Chapter 41
Nahlah
“Icannot believe you kept this from me!”
The night rushed by in a blur as Huriyah beat his enormous, black-feathered wings, blazing across the sky faster than a shooting star. When Rami said there was something else he hadn’t told me, I wasn’t expecting Huriyah—who was eating apples—to snap out beautiful, glittering wings.
”I couldn”t tell you!” Rami’s chuckle vibrated through me, his hands tightening around my stomach, as if he feared I might leap from the saddle in my excitement. “Huriyah was also purchased from the Hunters, and I was forbidden from telling anyone! You can thank the Heart’s powers for overriding the genio bond.”
“Thank you, Heart’s powers!” I shouted, throwing my arms up, my kaftan and braid streaming wildly around me. Rami laughed again, his breath warming my neck as he planted a soft kiss behind my ear.
“The sight is unbelievable from up here! I can’t even describe how I”m feeling!” I squealed as Huriyah banked suddenly, Rami’s hands steadying me as we tilted to the side. As if wanting to impress me further, Huriyah tucked his wings in and dove forward. We sped downwards at an unimaginable speed, the air echoing with Rami’s deep laughter and my shrieks of joy.
“Huriyah!” Rami shouted warningly as the ground came alarmingly closer, his tone one of admonishment and amusement. After a beat, the magnificent animal extended his wings, slowing our descent before propelling us back up.
“He’s a pegasus?” I asked, gripping Rami’s jellaba tightly at his thighs.
“No, he”s a starllion.”
“A starllion!” I gasped. Starllions were exclusive to the star realm and only bred for royalty. Majestic and intelligent creatures with an array of impressive powers, they were a commodity almost as coveted as pixie dust. It made sense why Rami was forced to keep quiet, especially if the Hunters had stolen Huriyah from the fae royals. I glanced back at Rami, smiling. ”That”s why you named him Huriyah?”
Rami nodded, his eyes softening. ”Yes. It seemed fitting to name him after the one thing neither of us have.”
I combed my fingers through the starllion”s beautiful mane, saying, ”It”s perfect.” Huriyah turned his head, nickering affectionately at me before banking to the left, beating his wings faster.
”It feels like there are three times as many stars out tonight compared to Nephria,” he commented, the landscape around us became a sparkling blur. ”They”re beautiful.”
“They really are,” I agreed. “I thought the ones in the dreamscape were too when I first arrived, but then everything became terrifying.”
“That’s because the dreamscape was reflecting my deteriorating state of mind. But in reality, it’s truly incredible. Even during the daytime, the stars never fully disappear. They linger, sparkling faintly and conserving their strength for when darkness falls again, and they can shine their brightest.”
I smiled, touched by his description. “It sounds lovely. I’m sure you miss it a lot.”
“More than anything,” he replied instantly, drawing lazy circles across my arm with his fingertips. “Sometimes, after everyone has fallen asleep, I’ll leave the palace and spend the night in the sky, imagining I’m back home.”
”I”m sorry habibi,” I murmured, squeezing his arm comfortingly. A question lingered on the tip of my tongue, but I was hesitant to ask it. During our revelations about the dreamscape, he’d confirmed that the girl was his sister, but he’d given no other details.
“What’re you thinking about so hard?” he asked curiously.
“I’ll never bring her up again if you don’t want to talk about it, but... will you tell me about your sister?” I braced myself for him to tense up and change subjects, but he remained relaxed behind me, his cheek pressed against the top of my head.
“I’d love to,” he replied, his hand continuing its gentle caress.
Tilting my head back, I returned his genuine smile with one of my own. “Okay! First, what’s her name?”
“Lily.”
“Rami and Lily,” I laughed, loving the rhyme of their names. “What was she like?”
“Adventurous and excitable, always the first to try something new or suggest fun games. I was constantly keeping her out of trouble,” he laughed, a wonderfully carefree sound.“She was brave and ferocious, and my nickname for her was namrah.”
“Tiger Lily?” I asked in amusement, and he laughed, nodding. “You were really close, then?”
“Mhmm, best friends, always off on adventures.”
“Aww.” The thought of a young Rami and his sister with their matching black curls scampering happily through the forest was too precious for words.
“We loved exploring every inch of the island, and it was usually safe to roam free, but whenever the Hunters’ ship—the Jolly Roger—was spotted, all the genio fae would be on high alert.”
I frowned. “Why would the gatekeeper allow them into the realm if they are such a danger?”
“The star realm is the most sentient of the realms, and while the gatekeeper brings individuals in and out, ultimately, it’s the realm itself that decides who is granted passage.” He shook his head. “I’ve never understood why it doesn’t stop the pirates.”
“Maybe the Council could step in,” I suggested, and he smiled affectionately.
“Maybe.”
“Please continue,” I nestled deeper into his chest, securing his arms tighter around me.
“On the day they took me, our mother warned us not to leave the backyard, because the pirates were spotted that morning. We obeyed at first, but Lily,” he sighed, “she pestered me, convinced we should look for treasures, arguing that the waters where the pirates roamed wasn”t nearby.”
My heart sank as I imagined the scene—two carefree fae coaxed by the thrill of adventure, unaware of the dangers. “So, you went.”
“Yes,” he admitted, his voice laden with regret. “We had a lot of fun even though we didn’t find any treasure, but we’d been out too long. Nightwas falling fast.”
As he trailed off, I shifted closer, pressing my face against his chest, my heart pounding furiously. “What happened?”
“When I heard laughing, I pulled Lily to a stop, dragging us behind a tree,” he said, his hand unwittingly miming the action. “Peeking around the side, I saw three pirates lounging around a fire, laughing and drinking. When I spotted the one with the hook, I knew we were in real trouble.” His voice cracked slightly. “There was no other way to get home without being seen. I turned to tell Lily we needed to go to the Nevertree and spend the night in the Hollow, but then... she lost her balance and fell back with a shriek.”
My breath hitched. “They heard her?”
“Yes. They were on their feet instantly.” Rami’s tone was detached, as if distancing himself from the memory was the only way to recount it. “I was only twelve and my powers hadn’t emerged yet, but in that moment of pure panic, I channeled power from the earth and sent her up into the tree, instructing it to hide her in its fronds and not to release her until it was safe.”
“You were only twelve?” I asked, swallowing hard.
“Yes, and she was ten,” he sighed heavily. “No sooner was Lily hidden did the pirates seize me. I tried to resist—even clinging desperately to the tree trunk—but they were determined to take me.” His voice hardened. “Unfortunately, since my powers hadn’t awakened yet, it made me even more valuable. It meant that my future master would have a blank slate to mold.”
“Despicable,” I spat out, feeling a surge of anger. “It makes me so angry!”
“I know, hayati, it makes me angry too,” he reached out, smoothing the hair back from my forehead, his touch gentle.
“What happened after they took you?” I asked hesitantly, dreading his answer, but desperate to know.
“We set sail into the sky immediately, and upon reaching Nephria, they displayed me at their menagerie—the part of their dark market that showcased those stolen for their unique powers.” His voice grewdistant again,as if he was reliving those horrid memories. “They caged me, Nahlah, treating me worse than an animal.”
A sharp pain twisted in my chest. “Oh Rami,” I whispered, my voice thick with unshed tears.
He nodded stiffly, his jaw tightening as he fought back his own emotions. “News of a captive genio fae about to awaken spread quickly, drawing crowds from all across the realms who were eager to claim such a rarity. The bidding lasted for three nights before I sold to Sultan Farris for an obscene amount of soltars.”
“He just openly purchased you on the dark market?” I couldn’t hide my shock or the disgust churning in my stomach.
“It wasn’t an outlawed practice back then, remember?” His lips twisted into a bitter smile. “Plus, the criminals running these markets don’t care who their patrons are, as long as they get their money.”
“True,” I murmured, my heart heavy. “And after he purchased you?”
“Those first few months are a blur,” he admitted. “Farris was cruel, determined to break me and forge me into his perfect weapon before my powers fully emerged. The horrors I experienced at his hands, the torture and pure agony he inflicted on me…” he trailed off, swallowing hard.
“Oh Rami,” I murmured, blinking frantically in an attempt to keep from crying.
”It”s okay, hayati,” he said reassuringly, kissing my temple and cheek before bringing his arm up across my chest, resting his palm flat over my heart.
”I should be consoling you!” I laughed, placing my hand over his. ”Not the other way around!”
”Your very presence consoles me, Nahlah,” he replied tenderly. ”More than you know.”
”I”m so glad, habibi,” I pressed a kiss to his hand, letting his words soothe my heart. He deserved nothing less than to feel true happiness, to be free from the chains that bound him. ”Did you ever find out if Lily was safe?” I asked softly, my curiosity mingling with concern.
He nodded, smiling softly, and a wave of relief swept through me. “After I was bound to Farris, I found a leaf in my pocket that I must have grasped when they pulled me from the tree. Though it was faint, I could feel its presence all the way from home, reassuring me she was with our family, unharmed.” He held up his hand, a silver leaf materializing between his fingers. ”This is one of the only things that has kept me going these last few centuries.”
I traced a finger down the delicate veins of the leaf, tears pricking my eyes again.He’d persisted through unbelievabletorture, facedcountless horrors over his centuries of servitude, and my heart swelled with love for him. I swung my legs to the side of the saddle, and his hands immediately steadied me.
“What’re you doing?” he asked in alarm.
“Help me turn around,” I requested, wanting to face him, to be closer. He looked puzzled, but complied, snapping his fingers. I yelped in surprise as the realm briefly blinked out of view before I was facing him, my legs wrapped around his waist. Though impressive, it was going to take time for me to get used to his powers.
I grasped his face, kissing his cheeks, his forehead, and his nose, before pressing my lips against his in a lingering, passionate, desperate kiss. I hoped he could feel all the love I held for him, all the strength I saw in him. When we finally pulled back, I breathed out, “You’re so strong, Rami. I admire you more than you can know, and I’ll do everything in my power to help free you.”
He smiled indulgently, a hint of sadness in his expression. “It’s not that simple, Nahlah.”
I shook my head, resolute. “No, it won’t be simple, but I’m going to try my best to find a way. We will find a way.”
His eyes searched mine, and I could see how much he wanted to believe, how much he wanted to hope. “Thank you, hayati,” he answered at last, wrapping his arms around me.
In the silence that followed, I felt a vow form within my heart—to fight alongside him and ensure that his dreams of freedom became our shared reality.