Kieran filled his own plate with practiced efficiency, seemingly familiar with each dish. The comfortable silencestretched between them, broken only by the gentle clink of silverware against fine porcelain and the distant rustle of leaves from the garden.
Mandy sampled one of the strange fruits, its flesh sweet and juicy with a hint of something that reminded her of starlight, if starlight had a taste. She found herself reaching for another piece almost immediately.
The peaceful quiet continued as they ate, giving Mandy time to absorb the surreal nature of sharing breakfast with a Djinn prince in his magical realm. Questions buzzed through her mind like excited bees, but she held them back, savoring both the extraordinary food and the ordinary comfort of a shared meal.
Finally, Kieran set down his empty teacup, the delicate porcelain making no sound against the table's polished surface. His silver-blue eyes met hers with quiet amusement.
"You must have questions," he said, his deep voice carrying a hint of warmth she wasn't used to hearing.
Mandy couldn't help but chuckle, the sound carrying genuine humor despite her confusion about her situation. "So many questions!"
"I asked Jacinth to be with us for this-" Kieran broke off as Jacinth materialized beside their table in a shimmer of blue flames. "Ah, here she is."
"Mandy! Oh, you look wonderful!" Jacinth's musical voice filled the alcove as she clasped her hands together in delight. Her dark eyes sparkled with joy as she studied Mandy. "That galabiyya is perfect on you - the color really brings out your eyes. Is that one of the ones from when you were in Cairo?"
Mandy nodded as she smoothed the soft fabric self-consciously, still adjusting to how comfortable she felt in the traditional Egyptian dress. "Yes, and good morning to you."
"Sabah al-khayr." The traditional Arabic good morning made sense, given that they were in Qaf.
Jacinth dropped gracefully into the empty chair beside Mandy and immediately reached for one of the covered dishes. "Oh good, I'm starving!" She piled her plate high with flatbread, eggs, and several pieces of the strange iridescent fruit Mandy had enjoyed earlier. "Douglas had the kids up at dawn for some father-son-daughter bonding time, which apparently required pancakes. I love watching them cook together, but honestly, their pancakes are terrible."
Kieran sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as Jacinth practically inhaled a piece of fruit. "Perhaps we could focus on the matter at hand?"
"Mmhmm," Jacinth mumbled around a mouthful of flatbread spread thick with the magical honey. She swallowed and reached for her teacup, eyes dancing with mischief.
Mandy watched the familiar dynamic building between Kieran and Jacinth, their verbal sparring about to begin. While normally she'd enjoy their banter, right now she needed answers more than entertainment.
"So how come I'm not dead?" The words burst from her lips before she could soften them.
Both Djinn stopped and turned to stare at her. Jacinth's teacup froze halfway to her mouth, while Kieran's black brows drew together.
Mandy straightened in her chair, smoothing her galabiyya with nervous fingers. "I'm not stupid. I knew I was dying there in the hospital. The doctors couldn't hide how bad it was, and I could feel it." She lay her palm flat against her chest, remembering the burning agony of the coughs that ripped from her lungs, the terrifying struggle for each breath. "The COVID came on so fast, and turned to pneumonia, and nothing they did helped. I remember thinking that last time I fell asleep... I probably wouldn't wake up again."
She looked between them, noting how they exchanged quick glances. Something passed between them in that look, some silent communication she couldn't quite read.
The silence stretched for a moment, broken only by the gentle clink of Jacinth setting down her teacup. Kieran and Jacinth exchanged another meaningful look, this one longer and more weighted than the first.
Kieran leaned forward slightly, his piercing gaze intent on her face. "Do you remember giving me one of your wishes?"
The memory rushed back - lying in the hospital bed, each breath a struggle, Kieran's voice urgent as he asked for her wish. She'd been so tired, barely able to form the words...
Understanding hit her like a thunderbolt. Mandy's eyes widened and she pointed at Kieran triumphantly. "Hah! I knew it! You needed a wish to free yourself from the genie bottle!"
Jacinth choked as she inelegantly snorted her tea.
Kieran turned to Jacinth, his face expressionless. "She said that in the hospital as well."
"She was running a high fever," Jacinth excused.
"She's not now."
Both Djinn looked at her. Mandy hunched her shoulders and mumbled "Judgey" into her teacup.
Something flickered in Kieran's silver-blue eyes as he watched her - a warmth that belied his stern expression. For a moment, the mask of ancient dignity slipped, revealing a tenderness that made her breath catch. Then he settled back in his chair, his usual composure returning as he spoke.
"I needed the wish," Kieran said, his deep voice carefully measured, "to make you a Djinn."
The words hung in the air between them like suspended crystals. Mandy's mind tried to process what he'd just said, but the thoughts kept slipping away like water through her fingers.She stared at them, her teacup frozen halfway to her lips, as they watched her with identical expressions of careful neutrality.
