This took Lucie back slightly. Was she someone who would be a good master? So it mattered to the djinn how their master treated them. This made sense. The djinn would protect her and serve her through the host. He would want to at least be treated fairly. In this case, the host would be Abaas. She could be civil with him.
Almost as if sensing what she was thinking, he continued. “Can you love your servant and care for him as a valued family member? Derrick loves Jasper, and Alaric loves Jester. This is what keeps the master-servant relationship strong and non-severable. It can only be as strong as your relationship with the servant.”
“Well, I don’t … I don’t really feel anything for the host now. But I will treat him well as long as he doesn’t give me a reason not to. I can’t promise anything more than that.”
The green smoke quit pulsating and moved from side to side. “Know that my strength can’t come through completely until the bond is strong enough. But I will acknowledge you, the future queen. I will agree to your request. The rest is up to you.”
“Wait,” Lucie asked, watching the smoke in front of her. “What happens if I can’t form a bond with him? Then what?”
“You could lose your control. The host can claim control of their own existence.”
Was this Abaas’ angle? Was he banking on the fact that Lucie could never accept him so that he could be free? Wasthis another trap of his? He was clever. But maybe he didn’t know about this. It didn’t seem like the banshee knew about this either, or she wouldn’t have suggested it. She was extremely loyal to the royal vampires.
“I don’t know what I can offer. But as long as I don’t mistreat him, will we remain bound?”
“As long as the bond can grow, it will not unfasten. And when the bond grows, so will the servant’s power. Do you still wish to form a new agreement?”
Lucie watched the green smoke as it drifted in front of her. She would chance it, because Jasper’s freedom was worth the risk. She understood why the previous king did what he did, but it wasn’t right. Because of that, Jester left his brother’s side for a long time. She wouldn’t risk the same thing happening with Jasper, and she wouldn’t rebind him to her to control his anger. She wanted him and his bloodline free of the djinn. This was a burden they shouldn’t carry. She trusted Abaas. For Jasper, she would take this risk.
“Yes,” Lucie said in a resounding, clear voice.
“Then choose,” the deep bass voice boomed.
The darkness faded and she could see everyone around her clearly. The green fog came into existence as well. She turned to Abaas and inhaled deeply.
“I choose him.” Once again, her voice rang clear. The green engulfed Abaas instantly, absorbing into his body until the green was no longer seen. The moment this happened, Lucie felt an invisible rope form around her, pulling her toward Abaas, connecting her to him. It was a strange feeling. It was like having a new pack member.
She looked into his eyes … the eyes of her new servant. They seemed happy, but his face looked a bit strained, as if he was in pain.
“Are you okay?” Lucie asked as she watched a smile spread over his lips and he nodded his head. She turned her attention to Jasper. His brown eyes looked so clear, and overall, he looked relieved. As if a heavy burden was lifted off of him. “How do you feel?”
“It’s not heavy anymore. The pressure is gone.” Jasper smiled widely. “I was always worried about what I might do. It’s gone, Lucie. I don’t have to worry anymore. Thank you.”
She watched his eyes begin to water, and she wrapped her arms around him.
“Maybe we should test it?” Ryan asked.
“Yes, tell me what bothered you earlier.” This was definitely something Jasper needed to know. If someone disrespected her, he would deal with them, even without the djinn guiding him.
“Well, when I was sitting at the table earlier …” She turned back to look at Abaas. She wanted to make sure he was still good. Now that he was connected to her as a servant, how was he feeling? She frowned slightly at his very pale face. He stood there, stoic and unmoving, but he looked exhausted and drained. “Abaas … Myra mentioned that this would be draining for you, and it looks like it’s taking its toll. Please go and take the time you need to recover. I’ll be leaving soon to go to the dragon kingdom, but you can stay here and rest. I will see you when I return.”
“You wish for me to stay apart from you during that time?”
She watched as a frown formed on his face. He looked hurt as well. “You will need time to recover, right? It’s hard to say because of you being a soul, but I’m sure you still need to recuperate. I should be back when you’re finished recovering. Just stay here and rest. I’ll have Jasper notify the king and queen that your arrangement with them has changed.”
“Not completely. You are my master now, but I am still secondly the royal’s servant. The original agreement will stay fornow, until you reign as queen, but you are of higher importance and priority.”
“Well, they at least need to know you are out of commission for now, while you recover. Please go … and thank you.” It was only right to thank him for taking the djinn on, regardless of his reasons. She wouldn’t worry about it. If she had to, she would handle it.
Abaas bowed his head slightly, then raised it to look into Lucie’s green eyes. “I’ll wait for your return.”
With that, he vanished. Lucie turned her attention back to the others. “As I was saying?—”
“Wow, Lucie … you were really considerate with him. I’m actually surprised,” Ryan said.
“Abaas is part of me now. He has taken a burden on that he didn’t have to. I can at least show him the respect he deserves for that. For now, we will take our relationship one day at a time.” She looked back at Jasper. “The girl, Stella, Sabrina’s cousin.” Lucie watched Jasper nod his head, knowing who she was talking about. “Well, she has pictures on her phone of her and … Ryan. Of my Ryan. Selfies of the two of them together. She is also claiming they are a couple.” She watched Jasper’s eyes darken, but not like before.
Jasper shook his head harshly. “No. It isn’t true. I promise you.” His eyes met with Aedan’s and then Lucie’s. “There is no one else. No one. Please don’t think that?—”
