Page 59 of Dark Witch: Entangled Fates

Jasmine's eyes widened. "Really? How? When? By whom?"

Frankie cast a quick look at the men before leaning forward and whispering, "I'm not supposed to talk about it, but did you wonder where the rescued women came from, and who rescued them?"

A shiver ran down Jasmine's spine. "I thought they were just given passage like I was."

"There is more to it," Frankie said. "It all started with a cursed amulet."

Jasmine laughed. "I knew you were pulling my leg, but I'm always game for a good story."

The doorbell ringing stopped Frankie from telling the rest of it, and as Dagor opened the door, Mia drove in, exchanging quick greetings with the guys before joining the girls.

"I'm so happy you are finally free." She returned Jasmine's hug. "We can now plan a get-together on the Lido deck. Did you bring a swimsuit?"

Margo chuckled. "It's not a suit. I first met Jasmine by a pool, and what she had on was a skimpy bikini that would have made even Amanda blush."

Jasmine pretended to be offended. "That's a huge exaggeration. My bikini is not scandalous at all. It's not my fault that I'm generously endowed."

Margo cast her a fond smile. "I wasn't talking about the front. I was talking about the back. I didn't even know that thong bikinis were a thing until I saw you in one. But I have to say, you look damn good in it."

44

EDGAR

Asurge of possessiveness swept through Edgar as he watched Jasmine laughing with her friends. She was so damn beautiful, and it wasn't only about her physical attributes. Jasmine was vivacious, and it was the first time he had ever used that word to describe a woman because he'd never met one who fit that adjective so well. Her eyes sparkled, her smile was bright, and her laughter wrapped around his shaft as if it were her hand.

He wanted to pull her into his arms, carry her out of Margo's cabin, and lock her in his until the end of the cruise.

The problem was that she would not be on board for that. Ever since they had arrived at Margo's, Jasmine had been distant, her attention divided between him and the others, which usually wouldn't have bothered him, but he had a niggling sense he couldn't quite shake that she wasn't into him as much as he was into her.

He tried to tell himself that it was just the excitement of finally being allowed on the upper decks and getting to spend time with Margo and Frankie, but it seemed like Jasmine was doing her best to avoid his eyes, and her laughter sounded a little too loud, too forced, which led him to believe that she was nervous, but he didn't know why.

Was she intimidated by Dagor and Negal's presence?

That wasn't likely. Jasmine didn't know that they were gods, and she didn't seem like the kind of woman who got nervous around attractive men. On the contrary, that was where Jasmine was in her element.

"So, what changed Kian's mind about letting you up here?" Margo asked.

Jasmine flipped a dark lock of hair behind her shoulder. "He sent a woman named Edna to probe me. She's a hypnotist like Kevin but with a slightly different ability. She can determine people's inner motives and intents. She must have arrived at the conclusion that I was harmless, but she definitely didn't come in thinking that way. She brought a hunky guard with her, a guy named Max, who did his best to intimidate me."

Edgar felt a hot spike of jealousy pierce his gut, and it only got worse when Frankie and Margo started peppering Jasmine with questions about her interactions with the Guardian. Edgar tried to tune them out, but it was difficult to hear Jasmine gushing over Max's impressive muscles and piercing eyes.

The jealousy was irrational. Jasmine sounded like she was describing a movie star, admiring his attributes but not saying anything that would indicate that she was attracted to the guy, and Max had assured him last night that he had absolutely no interest in her.

Edgar had returned to the wedding party to catch the Guardian and have a talk with him about staying away from Jasmine. It also hadn't hurt that Max could smell her on Edgar. He might not be one of Max's buddies, but he knew the guy wouldn't go after a woman he was interested in. It was a matter of honor.

Still, males might claim to adhere to a code of honor only to throw it out the window when an attractive female caught their eye. Shamefully, he had been guilty of doing that once or twice, but then neither he nor his friends had been pursuing females for anything other than a tumble between the sheets.

In fact, that's how he should think about Jasmine instead of getting all worked up about her. He had no right to claim her or feel possessive or territorial about her.

Easier said than done after the incredible, mind-blowing night that had left him aching for more.

He'd thought that it meant something to her and that the connection he'd felt wasn't just in his imagination. But watching her with her friends and seeing the way her eyes kept darting to the door as if she was waiting for someone else to arrive, Edgar felt a sinking sensation in his gut that Jasmine did not consider last night a preamble for more.

She probably saw him as a convenient stepping stone, a way to pass the time until someone better came along. Someone like Max, with his chiseled jaw and rippling muscles and aura of power.

Edgar clenched his fists, fighting back the urge to punch something.

He was just a civilian pilot, a glorified chauffeur in the grand scheme of things, but he was fun to be with, and he had a much better sense of humor than damn Max. Females loved Ed, as evidenced by the endless parade of beautiful women who had graced his bed.

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