meerkat. “So at least tell me what life in the lamp is like? I bet it’s an exciting place.”
“By Beza’s Beard, you don’t give up, do you?” Dae thwacked his hand.
Ben chuckled. “I like your weird expressions. They’re cool.”
The genie rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll tell you a little.” He took a deep breath. “Calado’r is a beautiful place. It’s a bit like—” His face squinched up in an adorable frown. “I suppose like your world’s version of the film Aladdin. You almost got it right. Not quite, though.” He waved a hand. “We have the sea, beautiful mountains, deserts and forests, and cities of all kinds. There are all kinds of people in Calado’r.”
“Were you born there?” Ben leaned in, fascinated. He was enjoying the scent of Daeliel, a sandalwood and spice fragrance alluring to the senses.
Dae’s face darkened. “No. I am not a true Calodo’rean.” He hesitated. “I’m from the Fae kingdom of Quimaria. I am Faerie born.”
Ben gaped. “Shouldn’t you have wings?” He regretted the words the minute they left his mouth.
Dae’s face shuttered closed, and he stood up swiftly. “Not all Fae have wings. I think that’s enough. I have things to do. Have you thought of a wish yet?”
The abrupt turnaround in conversation left Ben a little out of sorts. “I’ve thought about it, but not yet decided on making one.”
“Make one. Then make another one. It’s the only way I can go back.” Dae turned and swept out of the room.
Huh. That didn’t go as well as I’d planned.
If Ben was trapped in this strange relationship, the least he wanted was for both of them to bond, if only a little. He sighed and slumped down on the couch.
Perhaps he could find a documentary somewhere on Djinns and get to know Dae a little better that way.
Chapter 6
“That’s it, Sammy,” Ben cajoled as he swam through the seal pool with his arm around a small baby seal. “You can do it, look at you, you’re nearly swimming on your own.”
It was late evening, the zoo was closed, and Sammy was having his swimming lesson. The young South American fur pup had lost his mother at birth. Because the pup had no mother to teach him how to swim, Ben had been nominated.
It was no hardship. Ben loved being in the water, and diving was a regular part of his job. Sometimes it was for fun, playing with the penguins and seals, and other times it was for a more serious reason, like today.
He laughed as Sammy grew bolder and swam away on his own to fetch a bobbing ball floating on the surface. The seal nudged it with his nose and pushed it towards Ben.
“You want me to throw it?” Ben asked as he plucked it from the water and tossed it gently, careful not to throw too high. “Here you go. We’re nearly done here. Then it’s time for your dinner.” Being only eight weeks old with no mother, Sammy had been reared on fish milkshakes. They were as gross as they sounded, but the baby seal loved them.
An hour later, out of his wet suit, freshly showered and ready to go home, all his animals fed and content, Ben popped into the staff room to say his good-byes. Hemingway was there, along with the general manager, Hazel Reyes, a comely Puerto Rican woman who ran the zoo with an iron fist encased in a velvet glove. Most of her team would do anything for a smile from the bubbly dark-haired woman. A compliment from Hazel was a sought-after commodity.
“Ben, my friend.” Hemingway waved a cup at him from where he sat on the kitchen counter. “Fancy a drink before you go? I have made a fresh pot of coffee.”
“Sure, thanks.” Ben smiled at them. A warm drink would heat him up before the cycle ride home. His friend picked up a cup from the draining board and poured a rich-smelling brew into the cup. Ben walked over and took it from him. “Thanks. It’s been a long day, and this is welcome.” He took a sip and eyed out Hazel. “Hey, boss, I heard a rumour we got a rather large donation today from some huge construction company? Is that true?”
Hazel nodded, her dark eyes sparkling. “We did. I was at a networking event last week and managed to convince them to open their chequebook.” She grinned. “The owner of the company has a son who works in the Arctic with snowbirds