The Savage and the Genie Page 3

  And she lied so much, he should spank her for it. However, he enjoyed their banter too much for him to be angry with her. He couldn’t let her know that. He was the Keeper of her Lamp. He was the one in charge.

  He couldn’t allow himself to turn over that title to her. He couldn’t allow her to know that in the three weeks of him being the Keeper of her Lamp, she’d become the Keeper of his heart. Three weeks, that was all it had taken for his corny ass to fall for her.

  And she’d never done anything to indicate that she was interested in him. She’d never looked at him with interest. She’d never confessed any feelings to him. Yet, he wanted to free her from her lamp and give her the world.

  But if he freed her, she’d leave him. There was no connection between the two of them, only the lamp. Without that, she’d have no reason to stay. He’d lose her. Call him selfish, but he wasn’t ready for that. He didn’t think he’d ever be ready for that.

  “Now, who’s the one daydreaming?” She smiled up at him sweetly.

  A genuine smile this time, one that made his heart race. Irritated with himself and these foreign emotions, Sax rubbed his hand over his chest, over his heart, as he walked to the other side of the pallet and sat down.

  Useless heart. Why was it still beating so fast? It felt like it was about to beat out of his chest. All she’d done was smile at him. It wasn’t like she’d whispered any seductive words to him.

  He cast a glance in her direction and found her still eyeing him. He was naked, and his cock was impressive, yet, she was staring into his eyes. A clear sign that she wasn’t impressed by his physique. Fuck. He pulled a fur over his lap.

  “Hand me my wine,” he ordered.

  “I thought you said I could have both?” She protested.

  “I changed my mind. Hand it to me.”

  “A gentleman never goes back on his word.”

  “When you see a gentleman, tell him that.”

  Pouting, she grabbed one of the goblets and handed it to him forcefully. Some of the liquid sloshed over the rim. He could’ve sworn he heard her whisper, I hope you choke on it.

  “What did you say?” He asked, knowing she wouldn’t answer truthfully.

  “I said, sip slowly so that you don’t choke on it.”

  Liar. “Hmm…” He took a sip of the wine and watched her grab the second goblet and do the same.

  “It’s bitter but tasty,” she said aloud, to no one in particular.

  She had a bad habit of talking to herself and daydreaming. She always said it was the way of the elven folk. He was pretty sure it was a trait unique to her. Everything about his little genie was unique.

  From the way she spoke to the clothes she wore, to the color of her hair, eyes, and skin. Her skin was a light brown color. The color of the sweetest honey. He’d seen people her color before.

  The clan north of his was where one of his allies, king Denzin, reigned. Denzin had a darker skin tone than his genie. Denzin was also one of the most ruthless and richest kings Saxon had ever met. He was also loyal and trustworthy.

  The people who made up Denzin’s kingdom were a mixture of hues. White, pale white, tan, brown, dark brown, medium brown. When he and king Denzin formed their pact, they sealed the deal by allowing Saxon’s sister to marry King Denzin’s eldest son.

  Saxon was now the proud uncle to twins, princess Laurel and prince Laurence. Their skin color was lighter than his genie’s, but just as beautiful. Before he’d started traveling outside of his own kingdom and trading with others, he’d had no idea that people different from him and his clan existed.

  Travelling had opened his eyes to new things, new people, new cultures. But Calypso was the first genie he’d ever encountered. He watched her snack on the different cheeses he’d obtained for her.

  From their short time together, he’d learned that cheese and vegetables were her favorite. She didn’t eat meat. It was probably an elven thing. Because of that, he never ate meat in front of her.

  Though he’d encountered new people over the past couple of years, he’d never met anyone with hair her color. He knew people with red hair, black hair, blonde hair, and brown hair. Blue hair was new to him.

  Midnight-blue eyes were new to him also. Calypso was new to him. He wanted to discover every unique thing there was about her. He still couldn’t believe she was real. He’d been surprised as hell when King Allon of Edgeworth had used a coin to barter for his life.

  A coin? Why would Saxon accept a coin when he’d just conquered an entire kingdom? Allon had assured him that the golden coin in his hand was not a regular coin. It was magical.

  All one had to do was recite the words engraved on the coin and all of his wishes would be granted. Saxon had seen magic before. He’d seen witches and wizards. He’d seen what magic users could do.

  He wasn’t fond of them. They weren’t allowed in his kingdom. They were unnatural. Their abilities made them a threat to his people, to all people. Saxon had been interested in the magic coin for only one reason, to destroy it.

  So, he’d spared Allon’s life for a few minutes and listened to the man enlighten him on what the coin could do. Imagine his surprise when he learned that once you recited the spell on the coin, a lamp would appear.

  After you rubbed the lamp, a genie would emerge from its colorful smoke. During his travels, he’d heard of genies. Though they were magical creatures, they weren’t free to use their magic against you. They couldn’t curse you.

  They couldn’t curse the water your people drank or the soil you planted vegetables in. Genie’s were safe. Or so he’d thought. After reciting the spell, rubbing the lamp, and then laying eyes on his little genie, he’d quickly learned that Calypso was just as dangerous as the witches and wizards he avoided.

  Her danger lie in her beauty, her voice, her eyes. As soon as she appeared before him, he’d known that she belonged to him. He’d known he’d do anything to have her. Even allow the former king to live.

  He and the king had shaken hands on the deal, and Allon told him the words he needed to say to make Calypso Rivers belong to him. The words had seemed a bit too simple for such an important event. Yet, Saxon tested the words out.

  You belong to me now.

  As soon as he uttered those words, a flash of anger flared in Calypso’s eyes, blue flames that left him mesmerized. She remained silent as she glared at him. He’d clutched the hilt of his sword because he’d known something wasn’t right.

  But it was Calypso he was worried about. The uneasy look on her face worried him. And he wasn’t accustomed to worrying for people outside of his pack. He’d wanted to tell her she’d never have to worry about belonging to anyone else.

  That she would always belong to him and he’d never barter her or give her away. But then a roar from behind him drew his attention away from her. He looked back to see Allon rushing toward him.

  The former king yelled, “You fool, the only way to break the bond I have with her is to kill me.” Allon tried to sink his dagger into Saxon’s chest.

  Saxon was too quick for the pompous dethroned king. He dodged the blow, and with one swipe of his blade, he freed the king’s intestines from his abdomen. The man clutched his stomach, trying to hold everything in as he dropped to the floor.

  The look in the man’s greens eyes told Sax that he knew his death was imminent. But he wouldn’t be human if he didn’t fight to hold on to those last few seconds. He wouldn’t be human if he didn’t hope for a positive outcome even when his mind told him there couldn’t be one. Saxon didn’t turn away from the dying king until his genie spoke.

  “You’ve killed the Keeper of my Lamp. That makes you the new Keeper.”

  He faced her to see a frown on her face. Those blue flames were still ignited in her gaze as she stared down at the old king. She clamped her lips together. Damn it. He shouldn’t have behaved so violently in front of such a gentle creature. He thought she’d been about to pass out when she rushed to say.

  “I no
w belong to you. Your wish is my command.”

  Her lips snapped shut again, and those baby blue flames flared brighter. She jerked her gaze to him. That was when he realized she was compelled to say those things. She didn’t want to. She had no choice.

  “When I am not with you, I will be in my lamp. Call my name, Calypso Rivers, and I will be at your side in an instant.” Her lips snapped shut again. She appeared in pain. He didn’t like to see her in pain. She opened her mouth again…

  “Quiet,” Saxon told her. “I get it. You’re mine now. We can work out the details later. I still have to fight. Go back inside your lamp. I do not want you to be hurt.”

  Her eyes widened. “You don’t want to ask me to help you win this war?”

  “You can help with that?”

  She nodded.

  “Then why didn’t you help save the king?”

  She stared behind him to the dead king’s body. “He didn’t wish it. He was so angry that he wanted to kill you himself and he told me not to interfere. So, do you need my help or not?”

  “The battle is already won. There are a few rebels to finish off. That’s all.”

  “You don’t need my help with that?”

  He raised his sword. “I have Danica, my sword. She’s all I need.”

  That seemed to irritate her. “If you do not need me, free me, and I’ll be on my way.”

  “I need you, genie,” he told her. “Just not for help winning a war. I’ll show you what I need you for later.”

  A look of disgust crept over her face. Folding her arms over her chest, she told him, “Typical male. Sex is all you think about.”

  “Typical female, to think I was referring to sex.” Her lips parted slightly. He’d shocked her.

  Recovering quickly, she told him, “Let me inform you that sex isn’t allowed. You can wish for it all you want. It’s not going to happen.”

  “Really?”

  A cocky smile spread across her face. “Really! I’m a genie. Not your personal whore, my Lord.”

  Her words had angered him. Not because he’d intended to use her that way. He didn’t want to use her. He wanted it to be mutual pleasure. He wanted them both to enjoy it. He hadn’t wanted it to be one of his wishes.

  He’d wanted her to do it because she wanted to. The look in her eyes told him she didn’t want to. Screams from outside the room reminded him that he was not there to argue with a beautiful brown-skinned genie.

  “Inside your lamp, now. Or do I need to wish for it?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Do whatever you want, savage.”

  “Let me make one thing clear. I’m not King Edgeworth. I won’t put up with your attitude.”

  She chuckled. “You can try wishing it away as he did. It won’t go.”

  “I could try filling your lamp with water. Will that work?”

  For a brief second, an intense look of fear crossed over her features. Those blue flames left her gaze. Immediately, he regretted his threat.

  “I will leave now, my Lord. Once I return to my lamp, wait a few seconds, and then the lamp will turn into the coin.” She bowed her head slightly.

  Saxon nodded. She hadn’t even left yet and he already missed her. What the hell was wrong with him? She glared at him for a few seconds. Then her body began to fade away, leaving behind colorful smoke, a swirl of blue, pink, red, and yellow.

  The smoke floated through the air. It floated over to the lamp. Slowly, it drifted into the lamp’s spout. The lamp glowed briefly, then dimmed. Saxon kept his eyes on the magical item until it returned to its coin state.

  Then he scooped it up and slid it into his boots. He rushed from the room and continued to battle the rebels who’d tried to rise up against him and his clan. It had been three weeks ago when he and his clan overthrew Edgeworth.

  Three weeks ago, he was given a genie. Three weeks ago, his heart was ripped from his chest and stuffed into a lamp. Three weeks ago, he decided that he wanted no one but Calypso Rivers.

  Three weeks later, he was no closer to winning her over than he had been at their first meeting. Saxon watched her sip her wine and sigh. It amazed him how much excitement she took in the simple things.

  A sip of wine made her smile. A bite of food made her giggle. Her eyes always lit up when she told him stories. But was that really who and how she was? Or was she that way because she’d been trapped in her lamp all day and was just happy for time away from it?

  “If you’re just going to hold your drink, you may as well let me have it.” She reached out. “My Lord,” she added as an afterthought.

  “I don’t want you to get drunk.”

  “It will take more than two glasses of wine to get me drunk. Lots more.”

  He stared down at his beverage. He’d gotten the wine for her anyway. He handed her the goblet and enjoyed the beautiful smile that flitted across her face. Seated on his side of the pallet, trying not to crowd her, he watched her sip her drink.

  “If you want it back, I’m sorry, it’s mine now.”

  “That’s not why I’m staring at you.”

  She lowered her drink from her mouth then licked away droplets of wine that glistened her lips. “Why are you staring at me?”

  Because you’re beautiful. Because you make my heart race. I’ve never felt this type of connection to another person, magical or nonmagical. You make me wish for forever with you.

  “Huh?” She asked. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

  Saxon tossed his pillow over to her. She liked pillows. He laid back down on the pallet and clasped his hands together behind his head, using them as a pillow.

  “I’m wondering when you’re going to start telling me stories,” he told her. “It’s growing late.”

  She looked to the flap of their tent. “I can feel the night chill in the air.”

  “Are you cold?” He rushed to ask.

  “No. I like feeling the chill. It’s always warm in my lamp. It’s good to feel cold air. Alright.” She sat her glass down on the table. “Let’s get started.”

  She grabbed the extra pillow he’d given her and stacked it on top of the pillow she already had. After she had them positioned the way she wanted them, she laid down on her side of the pallet.

  So close, yet, so far away from him. He wanted to reach for her and pull her close. He didn’t dare act on that want. That would get him another glare. She always glared when he got too close to her.

  With her head on the pillows, she faced him. “What type of story do you want to hear tonight?”

  Flat on his back, he looked at his genie. “It’s up to you.”

  “Hmmm….” She stared off into space. “I have the perfect story for a chilly night like tonight. I’ll tell you the tale of the phoenix and the mermaid.”

  “Phoenix and mermaid? Those things are real?”

  Her mouth dropped open. She appeared shocked that he didn’t know about those types of creatures.

  “It’s a big world out there, my Lord. Shifters aren’t the only creatures who exist.”

  “Shifters aren’t creatures.”

  “Oh, right. You’re the norm. Those who are different are considered creatures of the lore.” She rolled her eyes. A habit of hers. “I’ll have you know, where I’m from, I heard tales of the berserker wolf shifters.”

  “You did? What type of tales did they tell of us?”

  “You sure you want to hear this?”

  “Tell me.”

  “Promise you won’t get mad at me.”

  “Tell me, Caly!”

  She shrugged. “Okay. But, no yelling. It’s just a story.”

  Saxon nodded. She went on to tell him a horrific story of the berserker shifters. Saxon had promised not to get mad. Yet, he could feel his anger rising.

  “We do not kill needlessly,” he growled.

  She rolled her eyes. “You said you wouldn’t get mad.”

  “I’m correcting you.”

  “You’re yelling at me.”

&
nbsp; He growled.

  “Do you hear yourself? You’re growling, like an animal or a shifter would. And you say your kind don’t like to refer to themselves as creatures of the lore.” She tisked. “You’re a creature of the lore too. That’s the only explanation for how strong you guys are. And you basically become crazed and enraged at the sight of blood. And you shift. You turn into something else. Even I can’t do that.”

  Yes, it was true, they did become excited at the thought of war. Even minor skirmishes made their blood pump. But they weren’t berserkers. They didn’t go berserk.

  “We may be animals, shifters, but we’re not berserkers. We’re not killing machines.”

  “Your body changes,” she told him. “Your body is your weapon. Your teeth and claws can rip through bone. You get bigger, stronger, and…”

  She continued describing the changes that came over him right before a war. That was the norm for his people. It was others who were different. His people were strong. But they weren’t magical. They weren’t part of the lore.

  “The more you kill, the stronger you become,” Calypso told him. “There’s magic at play. It may not be a magic I understand, or a magic you understand, but its magic.”

  “Stop speaking of magic and finish telling me everything you’ve heard about my kind,” Sax ordered.

  He didn’t want to argue with her tonight. Therefore, he let her comments slide. He listened to her tell him tales of his own people. The way she described him, them, it did indeed make them seem supernatural.

  Remaining silent, he listened as she went on and on with her version of how his people were. She described them as savages. That part was true. When compared to others, they were savages. They were barbarians.

  They lived simple lives. There was no grandeur to them. Their territories didn’t have huge castles made of stones and their people didn’t dress in fancy garb. Yes, they were barbarians. But they weren’t the monsters she was describing.

  “Enough,” he yelled.

  Caly frowned at him when he stopped her midsentence. “You promised no yelling.”