Page 52 of Jasmine's Enchanted Genie

“There you are, Lady Bains.” Viscar strode our way. “I was just coming to see if you needed to be escorted to the final ball.”

“Prince Boshun will take me,” she said softly, her voice creaking with pain.

Viscar’s gaze dropped to the bag. “If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.” For a moment, it was like a mask dropped away from his face, revealing someone completely different beneath. With a sigh, he pivoted on his heel and strode away.

We started down the hall, planning to take the back stairs and exit in the rear of the building, then use the moonlight to guide us through the maze to where we’d wait.

I held her hand. She was the light in my darkness and the warmth that kept my soul from freezing over. I was going to miss her forever.

We finally reached the center of the maze, and I hid according to the plan. Jasmine placed the lamp on a bench where it glowed in the moonlight. The mirror stood beside it, masked by a simple spell Jasmine had crafted earlier.

She sat on a bench to wait, though it didn’t take long for Cardia to appear.

A pop, and the evil witch strode out of the maze and across the open area, her gaze locked on the book.

“Where’s the lamp?”

“Boshun cast a spell to turn it into a book.” Jasmine waved her hand toward it.

Cardia frowned at it for a long time before nodding slowly. “Yes, I see now.” She strode back to stand near Jasmine. “What did you ask for?”

One step more, and she’d be right where we needed her.

“With my wishes?” I could hear the quake in Jasmine’s voice, though I doubted Cardia could tell. Or, if she could, she’d assume Jasmine feared her.

“Don’t be stupid,” Cardia snarled. “Of course with your wishes.”

“For my first, I asked for everyone in the village to have enough food and a safe place to sleep at night on an ongoing basis.”

Cardia shook her head. “Silly girl. What a waste of a wish. Though I’m not shocked. You always were a silly thing.”

Jasmine’s lips might tremble, but her gaze remained sharp. “It was a good use of a wish. Many will live when they otherwise wouldn’t.”

“And your second?” Cardia barked.

“I asked for the powers of a witch.”

Cardia sucked in a breath. “Now that’s being clever, my girl. It’s mostly a wasted wish, however, because you’ll never be able to figure out how to use the power you’ve been granted.”

Jasmine shrugged. “I can work on it.”

“For a lifetime.” Cardia’s gaze traveled to the lamp. “And your third wish?”

“I wished for the palace healer to help my sister.”

“Another waste.”

“My sister’s worth a thousand wishes.” Jasmine formed fists at her sides.

“It doesn’t matter, I suppose.” Cardia magicked a canvas bag into her hands. She opened the top and held it out toward Jasmine. “Place the lamp in here.”

“Pick it up yourself.” With a sweep of her hand, Jasmine stepped away from the lamp, leaving Cardia a clear path to approach it and end up directly in front of the hidden mirror. “I’m done with it.” When Cardia stepped forward, Jasmine held up her arm, blocking the witch’s path.

“One thing,” Jasmine said.

Pausing, Cardia cocked her head Jasmine’s way.

“Why do you want the lamp so much that you’re willing to steal it?”

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