Free Keeping the Genie (Genie's Love, Book 3) by Dee J. Stone

guess Sebastian and I have been having too much fun. I know that’s bad. This is serious, not fun. For a second, I completely forgot where we are and who I am. It was just Sebastian and me spending time together.
    I get to my feet. “I’m sorry,” I say.
    Hastus walks over to us. “That was brilliant, Lily.”
    “What was?”
    “That kick. You knocked Sebastian off his feet. Did you use magic?”
    I study my hands. “I don’t think so.”
    He stares at me. “You have strength, more so than anyone else here.”
    “Strength?”
    “Yes, through your magic. It gives you more energy, more strength. It causes you to be ten times more powerful.”
    I laugh lightly. “That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
    “Yes, it’s very good. Alaric will be pleased with your progress.”
    “Progress? But I just started.”
    He pats my arm. “You’re advancing at a very fast rate. Soon you’ll be ready to defeat King Sorenten. Keep up the good work.” He walks back to the head of the room. My heart pounds in my head. Defeating King Sorenten. I can’t push it out of my head, no matter how much I want to. I’m going to have to kill him. Sooner, rather than later. What if I’m not ready? All these people are counting on me.
    I turn to Sebastian. “Sorry. Did I hurt you?”
    He takes me in his arms. “No. I’m proud of you, Lily.” I gaze into his eyes. I know this piece of news will only make him worry about me more, but he does seem genuinely proud. That just fuels the fire inside me. Having him by my side makes all of this a little less nerve-wracking than it already is.

Chapter Ten
     
    Apparently my request to be treated like everyone else hasn’t been ignored. I still catch a few people bowing, but many smile and talk to me as though I’m one of them.
    We’re all seated in the kitchen. There isn’t room for everyone and many are on the floor as we eat from Salia’s delicious food. I have no idea what it is. Chicken or something. They don’t have chicken here on Ortarus, but something similar. I couldn’t catch the name.
    I’m a little sore from training, which is to be expected. I could be in better shape, I guess. I just never had time to go to the gym back on Earth. Now as I sit here with my limbs on fire, I kind of wish I had.
    No one is talking much. A few people tell me what their lives were like before they came here. One man lost his entire family in a fire that was set by the guards. He was only a kid then and still has no idea what they had done to piss the king off. He managed to escape through a small window and had been living on his own ever since.
    “This is probably wrong of me to ask,” I say. “But does anyone have good memories? I’m sure many of you had some fun times, too.”
    The table is quiet. Sebastian says, “We do, but many of us don’t remember the good times. I hardly remember my life before I was sent to work in the palace.”
    Salia says, “My mother and I used to sing to my little sister when she was a baby. That made me forget all my problems.”
    I nod. “We need to focus on the good memories. If we don’t have them, then we lose all hope. Is it okay if you tell me some more? I’d love to get to know all of you better.”
    One by one they tell me their stories. Sebastian was right when he claimed hardly anyone remembers the good times. A few cry when they think about their fondest memories, especially the twelve year old who was in my training class. She’s sitting in the corner of the room, hugging her knees to her chest and rocking back and forth.
    I go to her and crouch down next to her. When she turns her head and notices me there, her eyes widen and she bows her head.
    “Hi,” I say. “What’s your name?”
    “Casa.”
    I hold out my hand. “Hi, Casa. I’m Lily.”
    She shakily slips her hand in mine. “Princess.” She bows her head some more.
    “Hey, I’m not the only princess here. Everyone is a princess.”
    She smiles sadly.
    “Casa, how are