欧宝娱乐

“ Zhian, is that you? I focus the words on the clay jar above Darian.
The reply comes like a clap of thunder
GET ME OUT OF HERE!
I stumble at the force of his words, and Darian steps forward to catch me.
鈥淲ine catching up to you?鈥� he asks, grinning.
I just nod distractedly, stiffening a little when his hands slide up my arms.
Zhian, I鈥檓 here to help you.
GET ME OUT NOW!
Darian鈥檚 hands are far too familiar, one on my back now, the other cupping my jaw. His touch is repulsive, his heartbeat erratic and too fast. I feel assaulted on all sides: by Zhian鈥檚 shouting, by the jinn clamoring, by Darian鈥檚 desire.
鈥淵ou really are quite pretty,鈥� he says, his eyes dropping to my lips. 鈥淚鈥檝e shown you something secret. Now what are you going to show me?鈥�
Steeling myself, I grasp his coat and step forward, backing him into the shelves, and around him bottles shake dangerously.
鈥淓asy,鈥� he cautions, but his eyes brighten greedily. Our faces are just inches apart, his eyes locked on mine. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e a feisty one. I knew it the moment I saw you. No wonder Rahzad likes to keep you close.鈥�
鈥淲hat about the princess?鈥� I murmur, working a hand behind him as if to thread my fingers in his oiled hair.
鈥淐aspida hardly appreciates the finer pleasures in life. I, on the other hand, have a king鈥檚 appetite.鈥�
He kisses me forcefully, stepping away from the wall, and I鈥檓 barely able to grab Zhian鈥檚 jar before it鈥檚 out of reach. No bigger than my hand, it鈥檚 simple to let it slip down my sleeve. The jinn prince rages inside, but I ignore him and focus on the human trying to force his tongue down my throat. I can feel myself hovering on the very edge of the lamp鈥檚 boundary. Ripples of smoke race under my skin as I strain to keep from shifting, the effort bringing tears to my eyes.
I shove Darian hard, and he shouts as he slams into the wall of bottled jinn. A few topple from their shelves, and panic springs into his eyes as he struggles to catch them all.
鈥淏leeding gods, you whore!鈥� he growls. 鈥淎re you mad?鈥�
鈥淢y master is probably looking for me,鈥� I gasp. 鈥淚 should go.鈥�
I turn and flee the room, letting out a soft, relieved cry as the lamp鈥檚 pull on me slackens. Darian pursues too quickly for me to shift into a more speedy form. Zhian鈥檚 jar rattling in my sleeve, I hurry through the dark crypt and up the stairs, the prince close on my heels.
鈥淪top!鈥� he shouts. 鈥淥r I鈥檒l have you whipped!鈥�
Sister! Zhian cries. Set me free and I will devour the wretch! ”
― Jessica Khoury, The Forbidden Wish