“Answer the woman, child.”
He blinked and frowned at his grandmother. “Mémé, you know how I feel about marriage. How things went the last time.”
Imari leaned back. “You were married once already? Not that it matters, this would be in name only, obviously.”
“Yes, I was married before,” he muttered. “And it didn’t work out. She and I were…not compatible.”
“Is that the Kora I’ve heard you speak of?”
“No,” Hattie answered, giving him a sharp look. “Kora is his daughter.”
Imari’s mouth fell open in shock. “You have a child?”
“She’s an adult, but yes. Now back to you.” They could talk about Kora later. Imari needed help. “This marriage, how long would it have to last?”
“Just until the wish merchant is dealt with.”
He thought about that. Without the bottle to lure the man in, Lucien wasn’t sure how they’d catch him. It could take some time until they devised a new plan. “Do you think he’d eventually get bored and leave?”
She nodded. “It could happen. That doesn’t solve the problem of the genie he’s already snared, though.”
“No, it doesn’t. She needs to be rescued. And he needs to be stopped.” But that didn’t give Lucien an end date for this marriage of convenience either. “You would have to live here, I suppose.”
Hattie rolled her eyes. “Like she’s already doing?”
He started pacing. “Yes, true.”
Imari exhaled softly. “If you don’t want to do it, that’s okay, I understand. It’s not like marrying you is side-effect free for me either.”
He twisted to look at her, the words cutting deep as they sank in. No wonder she’d been so reluctant to tell him about this option. She didn’t want to marry him. And why would she? Why would any woman? “I am aware that I am not the most desirable man, but I promise you, I would not expect you to fulfill any traditional marriage requirements.”
She gave him an odd, blank look for a second, then her eyes widened. “Are you talking about sex?”
Hattie let out a little squeal, then slapped her hand over her mouth to stop the giggling. Lucien and Imari frowned at her. She held up her hands and floated a few feet higher. “I’m an adult. I’ve had sex, you know, so you can carry on.”
Imari shook her head. “Lucien, I’m not talking about that at all. I’m not talking about your desirability, which I find pretty off the charts, frankly. I’m talking about…what being married means to me. The effect it will have on me.”
He wanted to hear more about his desirability, but that could come after she was done explaining. “What effect is that?”
“My family won’t approve.”
“Because I’m not jinn?”
“Because you aren’t the man I’ve been promised to.” She let out a soft groan. “Marrying you, even if it’s to protect me, will be seen as me breaking my betrothal. Which will make me a pariah. I’ll most likely be cast out of my family, and probably won’t be able to return home again.”
“That’s not good at all.” He crossed his arms, suddenly seeing things in a new light. “But if we could put a pin in all that for a moment, if you’re already betrothed, why have you been kissing me?”
Hattie clapped her hands, which didn’t sound like much, as she was in ghost form. “You two have been kissing?”
“Later,” they both said in unison.
Imari sighed. “I was promised to Khalid before I was born. Before I was named. It was a contract between his family and mine, and I just happened to be the firstborn female child. And the only one, as it happens. I have no desire to marry him. And I certainly don’t love him. I’ve only met him once. And while I’m sure he’s not the worst jinn to walk the Chaos Realm, we’ve never even spoken to each other, outside of the traditional greeting. You and I have had more meaningful interaction this week than he and I have had in the thousand-plus years we’ve been promised.”
Lucien understood having your life designed for you. Being a reaper was that exact kind of life. But for the most part, he had derived a certain satisfaction from his job. Imari, on the other hand, would have no satisfaction from marrying a man she did not love. “Can’t you just tell him you don’t want to marry him?”
She barked out a laugh. “It doesn’t work like that in jinn culture. This marriage contract is a serious thing. Trying to get out of it means Khalid would be gravely dishonored. As would my parents. Then they would be forced to disown me. I would no longer be welcome in my childhood home or my land of birth.” She looked down at her hands. “And I would lose my ability to regenerate my wishes.”
“I thought you were retired because you were out of wishes.”
She stared at her hands a while longer. “That isn’t the complete truth.” She was silent for a moment. Like she was gathering her courage. “I have one wish left.”
“Like a safety net,” Hattie said.
“Yes,” Imari answered. “But it’s more than that. It’s my security. To replenish my wishes, I either have to go back into my bottle, which will return me home. Or use my last wish, which will return me home by sunrise of the next day.” She opened her mouth as if to say more, then shut it again.
Lucien had an idea where this was headed, but had to know for sure. “Why don’t you want to do that?”
She ran her hands through her hair. “Because when I go home, out of wishes, I will be forced to marry Khalid.”
“So if the wish merchant catches you…”
“He will either demand I go into my bottle, or demand me to grant him a wish, which will be my last. Either way, I will then return home and be forced to marry Khalid.”
“But the wish merchant will still have your bottle. Won’t he still be able to command your magic?”
“Not when I’m married. Jinn magic is old and archaic and bound by the kind of rules few follow anymore.”
Lucien nodded. “Then you either end up belonging to the wish merchant, or a man you do not love.”
“Yes.”
Hattie made sad noises. “You poor dear.”
Lucien agreed. Imari was trapped between the proverbial rock and a hard place. “Is there no way to go home and avoid Khalid? To just get more wishes and leave?”
She stared at Lucien, her gaze filled with anger that obviously wasn’t directed at him. “Not when Khalid is the captain of the guards who patrol the Well of Wishes.”
“I see.”
She threw her hands up. “It doesn’t matter anyway now. I can’t use the bottle for anything without the stopper. It has to be complete.”
“It will be. We’ll get the stopper back. But before that happens, we have a very quick wedding to plan.”
Hattie let out another squeal as Imari met his eyes. “So you’ll do it?”
He held out his hand to her while at the same time finding it impossible to believe what he was about to do. “Imari Zephara, will you temporarily marry me?”
For all his desire to be left alone, Lucien was either very well-connected, or very well-respected. Or perhaps, Imari thought, her groom to be was a little of both. Because in less than two hours, they were assembled in the Basement with a justice of the peace in front of them.
Hattie and Birdie were witnesses. Hattie had graciously offered her own wedding ring for the ceremony, and Birdie had somehow come up with a simple white bridal gown for Imari to wear.
There was even a small bouquet of lavender roses that had shown up, no doubt from Marigold Williams, owner of the Enchanted Garden flower shop in town, and a friend of Imari’s. How many people had Birdie told, she wondered? Hopefully not too many since this was temporary.
Lucien was still in his suit, hair dried now, and looking…willing, but a little uncomfortable.
Imari understood. He’d already had a bad experience with marriage, now he was doing it again for reasons that had nothing to do with his future and everything to do with hers. He had every right to feel some a
pprehension, but she hoped that he didn’t think she was using him.
Even if she kind of was.
But what choice did she have? And he had offered. She vowed right then and there to be the best temporary wife she could be. Although, if she let herself be honest, she wasn’t fond of the word temporary.
At least not with Lucien. She would very much like to have him as part of her life for always.
He didn’t seem to want that. She understood. He liked his privacy and being alone. His living situation was proof of that. She wasn’t going to argue. He’d done so much for her already that he deserved to have whatever ending to this that he wanted, which was probably going to be a quick annulment.
She smiled, despite the feelings inside her, because this was supposed to be a happy occasion. Even if it was a short-term arrangement.
Hattie was beaming. She didn’t seem to care that it wasn’t the real till-death-do-us-part event.
The justice of the peace spoke his lines, Lucien and Imari answered, and before she knew it, Lucien had kissed her—a fleeting press of his mouth to hers—and they were husband and wife.
Just like that.
Birdie hugged her. “Congratulations. I know it’s not really the real thing, but still seems like congratulations is in order. Now if you’ll excuse me, I best get back to the station and back to tracking that wish merchant down. No luck yet, but I’m bound to turn up something.”
“I hope you do,” Imari said. Even so, she knew he was probably using the genie’s magic to cover his tracks. “Thank you for being our witness.”
“Of course.” She looked at Hattie. “Let’s do lunch next week.”
Hattie nodded, still smiling like she’d won something. “That would be lovely, Birdie. Call me and we’ll set it up.”
Birdie left with a wave and Hattie came to hover beside Imari. “You really are a lovely bride.”
“Thank you.”
The justice of the peace collected his fee from Lucien and left, and then the three of them were alone again.
Imari clutched her bouquet. “That was fast.”
“It did the job.” Lucien gestured toward the elevator that would take them back to the house.
Hattie rolled her eyes. “You’re so romantic, Lucy. I don’t know how your first marriage failed.”
“Mémé.” His sharp tone matched his look. “I had nothing to do with my marriage failing, and you know it.”
She pursed her lips. “Yes, I do know it, and I’m sorry. But don’t be so gruff. You just got married. It’s not like you were forced to walk over glass or something.”
She floated by him and into the waiting elevator.
He caught Imari’s gaze. “I’m sorry if I was gruff. I’m just eager to get back to figuring out how to solve the wish merchant problem.”
She smiled indulgently. “I know. Don’t worry about it. I’m very aware that this is just a marriage in name only.”
“Yes, well…” He seemed at a loss for words. “We should—”
“I know, get back to work.” The sooner he could get her out of his house. She headed for the elevator.
He caught her hand. “No, I was going to say we should still celebrate.”
She blinked at him. “You were?”
“It’s not every day a person gets married, for whatever reason. So yes, we should do something to mark the day.”
“Okay.” There was no need to force a smile this time. “What would you like to do?”
“I’m going to leave that up to you, Mrs. Dupree.”
At the sound of her married name, an unexpected laugh bubbled up out of her. “All right, then. I’d like to go on a date. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Do you think we can do that safely?”
“In public?”
“That is where most dates happen.”
“I don’t think that’s wise.”
He was right. “No, of course not. I guess I just got caught up in the moment. It wouldn’t do to be out and about with the wish merchant trying to find me. Not when he probably already has his genie using her magic to home in on me.”
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded, but the sinking feeling in her stomach made it impossible to smile. “What I wouldn’t give to just sit in a park for a while.”
“I doubt he’ll be looking for you in a park, but I still don’t think it would be safe right now.”
Hattie whistled at them. “Are you two getting on this thing or what? I have dough in the proofer.”
They both laughed. Lucien answered. “Coming, Mémé.”
He took Imari’s hand as they walked onto the elevator. “Say, do you have any theories about how the wish merchant found out about the bottle Willa was making?”
“Yes. He most likely had the genie under his control cast a fortune-hunter spell. It’s pretty common. Genies use it to locate the kinds of raw valuables a lot of humans wish for. A spell like that alerts the genie whenever quantities of the item they’re seeking shows up in one spot.”
He frowned. “Then how have they not already used that spell to find you?”
“They probably did. Adira probably searched for glass, precious metals, and gems, and ended up honing in on your home, but since the wish merchant had been to Insomnia he had to have dismissed it.”
“Because a nightclub has a lot of glass in the form of mirrors.” Lucien tapped the button to close the doors.
“Right. And when it’s full, which Insomnia often is, the patrons have a lot of precious metals and gems on them.”
“I see. Interesting. I’m glad to hear my home is such a safe haven for you.”
She was too. “There are a lot of false positives with a fortune-hunter spell. I’m sure they’re checking all the places that come up, but in a town like this, that’s going to take some doing. In fact, I bet they’d already been to Willa’s once before.”
“What would it take to really get the attention of a spell like that? Like make a blip that would outshine all other possibilities.”
“Large, and I’m talking large, quantities of the thing being searched for. It’s easier to find a bar of gold than it is a nugget. Make sense?”
“Absolutely.”
Hattie chimed in. “The biggest collection of gems and precious metals is probably at Elenora’s house.”
Imari looked at her. “Elenora Ellingham?”
Hattie nodded as the elevator started to move. “The woman loves her sparkly bits. Just ask Birdie. She always tells me when Elenora gets a new piece.”
Imari smirked. “How does Birdie know?”
Hattie grinned. “Birdie knows everything.”
Lucien rubbed his hands together. “This gives me an idea.”
Imari glanced at him. “The wish merchant isn’t likely to be fooled by a replica anymore.”
The elevator doors opened, and they all stepped out.
“I wasn’t thinking about a replica,” Lucien answered. “But rather, a pile of jewels so over the top that his genie won’t be able to ignore it.”
“It would have to be really something. In fact, I’m not sure anything outside of my actual bottle would do the trick.”
“What if it was your bottle and a pile of jewels?”
Imari bit her lip. “I don’t love the idea of including my bottle, but it might be the only way to draw him out.”
“We can work it so that your bottle is never at risk.”
Hattie hmphed. “You’d better. I don’t want any trouble coming to my granddaughter-in-law.”
“Yes, Mémé.” He met Imari’s eyes again. “Give me a little time to put this together, but I promise the kernel of a plan is taking shape.”
“I’m willing to do just about anything at this point. I have to have that stopper back.”
He nodded. “We’ll get it.” He squeezed her hand. “Whatever it takes, you’re going to be free. You deserve to live the kind of life you wanted. One of us should, and it might as well be you.”
Lu
cien didn’t like owing anyone anything, but these favors were for Imari’s safety. Her life. Her freedom. And really, it wasn’t just for her, but also for the genie the wish merchant had already captured. Adira deserved her freedom just as much. Those two reasons were more than enough for him to change his ways.
Besides, Imari was no longer just a woman he was helping. She was his wife.
Wife. Not a word he’d ever thought he’d use again.
Granted, it was a temporary arrangement that would soon be nullified—very soon, if this plan worked—but there was something reassuring about that. How badly could he mess up a marriage that already had an expiration date?
It was freeing.
And yet, at the same time, the thought of losing Imari was equally upsetting. No, not equally. It was much worse. But he held on to the hope that they would remain friends. That would be enough.
Another lie. It wouldn’t. Not by half. But it would be far better than losing her completely.
With that in mind, he went to work arranging a meeting with the Ellinghams. All it took was a quick back and forth of emails, and the meeting was set. The Ellinghams could always be counted on to act when it came to the protection of Nocturne Falls’ citizens.
He wasn’t as sure about Elenora, which was why he hadn’t broached the subject of her involvement yet. He figured he’d talk to Hugh and Sebastian and get them on his side first. Then they could help persuade their grandmother to lend her support.
He turned his computer off and headed to find Imari. She was, not surprisingly, in the kitchen with Hattie. They were making bread of some kind. Imari’s hands were sticky with dough, and there was flour on her cheek.
It was utterly captivating to see her getting on so well with Hattie, but he tried not to dwell on what was only temporarily his. Then it occurred to him how utterly heartbroken Hattie was going to be when Imari left.
She would stay in touch with Hattie, wouldn’t she? He believed she would. She was too good and too kind.
He would make a point to ask her about that as soon as the time was right. He cleared his throat to get their attention. “I’m going to the Ellinghams. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
The Reaper Rescues The Genie Page 13
