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OCEAN WAVES CRASHED AGAINST the white sand beneath our feet, stretching, reaching, coming so close that the icy water tickled our toes. I squealed as it licked across my sandaled feet, leaping back.
Prince Shem laughed so hard he had to bend over and lean on his knees to catch his breath.
Part of me was still in awe of the enormous body of water, while the other part began to blush in embarrassment. I hated seeming foolish.
The prince waved a hand at my expression, trying to stop laughing, only half successful. “Please, don’t be offended,” he said between gasps, wiping a hand across his face, not quite able to wipe away his smile. “It’s just been such a long time since I’ve enjoyed a reaction like yours. It makes the ocean feel new to me once more.”
Skeptical, I raised a brow at him, daring to speak more freely. It was only the two of us after all. “You’re laughing at my pain?”
“Hardly pain!” he said in mock horror. Holding a hand to his heart, as if in pledge, he added, “You must trust me, I would never allow you pain.”
My smiled faded.
I glanced away, focusing on the next wave as it crept along the sand toward us, though not reaching quite as far this time.
Trust.
The one thing I couldn’t give.
Especially not to a prince.
A throat clearing behind me reminded me of his presence, and when he spoke, he was closer than I’d realized, “I sense that’s a delicate subject.”
Turning to face him, I attempted a carefree smile. “Nothing that serious. Just an unfortunate reminder of my friends.”
He misinterpreted that as I’d expected he would, and didn’t push. He didn’t leave either. Just nodded in acceptance.
A comfortable silence settled over us.
Prince Shem knelt to pick up rocks, attempting to skip them across the water, though more often than not, a wave rose up and ate the rock within one skip.
“I envy you, you know,” he said, seemingly out of nowhere.
My head whipped up from where I’d been studying shells lying on the beach. He wasn’t looking at me.
Instead, he gazed toward the horizon, speaking more to himself than to me, “What must it be like not to be trapped in a castle?”
Trapped.
Did he feel bound by something he could never be free of? Constantly controlled by what he had to do based on the people around him? I was far more familiar with the feeling than he knew. Trapped in a home I couldn’t escape. By the Gift I hadn’t asked for, but couldn’t be rid of. Burdened by what I’d done because of it.
“I can’t imagine your particular cage...” I finally murmured in response. “But believe me when I say, I have a cage of my own.”
***
“WE SHOULD HEAD BACK,” Prince Shem said, what might have been a few minutes later or a few hours. I’d completely lost track of time.
Despite the cold wind making me shiver, I wished we could stay. He’d given me a small window of peace in the midst of misery. Now his words brought me back to reality.
“Thank you, your Highness,” I said, just loud enough to be heard over the crashing waves, still in awe of them. “I’ll never forget today.” I meant it.
He held out a hand to travel the two of us back to the others. “Please, call me Shem. After all, we’re friends now.”
I took his hand, and nodded. As if I’d do anything else. Friends with the prince of Jinn. I half-believed I’d wake up and find that I’d been dreaming.
Shem didn’t travel immediately, instead holding my cold, wind-chapped fingers in his own, which were warm and strong.
“We really should go back,” he said, not moving, and not letting go. “The guards are used to my wandering, but if I wait too long, we run the risk of them telling my father.”
The way he still held my hand made me daring. “If it makes you feel better, I don’t want to go back either.”
That lopsided grin appeared immediately. “You know, it does, actually.”
Another wave of boldness swept over me, like the cresting waves in front of us. “I know my reasons for wanting to stay, but what are yours, your Highness?”
“Shem,” he corrected me immediately.
I hesitated, noticing how his pale eyes squinted when he smiled.
“Shem,” I repeated, but hated the way my voice was soft. Pulling my hand away, I took a step back. “You must have a lot of admirers back at the castle,” I said in a harder tone, before I could think better of it. “Someone with your charm, good looks, and title must get whatever—and whoever—he wants.”
He blinked, taken aback, then unexpectedly burst out laughing. “Once again, you’ve caught me by surprise,” he said with a shake of his head. With a sidelong look, his grin returned. “So you think I’m good looking?”
“And charming,” I agreed, refusing to be embarrassed again. “And you know it.”
Instead of laughing again at my honesty or trying to argue, he grew serious, coming to stand in front of me, closer than he had before, though he didn’t touch me this time. Gazing into my eyes, he murmured, “I get the feeling that’s not enough. To earn your trust.”
I couldn’t hold his gaze. Sudden shyness swept through me. Since it was a statement, I didn’t answer. I just wished it wasn’t true. “I’m sorry,” I found myself saying instead.
He ducked his head a bit, just enough to convince me to look at him again. “Don’t be. That’s the way it should be.”
This time, when I took the hand he offered, he traveled both of us back to the daleth and the human town where we’d begun the day.
Two of the Jinni Guard members sprang up, flashing across the clearing to where the prince and I stood, immediately beginning to berate him. “Your Highness! Your father has charged us with your care, and we had no knowledge of your whereabouts. You cannot continue this reckless behavior. It’s been hours! We were beginning to fear the worst. If something were to happen to you, it would be our heads—”
They continued to scold the prince until the other guard members appeared. They must’ve also been out searching for the prince, because they heatedly joined in.
Shem nodded along, saying, “Absolutely,” and “Of course,” and “My apologies,” wherever they left an opening. As if he’d heard it all before. Many times. Almost as if they went through this frequently.
Perhaps the guard’s truly meant what they said, but after the initial impassioned speech, even they seemed more resigned to the situation than truly upset.
Though Shem kept a serious expression, his eyes twinkled when he met mine, and he dared to wink at me behind their backs.
I hid a smile, not wanting to draw their ire too. I didn’t have a royal title to protect me.
Once done with their admonition, the guard’s gave a stiff report of their findings. The day’s search had ended as I’d expected it would from the start: in failure.
It was still an enormous relief. I hadn’t had a backup plan.
Muscles relaxed that I hadn’t even realized were tense, and a headache began to form. As we moved toward the daleth to return to Jinn, my feet dragged from sudden exhaustion. This day was almost over. They’d close the portal now.
I should be grateful, but as we each stepped through the daleth, re-entering Jinn, I found myself lingering. I’d never see the prince again after today.
Why did I pull away from him? I swallowed hard, wanting to kick myself for being so stupid. A friend in the palace would’ve been rare and valuable, and I’d ruined it.
“One moment,” the prince said to the nearest guard, before turning to me and interrupting my dark thoughts. “You’re welcome to come back and check on our progress again tomorrow.” And in a softer voice that the guards couldn’t hear, he added, “We could go on another adventure.” He wiggled his eyebrows comically.
My hopes rose at the invitation, then plummeted as I registered his words. “You’re coming back tomorrow?”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I wished I could take them back. I should’ve said yes. Yes, I’ll go on another adventure with you. As many as you’d like.
“We are,” he said, taking a step backward toward the guards, then another, turning away from me to join them. Over his shoulder, he added, “I’m sure this is just a hiccup, and we’ll have better results in the morning. Tomorrow will no doubt be our last day.”
One more day.
I could handle that.
Especially if it meant another day with Prince Shem.
“I’ll be here first thing,” I promised with a smile he didn’t see. This time the guards took on the responsibility and effort of traveling, despite the fact that Prince Shem was likely just as strong in that Gift as they were, if not stronger. Before I’d finished speaking, they were gone.
On impulse, I decided to walk home instead of traveling. It gave me time to think.
Whatever happened tomorrow, no matter how anxious the open portal made me, I’d be a fool to pass up the chance to spend time with the prince. His attention alone could bring me into better circumstances. An actual friendship—if he really meant that—could bring me into an entirely new world.
As always, this made me think of escaping my father. The sooner, the better.
Next time Prince Shem offered an adventure, even if it was as mundane as going to the shopping emporium or the acropolis, I’d take it. I’d keep my eyes open for any opportunities that could come from this.
And I’d keep the reward money for myself.
When I got home, I hid the small coin purse in the back of my dresser drawer, avoiding looking at the two little jars on top of it and their inhabitants.
Unlike the first few days they’d been here, I didn’t want to talk to them. I didn’t want to try to justify myself again, or explain what’d happened today. It’d only ruin my excitement.
When my father came home late, I was already in bed, pretending to be asleep.
He didn’t try to be quiet, but I didn’t care.
Tomorrow, I had another date with the prince.