time to time.
Her black hair fell down her spine in a cascading wave and my gaze lingered on the motion of it as she swayed side to side on the camel’s back. The camel slowed a little, falling into step beside mine and she gazed up at me with a smile gracing her red lips. My gaze lingered on her mouth for a few seconds and I forced myself to look away. If she hadn’t been a genie I undoubtedly would have pursued her but I wasn’t entirely sure there was enough humanity left in her for that. She might have looked like a beautiful woman but beneath her flesh there only seemed to be magic now. She was a shell for her power and it seemed like what remained of the girl she’d once been had long since been tainted by her power.
Besides, I had a Princess waiting for me. Supposedly the most beautiful woman in the twelve kingdoms, though I somehow doubted that. There were a hell of a lot of women in the twelve kingdoms and the chances of the most beautiful one of all just happening to be the Princess seemed rather unlikely to me. But Cassian certainly seemed enraptured by what he’d seen of her so I was sure she’d do just fine.
Cassian urged his beast forward and the camel honked in irritation as he drew ahead of us to announce my arrival at the final gate. I couldn’t help but grin at the idea of it; one of The Forty being welcomed into the palace with open arms.
“May I present Count Aladdin Nazari of Carubai, here to take place in the pageant,” Cassian called and the gates swung open before us. I’d never had a family name before and the novelty of it almost made me laugh.
They just let a wolf in with the sheep and they haven’t even realised it.
We proceeded beyond the towering walls and headed into a wide courtyard with white columns lining the space. I looked up at the pale walls of the palace, fighting hard against the grin which wanted to rule over my face.
“You’re cutting it fine, Count Nazari,” a guard said as he hurried forward to greet me. “The other suitors have already started presenting their dowries, I’m not sure if you’ll make it in time to-”
“Nonsense,” I replied dismissively, sliding from the camel’s back and landing before him with my shoulders drawn back like I thought I ruled the damn world. Which I wasn’t actually that far from doing if I managed to pull off this con. “Have your men help my guard carry it in.” I waved a hand in Cassian’s direction as he started to order several guards to remove the chests which contained the treasure we were presenting to the Emperor.
“Of course, your grace,” the guard murmured. “And I’ll have some servants bring your things to your rooms. Will your companions need accommodation in the servants quarters or will you house them with you?”
I was tempted to send Cassian to the servants quarters just for the hell of it but as my gaze travelled over Kyra, I thought better of it. I wanted to keep her close in case I needed any more wishes. Besides, I didn’t like the way some of the guards were looking at her and I wasn’t sure she was equipped to be fighting off their advances in her current mental state.
“I’ll house them with me,” I said.
Kyra slid from her camel, and looked about at the palace as she waited for us to move on. She looked more like a noble lady than a maid in her deep blue dress with her exotic looks and captivating aura but I hadn’t had the heart to ask her to scale it back a bit. I drew closer to her and she turned her green eyes to me with a smile drawing up her full lips.
“Ready?” she breathed, low enough for only me to hear it.
“Let’s go win me a Princess,” I agreed with a smirk.
The guard led the way across the courtyard and through a vaulting doorway. Cassian and Kyra fell into step behind me and I resisted the urge to glance back at them, knowing a noble wouldn’t care about the help keeping up. We proceeded through long halls with pale walls and cream tiles lining the floor to keep the heat of the desert at bay. I enjoyed the feeling of the cool air on my flesh as we drew deeper into the building and I silently memorised every turn we took. If this whole thing went to hell then I was sure as shit going to rob the place before I had to run.
We reached a heavy wooden door inlaid with gold carvings and the guard threw it open before us.
“Forgive the interruption, your majesty,” he said, bowing low as he led us into the throne room.
There were seven other men standing to the right of the room and the Emperor was on his feet, seeming ready to leave.
“What is it? We are just heading to the Unveiling,” a woman snapped as she strode forward to look at us. She had long white hair which was twisted into a braid down her back and her pale face was oddly beautiful but her eyes were cruel. I’d seen many a murderer in The Forty but there were a few particularly mean bastards who killed for pleasure and she had that same look in her eye as they had. I didn’t need to look at the tight set of Cassian’s shoulders to know that this was Queen Gothel. The witch who he blamed for the state of the kingdom and his poor, starving orphans.
“We have a late addition to the suitors, your majesty. May I present Count Aladdin Nazari of Carubai.” He gestured to me and I stepped forward.
Gothel frowned at me “It’s a little late to-”
“Sorry about that. But I brought an extra chest of jewels to make up for it,” I winked at her and she scowled at me like I’d just slapped her. I guessed she wasn’t impressed by me but if that was the case then she was one of a very few people who’d ever felt that way. And no doubt I’d change her mind when I won this pageant.
Cassian moved forward with six guards in tow and they all placed a heavy chest before the Emperor. It seemed a little odd that he hadn’t acknowledged me yet and I moved away from Gothel to stand before him.
“Your highness,” I said formally, dropping to one knee and bowing just like Cassian had shown me. I’d never willingly bowed to anyone before but I figured my practice at being respectful to Egos over the years would set me in good stead here.
The Emperor’s eyes scraped over me momentarily and it almost seemed as if he didn’t care whether I was here or not.
“Well at least the numbers are even now,” he commented. I wondered why he wasn’t a little more curious about the stranger who had just offered himself as a suitor for his daughter. Didn’t he want to know a bit more about me before he just accepted me into the competition? Was my money and gender all that he required of the man he intended to wed his daughter and one day rule his kingdom?
I held my tongue, taking Cassian’s advice to only address him if I was asked a question and the Emperor’s gaze slid over me slowly.
Eventually he nodded, gesturing for his men to accept the jewels and I released a breath of relief.
“The Unveiling will begin shortly, your servants will await you outside,” Gothel said brusquely, ushering me back to my feet so that I could join the other suitors.
I glanced back at Cassian and Kyra as they were led away and the genie gave me a warm smile before the doors were closed between us.
I moved to join the other suitors and found seven sets of eyes firmly placed on me. I was tall but not the tallest amongst them, one man had me beaten by a few inches and his steely gaze raked over me as if he was looking for a sign of weakness. Another man dwarfed me by a foot and was twice as wide. His face was not as repulsive as Cassian had described but by the size of him I could only imagine this was Kahn. I easily pegged him for the alpha of this group of puffed up peacocks and made a beeline straight for him.
Forbidden Fairytales- The Complete Series Page 16