Ch. Privacy

Chapter 2

Birdie placed both of her palms against Adan's chest and pushed him back with all her might.

"What is wrong with you?" She demanded. "We have a door. Come in like a regular person."

Stumbling back, the corner of Adan's lips curved up and his eyes moved up Birdie's long legs slowly.

"I like that skirt," he said, pointing to the denim skirt.

"Thanks," Birdie shifted her weight and crossed her arms over her chest. "Why are you here?"

"You weren't answering my calls."

"I'm not obligated to take your calls."

"Is that so?" Adan grinned, walking over to the neatly made bed. "Are you avoiding me?"

"I just saw you yesterday, so obviously not," Birdie said.

"You left in a hurry."

"I had to get home."

"I thought you were running from me."

"What if I was?"

"Why would you run?"

"Why wouldn't I run?"

Adan's grin widened as he leaned back on the bed without a care in the world. His long legs stretched out in front of him as he crossed his ankles and tilted his head slightly.

"Stop looking at me like that," Birdie kicked at his feet.

"Like what?" Adan chuckled.

"Like that," Birdie waved her hand.

"Like what?" Adan leaned forward.

"Why are you here?"

"To wish you a happy birthday."

"Thank you very much. Now please leave. I'm trying a nice dinner with my family."

"I'll join you," Adan began to rise.

"No!"

"Oh come on," the boy chuckled. "It's not like they don't know me. We're friends, Birdie."

Taking in a deep breath, Birdie pinched the bridge of her nose and shut her eyes, "Noor saw us the other day in the yard."

"I know."

"You knew he was there?" Birdie's eyes flew open. "Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you stop?"

"Because you were looking at me with those eyes," Adan took a step forward. "Those fuck me eyes..."

"Adan, stop," Birdie took a step backwards as her stomach tightened and her skin warmed. "I really wish you had told me Noor was around. The twig just told everyone downstairs about us."

"That's good news, right?"

"No!" Birdie shook her head. "Now my dad is down there hounding me about information."

"I'll give him information," Adan laughed. "What does he want to know?"

"Can you please not be so perverted for once?"

Rolling his eyes, Adan reached for Birdie's hand, "Let's go talk to your dad."

"Um, no. Hello," Birdie pulled away. "What do you think you're doing?"

"We're going downstairs and telling your parents that we have been doing each other for the last year or so."

"Do you have a death wish?"

"Please. Heyder loves me."

"Hayden is downstairs," Birdie reminded him.

"I'll convince him."

"Convince him of what?" Birdie shrieked. "What is going on in your head?"

Letting out a deep sigh, Adan took a step forward. He took Birdie's hand and tugged her forward until she was against his chest. Her eyes widened and she looked up at him as he peered down at her.

"Why do we keep pretending this isn't a thing?" He asked, tucking a long silver strand of hair behind Birdie's ear. "You know I like you, right?"

"I'm not pretending," Birdie said, her gaze flickering to Adan's mouth.

"What's the issue?" the jinn asked, pulling her face a little closer. "Why won't you just go out with me?"

"You know why," Birdie frowned. "I bet my baba is already planning our wedding down there."

"It's not my fault your dad's kind of psychotic."

"Adan," Birdie pushed the boy's hand away and ran her hands through her hair. "There's just too much pressure from everyone for us to be together."

"They want to see us together," Adan shrugged. "And I don't blame them."

"What if we don't work out?" Birdie asked. "Then we get everyone's hopes up for nothing."

"What if we do work out?"

"Look....." Birdie closed her eyes once more and held out her hands. "I only just turned twenty. I really can't handle a relationship right now. Not a serious one like the one everyone is hoping for. My parents, your parents....as soon as we tell them anything about us, they're going to fix up our marriage."

"No one is telling us to get married right now," Adan laughed.

"But it will be expected," Birdie said. "And if we don't work out then things will be weird between our families."

"I think we have been working out pretty well for the last year or so."

"Physically, yes," Birdie snorted. "I don't know about the other stuff."

"Well how will you know if you don't try?"

"I don't want my relationship with anyone to be a spectacle," Birdie explained. "Some things should be private."

Adan let the girl's words soak into his mind. He watched her fidget around as she looked everywhere around the room but at him.

"Is that really how you feel?" He asked.

"Yes," Birdie nodded.

"So will you have dinner with me....in private?"

"What?" Birdie's gaze snapped up.

"Let me take you out," Adan smiled. "Very lowkey. No one has to know."

Birdie narrowed her eyes as the boy took a step forward towards her.

"We can try out this thing between us privately and then see how you feel," Adan rested his hands on Birdie's hips.

"Just like that?" Birdie arched her brow.

"Were you expecting a fight?"

"A bit."

"We can try and argue about it or...."

A shiver ran down Birdie's spine as Adan pushed his hand into her hair and tilted her head back. She stepped closer to his warmth as he brushed his lips over her before capturing her lips. Adan's chest rumbled as he pulled her closer and playfully bit down on her bottom lip. His mouth was hungry and needy, pulling at Birdie to be closer.

"Vanilla cake?" He asked, his voice husky and his eyes hazy.

"Mhm," Birdie hummed, looping her arms around his neck and pushing up to her toes to kiss him back.

"I want some of your birthday cake."

Birdie could feel the boy grinning as he tasted her mouth. She gently pushed him back and raised her hand to touch her swollen lips.

"What?" Adan said, acting all innocent.

"Please," Birdie rolled her eyes. "You know what you said."

"I'll pick you up tomorrow."

"No," Birdie shook her head. "I'll meet you wherever you're taking me."

"That's so unromantic."

"Good," Birdie laughed. "Now go."

As she turned to leave, Birdie felt Adan grab her elbow and spin her around to face him. Her foot slipped and she collided with his hard body as he lowered his mouth to hers once more.

"Happy birthday, baby," he whispered as he kissed her.

___________________________

"How was your birthday last night?" Ali asked as he fell into steps with Heyder and Birdie at Court.

"It was good," Birdie smiled. "We missed you and Margo."

"And Adan," Heyder sighed and wiggled his eyebrows at his daughter.

"Grow up," Birdie pushed his face away.

"What's all that about?" Ali asked.

"Oh boy," Heyder laughed. "Wait until you hear this. Just wait!"

"Baba!" Birdie gripped the jinn's arm. "Behave yourself. You're at work."

"I'll tell you during lunch," Heyder mouthed to Ali. "Juicy gossip."

As the trio entered the grand hall for the morning summon, Birdie muttered under her breath as she quickly and quietly pulled her veil over her head. Her long silver hair was braided tightly down her back. The side pieces covered her pointy ears and the veil did the rest of the work to cover the striking color.

From the corner of his eyes, Heyder watched his daughter with a frown on his face. He had asked her countless times to not feel the need to cover her hair at Court. But Birdie wouldn't stand the look of shock that washed over the jinns' faces when they ran into her in the halls. It was bad enough they never looked into her silver eyes. At least with the veil, they found some comfort in looking at her from afar.

The audience who had gathered at the hall all bowed in unison and parted down the middle like the Red Sea. Heyder walked on ahead as Ali and Birdie followed behind him. The girl kept her eyes glued to the back of her father's head to avoid making any of the elders uncomfortable. She felt Ali lean in a bit closer and bump her playfully to distract her.

Once Heyder reached the raised platform and turned to look at the jinns, they all straightened back up and stood tall in their beige and gold robes. Some of them donned elaborate turbans with rubies and pears while others took great pride in their thick white beards. Each one was majestic and regal in their own unique style. Yet, standing before their Sultan, they all seemed to be exactly the same.

"Well, go on," Heyder looked at the announcer. "We don't have all day."

"Yes, Sultan," the jinn bowed his head and stepped forward with a scroll. "At yesterday's evening poetry session a topic of concern was brought forth by Lady Hafsa."

Birdie watched her father's shoulder tense. Her own stomach tied into a knot as she watched Heyder give a small nod to the announcer.

"She may come forward," he said.

"Lady Hafsa," the announcer bowed.

A quiet hush fell over the hall as the woman in a lavishly beaded gown stepped forward. Her eyes were drawn tightly with dark kohl, making them appear as sharp as a blade. Her features were pinched as she gazed up at Heyder and bit down on her jaw.

Birdie watched Lady Hafsa clench her fists as Heyder slowly bowed his head. Heyder knew very well how much Hafsa hated him, for he had been the one to kill her father in the very room. To see her father's murder wear his crown in his seat was like poison for Hafsa.

"Thank you for coming to today's assembly, Lady Hafsa," Heyder said.

"The court is my home," Hafsa said, her face cold and her eyes even colder.

"Of course," Heyder nodded. "If there is an-"

"The Tyveer elders would like to know if there is any news on the island," Hafsa cut him off. "You do remember the elders, don't you Heyder?"

Heyder's jaw clenched. Birdie felt her insides twist and her palm sweat as she watched Hafsa's vicious gaze on her father.

"Yes, I remember the elders, Hafsa," Heyder said.

"What news do you have of the island?"

"The island has not resurfaced," Heyder said. "There are still guards present in the area."

"And the seventeen criminals you are hiding?"

"Children," Heyder corrected her. "The children are well. They are under very watchful eyes."

"What do you plan on doing with these criminals?" Hafsa asked. "It's been almost two years. It's about time you decide their fate."

"Their fate is for the gods to decide."

Hafas' mouth twitched slightly as her eyes flickered Birdie and then back to Heyder.

"Forgive me," she said, holding up a hand and shaking her head for a second. "Not seventeen... "

Birdie's heart started hammering against her chest. Her throat dried up as she shifted her gaze to Ali.

"Eighteen, correct?" Hafsa asked. "A total of eighteen feys were removed from the island?"

"My grandson was removed long before the others," Heyder's eyes darkened. "He is not staying with the rest."

"Oh," Hafsa arched her brow. "How is your grandson? I've never seen him at court. I've never seen your son at court."

The energy that came off of Heyder in waves made Birdie's eyes water. The heat from it was like standing in a dry desert, letting the sun bake her skin.

"You're more than welcome to stop by for dinner, Hafsa," Heyder said. "Maya and I would love to host you. You can meet the family and ask my son about his children yourself."

Hafsa's eyes narrowed. She pursed her lips as Heyder held her gaze and challenged her to back down. She wasn't going to win against him and he was not going to let her intimidate him by asking him questions about his family.

The air crackled like a bonfire in the hall as the minute hand on the clocks spun around. Ali held his breath and stood tall as Hafsa gave a cruel disgust smile and bowed to Heyder.

"Thank you, Sultan," she said, her tone dripping with mockery.

______________________

"I want her off the court," Heyder said as soon as the large doors to his office closed behind him.

"We can't do that," Ali said, calmly. "She has ancestral claims over her chambers. Zubair made sure she inherited everything in his will."

"I want eyes on her then," Heyder placed his hands on his table and leaned forward, his nostrils flaring. "At all times."

"Baba, take a deep breath," Birdie tried to offer.

"You don't get it, baby," the jinn shook his head. "She bought up Noor's name. She openly threatened him. She threatened my family."

"Hafsa is all talk," Ali said. "You know she's not going to do anything. The girl just likes attention. She always has."

"I don't need her little show today giving anyone any ideas," Heyder said. "I have enough demons lurking in the shadows waiting for someone to give them ammunition."

"I'll have the guards keep track of who goes to her chambers and gardens," Ali offered.

"Have them also search deliveries in and out of the place."

"Will do," Ali nodded. "Anything else?"

"No," Heyder said.

"Baba..."

Heyder turned his attention to his daughter.

"You don't think they will hurt Noor or Zuri....right?" She asked.

Heyder held up his arm and motioned for Birdie to come forward. He pulled her to his chest and kissed her head, inhaling her familiar scent.

"I can't lie," he said. "This stays between us."

Birdie shivered against her father.

"Hayden doesn't need to worry about any of this right now," Heyder said. "Baba will take care of everything. I promise."

What are you thought on Adan and Birdie and the situation at court?