"I've only just learned how to heat up tea already in my cup," Mandy admitted as Lilah poured steaming tea from a conjured pot. The rich aroma of cardamom and other spices filled the air.
They had just settled cross-legged on the floor, teacups in hand, when an older woman in traditional dress appeared at the balcony, her lined face creased with worry beneath her bright scarf.
"Lilah!" The woman's voice carried equal measures of relief and exasperation. "We've been searching everywhere for you, child." She turned to Mandy, her dark eyes apologetic. "I am Khadija. Please forgive the intrusion. Lilah should have told someone where she was going."
Lilah ducked her head, curls falling forward to hide her face. "I'm sorry,Jeddah. I just wanted to help teach Mandy about her fire."
"No need to apologize," Mandy said quickly.Jeddah, she remembered, dredging up the memory of her Cairo days, meant grandmother. "Lilah has been wonderful. I've learned so much from her about controlling my flames in the past hour."
"We played jump rope with our fire,Jeddah! Mandy learned really fast - she's good at controlling it already."
Khadija's dark eyes widened with interest. "Jump rope? With magical fire?" She studied Mandy with new appreciation. "That is quite impressive for one so new to the gift."
Warmth bloomed in Mandy's chest at the elder's praise. "Lilah is an excellent teacher," she said, smiling at the little girl. "She made it easy to understand."
"You are most welcome in our village, any time." Khadija's weathered face creased in a warm smile. She held out her hand to Lilah. "Come along now, little one. Your mother has been worried."
Lilah waved goodbye as she took Khadija's hand, both figures dissolving in a shimmer of blue flames. The sudden quiet felt heavy after the joyful chaos of their play.
Exhaustion swept over Mandy as the excitement of the day caught up with her. She turned to find Dinen watching her with those impossibly wise eyes.
"Would you show me back to my room?" she asked the magical cat. "I think I need a nap."
Dinen's blue flames flickered as he rose gracefully, leading the way through the tower's winding corridors. Mozart and Bach followed close behind, their paws silent on the marble floors.
The bedroom welcomed her with cool shadows and soft linens. Mandy sank into the plush mattress with a contented sigh, not having the energy to do more than slip off the slippers she wore, and pull the galabiyya over her head, dropping it on the end of the bed, before pulling the luxurious covers over her. Mozart curled behind her knees while Bach claimed his usual spot by her pillow. Dinen settled at the foot of the bed, his spotted form radiating peaceful warmth.
Surrounded by purring cats, Mandy drifted into sleep.
Chapter
Thirty-One
A weekinto her new life as a Djinn, Mandy marveled at how quickly she'd settled into a routine. Each morning brought new lessons in magic - sometimes with Kieran's patient guidance, other times under Jacinth's playful instruction. When both were called away to Council matters, little Lilah would appear, eager to share her knowledge through games and stories.
The afternoons belonged to her mortal life in Tucson. She'd write at her familiar desk, the words flowing easier now that magic had opened her eyes to new possibilities. Her daily swims felt different too - the water seemed to welcome her in a way it never had before, as if recognizing the magic that now lived within her.
Evenings meant returning to Kieran's tower in Qaf for dinner and more intensive magical training. Her control over the blue fire grew stronger each day. She could now shape it into complex forms, maintain multiple flames at once, and even weave patterns in the air that lingered for several minutes.
"Your progress is remarkable," Kieran had told her that morning, his silver-blue eyes warm with approval as she demonstrated her latest achievement - creating a miniatureflame horse that pranced in circles above her palm. "Soon you'll be ready to learn transportation magic."
The prospect both thrilled and terrified her. While she longed for the independence of moving between realms on her own, the responsibility of such power was daunting. For now, she was content with her daily routine, learning to navigate both her magical and mortal lives with growing confidence.
Each evening, after their magical lessons, they would sit together on the balcony of his tower, watching the sun set over the desert landscape of Qaf. Sometimes they talked for hours - about books, about magic, about life. Other times they simply sat in comfortable silence, content in each other's presence.
And there were the kisses... sweet, tender moments that left her breathless and yearning for more. Those first few had been tentative, almost shy - so unexpected from someone as powerful as Kieran. But each subsequent kiss grew bolder, more passionate. The way his fingers would thread through her hair, how his strong arms would pull her close against his chest, the soft sounds he made when she traced the line of his jaw...
Even now, sitting in her familiar apartment, the memories made her heart race. The tender brush of his lips against her temple when he bid her goodnight. The way his silver-blue eyes darkened with desire when she spoke of her dreams. The gentle touch of his hand at the small of her back as he guided her through complex magical forms.
But it wasn't just the physical attraction. There was something deeper growing between them - a connection that transcended the physical realm. She found herself anticipating his subtle expressions, learning to read the minute changes in his stern features that betrayed his emotions. And he, in turn, seemed to understand her in ways no one else ever had.
Today, however, was special. Mandy's mermaid tail had arrived, and she was eager to try it out. The silicone creationlay across her living room floor like a shimmering piece of art, its scales catching the afternoon sunlight in iridescent blues and greens. She'd watched countless YouTube tutorials on how to put it on, but the reality proved more challenging than expected.
"Oh, for heaven's sake," she muttered, tugging at the stubborn zipper. The silicone clung to her skin, refusing to slide past her hips despite the liberal application of water she'd used to ease its passage. The anticipation was killing her - she couldn't wait to see how it would look in the pool, to feel what it was like to swim with a tail - if she could only get the darned thing on!
She wiggled and squirmed, trying to work the material up without tearing it. The tail might have been expensive, but it represented something priceless - a dream she'd carried since childhood, now finally within reach. Mozart watched from his perch on the dresser, his orange tail twitching with apparent amusement at her struggles.
"Oh sure, laugh it up," she told him, giving another determined tug at the zipper. "You try getting into this thing."
