Kieran's warm hand covered hers, stilling their anxious movement. "Only a small gathering," he assured her. "Though I should warn you - transformations to Djinn are extremely rare. There will be considerable curiosity about you."
She swallowed hard, picturing herself as the center of attention. "How rare exactly?"
"You are the first in over three centuries."
"Oh." Mandy's voice came out small. "No pressure there."
Kieran's rich chuckle filled the air between them, but anxiety still knotted in Mandy's stomach. The idea of being scrutinized by so many curious eyes made her pulse race.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Will they have a lot of questions? What if I don't know how to answer them?"
Kieran smiled at her, his gaze steady and reassuring. "They will be curious, but they are also welcoming. It would be a good opportunity for you to learn more about your new life."
Mandy nodded, conflicting emotions lingering in her mind. It felt exhilarating yet overwhelming. As the silence stretched, Kieran offered her a gentle smile. "Would you prefer to return to your apartment for the rest of this discussion?"
Mandy gazed out over the magical landscape of Qaf, its beauty still taking her breath away. "No, I think I'd rather stay and..."
Before she could finish the thought, a shimmer of blue flames filled the air. Dinen materialized on the balcony, accompanied by Bach and Mozart, who looked remarkably unfazed by the teleportation. Mozart immediately trotted over to wind around her ankles while Bach claimed a sunny spot on the marble floor.
"They seem quite comfortable with magic already," Kieran observed, his silver-blue eyes warm with amusement.
"Cats," Mandy said fondly. "Nothing ever really surprises them."
A subtle tension crossed Kieran's features as he tilted his head slightly, as if listening to something just beyond her comprehension. "The Council calls. They require my presence regarding the shifter situation."
Mandy felt a pang in her chest, disappointment creeping in despite her efforts to mask it. "Of course," she replied, a frail smile attempting to veil her true feelings. "Go. I'll practice with my fire."
Kieran nodded in approval. "Mastering that is of the utmost importance. Again, our fire is the foundation of all Djinn magic."
The air thickened with unspoken words, and time seemed to slow as Kieran stepped closer, the magnetic pull between them undeniable. The soft breeze toyed with her hair, making the moment feel electric.
As she searched his gaze, his silver-blue eyes held hers with a fierce intensity, and she felt her heart race. Before she could respond, he reached out, gently cupping her cheek with his warm hand. The warmth of his skin sent a delicious shiver down her spine, amplifying the tension that had been building between them.
He leaned in, his breath mingling with hers, carrying the faintest hint of warmth and spice that made her head spin. Their lips met in a slow, lingering kiss, deep and soft yet full of promise. She felt the world around them fade away—the vibrant gardens of Qaf, the gentle purring of her cats, all of it slipped into a background haze.
Every second stretched out, the kiss igniting a spark of warmth that spread through her entire being. Mandy melted into him, instinctively leaning closer as she tasted the sweetness of the moment. It felt like the sun breaking through clouds after a long storm, illuminating everything within her.
Kieran's fingers brushed against her jawline, his gentle caress grounding her even as it fired her senses. The kiss spoke of a blend of yearning and solace, a silent promise shared between them.
Finally, they pulled apart, breathing heavily, their foreheads resting together for just a moment longer. Kieran's expression was both fierce and tender, and she sensed an unspoken vow in his gaze. "I'll return as soon as I can," he promised, his voice low and sincere, the warmth of his presence still enveloping her.
With a final glance, Kieran vanished in a shimmer of blue flames, the air where he had stood crackling with magic. The balcony felt emptier, colder, as he left, and Mandy was left alone, the vibrant colors of Qaf fading ever so slightly in his absence. Her heart sank under the weight of solitude, with only the gentle purring of her cats to fill the silence.
But magic now coursed through her veins, making her feel more alive than she ever had before. Shaking off her momentary melancholy, Mandy held out her palm, calling forth the magical blue Djinn fire that now lived within her. She watched the blue flames dance across her palm, fascinated by their glow.
The fire responded to her emotions, swirling and pulsing with her wonder. Unlike normal flames, these carried no heat -instead, they radiated a gentle coolness reminiscent of a spring breeze. Even as she thought that, the temperature changed to a pleasant warm, like a comforting heart fire. She lifted her hands, cupping them before her, and the magical fire coiled around her fingers like an affectionate cat, growing brighter when she smiled at its playful movements.
A small movement caught her eye - a glimpse of dark curls through the ornate balcony railings. A young girl peered at her with huge brown eyes, partially hidden behind one of the marble columns supporting the balcony's roof. When she noticed Mandy looking back, she ducked further behind her cover.
"Hello there," Mandy said softly, keeping her voice gentle. "I'm Mandy, who are you?"
"I'm Lilah," the girl said as edged out from behind the column.
Mandy's curiosity piqued at the unexpected appearance of the girl who had been mentioned by Jacinth and Kieran. She couldn’t help but wonder how Lilah had found her way here, in this magical realm of Qaf.
"I heard you're new to being Djinn," Lilah said shyly.
"That's right." Mandy smiled, touched by the child's tentative approach. "Everything is very new to me."
