When I was a child, I was terrified of heights. For a young girl who already felt like the world’s biggest target, I decided that I would make sure there was one less thing that the other children could pick on me for. Near the palace is a hidden garden only accessible from the third floor, where my room and Nox’s room are. Deep within that garden, anchored at its center, is an ancient banya tree. Its trunk sprouts out into many smaller limbs, growing wildly up towards the sky in wide arcs. Every day as a child, I would go to the garden and climb that tree as high as I could until my fear took over and I could move no farther. It took hours of climbing—weeks of digging my nails into the bark to stave off a panic attack—so that I could then climb my way back down. Finally, I reached the highest point of the banya tree and was able to look down at the kingdom from a place of conquered fear.
Now as I climb the side of the massive ship, the rope ladder feeling far too flimsy for my weight, I wonder how much longer I will have to fight my inadequacies before I am rewarded with my magic. It also doesn’t elude me that the shifter king might not be aware that I do not possess any magic at all, and that may proveto be problematic. Grinding my teeth together, I place my foot on the next rung and push up, reaching my hand above me when a crack sounds and my foot falls. I yelp, my left hand holding the side rope of the ladder while my right barely misses the rung I was reaching for. My grip tightens on the rope as I slide down, a burning sensation flaring to life in my palm as my right hand finally grips onto a lower rung to stop my fall.
Shouts from the males above and below rend the air as my feet dangle beneath me. My heart pounds against my ribcage as I struggle to find purchase on a rung below the broken one. I force a deep breath into my tight chest and nearly scream when a hand guides my foot to an unbroken step of the ladder. A moment later, the scent of sandalwood and citrus envelops me in addition to the chiseled muscles of a large male.
“Careful, Princess.” His deep voice rumbles against my back. When I don’t respond, he gives a mocking laugh. “I could carry you the rest of the way if you’re too frightened to go on alone.”
“I’d rather fall to my death,” I hiss, beginning to climb again as his laughter trails behind me. The pain in my hand stings with every movement as blood streaks along the rope.
I feel King Kai’s eyes on me the rest of the way up the long ladder like a heavy wool cloak under the intense sun. When I finally reach the deck, helped over by a short male with black hair and amber eyes, sweat beads at my temples and a full throbbing ache has started radiating in both wrists. With my gaze on my shredded palm as I step forward, I don’t see the animal in front of me until it’s too late. My sandaled foot steps onto the toes of a black and silvergorilla. It growls, the sound vibrating the wooden planks of the deck beneath me and making the hair on my arms rise.
“Shit!” I screech as the gorilla slowly turns its head towards me; its golden eyes lock onto my own as I take a step back. I expect it to bare its teeth at me or, at the very least, fully face meand prepare to attack. Yet, after a few more seconds of intently studying me, the gorilla simply turns and leaves. I release a breath, folding my arms over my chest and focusing on slowing my racing heart.
Looking around the deck of the ship, there aren’t nearly as many shifters aboard as I thought there might be. There are a handful in their animal forms including a jaguar, a small black bear, and a snake. I wonder if all the other males in their mortal forms will shift once we prepare to leave—so that they aren’t susceptible to the sirens’ song should we be attacked. And if they do shift,who will steer the boat?
“Bahira, your finery has made it safe and sound.”
Plastering on what could barely be called a smile, I turn to face King Kai. My façade morphs to horror as I watch him drop the trunk onto the deck with a sickening thud. All I can think about is my magnifier lying within and the glass bottle holding the experimental leaves I still needed to study. Not to mention theancientjournals with magic that may falter and not keep them protected. Outside noises fade away, replaced by a ringing in my ears. My vision goes red, and before I realize what I’m doing, my feet are closing the distance to the shifter king.
His infuriating smirk wobbles as I near, but he makes no move to defend himself from the fist I send crashing into his jaw. Immediately, the hands of several males are on me, pulling my arms behind my back.
“I will only give you one warning. Get your hands off of me, or you’ll find out what it feels like to bewithout them.”
Their grips only tighten, one of them squeezing my injured wrists so tightly that I hiss out in pain.
“Release her,” the king commands, his hand massaging his broad jaw as his dark eyes lock on to mine. When the crew doesn’t obey, King Kai’s eyes change colors to a molten amberfor the briefest of moments before he steps forward and looks behind me. “I said,release her,” he growls deep in his throat.
They finally listen, and I immediately move to grab the trunk, my biceps bulging and hands stinging as I lift it up to my chest. The king extends his hands out to help me, but I twist to move out of his grasp. His eyes narrow as they find mine, while my lips lift into a sneer.
“If you touch anything of mine again, I will make youbegfor mercy.” Our eyes hold while something rough and jagged forms between us.
Tua moves from behind the king, gently placing a hand on his shoulder—which is immediately shaken off—before King Kai turns on his heel and walks towards the front of the ship. Tua offers to help with the trunk which I promptly refuse.
“I can at least show you to your room if you’d like,” he offers.
I nod, feeling some of the tension ease at the sound of his voice. His smile is real, if a little tight, as he leads me past the glaring men who held my arms behind me. I hold their gazes, pouring my anger into it until I’ve walked past them.
“I am sorry about them,” Tua says, voice low, as we head in the direction King Kai went. “They were simply protecting their king.”
I don’t respond as Tua leads us past the helm and down a set of stairs off to the right. The steps creak with our weight, and I follow him to the first landing, where he continues down a long hallway. Flame gems in hanging glass sconces line the otherwise-dim space, no windows anywhere to let in natural light.
“Your room is the last one on the right,” Tua says as he reaches the door and opens it.
The hinges creak, and though I didn’t exactly knowwhatto expect upon entering this room, it certainly isn’t this. Lush, exotic plants hang from the rafters above and line the sill of thesmall square window that lets the bright afternoon sunlight in. The entire room—floors, wall, and ceiling—is made from red-hued wood. On one side of the room is a large bed, framed with the same wood on the head and footboards. Light blue linens are pulled taut across it.
“We should be raising anchor at any moment. The evening meal is served as the sun is setting. I can meet you on deck to show you to the dining hall if you would like, Your Highness?” Tua asks, clasping his hands in front of him as he lingers by the door.
“Sure, that would be great. Thank you, Tua. And it’s just Bahira.” I turn to look at him, to nod my head in thanks, and find that he is already studying me with an amused grin.
“Of course. There’s a pitcher of fresh water and some light food on the table there,” he says, gesturing to a small cabinet next to the bed. “If you need anything else, head to the deck. Otherwise, I’ll see you later.” Tua shuts the door quietly as he leaves.
I pour myself some of the water, gulping it down before walking over to the small window to look out onto the ocean below. I can’t explain the feeling that is bubbling up in my chest the longer I watch the soft rolling waves, the Spell lying atop the water shimmering with the movement. Apprehension, yes, but perhaps dread too. Lingering anger for the shifter king is most definitely present as well, but there is also a feeling of curiosity andexcitementand… hope.
As the ship turns slowly and the border of the Mage Kingdom comes back into view, I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
Hope.That, perhaps, is the most unnerving feeling of all.
Chapter Nine: Bahira
