Page 25 of Jasmine's Enchanted Genie

“Well, Your Highness,” he said. “Very well, in fact.”

“Good, good. Will you ride as well?”

“I thought I could ride with Lady Bains if the dragon will permit such a thing.”

“I’m sure it will.” The king held up his hand, and one of the many staff standing near the dragons hurried over. “Prince Boshun and Lady Bains will ride my steed.”

Our king had his very own dragon?

Whispers rang out behind us, telling me this was a great honor.

Boshun bowed toward the king. “Thank you, Your Highness. That’s quite kind of you.” He held his arm out to me, and I laid my hand on it.

We followed the attendant over to the ruby red dragon that watched us with intent golden eyes. When the staff person got close, it gently nudged the woman’s belly, huffing a bit of smoke from its nostrils.

“Farisa is quite gentle,” the woman said, stroking the beast’s light red cheeks. “She loves to give rides, which is a bonus as well, don’t you think?”

“She’s beautiful,” I said in awe. I looked up at the enormous beast who could crush me with one stomp of her front foot or rip through my chest with a swipe of her forearm-long claws. Her gaze caught mine, and I swore she winked, though she couldn’t understand what I said, could she?

“You’ll ride on her back,” the attendant said. She kissed Farisa’s forehead and lowered her voice. “Will you give these lovely people a gentle ride, my fair one?”

Farisa huffed again, this time shifting over to nudge my belly. I held still, though strangely enough, I wasn’t scared. I should be, but I’d long since learned there were worse things to fear in life than a quick death from a dragon.

Farisa dropped down onto her belly and extended her left forearm.

“You can climb up her leg,” the attendant said.

“Or I can boost you,” Boshun whispered by my ear, the low thrum of his voice trickling across my bones.

At my nod, he held my waist and leaped, landing lightly on Farisa’s back with me in his arms. He settled me in front of him, wrapping his arm around my waist while I grabbed onto one of the dragon’s neck spikes that was stiff but also surprisingly flexible.

“Hold tight,” the attendant said from where she stood next to Farisa’s left shoulder. “She’ll take you over the forest. We don’t travel near the village for obvious reasons.”

“You don’t want the villagers aware that dragons exist,” I said.

“Oh, it’s not that.” The woman’s smile grew sly. “Some time ago, our dragons weren’t quite as friendly. They were known to raze a house or two with their flames.”

15

BOSHUN

The woman tending Farisa walked away as if she hadn’t just told Jasmine dragons used to blast the village with flames.

“They burned down homes?” Jasmine asked, stunned. “Why did I never hear of this?”

“Magic.”

“Of course.” She grunted. “What else has the royal family hidden from us?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t been out of my lamp long enough to find out. I’m not even granted short reprieves where I can leave without being required to grant wishes.”

“I’m sorry.” She traced her fingers along my arm. “It’s upsetting to think they’ve kept this from us, but I’m just as sad for you. Being a genie sounds awful.”

“It isn’t always.” Like now, while I could be with her. But this was the first time I’d ever cared for the person who summoned me. The last time, likely, as well.

It was going to be horrible when I was once again trapped inside the lamp.

Unless I could find a way to escape.

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