“Um, guys, it’s Niri.”
“Niri, Lona’s fine.”
Rafi looked back at her.
“Right, Lona?”
Lona glared at him, embarrassed about what Niri must think.
“I’m sorry to intrude, but I still would like to see Lona for myself and I have a message for you both from the High Council.”
Rafi groaned. “Fine. Give us a moment.”
“I’ll make some coffee.”
They both listened to the sound of Niri’s departing feet before turning to one another. Lona watched Rafi swing out of bed, wishing they’d had just a little bit longer to relax in one another’s arms before facing the world. A genie was dead at the hands of two other genies and the High Council would want answers.
“Are you and Maurelle in danger of facing trial for Rue’s death?”
Rafi ran a hand through his tousled hair, his naked muscles drawing Lona’s attention despite her concern.
“We were left no choice but to use force. The High Council will understand.”
Lona stood up and walked over to him. “What if they don’t?”
“They will.”
Rafi’s eyes softened as he stared down at her.
“Don’t worry, Lona. Everything’s going to be okay now.”
Lona yelped as he bent down, swinging her up into his arms. “What are you doing?” She giggled as he held her.
“It’s shower time.”
After a shower they both would have preferred to be longer, they dressed and joined Niri at the kitchen table.
“You both look well.” Niri ran a critical eye over Rafi before turning her attention towards Lona. “How are you feeling? Any pain?”
“None. I don’t know what you put into your special teas, but I feel amazing.”
Niri smiled, offering her a cup of coffee. “I’m pleased that you are suffering no ill effects from what happened yesterday. May I see the back of your hand?”
Lona looked at Rafi, who shrugged as she held out her hand. She watched the elf turn her palm up. There was a small mark on her wrist that hadn’t been there before.
“What is tha—”
“I wanted to be certain and now I am.” Niri ran her thumb over the small mark that resembled a flower.
Lona frowned, leaning in to inspect her skin. “Certain of what?” She glanced up at Niri.
“When a conduit interacts with dark energy, it draws out the conduit’s life, but surrounded by pure energy you would enhance…strengthen the energy source.”
Lona lifted her wrist as Niri let go to stare at the reddened mark. “What does that mean?”
“It means you could help many people with your gift, Lona.”
Niri’s aquamarine eyes shone with excitement.
“If you ever decide to channel your gift for that purpose, I would help teach you how.”
“How did this get on my wrist?” Lona asked as Rafi lifted her hand up to his face.
“The tea I gave you last night had an ingredient that I knew would generate this kind of physical response if you were the right type of conduit.”
“Niri, you can’t keep giving us food and drinks containing magical properties without our knowledge.”
Niri glared at Rafi. “It was perfectly harmless…both times.”
“Both times? What other time did you give us magical foo—” Lona turned her head in the elf’s direction as she gasped, “The muffins by the lake!”
Niri giggled. “Weren’t those delicious?”
“Did they make us…make us…?” Lona stumbled over the words, heat racing up her neck as images of Rafi taking her by the water flashed in her mind.
“None of my potions can make you into something you aren’t or make you do anything you didn’t already want to do. They simply make it easier for you to freely do so.”
Rafi groaned. “We can talk about this later. What’s the message you came here to tell us?”
The playful smile on Niri’s face faded a little.
“The High Council is requesting that you both appear before them.”
Lona exchanged a look with Rafi, a million questions racing through her head. Her stomach twisted in nauseating knots at the thought of standing in front of the High Council again.
“When?” Rafi asked, finishing his coffee.
Niri sighed. “Now.”
* * * *
Rafi could see the tension in Lona’s body as they waited for the High Council to enter the hall and take their seats in front of them. He took her hand in his, wishing he had time to kiss her as the door opened and all eight High Council members walked in. His gaze fell on Maurelle, but she did not look his way as they all took their seats. He waited for her to stand up as the usual spokesperson and was surprised when Sagen, the oldest male genie in the Djinn Brotherhood, stood up instead.
Rafi straightened his back as Sagen pushed back his royal blue hood to reveal long, dark hair despite his age. He felt Lona’s fingers tightening around his and squeezed her hand as Sagen cleared his throat.
“Thank you both for coming.”
Rafi bowed his head in respect before meeting the grey eyes pinned on him. As if they had any other choice but to show?
“Rue Trevori was killed by the hands of two of our own.”
Rafi glanced at Maurelle again and this time their gazes locked before she bowed her
head.
“We understand why you both used your powers to defeat him. It is the unanimous
decision of the High Council that neither of you is to be sentenced for murder. Rafi, you are
free of your charge, Lona Vilan”—Sagen turned his attention towards Lona—“who we are
convinced had no prior knowledge of or hand in Rue’s treachery. Lona Vilan you are now
the beneficiary of all monies and assets Rue left behind. Please wait here following this
hearing for the member appointed to help you with this transition.”
Rafi clenched his jaw as Lona pulled her hand from his. He had wanted to be the one to
tell her about the High Council’s request that he keep her under his care until their final
decision about her innocence had been made.
“Rafi, you are now officially given back Djinn duties and responsibilities. We are
honoured by your service.” Sagen bowed his head low. “Good magic.”
“Good magic,” Rafi repeated hollowly as the High Council members filed out of the
huge room.
He waited until they were alone to turn to Lona.
“You’re officially free of this mess.”
Lona nodded, her eyes over-bright as she held his gaze.
“You won’t have to worry about money or a place to live… Niri even wants you to
work with her.”
“What did he mean when he said you were free of my charge, Rafi?”
“I was asked to keep you safe while they made their final decision about your
innocence.”
The tension in Lona’s body made him want to enfold her in his arms until she was as
happy as she’d been only hours before.
“I thought you asked me to stay because you wanted to help me.”
“I did want to help you.”
“In the beginning you did, but the real reason you were so nice was because you were
ordered to keep an eye on me by the High Council.”
“No—” Rafi cursed as another male wearing a brown robe entered the room with
several folders in his hands.
“My name is Vale. I’m here to help the beneficiary as the High Council requested.” “Can you give us a minute?”
Vale bowed before stepping out of the room.
The heavy thud of the door matched the pounding of Rafi’s heart as he looked at Lona.
The tears shimmering in her eyes broke him down faster than anything else in the world
could have.
“Lona, l
isten to me. I was asked to keep an eye on you and I did, but that request had
nothing to do with what happened between you and me. I want you in my life even now that
we’re both free to go on with our lives.”
Lona chuckled but the hard tone was nothing like Rafi knew her real laugh to be. “Soon, you’ll be summoned by someone who randomly finds your vessel and I’ll be
picking out new furniture for the new home I just inherited.”
“Lona…”
“Rafi, no matter what’s going on between us now, we both know there’s no future in it.
You’re a genie. You’ll have to poof away at a moment’s notice.”
Rafi felt every cell in his body shrink as Lona shook her head.
“I don’t want to say goodbye to you now…how will I say goodbye to you a thousand
times?”
She’s right.
He couldn’t ask her to share her life with him when his life wasn’t his own. Rafi stared
at her, wondering numbly how he’d got to this lonely place again. He didn’t want to let her
go.
“We could make this work.”
I love you.
Lona wiped away one tear falling down her cheek.
“I can’t say goodbye, Rafi. Can you just leave?”
Something died in his soul as he bowed his head. He fought to hold back his own tears
as he lifted his head to meet Lona’s watery gaze.
“As you desire.”
How he managed to get out of the hall was a miracle in itself. He barely apologised for
bumping into Vale on his way out.
What had he done to deserve losing the woman he loved twice in one lifetime? Tears clouded his vision as he stumbled into a garden alcove. He slumped on the stone
bench, placing his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands as he forced himself to
breathe in and breathe out.
I never should’ve agreed to keep Lona in my care.
He never would’ve if he’d known there was even a chance of falling in love with her.
My heart, dear God, my heart… This pain was worse than before, or maybe he’d forgotten just how deeply heartbreak cuts into the soul.
“Rafi?”
He lifted his head, blindly seeing Maurelle’s willowy form.
“Not now, please.”
He gritted his teeth as Maurelle came to sit beside him on the bench. He respected her as an elder, but he was liable to say anything in his current state of mind.
“Maurelle—”
“Rafi, I’ve come to give you your freedom.”
Rafi’s head shot up so fast he felt lightheaded.
“What did you say?”
Maurelle smiled. “Genies are immortal, but we are not impervious to pain. You stepped between me and Rue to keep me out of harm’s way. You helped save the life of an innocent. I’m the one who made you a Djinn and I have the power to release you from your vessel, but not from this existence. I can’t allow you to suffer the same pain you’ve already endured.”
Rafi sat in silence, stunned by Maurelle’s words.
“Rafi?”
He blinked, trying to tamp down the joy surging up within him. There had to be a catch. Wishes didn’t come true for genies.
“Are you serious? I can have my freedom?”
He stood up, frantically pacing in the grass.
Maurelle nodded. “Yes, but you will remain an immortal genie…capable of granting wishes if and when you are so inclined. Is that what you want?”
Lona…what he wanted was Lona.
Maybe, this way, they could have a chance to be happy.
Rafi stood still and met Maurelle’s gaze. “Yes, that’s what I want.”
Maurelle stood and stretched out her palms, shaping a brilliant sphere of white light. “Hold out your hands.”
Rafi followed her command and watched as the light consumed the heavy bracelets around his wrists. He watched in amazement as the metal began to glow and loosen on his arms until it fell off into the grass and disappeared.
“You are now a free genie.”
Rafi let out a whoop of delight before crushing Maurelle in a huge hug. “Thank you, thank you!” He released her with a deep breath. “I can’t even believe this is happening.”
“Has happened. No more summons to appear before some unknowingly lucky master.”
After all these years of wanting and wishing for his freedom, he now had it.
“I hope you have the chance now to love the one you want.”
Rafi watched a butterfly flutter between them. “Thank you for giving me the chance to do so.”
“You are deserving,” Maurelle said with a smile. “Good magic.”
“Good magic.”
Rafi bowed as the genie began to shimmer and fade. He left the garden alcove with purposeful strides.
He’d been given a gift and there was only one person he wanted to share it with.
* * * *
Lona stood in the huge foyer of the home that was now hers. Everywhere she looked were reminders of Rue. She hated the artwork, the furniture—even the smell of the place. Vale had gone over all the details of her financial situation and it was a relief to know she now had the means to support herself. She was a wealthy woman.
So why do I feel like I’ve lost everything?
Her sandals echoed in the hall as she climbed the stairs to the next level and searched for a room less occupied with Rue’s stuff. It seemed like a lifetime ago when she’d been happy within these walls. Lona pushed back the feelings of anxiety making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as she opened each bedroom door to peek inside. Every movement she made seemed to create a noise that vibrated off the stone walls.
Take a deep breath.
Lona inhaled slowly, pushing open the last bedroom door. She was safe now. She knew that, but sleeping alone in this big mansion wasn’t something she wanted to do.
You’re a big girl.
Lona lifted her chin as she stepped inside the room. A painting of a bear up on his hind legs hung over the bed. With a disgusted huff, she removed her shoes, stepped onto the bed and took the repulsive artwork down. She set it in the hallway, flipping on the light as she came back into the bedroom.
Well, you took care of one thing.
Lona stared at the bed.
How am I going to sleep here?
She stripped the bed down as tears filled her eyes. The white sheets underneath would have to do until she bought her own bedding.
She would make a life for herself.
Learning to use her gift, as Niri had suggested, was something she was interested in pursuing. She liked the idea of helping people. Tomorrow, she’d go and tell Niri her plans. She wanted to start right away. Maybe her new job would help to distract her from the gaping hole in her heart.
Rafi.
She missed him already and it had only been hours since she’d last seen him. Lona winced, remembering the pain and acceptance running over his handsome face when she’d told him they couldn’t work things out.
You could be with him now, if you hadn’t turned him away.
Yeah, but for how long? He was a genie and his life would always be complicated, busy…unpredictable. No matter how much she wanted to be with him, she knew herself well enough to know that eventually she’d want more from him. She’d want more for them both.
A low sob escaped from her throat.
After falling for Vander and being with Rue, she knew first-hand how hard it was to be with a Djinn. She loved Rafi, but loving him meant accepting the fact that he would always be called away from her—from their life—for any given length of time.
How long could she deal with that before she told him it was over, just as Sharon had? Lona slumped on the edge of the bed.
She wouldn’t hurt him in the long run—or herself—by trying to hold on to him when he was bound by laws he could not change.
/> “Lona!”
It wasn’t possible. She couldn’t be hearing what sounded like Rafi’s voice downstairs.
Lona straightened her back, straining her ears to listen.
Hallucinating, Lona? C’mon. Just because you want something so damn badly doesn’t mean Rafi will suddenly appear here in the mansion to sweep you off your feet.
Lona shook her head. She couldn’t stay here longer than one night.
Tomorrow, I’m going to get rid of this place.
She could sell it. Start over fresh—
“Lona!”
The voice… Rafi’s voice was getting louder.
Lona got up and raced into the hall to see him coming up the stairs. Whatever resolutions she’d made about the two of them vanished at the sight of Rafi striding towards her. She ran to him, laughing as he swept her up off her feet and kissed her. There were no words to express the joy of seeing him. She knew she couldn’t be with him, but she’d take this moment, right here and right now.
Lona wrapped her arms around his neck as his warm, sensual lips caressed hers. She pulled away from him, breathless and smiling.
“How did you find me?”
Rafi kissed her again.
“Vale told me where you were.”
He hugged her and Lona closed her eyes and relaxed in his arms, listening to the fierce thudding of his heart beneath her ear.
“I didn’t want to let you go.”
Lona shuddered as he spanned her waist with his hands, bringing her even closer to his body.
“I didn’t want to say goodbye.”
“Then don’t.”
Lona lifted her head from Rafi’s chest to stare into his warm, brown eyes. “I don’t know how we can make this work. I don’t know how to love you…how to love a Djinn.”
“You love me?”
Lona drew in a ragged breath as she averted her face. Admitting her feelings would only make walking away that much more painful.
Rafi’s hand slipped from her waist to tilt her chin back.
“Because I love you back. I’m free to love you, Lona—free to be with you in any way, any fashion you desire.”
Rafi could see the doubt and hope flashing in Lona’s eyes as she processed what he had said. He could hardly keep from crushing her against his heart.
She loved him.
He’d only hoped for the freedom to explore their relationship further, to see if she could feel for him what he felt for her.
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