Again, Kieran closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers as though fighting off a headache.
"Of course," he echoed, his deep voice carrying a note of what might have been either pain or amusement - possibly both. He held up one elegant hand, his eyes closing briefly. "Enough. I understand the picture perfectly."
Mandy pressed her lips together, trying to contain the bubble of laughter threatening to escape. She couldn't remember the last time she'd enjoyed herself this much. Here sat a being who had witnessed millennia of human history, who wielded powers beyond mortal comprehension, who could probably turn her into a toad with a mere thought - and she'd managed to drive him to distraction with her enthusiastic explanation of her organizational skills.
Bach chose that moment to wake up from his nap on the cat tree, and leaped onto her lap, adding his purr to his brother's. She scratched behind his ears, biting her lower lip to keep from grinning as Kieran drew another deep breath.
The whole situation felt surreal. A few days ago, her biggest concern had been managing her pain levels and deciding what towrite next. Now she sat in her living room, watching an ancient Djinn prince struggle to maintain his composure in the face of her alphabetized spice collection.
Kieran tilted his head, studying her with that mesmerizing gaze. "What else would you not be able to pursue with unlimited resources?"
"Travel." The word sprang from Mandy's lips without hesitation. "I'd love to return to Cairo... and go explore the Carpathian Mountains... take the steamboat journey from St. Louis down to New Orleans. Heck, I'd just love to explore the French Quarter." She sighed, absently stroking Bach's fur. "For that matter, I'd love to visit my daughter in Washington state more often. Though that's more manageable since I can drive myself without aggravating my back too much. I can drive long distances just fine, although getting luggage in and out of motel rooms is tricky, but it's doable. The real issue is flying."
His dark brows drew together. "You dislike flying?"
"Oh no!" Mandy smiled reminiscently, memories flooding back. "I love flying. The takeoff, the landing, floating above the clouds, watching the earth spread out below like a patchwork quilt." Her eyes lit up as she remembered. "When I served in the Army, I went up in helicopters all the time. Those were incredible - nothing like being in a commercial plane. It's just you and the hopefully clear blue sky."
She laughed, the sound bright with nostalgia. "Once we had to set down in a cow pasture because the mist was so thick." Her smile dimmed slightly. "I even applied for warrant officer flight school to learn to fly them myself. Everything was lined up perfectly, but my depth perception wasn't quite good enough, even though I met all the other requirements."
The old disappointment tightened her throat. "That was crushing. One of the biggest disappointments of my life, actually. After that, nothing I ever did seemed to turn out right."
Mandy drew a deep breath, pushing aside the old regret about flight school. "But it's not the actual flying that's the problem nowadays. It's everything else about air travel." She shifted in her chair, trying to find a more comfortable position. "The whole airport experience is a nightmare when you're handicapped."
"First, there's the endless lines at the ticket counter, then more lines for security screening, then more lines for boarding." She grimaced at the memory of her last flight. "Even with wheelchair assistance, it's still a major aggravation. You're completely dependent on airport personnel to take you from point A to point B."
"And don't get me started on airplane seats," she added, her voice taking on a frustrated edge. "They're absolutely terrible for anyone with back problems. Trust me on this - they hit exactly wrong, pinching already angry nerves in ways that make the pain exponentially worse."
"And getting off the plane?" She shook her head. "That's just everything in reverse, with the added fun of trying to move after being cramped in those torture devices they call seats for hours. And if you have to transfer planes… well, you see. "
Kieran's expression softened, as he nodded slowly. "Yes, I see," he said, his deep voice thoughtful. "I had never considered those aspects of modern air travel before."
Mandy sighed, feeling a twinge of envy, and said, "No, why would you?"
Her fingers traced the pendant's warm surface as she considered the vast differences between them. Here sat an immortal being who could probably teleport anywhere in the world with a mere thought. Someone who'd likely witnessed the pyramids being built, who'd watched empires rise and fall, who'd experienced more in his millennia of existence than she could even imagine.
"I mean, you probably just..." She waved her hand vaguely in the air, stifling the faint stirrings of envy, "...poof yourself wherever you want to go. No security lines, no cramped airplane seats, no hauling luggage through endless airport terminals."
Heat crept up Mandy's neck as she realized how long she'd been rambling about her organizational quirks and travel limitations. Here sat an ancient, powerful being, patiently listening to her babble instead of doing... whatever important things Djinn princes normally did.
"I'm sorry," she said, ducking her head. "I keep putting off making these wishes, and you're stuck waiting around for me to make up my mind."
"There is no need to apologize." Kieran's deep voice carried a gentleness that made her look up. His silvery-blue eyes held no judgment, only patience. "The choice of wishes is not something to be rushed."
"But surely you have better things to do than listen to me go on about alphabetized spices and airport complaints?"
A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I have existed for millennia. A few days or weeks while you consider your choices is insignificant."
"You're sure?" Mandy's fingers found the pendant at her throat, its warmth reassuring against her skin. "I promise I'll try to decide on my first wish soon. I just want to make sure I get it right."
"Take whatever time you need. There is no time limit on your wishes," Kieran said, his deep voice gentle. "No deadline you must meet. The magic will wait until you are ready."
Relief flooded through Mandy at his words. She'd been carrying that worry without even fully realizing it - the fear that she might be forced to make hasty decisions about something so important.
"Really?" She absently stroked Mozart's fur, drawing comfort from his steady purring. "I won't be... I don't know, holding you back from other duties or responsibilities?"
Kieran's lips curved into a slight smile. "I am quite capable of attending to my duties while maintaining our connection through the vessel. Take whatever time you need to consider your choices carefully."
The tension she'd been carrying in her shoulders eased. Having unlimited time to think through her wishes properly made the whole situation feel less overwhelming. She could approach this methodically, considering all angles and implications, rather than rushing into decisions she might later regret.
