by A. Star
“Now I understand why Irving brought you here,” she said. “He knows Shrinelyn is the safest place for an illusionist.” With that, Ada turned and flounced off.
“I don’t understand something, though, Your Highness,” I said, trailing behind her. “Why was Irving so upset when I wished for glamour?”
“I find it difficult to believe that Irving did not inform you of the history between the League and what are called illusionists.”
“Not really. I mean, he said they would come after me, but it seems a meet and greet with the hunters is inevitable anyway.”
Ada tossed a dark laugh over her shoulder. “You speak in such a casual manner, as though you do not find the League to be a true threat.”
“Oh, I do,” I said. “I was the one who had to sop up Irving’s blood when they shot him. I know what they’re capable of. But he’s convinced they will turn me against the Djinn kind and I don’t know what made him think that. It’s not going to happen, though. Bet your money on that.”
“Your confidence is admirable,” the princess said. “But I must make you aware of the very real possibilities. The League is after Irving, but once they learn of your power, they will add you to their list of those that must be conquered. It is their way, and you must be warned. Those whom the League of the Black Cloud cannot turn to their cause, they kill.”
“Kill!?”
“Yes. The League would do anything to strengthen their numbers, including eliminating illusionists and other humans with magic to keep them out of our clutches. Very few have had a Djinn looking out for their best interests as you do. But I figure, when they find out whom your Djinn is, they will not even bother trying to convert you. I believe Irving feels as I do and he brought you here to save you from that.”
But I didn’t completely agree. “As much as we’d all like to think Irving is that chivalrous, he is also looking out for his own ass. He’s an Amir, a freaking prince of Shrinelyn, and the hunters know that. They want his Chronolier and since I’m the master of it, wherever I go, it goes. Irving brought me here for his sake as much as mine.”
Ada stopped and swerved to meet me face-to-face. “Did you not hear a word I said in the assembly chamber? Irving is the only Amir who grants wishes. As you said yourself, he is a prince of Shrinelyn, therefore he is a royal who knows the ins and outs of this kingdom better than anyone. He is a confidant to our Sultan and the best friend to the crown prince. His magic is powerful and his mind is filled to the brim with steel creations that could bring an entire realm to its knees. The hunters would slaughter every Djinn alive to be his master. So no, Irving did not bring you here to save himself. He brought you here to save Shrinelyn.”
I nodded, feeling utterly pathetic for not having taken the time to come to that conclusion on my own. “I’m sorry, Your Highness. You’re right. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“I am not offended,” Ada huffed. “I only wish that humans were not so closed-minded and self-centered. But I understand that you cannot help it and we are partially to blame.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
“Because we exist to grant your every desire. How can we not expect you to be greedy and selfish when we make all of your wishes come true?”
She made a damn good point and there was nothing that I could say to counter it.
We made our way to the vault in silence. It was situated down yet another corridor and up a set of winding marble steps. After going through three sets of locked doors, we arrived. I smiled when I saw the door to the vault as it was exactly what I had expected it to be. Huge. Solid. And made of gold.
However, I was surprised that there were no guards. If any place needed protection, I would think the vault would. But then Ada started chanting and I realized that the vault didn’t need any guards. Magic was protecting it.
Ada’s foreign words caused the door to click. A dial near the handle popped out and spun. When it stopped, a vial with a steel spike on the end appeared, and without hesitation, Ada reached out and pricked her finger on the spike. Her blood filled the vial, kind of like what mine had done in Irving’s verity meter. I guessed that the princess’ blood was the actual key to the vault because after another click, the gold door slowly swung open.
I was nearly blinded by what was inside. I walked in after Ada, mouth hanging open like an imbecile. The vault was much larger than it appeared from the outside and housed jewelry, dishes, busts, priceless garments on steel mannequins and endless crowns on brass pedestals.
“These are the crown jewels,” Ada said.
Oh, that was clear. A tall golden crown was perched upon the highest pedestal. The craftsmanship of it was incredible and most certainly made by hand. Gold bands had been twisted and bent to create a one-of-a-kind piece that was regal yet not at all gaudy. Tiny emeralds were embedded in the bands at regular intervals and added just the right amount of pizzazz to an already magnificent piece. A more feminine crown sat next to it. It was gold but embellished with more jewels and bangles, plus a sheer veil that was probably meant to be more of a fashion statement than functional.
I’d never seen such wealth gathered in one place before. Probably never would again.
“Why do you think the Sultan wanted you to bring me here?” I wanted to reach out and touch one of the other crowns, but I knew better.
Ada sighed. “Do work on your listening skills, Glory. Because Irving cares for you.”
I still didn’t want to acknowledge it. “Does every woman Irving cares about get a tour of the royal vault?”
“No. Because you are the only female my cousin has ever shown interest in.”
Now that I couldn’t ignore. “But he’s a prince. Are you telling me that he doesn’t have any foreign princesses or some loyal subject trying to win his freaking hand in marriage?”
“Of course. As I said, he is the most eligible male in our kingdom. But one day you will learn that there is not a being in existence who could force Irving Amir to love someone he does not want to love.”
I turned to face her. “And you think he wants to love me?”
“I think he already loves you.”
I nodded and turned back to focus on the Amir treasures. Anything not to face Ada and have her see my panic.
I pointed at one of the shelves lined with jeweled vases made of antiqued gears. “Are those Chronoliers?”
Ada allowed me to change the topic and answered. “Papa, Edwin and I are forbidden to grant wishes. Our Chronoliers have never left Shrinelyn and never will.”
“It’s the only way to keep your bloodline from dying out,” I mused out loud. “No humans can ever be your master, therefore the League can never be your master.” I took Ada’s silence to mean I was right on the money.
After I finished drooling over the rest of the crown jewels, we left the vault and headed for a different part of the palace. Along the way, we encountered a young servant woman. But this barefoot woman dressed all in lace was no Djinn. She didn’t have the signature violet eyes or bronzed skin. She was as pale as me, more in fact, and her hair was a light brown versus coal black. She was pretty, but like I, her beauty was eclipsed by Ada’s.
“Your Highness,” the woman said and bowed to Ada. The princess waved her on and I stared after the woman as she scurried down the passage. Ada started walking again and I had to walk twice as fast to keep up.
“Was that lady…a human?” I asked.
“Yes.” She paused a moment. “You sound surprised.”
“I am. I don’t know why, but I assumed I was the only human here.”
“Quite the contrary, you are one of many.” We turned a corner and headed down another red-carpeted hall. This one was lined with golden busts of individuals that I assumed were the Amir ancestors. Royalty of old. “Humans are not barred from Shrinelyn. Many of them live right here with us, in peace. Those that wish us harm are our only enemies. Otherwise, humans are embraced here.”
“Wow. I didn’t know. Irving nev
er said that humans and Djinn could exist…together like that.”
The princess chuckled over her shoulder. “I am surprised that a freed prince of Shrinelyn would keep such a thing secret.”
I cocked my head. “Freed?”
Ada nodded once. “As the Sultan’s heir, Edwin must unite with a Djinn.” She gestured back at me. “But Irving is a freed prince, and as I said, he will love whom he wishes to love.”
I swallowed. “What do you mean by unite?”
“Wed,” Ada replied, signaling guards stationed outside of the set of double doors we approached. She had barely finished giving the command when they burst into action and made sure the doors were opened by the time we arrived. We entered the chamber beyond and the doors closed behind us.
“Irving is not confined to the laws of our kind as Edwin and I are,” Ada continued, moving to stand behind a solid wood desk within the exquisite chamber. She removed a key from inside her corset and stuck it into a keyhole in the very center of the desk. She turned it once and I heard gears start to move behind the wall of books displayed in the background. With a clang, the bookcase slid apart and then the panels on either side swung outward to reveal a tiny room full of round, brass cubbies that each held at least twenty or more scrolls.
Ada stepped inside the little room and her voice filtered out. “As I was saying. If Irving loves a human, he may wed her and live with her right here in Shrinelyn.”
I could hear the implication in Ada’s tone. “Like I said, Irving barely likes me, let alone loves me.”
“Maybe not yet. But I would have you know that you are the first human that Irving has ever brought into Shrinelyn.”
So I wasn’t just the first woman Irving had shown interest in. I was the first human he had ever introduced to his family. I was floored. “I’m sure that doesn’t mean anything. He’s just making me tag along with him everywhere he goes so I don’t end up dying and leaving his Chronolier in the hands of some crazy hunter bitch.”
There was a pause. “If you say so, Glory St. Pierre.”
The chamber doors flung open and Irving and Edwin entered. Immediately, I knew something was wrong. Ada emerged from the tiny room at hearing her brother and cousin enter. She immediately noticed that something was up as well and wasted no time getting to the bottom of it.
“What’s wrong, Edwin? What has happened?” When her brother didn’t answer, she turned to Irving. “Tell me. Now.”
Irving stopped beside me. I could feel the tension rolling off of him. “The Sultan is planning a celebration.”
“A celebration? What for?” Ada crossed her arms, looking as confused as I felt.
Irving glanced at Edwin. “Cousin? Do you want to tell her?”
Edwin cleared his throat and finally lifted his eyes from the floor. “To announce my betrothal to Maya Khan.”
“Your what!?” Ada screeched. I didn’t know who Maya Khan was, but this was clearly not welcome news.
“We were as surprised as you are,” Irving said. “At first, I thought it all a joke, but then I remembered that the Sultan does not make jokes. He means to go forward with this union. He and the Grand Council all agree that this is what is best for Shrinelyn.”
“What reason did Papa give?” Ada questioned her brother.
Edwin sighed. “He wishes this union for the same reason any ruler who would seek out an alliance with surrounding territories: power. Father wishes to combine the might of the imperial army with that of Ali Khan.”
Ada slammed her right fist into her left palm. “He cannot truly mean to do this!”
“I’m afraid he does.”
“I never question our father, but this is the most foolish thing he has ever done!”
“What do you mean?” I asked, unable to hold my tongue any longer. Royalty, betrothals, alliances. The old school politics of their world intrigued me.
I thought for a moment that no one would tell me, but Irving answered right away. “General Ali Khan is a direct descendant of Munir Khan…the rebel general who rose up against the Sultan nine hundred years ago and slaughtered several members of the royal family, including my mother and the Sultana. Munir is the one that took the Sultan’s eye.”
I swallowed so hard I almost choked. “The Sultana?” I managed.
“Our mother,” Edwin supplied. “The queen of Shrinelyn.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said. The first time I’d mentioned the queen to Irving flashed in my mind. Now I understood his reaction. I shook my head in absolute horror. “I know it’s none of my business, but how could the Sultan force you to marry into that family?”
“Well, according to our father, the Khan family, with the exclusion of Munir, are loyal to the crown of Shrinelyn,” said Ada. “Papa does not hold the faults of Ali’s ancestor against him as we do. I am sure he believes he is doing what is truly best for our realm.”
“That’s not it at all,” Irving said. Edwin and Ada glanced at each other, then back at Irving, waiting on him to continue. “Well, that’s not all of it, at least. The imperial army is already vast and powerful. We have no need of Khan’s army…unless there is a larger threat to the kingdom that we are not aware of.” He shot me a look and I understood what he meant. If the Army of Brass and Steel were that threat, then yes, the Sultan would need to combine his forces.
Ada grabbed Irving’s arm. “What do you know, Cousin?”
At first, I thought Irving would tell Ada and Edwin about the Army they were clearly unaware was back in existence, but he didn’t. “I don’t know anything, Ada, calm down. However, I plan on finding out. And soon.”
“Oh, we do not doubt that our royal rogue will save the day,” Edwin said with a smile and a wink in my direction.
“Oh, will you shut up already?” Irving laughed. “And stop flirting with Glory. She’s mine.”
“Am I now?” I asked with an eyebrow raised. “I thought you were mine. I am your master after all.”
“Even better.” Irving winked.
I grinned, trying not to like his possessive remark. But I did. I loved Irving’s alpha attitude, even if it did put me on edge a bit. He was just sexy enough to keep me from flipping my shit and wondering if Irving was trying to make things more serious between us. I wasn’t commitment phobic, but I liked calling the shots. Even when the man was as powerful and sexy as Irving. And damn, this Djinn was fine. His body, his smile, those damn beautiful eyes. It all drove me crazy. And oh, his voice. Just the thought of that baritone being the first sound I heard every morning…
“Glory? What are you doing?”
I blinked. “Huh?” I looked down and found both of my hands beneath Irving’s leather duster, twisted in his suspenders, feeling him the fuck up in front of the crown prince and first princess of Shrinelyn.
“Twice in one day, Glory. I’m starting to think you like me way more than you say you do.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, snatching my hands away. “I don’t know what the hell I was thinking about.”
“Oh, we know what you were thinking about,” Edwin teased. Ada slapped him on the arm, then moved to pull him away, but not before closing up her closet of scrolls and stashing her key back in her corset.
“That was our cue to leave, brother. Come and let’s start brainstorming ideas to be rid of your future mate.”
“Without executing her? I do not want Maya dead, Ada.”
“Must you take the fun out of everything?” The doors of the chamber opened and closed, cutting off the rest of the siblings’ conversation.
I looked at Irving, whose gaze had changed from playful to lustful. Now that his cousins were gone and it was just us, the niceties were over. He could look at me like he wanted. Say whatever he wanted. Touch me if he wanted. And then he was touching me, pulling me into his arms until our bodies were pressed together in a searing hot embrace.
“Do you want me, Glory?”
My entire body flamed even hotter under his gaze. Why was he asking this? Didn�
��t he already know? Yes.
“What does it matter?” I asked, distracting myself with the collar of his duster.
“It matters because I want you. Desperately. And if it turns out that you want me too, then we will not play this game anymore.” He reached up, grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. “The talking will end, and I will take you back to my chambers and fuck you the way I’ve been wanting to do since you first summoned me.”
I sucked in a shallow breath and let my eyes flutter closed. That word…coming out of Irving’s pretty mouth…was almost too much for me to take. He’d seemed so proper and well-reared, and now to know there was this other side to him was a turn on like none other. He liked dirty words…and I began to wonder what else he liked dirty…
“Answer me.”
I opened my eyes and nodded once. Why deny it any longer? “I want you, Irving. Like you wouldn’t fucking believe.”
I said the magic words.
Irving’s mouth came down on mine so hard it was almost painful. He kissed me, hard and deep, taking me over so quickly that all I could do was surrender and let him invade. I was no longer his master. He was mine.
His tongue fought with mine for dominance, but it wasn’t much of a fight. He conquered me through submission and there was no going back from that point on. I burned for Irving Amir and I welcomed whatever he wanted to do to me.
I closed my eyes and let myself fall into the kiss. When I opened them again, we were in a bed chamber and I had no doubt that it belonged to Irving.
Opulence seemed to be on the menu that day and Irving’s round chamber was no exception. The walls were covered in gold leaf wallpaper that was applied to appear as though it was plush and billowed. The ceiling wasn’t flat, but curved upward in the center, creating what appeared to be a never-ending tunnel that led up to who knew where. Glass sconces circled the entire chamber, only breaking for a double floor-to-ceiling window shaped like a keyhole and a vaulted entryway that I assumed led to a bathroom. I didn’t see a closet anywhere, but I’d only ever seen Irving make his clothes appear out of thin air, so I figured Djinn probably didn’t need closets.