The Secret Gift by Bethany Atazadeh

Author:Bethany Atazadeh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fairy tale, royalty, jinn, fantasy, young adult
Publisher: GRACE HOUSE PRESS
Published: 2022-12-05T00:00:00+00:00

12

WHEN HE’D SAID HE would turn me in, he meant it. His red eyes sparked mischievously, and my hope was extinguished. Snuffed out completely. As if a whole ocean had flooded over me and washed away any chance of flames catching ever again. Whether Asher called this a favor or a threat, it didn’t matter. If he didn’t tell on me this time, I had no doubt he would later. Whenever it suited him.

I needed some leverage over him in return, or this would never end.

An idea tickled the back of my mind.

“So...” he dragged out the word when I still didn’t say anything. “Should I meet you here in a couple hours?”

“No,” I snapped automatically, trying not to think too hard on the idea until he left. “Never come here again.”

I hoped he’d hear the disgust in my tone, but if he did, he chose to ignore it. “All right, daleth it is,” he said as he stepped into the hall, nearly running into the elderly Hanna, who owned this section of the acropolis, as she shuffled past us.

“Watch your step,” she grumbled, eyeing us both before she continued on down the hall.

Behind her back, he mouthed, Old Hag. A lot of residents called her that since there were few Jinni as old as her. Rolling his eyes as she turned the corner, he added out loud to me, “See you in a few hours.” He had the audacity to wink at me before he closed the door.

The apartment walls that had always felt like my prison seemed like nothing now compared to my own skin.

Once again, I walked through the chain of events that had brought me here, struggling to find the moment I could’ve escaped this destination.

I couldn’t find one.

My feet moved with a mind of their own.

Without allowing myself to consider the possible consequences, I followed my instincts as a partial plan began to form. A plan that would make him pay. My jaw set in grim determination. He would regret asking me to do this.

Stopping in front of the mirror in my bedroom, I touched the gold edges, running my fingers along the curves.

When I lifted my gaze to my reflection, the girl gazing back at me had tears in her eyes. I hadn’t even felt them. Raising a trembling hand to my cheek, I tried to steady my breathing and blink them away. This is how it has to be. This is how he decided it would be.

Of course he wanted to use my Gift for himself. I should’ve expected it. It was who he’d always been—the hunger for influence and power was a part of him just as much as his red eyes and cocky smile.

Another long inhale. Exhale.

Until the girl looking back at me in the mirror lifted her chin in an arrogance that could match Asher’s own, and the shine of tears had disappeared.

He wanted to see who was the most powerful of all?

Fine.

He was about to get his wish.

But it wasn’t going to be who he thought.

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