but only if my palace is as cold asice.
Lest this mortal plan for mydefeat
Let him truly become abeast.”
“That is less than encouraging,” the djinn acknowledged and Annelise’s hopesrose.
“Might it be possible for you to intervene now to help myhusband?”
The djinn shook her head. “No, I cannot risk incurring more of Leila’s wrath. I think I have done quite enough. We are not supposed to meddle in the affairs of mortals, youknow.”
Annelise’s irritation flared, though she fought against it. “But you and the other djinn are entirely responsible for thesituation!”
“Entirely? Oh, I think not.” The djinn stood and brushed off her kirtle with such purpose that Annelise feared she would simplyvanish.
“How can we end this curse?” Annelise asked as calmly as shecould.
The djinn shrugged. “Rolfe’s salvation must beearned.”
“But how? I love him. I even told him as much and that made nodifference.”
The djinn considered Annelise for a long moment. “Did it not?” she mused under her breath, then she cleared her throat. “And what did Rolfe say to you when you first spoke to him oflove.”
“That a marriage based upon love could not be distinguished from a marriage with the tangible benefits of security, comfort and protection. He said love was unnecessary to ensure a bride’shappiness.”
The djinn smiled. “And what would be the tangible benefits of your love forhim?”
“I meet him willinglyabed.”
The djinn dismissed that with a wave of her hand. “A whore would do as much and there would be no talk oflove.”
“I defend his interests and fight by hisside.”
“A loyal vassal or a hired mercenary might do asmuch.”
“I would break this curse, no matter the price tomyself.”
The djinn’s smile broadened and she raised a finger. “Now there is the measure of love and love alone, when one being cares more about the welfare of another than his or her ownself.”
What would she give to see Rolfe free of thecurse?
The djinn touched Annelise’s hand, and the brush of her fingertips sent renewed hope surging through her. “We must all fight for what we believe to be of import,child.”
“I am afraid that he will become a wolf and forget me,” Annelise confessed, knowing it was true as soon as she uttered thewords.
“It is easy to see that Rolfe is blessed with a wife of rare courage and wit,” the djinn murmured. “You have the will within you and the means around you to solve all of this. Every puzzle, after all, has akey.”
“Surely you can aidus?”
The djinn shook her head. “I have done all that Ican.”
Tears rose in Annelise’s eyes and she turned away. Despite the djinn’s confidence in her, she could not begin to imagine how to save Rolfe. She would give anything at all, but there had to be a reason for hergift.
“You will need this,” the djinnsaid.
Annelise spun to find a black bottle cradled in the djinn’s hands. There was something both fascinating and troubling about the dark lights that seemed to move over itssurface.
“Do not look overmuch upon it,” the djinn advised. “This is the only thing I can grant you that you mightneed.”
