Page 16 of Jasmine's Enchanted Genie

“No, I feel fine. I was just . . . curious.”

He frowned. “I see. No, she isn’t, though we expect her back in time for the festivities tomorrow night.”

Boshun had seen that. Did that mean I could trust him with the rest?

“Thank you.” With that, I shut the door and turned back to the genie. “I believe you,” I told him. It was all I could do not to squeal with joy. My sister’s cure was closer than ever before. I rushed over and hugged him. “Thank you. Thank you!”

His arms twitched at his sides before they went around me. I’d never experienced anything as wonderful as this man holding me.

If I wasn’t careful, I was going to start falling in love.

That thought sobered me. I stepped out of his embrace, focusing on the floor so he wouldn’t read the longing in my eyes. “Perfect. I believe you’re a true genie. You don’t need to do anything else for me. I can wait until nine tomorrow evening to speak with Geradine.”

“Very well.” He bowed again. “I’ll return to the lamp and await your first wish. When you need me, just call my name and rub the side of the lamp.”

“Wait.” I latched onto his forearm before he could turn to steam. Fog. Whatever form he took so he could squish back into the lamp. “You don’t have to leave, do you?”

He frowned at my hand, a tic blooming in his left temple. “What would you have me do instead?”

“What would you like to do?”

He sucked in a breath and released it, shaking his head. “My wishes are not important here.”

“What would you like to do instead of returning to your lamp?” I asked again.

“Is it your wish to know the answer to your question?”

“If I must use a wish to please you, then yes.”

He held up his finger, and it glowed like last night. “Don’t form it into a wish.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “Do you know what I’d like to do?”

I couldn’t imagine. I knew what I’d like, but his thoughts were equally important. “Tell me.”

His gaze met mine. “I’d like to spend time with you.”

9

BOSHUN

Now I’d done it. I’d revealed my innermost desire. She’d tell me to return to the lamp, that she’d call if and when she figured out how to use her wishes.

Footsteps echoed in the hall outside her room.

She frowned. “I think that would be—”

Someone knocked on the door. “Miss? Miss!”

Jasmine gasped, her gaze shooting from the door to me. “Hide.”

“Hide?” I peered down at my body. I was much too big to hide.

“Under the bed. In the bathroom. Somewhere!” She took my arm and dragged me over to the bed. “Get under. Now. Viscar shouldn’t see you here.”

“Viscar?”

“The butler. He was assigned to help me, and I can’t imagine what he’d think if he found you here.”

“We know what he’d think.”

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