Jinni's Wish (Kingdom, #4)

She swallowed hard and Jinni got the uncomfortable feeling that she was close to tears. He glanced down; he couldn’t stand the sight of a woman’s tears.

“I had convinced myself long ago that Nala had betrayed me, but the truth of it was, I betrayed myself. I deserved the punishment I received and I am only sorry that it has taken me so long to confess it.”

“In a few days Paz has managed to do with you what I haven’t in decades.” Trilling laughter fell from her lips.

“What is that?”

“Make you care. Give you a heart. Pick your poison.” She shrugged a plump ivory shoulder. Then her features softened. “I was never your enemy, Jinni. I only ever wished to be your friend. To help you as I’ve helped so many others.”

She started to reach out and then checked herself, bringing her fist back to her chest. “I forget sometimes that I cannot touch you anymore. Which is why I sent you that golem.”

He shook his head, rifling his fingers through his thick hair. “It doesn’t look at all like me. If I encase myself in that thing, I can never leave. What if… what if the form is displeasing to her?”

Danika smirked. “We both know that is not the case. I saw into her dreams and created her most perfect form.”

His lips thinned, displeased to hear it put that way.

Danika laughed. “She is a mortal with mortal vision. I’m sure if she could have imagined something as bonny as you, she’d have thought of you first, genie dear.” She winked.

“We barely know one another. To tie myself to her in that way, for all of eternity. What if..”

“Och, me boyo. Must you overthink things always?”

Before Jinni could blink, Danika punched her fist through his midsection, and tugged on the necklaces he’d hidden within himself. Even though the action was so obtrusive, he felt nothing. Not even a tingle of awareness. Then she shook them at him. A knowing smile graced her lips. “I did not even need to see these to know they’d already turned from cold blue, to a fine shade of purple.”

She was right. The stone of veritas-- truth-- a lover’s stone, the means by which two hearts knew unequivocally they’d found their perfect half, glowed purest amethyst with twinkling strings of blue throughout.

“Another day or two, and these things will be glowing brighter than the sun. She loves you too, Jinni. She may not know it yet, but oftentimes the soul knows quicker than the mind when it meets its perfect half.”

“But she is dead. When she returns to the body, it could fade. You have seen it happen. Many cannot remember what occurs in ghostly realm.”

“Then that is a chance you must take. You must trust that what you have now, will transcend death. She is much too close to the other side. Her soul yearns for the peace of beyond, you must return to her if you have any hope of saving yourselves.”

Danika handed him back the necklaces. Focusing his energy on the palm of his hand, he felt the heat flow down into his fingers moments before she dropped the necklaces on them.

“Trust is a terribly hard thing, Jinni. And it never gets better or easier. But, at some point you must decide whether to take that leap, or, don’t … and fade gently away. But whatever you do, do not use any more of your immortal flame. You’ve hardly any left to you.” She lifted a stern brow.

“I must return to her.”

She nodded. “You’ll be just fine, Jinni. Just fine. The golem. Use it.”

Jinni waved his hand, opening a time tunnel and sailed through, joy speeding through his soul quicker than the lights flying passed his vision.

Within moments he was there. Her fresh scent reminded him of a grassy green meadow, and smelling it was like a kick in the stomach.

Her face was pressed to the window, black hair in wild disarray around her head. Then her spine stiffened and she slowly turned. “You came back.”

The beatific smile she turned on him stole his breath. She loved him too. But she didn’t know him, not everything. He had to tell her. Had to finish his story, she had to know everything before she could decide. Though the thought of her rejection was a thorny barb in his side, she deserved the truth.

“I’ve not finished my story, dove.”

The white hospital gown fluttered around her calves as she slowly glided forward. A body in a bed sat between them-- her body. He’d not glanced at it when walking in. Because the real Paz was in front of him. Staring at him with chocolate brown eyes, a question burning in her gaze.

But looking at her body now, he knew Danika was right. Neither of them had much time left. Soon there’d be no tether to hold her here, and when that happened, he’d lose her forever.

“You don’t have to tell me anymore, Jinni. I know all I need to know about you.”

It warmed him to hear her say it. “I have to know, there’s a decision to make, and I must know, Paz. Do you understand?”

For a moment she simply stared at him, thinking thoughts he couldn’t fathom and he worried that perhaps she wouldn’t be willing to listen. Finally she gave him a tight grin. “I understand.”