by Marie Hall
“And let’s also say that the fairy was stunned to discover that the girls one true love was not only a handsome man, but a famous one. And that the odds of ever having that ‘sweet meet’ was now near to impossible because of a curse that’d sent her deep into the ground.”
What. The. Hell?
Nixie’s pulse pounded so hard she swore she could taste the adrenaline of it on the back of her tongue. Just how far and how long had Danika been meddling in her affairs?
“So one day this fairy calls due a pledge from an infamous witch who she instructs to tell this very, handsome, very intense young man a story about a the dark genie. And then hands said handsome man a vial full of a finder spell, and urges him to run, not walk to find this genie immediately.”
Nix gasped.
“And let’s just say that the ‘the witch’ adds a tiny compulsion into the story, to make the man obsessed with finding the lamp.”
She blinked, having a hard time reconciling this story. Was Danika admitting to orchestrating this entire thing? Sure seemed like it.
But a fairy godmother couldn’t make people feel combustible heat. Not the way she and Robin felt it. Right?
Didn’t genies and fairies share many of the same rules?
Danika smiled. “I can almost read your thoughts, girl.”
“What am I thinking?”
“How come it feels so real? Right?” She grinned.
“I loved Eric.”
The fairy shrugged delicately. “I don’t doubt that, my dear. There are many we can take in our lives that fit us well. That could make us happy.”
“But?” Nixie prompted, hearing the ‘but’ in there.
“But suppose there is only one in the entirety of the cosmos that was divinely crafted for us. Only one that would make us whole. Makes us a better version of ourselves. That fits us so completely and perfectly that there is no beginning and no end, there simply is.”
Nixie closed her eyes. Her voice was sad as she said, “And you expect me to believe that? That not only is Robin my true love”—she had to refrain from scoffing at that part—“but that ‘hypothetically’”—she finger waved—“you’ve engineered this entire thing?”
“Oh no, not me, dear. I admit no culpability in this matter.” She rocked a little harder, smile broadening.
“Fine.” Nix tossed up her hands. “That a fairy godmother orchestrated this entire series of events because he and I are mated. Even though I’m a genie and apparently there is a rule against fraternizing. Not to mention one tiny element in all of this, though. An important detail that blows your supposition entirely out of the water.”
“And that is?”
Danika looked supremely pleased with herself, but Nixie knew she was about to put the nail in the coffin.
“Maid Marian.”
The fairy’s smile never wavered. If anything, it seemed to grow bigger.
“Now, I know Robin doesn’t seem to have a clue what I’m talking about when I mention her, but even though most of the tales are blown out of proportion; my dad always taught me that hidden within the lie is a thread of truth.” By the time she finished speaking Nixie almost wished she hadn’t, because Danika’s confidence never once wavered.
“Well, now that I know the truth of. Miriam, as you know, was a great seer. In truth, the best. She always knew.” Danika’s smile turned soft, full of memories. “It’s part of what turned her so mad in the end. Her head was full of the beginning, middle, and end of everything. So much so that at times she’d write a tale that was years, decades, even centuries from happening yet. Sloppy, idealistic, or addlepated fools penned most tales written in the archives. But not Robin’s. Robin’s was written by Miram herself.”
Nixie’s heart sank. “So Maid Marian does exist?” It shouldn’t bother her, it really shouldn’t. That’d been the one story that Nixie had loved most in all the world growing up.
But the Robin of Kingdom and the Robin of the tales were nothing alike. This Robin was cold and seemed bitter. The Robin of the stories had been honorable, caring more about others than himself. And his love for Marian, it’d been legendary.
“Oh, aye, the lovely lady is very real.” Danika patted Nixie’s hand. “And Robin’s met her. He doesn’t know it yet, of course, because she doesn’t quite exist as she should.”
She wished Danika had never told her this story. Nixie turned her face aside.
“But he feels the fire. He feels the draw. And so does she.”
Nix’s nails dug into the armrest as she snapped her gaze toward the fairy. “What? You don’t mean… But…but…”
Her mind was a vast blank. That didn’t make sense. Made no sense at all. Because Nixie was a genie. She wasn’t a maiden who could give her heart away. She was a woman who’d been cursed to live a life in a land far away that she barely understood.
Danika framed Nixie’s jaw gently. “You, my dear, are seeing the story from its very inception. You see, Robin’s heart will be all the things the stories have made it out to be. And you…you will be the treasure he values most in all the worlds.”
“But Danika, I can’t be. I’m a slave to these cuffs for anther twenty years. He’ll use his wishes and I’ll be gone. My name is Nixie, not—”
“Threads of truth, Nix. Threads of truth. That is what your father taught you. Is it not?”
Nixie couldn’t answer that. Her brain was too full, too confused. How could this possibly be?
“Every story ever told about us, if you look hard enough, you can find the verity. The truth. But it’s always unexpected, the best stories are. You are who I say you are. I would not lie to you about that. But if you’re brave enough to accept facts, then no matter what comes your way, you can both weather it.”
“Do you know the rest of our story?” Nixie couldn’t believe she was actually validating this wild claim, and yet…she could not deny the instant connection, the instant draw she’d felt to him.
Was it really possible that she was Marian? But how? It just didn’t make sense.
“Aye.” Danika’s look was sad. “I do. The choice is yours, Nix. You can believe what I tell you and let fate work as it should, or you can fight it. Same goes for him.”
“But I can’t even let him touch me without suffering horrible pain. How could we possibly—”
Danika scoffed. “Love is more than meeting the lust of the flesh. Connect with the strength of the heart, of the mind. Help him to become the man Miriam said he should be. Nixie.” She gripped Nix’s hand tightly, her gaze unflinching. “Don’t be afraid of the impossible—it’s my job, it’s what I do, making the impossible possible. Robin is a work in progress, he is a man ruined by the world, glue him back together, and then, my dear, ohhh…” She sighed dreamily. “Well, you know how that story ends, don’t you?”
Her blue eyes twinkled.
“This is impossible.”
“Haven’t you wondered at the ferocity of the attachment?” Danika asked. “At the violence of it?”
She couldn’t speak, but Nixie knew Danika saw the truth of it in her eyes.
The fairy smiled. “It’s because this isn’t just love, my girl, this is legend in the making.” Laughing, Danika began to turn translucent, fading right before Nixie’s eyes, but not before saying, “A love that transcends the stones…”
Chapter 10
Robin’s head pounded. He’d stayed up through most of the night, thinking thoughts he had no right to think.
He despised the way the genie made him feel and yet…he craved her presence with a desire that consumed his every waking thought.
Smoke billowed from his pocket and he sucked in a breath as the tingling presence of her magic escaped the hidden lamp. Out stepped his obsession, gazing on him with dark, lovely eyes.
The sun was barely an hour from rising. The sky was a lighter shade of navy blue; soon they’d be back on their way. Tonight they should arrive back in Sherwood. He’d not have her to himself after this, they’d
be surrounded by his men, his plans would be well underway, he’d make his wish, and she would be gone…
“About last night,” she said softly.
He held up a hand. “I should not have done what I did. I am…sorry.” He’d had to pull those words out of him, because he was in fact, not sorry at all. He only wished they’d gotten to finish what they’d started.
“Did you want to touch me, Robin?” She stepped slightly closer.
Nixie was dressed again, but all he had to do was close his eyes to remember the beauty of her naked form. Her body had imprinted itself indelibly in his mind. The fine curves of her breasts, the pointed tips of her dark nipples, the rising flush of her cheeks as he’d touched her…
He swallowed hard. “Yes,” he admitted in a broken whisper. “Desperately.”
“Do you want to touch me even now?”
The breeze picked up her scent, wrapping it around his nose. Robin inhaled deeply, curling his hands into his thighs. “Do you want to touch me?” he asked her, almost afraid to hear her answer.
Afraid if she said yes, he might attack her again.
“Desperately,” she said in a voice strong with conviction.
Only the memory of her writhing in pain kept him seated, but his brain was a riot of emotions. He clenched his jaw.
“Why do I want you this way?” he asked.
All night it’d bothered him. The desperation, the madness he felt for her. For centuries his thoughts had been focused solely on Crispin. Of regaining what he’d lost. Even when Robin had been with women, he’d sate his passion, but they’d never held his interest long.
Now here was a woman, a genie for goddess sake, who he knew nothing about. He’d barely just met her, and yet…and yet, it was like he’d known her his whole life. Like he’d only just been waiting until the day he met her to awaken from his stupor.
Like she was a vital piece of his soul that’d been missing from him and he hadn’t known it until she’d turned her exotic, doe-shaped eyes on him.
“Nixie,” he said her name.
Blood flooded her cheeks, filling them with a rosy glow. Unable to stand it a second longer, he got to his feet and in two short steps erased the distance between them. Laying his hands on her arms, he rubbed her delicate skin.
“Robin.” Her voice cracked. “I know who you should introduce me as to your men.”
She wanted to talk of business. He shuddered, dropping his hands. Probably she was right, they couldn’t entertain this…whatever it was.
She was a genie. She would leave him. Unless, unless he hoarded his last wish, refused to wish it until her time expired. Then maybe…maybe…
He frowned, realizing the absurdity of his thoughts. Twenty years of hiding who she really was to his men. It was impossible. Someone would find her lamp, figure out who she was, he’d never be able to hang onto her for very long.
With a sigh of disgust, he asked, “Who?”
“Maid Marian. From here on out, I’ll be known as Maid Marian.”
~*~
“I don’t have any coin, Robin,” Nixie said, eyeing the stalls down in the village. They’d walked for hours that day.
She was tired. Thirsty. And dirty. The last thing she wanted to do was go shopping for clothes.
Robin yanked on her wrist, trying to lead her down the hill.
The village below was quaint. There looked to be a village pub. A stonework building leaning slightly crooked. A couple of shanty, thatched-roof homes dotting the landscape, smoke curling up from chimneys, straw littering the muddied pathways, and a few stalls selling odds and ends. This place seriously looked like it could be the set for a medieval period movie.
They were only about ten miles east of Sherwood at this point, he’d said. But if she was going to look the part of a maiden fair, she needed to dress like one.
Well, yeah, but there was only one problem with that.
Snatching her hand out of his, she sighed. “Robin, I’m serious. I’m broke. I can’t buy anything down there.”
Finally, he stopped. Frowning at her. “By broke, I’m assuming you mean you have no money. But you’re a genie. Surely you’ve magic enough to make that.”
“Ssh,” she hissed, glancing around. Sure, there was no one around, but if she was going to convince the rest of his crew that she was who she said she was, she needed him to remember that she was a genie no more.
At least for the time being.
Nix crossed her arms. “I can’t use magic on myself unless I’m inside the lamp, I already told you that.”
His grin was huge and cocky, and made her toes tingle inside her golden slippers. At some point today Robin had gone through a metamorphosis. Nixie wasn’t sure why, or how, but it was almost like the moment she’d decided to play along with this charade, he’d decided on the very same.
The only encouraging thing about this whole situation was that she didn’t feel like she was in it alone.
“Well then, my lady”—he tossed an arm across his middle and bowed gallantly—“how fortunate you are that I just so happen to have a pocketful.”
Robin shook his breast pocket so that she could hear the jingle of money.
“Then let’s go shop!” She winked at him, swallowing a throaty laugh at his look that reminded her so much of her father’s when Mom went on one of her wild shopping sprees.
Even in Kingdom, it was good to know that certain things were universal. Like the thought of a woman shopping to a male.
“Aye, but first.” Robin held up a finger, then proceeded to pull a strip of cloth out of his pocket.
But the strip turned out to be much more than a strip, he pulled on and on and on like a magician would with his colorful string of kerchiefs. What at first seemed like nothing more than one long spool of red cloth was in fact a very ornate, very princely looking velvet cape.
She gasped and trailed a finger down the golden inseam of the finely crafted cape. “Are you sure you’re not magic?”
He chuckled, snapping it around his neck before quickly securing it. “I’ve many tricks up my sleeves, pet.”
“Or in your pocket.”
“Aye.” He winked. “Or that too.” Patting the fabric down, he spread his arms. “I curried favor with a band of dark elves once. They gave me this thing as payment. Amazing how the look of wealth can alter the perception of others. I’m a wanted man around these parts, Nixie—”
He’d said her name again. She wondered if he realized how often he was doing it now.
“But if I can keep the eyes upon the finery and the jewels”—he pulled several ruby and emerald rings out of his inner pocket, placing them on each finger—“then they’ll never stop to question who I really am. Besides, my true face isn’t known.”
“You’re a sneaky man, Robin Hood,” she said, taking his elbow when he offered it to her.
“In my line of work you have to be. And if you are no longer a genie, then at least while not within the safety of my camp, I too must be someone else.”
“Oh.” She grinned. “I think I’ve got a few names in mind.”
~*~
They walked through the stalls together, and if it seemed odd to others that she was definitely not from around there, no one acted much bothered by it.
The men walking through the stalls looked much like Robin did. Wearing dun-colored breaches and leather boots, of course he looked much more stately and sexy than the rest of them. The women were dressed much more covered up than she was, though. From their necks to their ankles, not a bit of flesh showed.
Unlike her pants that did absolutely nothing to hide the shape of her body, not to mention the top that showed off a good three inches of her belly and pushed the ladies up to nearly obscene proportions.
But this was Kingdom, not the medieval ages. Women like her weren’t all that uncommon here. Vendor after vendor attempted to catch their eye, waving piles of silks and undergarments at them.
Robin shrugged. “Any favorites?” he
asked, looking at her.
He looked like money; it was no wonder everyone was salivating to get at them. Nixie shrugged. “I don’t care. Just pick the least obnoxious one.”
His fingers tightened around her elbow, making her feel like she’d just been burnt by a hot iron. Her entire body tingled with a rush of blood, all of it centering on where he now touched her.
Nixie cleared her throat, chanting to herself that her reactions to the man were merely a result of needing to get laid. She barely paid any attention to where he guided her, deciding to step off to the side and let him handle the sales.
In this, Robin was more of the fashion expert. Every part of Kingdom seemed to be divided into its own little portion of a fairytale; here, things were more medieval. Which yeah, she’d missed that period by…oh a couple thousand years, give or take.
Nixie tuned them out for a while, until jewelry got involved in the picture.
Robin tilted the golden circlet in his hand, glancing at the vendor. An overweight woman missing both her front teeth. Her bloodshot eyes practically gleamed with greed.
“And you’re sure,” he drawled slowly, “that a circlet is the latest in women’s fashion?”
Nix covered her mouth with her hand. Robin wasn’t an idiot, he knew as well as she that the middle-aged woman was trying to play him for a fool. Not that she could blame the chick—that circlet alone was probably worth a year’s salary.
“Aye, absolutely sure. And if you’ll note the brilliance of the jade inset”—she pointed to the polished oval shaped gemstone—“it’s a truly one of a kind piece. Fit for a princess.”
Brows rising, Nixie fought the smile trying to take over her face. “Well, you heard the lady, Charming”—they’d agreed not to use his name because there was one aspect of his story that was absolutely dead on, Robin was a wanted man—“a princess is deserving of no less.”
“Indeed.” His eyes glowed with the promise of retribution. Robin might have a pocket full of infinite gold, but that didn’t mean the man wasn’t a skinflint. Looking back at the brown-eyed merchant who was practically drooling with the sale, he nodded. “You heard my lady, madam. We’ll take it. And any other baubles beside,” he hastily added when she lifted a finger to point out a section of ear bobs.