Jinni's Wish (Kingdom, #4)

“Jinni,” she said, his name caught on a sob.

Every atom in his body began to rip and tear itself apart. The body he’d held her with was no more, now he was nothing more than spirit again. A throbbing pain built behind his skull. With the last bit of sanity left to him, he whispered, “I am sorry, Paz, but you must live,” and flung her back to the hospital.

She could still walk to the light, the choice was hers, but he hoped she’d make the right one. His final breath shuddered through his body and then he splintered into a million pieces of shimmering light.

Floating through space, nothing more than matter, Jinni couldn’t believe he still had thought. He’d expected the end of that form to be the end of him completely.

But then he realized why. The necklaces he’d trapped within his form now floated along, clasped together, as if holding hands. His love for Paz forever trapped within the stones, the part of him that was good, that could love, would never die. He’d shared that piece of his soul with the rock.

Danika had managed to spare him after all. He could no longer speak, but he felt and thought and knew that if he could, he’d weep for all he’d lost.





Chapter 16





Paz fell hard, landing like a scud missile on the cold hospital floor. Legs splayed, arms flung wide and head throbbing.

She’d lost him. He’d pushed her away, but not before she’d seen him break apart into a million balls of light.

Her heart hurt, her body throbbed. Pushing up, she glanced at herself. She was naked, could still feel the satisfying stretch between her thighs. They’d made love and it’d been glorious.

But as good as that was, this was ten times worse.

Numb, unable to believe he was really gone, it took her a moment to realize there were voices speaking.

No, not voices. A voice.

A sweet lulling voice.

“Hush now there, dearie. My what a tumble you took.”

Her heart clenched. She jerked up and stared into a pair of large blue eyes. A woman, about her height, smiled back at her. Pudgy in all the right places, she reminded Paz of a doting grandmother. Hair slightly gray, and curled becomingly around her cherub-like face. Then Paz caught sight of something else and yelped.

A pair of dragonfly wings that open and closed gracefully.

She stuck her hand over her mouth and the old woman glanced back. “Oh blast, I always forget to take those off around you guys at first.”

Withdrawing a wand, she pointed it at the wings. A pink ripple flowed from the star tip and then the wings disappeared. “There now. Better?”

Paz gave a disbelieving chuckle. “Are you from Jinni’s land?”

“Oh, so he did tell you about Kingdom! Good, good!” The old woman grabbed hold of Paz’s elbow and holy freaking cow, she felt it. Soft and warm and so strong.

Her body shook as she stood to her feet, chin wobbling softly as she bit back the tears. She was so tired of crying. Seems like that was all she did anymore.

“And where is that Jinni, by the way?”

Paz hiccupped, eyes going large as she held her breath and fought the lump in her throat. It took a minute for her to regain her composure, long enough for the old woman to sigh sadly and then nod.

“I see. Jinni faded.”

It was hard to speak about him, about that. Paz glanced at her toes. It was still too fresh and painful, all she wanted to do was forget. Forget and leave this behind forever. The soft whirring beep of the machines keeping her body alive helped drown out her thoughts.

“Well,” the woman shook herself, clearing her throat and then extended her hand, “the name is Danika. Jinni’s fairy godmother.”

“Godmother?” Paz frowned as Danika nearly ripped her hand off with her enthusiastic handshake.

“Aye. Though I’m not surprised to know he didn’t tell you that. Always such a proud, stubborn man.” Her brows rose. “Was he kind to you?”

Paz hugged her middle. It hurt so bad, the emotional pain so much worse than anything physical could ever be. Leaving him, watching him explode… a soft warmth pulsed through her, flooding her body and limbs, then a rush of scent enveloped her. His scent, clover and myrrh. So uniquely him, that for a moment she could swear he was back.

But just as quickly it was gone.

She closed her eyes. “He hated himself. Hated what he’d done. But he was never,” she cleared her throat, “he was never cruel to me. He showed me the stars.”

“Then he truly cared for you. Return to your body, Paz.” Danika hooked her thumb over her shoulder.

Paz didn’t want to look. “He made me promise I’d return.”

Why had she made that promise? She’d forget it all in the light. Forget him, the pain, all of it. The lure was so tempting, so deliciously hard to ignore. In the light there would be peace and no memory of a man she’d barely known, but who’d changed her world forever.

“Paz, he’s not gone.”