“You understand why you must go through with this marriage.” “You say you couldn’t live with yourself if anything happened to Caspida. Yet you ask me to live with myself, knowing I sentenced you to this!” He holds up the lamp. “What’s the difference?” I look away angrily. “The difference is that this is my choice, Aladdin.” “Well, it’s a stupid choice!” I stand up. “Promise me you’ll go through with it.” He shuts his eyes. “Promise me! Please!” He opens his eyes then, and they are filled with pain. But he nods. “I have to hear you say it.” “I promise.” MarriagePromiseChoiceZahraAladdinLampPrincess CaspidaCaspidaLive With Yourself Book:The Forbidden Wish Source: The Forbidden Wish
“Goodbye, Zahra,” says the princess, and she pulls her arm back, preparing to throw the lamp. “Do it, Princess,” says a voice, “and I will tear your head from your shoulders.” ThreatPrincessZahraLampPrincess CaspidaJinn PrinceZhain Book:The Forbidden Wish Source: The Forbidden Wish
“Do it, Zhian urges. Let me out, Zahra. Let me out. Listen to me first, I demand. There are jinn charmers out here—did you hear them? They are playing, filling the hills with their charms. You must not go near the humans, or we will both end up right back where we started. We could take them together, he replies. You and I—working as a team. We would be unstoppable! To that, I only send him an image of the lamp, and he curses. I quickly relay to him the deal I made with Nardukha. Zhian stews in his jar, his impatience hammering through my thoughts. When I finish, he spits, So do it! Let me out! I glance around, making sure we’re alone, then lift the jar high before dashing it against a rock. The pottery shatters, as does the charm that held Zhian captive inside. A burst of smoke fills the air, red and angry. It swells and thunders. “Quiet!” I hiss. “They’ll come!” I do not fear mortals! “Then you’re an idiot. If it weren’t for me, they’d still have you bottled up in their crypts.” My father would not allow it! Zhian swirls around me, his wind pulling at my hair and my black cloak. Dragon heads materialize in the smoke, snapping and hissing dangerously close to my face. He would burn their city for my sake! He would sink their ships and wreck their walls!” FatherTeamZahraLampJinniJinn PrinceZhainLet Me Out Book:The Forbidden Wish Source: The Forbidden Wish
“It’s not too late,” he says. “Zahra, I—” “Sh.” I lay a finger across his lips. “Don’t say it. You will marry Caspida, and you will learn to love each other. You will live a happy life, long after my lamp has passed to new hands.” “I won’t make my third wish,” he says. “That’s the answer! If I don’t make the wish, you can stay here in the palace for as long as you want. You’ll never have to go back to your lamp. We can fight off anyone who tries to take you from me.” LoveWishStayTakeZahraMarryAladdinLamp Book:The Forbidden Wish Source: The Forbidden Wish
“Zahra, what happens to you when I make my last wish?” “When your third wish is granted, you will cease to be my master. You may possess the lamp, but you cannot call me. I will return to it and await the next Lampholder.” Abruptly he stands and walks across the room. When he reaches the wall, he turns and stares down at me. “So to win my revenge, I must lose you.” WishRevengeLoseZahraAladdinLamp Book:The Forbidden Wish Source: The Forbidden Wish