Free The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury Page B

nez Anadredca. This girl is
your
descendant, Habiba. Your heir. Could it be, after everything that happened that day, that your bloodline lived on? That your little daughter was saved from the destruction and smuggled out of Neruby and crowned amid the ruins of your empire?
    Aladdin goes very still, his eyes unreadable—but I see with more than eyes. My sixth sense picks up waves of shock and anger rolling off him.
    â€œYou mean
her
?” he asks slowly. “The girl I kissed?”
    â€œ
Almost
kissed,” Caspida corrects.
    â€œShe is your future
queen
!” Khavar snaps, and with her foot she shoves him forward, sending him sprawling. “Show more deference.”
    â€œKhavar! Enough.” Caspida holds up a hand. “Step away.”
    Khavar shoots Aladdin a dark look as she stands aside. He struggles back onto his knees, his face pale. He stares at Caspida with wide eyes. And then he laughs, drawing astonished looks from the girls, his voice echoing through the warehouse. Raz sticks her head through the door and shushes him, and only then does he break off, coughing a little.
    â€œSorry,
Princess
.” He brings his hands forward, and the ropes they’d bound his wrists with fall to the floor. Khavar starts forwardthreateningly, but Aladdin throws up a hand. “Easy there, snake eyes. I’m not going to run.”
    Turning to Caspida, he asks, “What’s going on here? I’m supposed to believe you’re some kind of rebel, only to find out you’re a
royal
?” He throws a finger toward the door. “There are people out there who leave offerings at the temples in the name of the Phoenix. They believe you’re a guardian, a savior. They sing your praises, wear your symbol—but they have no idea you’re one of
them.
One of the same oppressive rulers they think you’re protecting them from!”
    â€œI never claimed to be a savior,” she returns coldly. “And believe me, I wish I could tell them the truth. But not all battles can be fought in the light. Those
people
out there are
my
people, thief, and I will fight for them. The Phoenix is the only way I have. The moment I step out of the shadows, my uncle will see to it that I never cross him again. Aladdin, I’m on
your
side! Why do you think I asked Xaxos to hire
you
to steal the key? I’d heard you were a great thief, yes, but I thought of all people, you’d understand my cause.”
    â€œWell, I guess you don’t know me well enough,” says Aladdin darkly. “I’m not my father. I’m not some kind of rebel or leader. I took the job from Xaxos for the money, nothing else.”
    â€œEnough,” sighs Caspida, holding up a hand. “Thief, the ring you stole belongs to me. It’s been in my family’s possession for hundreds of years, going all the way back to my ancestress Roshana the Wise.”
    The fur on my back prickles, drawing a concerned pat from Ensi. You had no such ring, Habiba. Surely I would have known if you had such a powerful talisman in your possession—especially one meant to lead the wearer to me. My interest in this ring expands tenfold, and I wish sorely it had not been lost.
    â€œThis is taking entirely too long,” Khavar says. “Just search him!”
    â€œI’ll do it!” Ensi volunteers, her eyes lighting up.
    â€œAll right, fine!” Aladdin twists away from her reaching hands. “I stole the ring!”
    Ensi withdraws regretfully, and Caspida’s eyes sharpen. “Go on.”
    â€œI did steal it, and I absolutely
meant
to give it to your man Xaxos. But . . . I lost it in the desert.”
    She frowns. “What were you doing in the desert?”
    He pauses and chews his lip, studying her a moment before replying. “Princess, have you ever
worn
the ring?”
    She hesitates. “Once.”
    â€œAnd what did you feel?”
    â€œFeel? Nothing. Why would you