A Dragon's Heart

3.

A deep sigh escaped my parted lips, and before I could confer more in depth with my wolf, a throat clearing interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see Yasmina standing by the door, a large grin on her face.

This wasn’t my first time meeting her or seeing her, yet her beauty and poise still struck me.

She looked just like her brother, but her features were softer, not striking like Bilal’s. As Yasmina stood in the doorway, her caramel skin was glowing with a subtle sheen under the room's soft light.

She donned a green sirwal, a small black top that left the lower part of her stomach bare, and I could see a ring dangling from her bellybutton. It was the first time I was seeing any part of her body exposed. Over her head, was a green shawl covering her hair that had been tucked in carefully.

Unfortunately, I still hadn’t said anything and was just staring at her like a deer caught in headlights. She tilted her head to the side, took several cautious steps into the room and stopped before me.

“Sabah al khayr, Ukty,” she greeted brightly.

I slipped the letter back into the book and closed it, then carefully returned it to the shelf and turned to face her.

“Sabah al khayr, Yasmina.”

She gingerly took my hands in hers, her smile never wavering, and again I couldn’t help being star-struck at how much she looked like Bilal.

“Hope you had a wonderful night's rest? You’re glowing,” she said with a smile.

“Uh, I did?” My response came out as more of a question than a statement, but she barely noticed.

“The castle isn’t my favorite place to be, but Akhi insisted this is the best place for you, so what can I say? Did he show you his wings? I hear that the men always do that on their wedding night. I can’t wait to experience it. Was it a good experience? Has he left already?”

Wait. Show me his wings? Did she also think he spent the night here? Great! Just great!

It was bad enough that my husband had basically run off during our wedding night when he should have been showing me his wings, but it was even worse that now, his sister assumed he’d spent the night.

I already felt pathetic, and the last thing I needed was an extra pity from Yasmina, so I decided to give her a vague response.

“Yes, he left.”

“Good, because I want to spend the entire day with my new sister,” she said with a grin. “But first, we must have morning shai with Jaddah. I heard you haven't had breakfast yet.”

Jaddah, their grandmother I had met a few times, and each encounter had been a bit strange. I was not exactly sure the woman liked me.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay composed despite all that was happening. I glanced at Yasmina, noting the genuine excitement in her eyes, and couldn't help but feel a warmth because of the love showered.

“No, I haven't. I asked for gahwa but now I am curious as to what shai tastes like,” I said, mustering a smile. “I've heard it's quite different, isn't it?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Gahwa tastes like coffee from back home. Only that this one tastes richer, and better, if I dare say so,” I commented.

The smile on Yasmina’s face was enough to tell me that I did well.

“Yalla! Jaddah must be waiting. She insisted I fetch you fast and not to waste her time. Stubborn old woman.”

I chuckled.

‘Ask her why her brother practically ran away from us last night!’ Jay piqued.

‘Jay, now is not the time. We do not want to stir unnecessary conflict between his sister and him. Didn’t you notice how she seemed to think he had spent the night with us? Plus, I’d rather just enjoy today without thoughts of him,’ I hissed angrily. As eager as I was to have answers about his hurtful behavior, I wanted them from the horse's mouth. Or maybe the dragon’s mouth, in that case.

‘Do you think you can actually enjoy today? I know I can’t!’

I rolled my eyes at my stubborn wolf.

‘You’re not the only one being hurt in all this, Tiff,’ Jay continued. ‘I’ve thought about it and I’m not sure a bookshelf, three photos and some maroon curtains can justify leaving us the way he did.’

‘I agree, but for now, we should just enjoy Yasmina’s company and our first day as a married woman.’

‘Married to a man who is nowhere in sight,’ she grumbled.

‘Jay!’ I called out to her, getting slightly annoyed now. ‘Just drop it.’

‘Okay, fine!’ Jay responded with a huff. Then just when I thought she was dropping it, she added, ‘I just wished we could’ve gotten some pounding last night instead of having been pondering all night. If you catch my drift…’

‘Drift caught. Now shut up before I block you out. And I mean it!’ I gritted, feeling the way heat washed all over my body. Damn Janeiro and her no filter mouth!

‘Fiiiiiinnnnneeeee!’ she growled, rolling her eyes. As though that wasn’t enough, she turned, shook her butt at me then sat on her hinds. I knew she was daring me to do or say something, but I wasn’t about to give her that satisfaction.

So I ignored her, sucked in a breath and followed Yasmina as she led me out of the room and through the big castle.

“You know Bilal told us to come early this morning so we can keep you company and have tea with you. He knew you would be alone and didn’t want that. How sweet is that?” Yasmina giggled. “I never pegged him to be so sweet, yubarik qalbah (bless him).”

“Yeah, bless his heart,” I mumbled, even more confused than before.

‘Now is not the time, Jay. Try to enjoy the day as married female, Jay,’ she repeated in a mock tone, clearly doing a poor imitation of my voice.

I rolled my eyes and turned to Yasmina with a smile. “I’m glad to begin my day with you, Yasmina.”

Yasmina smiled. “With a good shai, there is no better way.”

As we made our way to the open garden where we were to meet Jaddah, Yasmina chatted animatedly about her own experiences at the castle and her anticipation for exploring more of the surroundings with me.

There was an initial awkwardness from my end, because try as I may, I just wasn’t that outgoing. After everything that had happened, I was still working on getting out of my shell. But Yasmina barely noticed.

Before I knew it, we were at the garden, and Jaddah had a frown on her face as we approached her. She dressed in a cream coloured jilbab paired with a black wool shawl over her head. Her eyes adorned with kohl, her light skin a contrast to my darker shade. She looked beautiful. Sophisticated.

Cold.

‘That’s nothing new. She had the same expression on her face the last time we saw her, and the one before that, and the one before that…’ Jay reminded me.

I pressed my fingers to my forehead and greeted her. “Sabah al khair, Jaddah.”

She simply nodded, taking a sip of tea from the cup before her.

Yasmina and I settled in on a gorgeous embroidered mat by the garden, while Samira served us the shai. It was basically tea, which I was not really a fan of. This one had a taste of mint; it was perfect and soothing, exactly what I needed after the whirlwind that was last night.

‘You’re doing a great job at not thinking about Bilal,’ Jay snapped, breaking my thoughts.

‘And you sure are not helping!’ I snapped back and focused my attention on Yasmina, who was speaking again.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

I nodded, taking another sip. “I do. It tastes amazing!”

“Told you! The berries are my favorite, and I bet you’d like it too.”

We continued to take our tea quietly, but Jaddah just kept staring at me and sipping her tea without saying anything, which made me extremely uncomfortable. It felt like every move I made was being scrutinized. From reaching over to pick up my teacup to taking a sip, to reaching over to take a biscuit. She watched my every move like a hawk without saying one word.

‘What’s her deal?’ Jay snarled.

‘I have no idea, Jay.’

Thankfully, Yasmina came to the rescue with a suggestion that was as timely as it was welcome.

“Ukty, would you like a tour of the castle? It’s completely stunning, and I want to show you every corner,” she said.

I nodded eagerly, happy for the chance to escape this suffocating environment.

Rising from the mat, I greeted Jaddah again, then followed Yasmina as she led the way. Since we were already outside, she started by showing me the different courtyards around the castle grounds, without going too far since we were both on foot. Each time, I was stunned into silence by the sheer beauty of Bilal’s home. It looked like something out of a dream. Its towering walls made of golden stones and mud reached up towards the sky, standing tall and proud against the horizon.

We made our way back inside, making sure not to let Yasmina out of my sight while trying to look at everything all at once.

The castle’s interior looked like a maze and I was convinced I might need a map the moment Yasmina would leave. Each level split into open areas and chambers, and each had its use as Yasmina explained.

“How do you not get lost here?” I asked.

She giggled and responded with a shrug. “I eventually got used to it. And you will, too.”

I swallowed and nodded slowly. The thought of getting used to all of this scared me shitless, and I didn’t know what else to say. It was all so new and foreign, and even my husband was a puzzle piece I was still trying to figure out. I tugged at the shawl over my head, scrunching my nose at the sweat I felt trickling down my nape. It's so damn hot here, and over the week I had spent in this realm, I still hadn't gotten used to it, and I guess I never would.

Everywhere I looked, delicate Arabic carvings and designs were adorning the walls, each one telling a story of the castle's rich history. It felt like we were walking through a museum, and it had everything but tombs for mummies. The ceilings seemed to stretch on forever; the doorways were arched, and the air was thick with incense and spices.

“This castle has a name. My late grandfather named it bait al qalb when he gifted it to Jaddah. I guess it was why Akhi insisted on bringing you here when Jaddah gifted him the castle,” Yasmina explained.

“What does the name mean?”

“House of the heart. Apparently, Jaddi was a romantic, and he usually addressed Jaddah as his heart.”

“That is so sweet,” I said slowly, wondering if I would ever experience such a pure feeling with Bilal.

‘Ugh!’ Jay hissed. ‘I say one word and you ask me to shut up. Yet all you think about is him.’

I ignored her as we arrived at another chamber, this one covered with flowers.

“Don’t tell Akhi I told you this,” she whispered, looking around as though someone would overhear us. “But this is one of his favorite places to be. He loves flowers.”

Huh?

“When he’s less busy, he likes to spend his time tending to them rather than doing anything else. He also has a bird he loves. He takes the bird everywhere. Including the battlefield.”

‘Does that bird have large scales and breathes fire? Because that’s not a bird, Yasmina.’

‘I think she would know the difference.’ But the urge to ask if the bird was around, knowing that Bilal wasn’t was burning the tip of my tongue.

‘All I’m saying is that a man that sweet, who takes care of FLOWERS and A BIRD, shouldn’t be as dense and think that what he did was reasonable. I bet he didn’t leave the stupid bird here alone. Wait, if the bird is here, who takes care of it? Samirah? She’s the only one who knows Bilal is gone for a week. I hope he told her, I don’t want the bird to die on top of everything.’ Jay was starting to ramble again, a clear sign of how upset all this new information was making her.

I tried to find comforting words for her, but I had none. All I had to reassure myself that everything was going to be fine was that feeling I had when I read his letter. How the world ‘kisses’ had my stomach turned and flipped and how just the thought of it was causing tons of butterflies to dance in there right now.

Was this the mate bond working its magic? I was supposed to be upset, yet here I was swooning over a note left in a book I looked at because I had nothing better to do since my mate had left on our wedding night.

After everything else, why couldn’t I catch a break?