The moment my skin made full contact with the metal, the flame at the spout flared dramatically, shooting upward in a column of blue fire that reached the ceiling. I stumbled backward, nearly falling into the water, but I couldn’t let go of the lamp. It was as if my hand was fused to its surface.
The pillar of flame began to twist and contort, taking shape before my eyes. First a torso emerged, broad-shouldered and powerful. Then arms, legs, and finally a head with features that were both beautiful and terrible in their perfection. The blue flame solidified, becoming blue skin that gleamed like polished sapphire in the golden light.
Before me floated a being unlike any I’d ever seen. He, for it wasdefinitelymale, was at least seven feet tall, with a physique that would make Greek statues weep with inadequacy. His skin was a deep cerulean blue that shifted in tone like the surface of the ocean. Golden jewelry adorned his wrists, neck, and ears, each piece inlaid with gems that caught the light. His face was striking. He had angular features, high cheekbones, and eyes that glowed with an inner fire. His dark hair was surrounded by an elaborate golden headdress that curled away from his temples like horns.
And his cock.Holy fuck…It was thick, veined, uncut, and absolutely stunning with a thick gold ring pierced through the tip.
“Holy shit,” I breathed, unable to form a more coherent thought.
The being smiled, revealing teeth that were just a shade too white and perhaps a bit too sharp. “Not quite,” he said, his voice resonating with power that I could feel in my bones. “Though I have been called many things over the centuries.”
I stood frozen, lamp still clutched in my hand, water lapping at my thighs. This was no shifter or vampire or any other supernatural being I’d encountered in my work. This was something else entirely.
“You may call me Azir,” he announced, his voice echoing despite the small space. “Djinn of the Seventh Realm, Keeper of Forgotten Pleasures, and now...” he bowed deeply, one arm sweeping across his bare chest, “temporarily your humble servant.”
I swallowed hard, my mind racing to catch up with what my eyes were seeing. A djinn. An actual fucking djinn had just materialized from this lamp. I’d heard stories about them, of course. Who hadn’t? But they were supposed to be incredibly rare, almost extinct in the modern world and mostly lost to the sands of time.
“My... servant?” I finally managed, my voice embarrassingly weak.
Azir floated closer, his feet never touching the water. He circled me slowly, his eyes traveling over my naked body with unabashed appreciation.
“Indeed,” he purred. “You have awakened me from my slumber by touching my vessel. As is the ancient covenant, I am bound to grant you a single wish.” His lips curled into a smile that was both inviting and dangerous. “Anything your heart desires, anything your soul craves... it shall be yours.”
I looked down at the lamp in my hand, then back up at the magnificent being before me. “One wish? That’s it? No catches? No tricks?”
Azir threw his head back and laughed, a sound like distant thunder. “So suspicious! The humans of this age are all the same.” His expression softened slightly. “No tricks, Waylon. One wish, freely given, with no strings attached.”
“You know my name,” I said, surprised.
“I know many things about you,” Azir replied, trailing a blue finger along my shoulder. His touch left a trail of tingling warmth on my skin. “I know you fix what others break. I know you seek pleasure without attachment. I know you run from something in your past.” His glowing eyes met mine. “But most importantly, I know what you truly desire, even if you yourself do not.”
I shivered despite the warm water. “And what’s that?”
“Ah,” Azir’s smile widened. “That would be telling. The wish must come from you, not from my suggestion.”
My mind raced with possibilities. Money? Power? Fame? I could ask for anything. Immortality? Perfect health? The ability to control the supernatural? The options were endless, overwhelming.
“Take your time,” Azir said, as if reading my thoughts. He reclined in mid-air, lounging on nothing as if it were the most comfortable chaise lounge. “I have waited centuries in that lamp. A few more minutes won’t matter.”
“How did you end up in there anyway?” I asked, curiosity temporarily overriding my shock.
Azir’s expression darkened momentarily. “A tale for another time, perhaps. Let’s just say I angered someone I shouldn’t have.” He waved his hand dismissively. “But now, thanks to you, I am free. At least until I fulfill your wish and must return to my vessel.”
I waded to the edge of the pool and sat on the stone rim, the lamp still warm in my hand. This was too much to process. A real djinn offering me one wish, anything I wanted... It felt likea dream or a hallucination. Had Brad really set all this up? Talk about a hellacious tip.
“How do I know this is real?” I asked.
Azir sighed dramatically. “Humans and their need for proof.” He snapped his fingers, and suddenly the room transformed. The walls fell away to reveal a vast desert under a night sky filled with more stars than I had ever seen. I could feel the cool desert air on my skin, hear the distant howl of a wolf, smell the dry sand and exotic spices.
Then, just as suddenly, we were back in the steam-filled room.
“Convinced?” Azir asked, looking smug.
I nodded, slightly dazed. “Yeah, that’ll do it.”
“Good. Now, about your wish...”
I thought about what I truly wanted. Money would be nice, but it wouldn’t solve everything. Power came with responsibility I wasn’t sure I wanted. Immortality seemed lonely.