Kieran's posture stiffened almost imperceptibly, and his silver-blue eyes darkened with an intensity that made her breath catch. When he spoke, his deep voice carried careful control. "Among the Djinn, a Chosen is... a life partner. One's eternal mate." His fingers tightened briefly on his teacup before he forced them to relax.
"But there is no need to rush such decisions. You have only just begun this new life as Djinn - you need time to adjust, to understand what this all means. For now, my tower offers privacy and space to learn your abilities. And the presence of Dinen will assist with any... magical mishaps."
The magical Djinn cat made a chuffing noise, as of agreement.
Mandy stared at him in shock. Chosen. Life partner. Eternal mate. The words echoed in her head as their implications sank in. And now he was offering his tower as her temporary home... Living there, seeing him every day, learning magic under his direct guidance... The thought sent warmth spreading through her chest that had nothing to do with the tea. Her newly awakened magic stirred within her, reaching toward him of its own accord.
"I want that," she said softly, her voice trembling as she met his silver-blue gaze. "To stay in your tower, I mean." The words held more meaning than she'd intended, and the answering flare of magic in his eyes made her heart stutter. Their magic tangled together, crackling with possibility in the space between them.
Something fierce and hungry flickered in those ancient eyes, too quick for her to interpret before his careful control returned. He reached for her empty cup, his fingers brushing hers as he took it, the touch deliberate, almost possessive.
As he refilled their cups, his voice shifted to practical matters. "It would be my suggestion that you plan to stay in Qaf initially for a week or two. We can establish a routine where I bring you home each day to check your messages, make calls, and ensure everything is in order here, until you have the control to be able to bring yourself here without assistance. This way you can maintain your human connections while focusing on mastering your abilities."
Mandy twisted her fingers together in her lap. The offer was incredibly generous, especially given everything happening in the supernatural world. She'd seen the news coverage of the shapeshifter incident - the whole world was reeling from that revelation.
"I don't want to be a burden," she said softly. "With the shifters being exposed, you must have important Council meetings to attend. I know you have responsibilities..."
Moving with sudden, fluid grace, Kieran rose, to come around the table in two long strides. His elegant hands cupped her face, the warmth of his touch sending sparks through her entire body. Those ancient silver-blue eyes captured hers with an intensity that stole her breath.
"There is no one more important to me," he said, his deep voice carrying absolute conviction. The blue flames within her reached toward him of their own accord, a response she couldn't control. His magic answered in kind, the air around them shimmering with possibility. "The Council can wait."
Mandy's heart thundered in her chest at his words, at the fierce protectiveness in his expression. All her carefully prepared arguments about not wanting to impose dissolved under the heat of his gaze.
A hot desert breeze stirred the drapes at her windows, carrying the scent of creosote and summer dust, so different from the magical winds of Qaf.
Qaf - the cool marble halls of Kieran's tower, where delicate flowers of jasmine bloomed in the garden below his balcony. She remembered the way morning light had painted golden patterns across the floor, how the desert wind had carried that impossibly sweet perfume as she and Kieran shared breakfast under ornate arches.
The memory felt so vivid she could almost feel the smooth marble beneath her fingers, taste the exotic spices of the tea, see the sapphire sky stretching endlessly over golden dunes...
Mandy blinked. Her hand wasn't just remembering the feel of marble - it was actually touching it. The ornate balcony of Kieran's tower surrounded her, its carved railings exactly as she recalled, the table and chairs still in their place. The same gardenspread below, fragrant blossoms swaying in the ethereal breeze of Qaf.
She spun in place, her heart racing. How had she gotten here? One moment she'd been in her living room in Tucson, the next...
Chapter
Thirty
"I seeyou've discovered another aspect of your magic," Kieran's deep voice came from behind her, rich with amusement.
She spun to face him, steadying herself against the ornate balcony railing. "I just... I was remembering the morning light and the jasmine, and the balcony, and suddenly..." She gestured helplessly at their surroundings.
"As a Djinn, you are now connected to the magic that makes up Qaf itself." His silver-blue eyes sparkled with amusement. "A mere thought can bring you here."
"That's what I was planning to explain next," he continued, moving to stand beside her at the railing. "It's one of the primary reasons you should remain here while learning control."
Understanding dawned as Mandy imagined the chaos that could ensue if she accidentally teleported herself while grocery shopping or during a doctor's appointment.
"Oh god," she breathed. "I could have popped out of existence right in front of someone."
Kieran's rich chuckle filled the air between them. "Precisely."
"Once you've visited a place in Qaf, you can return there at will," he said, his deep voice carrying that careful precision shewas coming to recognize. "Your magic connects with the essence of each location, creating a sort of... anchor point."
She nodded slowly, understanding. "Like saving coordinates in a GPS?"
His lips curved in that subtle smile that made her heart skip. "A reasonable comparison, yes. For now, you can return here to my tower whenever you wish." He gestured at the sweeping view before them. "When you feel up to it, I'll take you to meet some of the village leaders. Once you've been there, you'll be able to visit that location as well."
Mandy's stomach clenched at the thought of meeting village leaders. She twisted her fingers together nervously. "Will there be many people? I'm not great with crowds..."
