“You’relucky I was there to cover for you,” Zafir sighed as we went back to his quarters. “That act alone could have landed you in a prison cell for life.”
“You know I’m going there anyway,” I said flatly. “What does it matter if another crime is added on?”
“We’ll figure it out,” Zafir said roughly. He led me back to his chambers, but when we finally reached the doors, I couldn’t go in. I held back, staring at the chain around my wrist, then checked up and down the corridor to make sure we were alone.
“What?” Zafir asked after unlocking his door and holding it open.
“Let me go,” I whispered. “Please.”
His brow furrowed. “Will you run?”
“Yes.”
“Then I can’t let you go.” He tried to pull on the chain to bring me inside, but I resisted.
“You can’t keep me locked up forever,” I told him, hot tears pooling in my eyes so my vision swam. I blinked and looked away from Zafir. I didn’t want him to see the pathetic mess I really was. If I really was a strong, confident woman, I would’ve found a way out of this disaster. I wouldn’t have been trapped here.
But I was, and I couldn’t see any way out. I wanted to run, but to where?
“I don’t want you to leave,” Zafir said quietly, reaching out to catch my waist. “Stay with me.”
“They’ll make you undo the spell when they come take me to prison, anyway.” I pulled at the vow bond, feeling like I was the one about to break instead of the chain. “Take it off.”
“Will you stay?”
If only it was as simple as deciding I wanted to stay with Zafir. I had to help Nadia and in order to do that, I had to stay out of prison. “I don’t know.”
Pain flickered in his expression.
“Wouldn’t you rather I stay because I want to and not because you forced me to?”
Zafir’s hold on my waist tightened. “I want you to be safe.”
“Keeping me chained is almost the same as using an elixir,” I argued. “I’m not free to make my own decisions.”
Slowly, Zafir released me and ran his hand along the length of the chain, murmuring words so that the chain dissolved into nothingness.
I was free.
If I wanted to, I could finally run. I would be able to stowaway or steal the money for passage. I could do it, and Zafir wouldn’t be able to stop me. I could finally start making my way back to my sister.
The temptation must have shown in my eyes because Zafir hooked a finger under my chin and pulled my face around so he could lock eyes with me.
“Stay,” Zafir begged me in a voice barely louder than a whisper. “Please.”
I still felt just as afraid of the unknown as I had been as a young girl, always faking an air of indifference and competence so Nadia didn’t have to worry. Now, even if Zafir truly cared about me, there was nothing he could do to prevent the inevitable. Nothing…except possibly comfort me.
Zafir waited a few seconds for me to run, but when I didn’t, he drew me into a hug. “We can find a way to save you and Nadia, but only if you don’t leave. Please, don’t leave me.”
How desperately I wanted to be comforted and protected. I didn’t want to think for myself. I just wanted to be safe. I clung to him, breathing in his intoxicating, dangerous scent that I loved so much. If I was going to break, I wanted Zafir to hold me through it all.
“I’ll stay.”
CHAPTER 27
Zafir pulled me into his study, and for a moment, I thought he was about to kiss me, but he simply wrapped his arms around me to let me sink against him.
“I told Julian about the genie,” I mumbled into his shirt. “I tried everything to get him to agree, but he said no. Turns out it’s only his father with money, not Julian.”
