Page 49 of The Chosen Two

I chew on the inside of my cheek for a few seconds. My cheeks redden with the embarrassment of my hypocrisy. I can’t look him in the eye when I tell him this. “Jake found my gi and pointed out what a hypocrite I am for keeping secrets myself while being mad at him for the same.”

George doesn’t say anything. He walks away from me, places his cup in the sink, and then pours me another cup of coffee. My mind tells me he’s disappointed in me just like Jake is, even though there is no proof. I feel cold suddenly, though there is nothing to indicate the temperature has changed. Leaving me alone, he disappears into the library and comes back with two dusty books he’s been flipping through and places both in front of me. “This is what I found over the weekend. Shadow people are like ghosts, shadow demons have wings, but you described a big blob and lots of voices. That sounds more like a group of the hikey sprites. What do you think?” He points to a sketch of a thin figure, made entirely of shadow but for its bright green eyes the exact color of grass.

“That sounds about right. But wearetalking about hikey sprites and imps, so what do I even know about anything anymore? And how does this help us?”

George shakes his head. “Okay, let's forget the sprites and concentrate on what they said. Give me the names again.”

I close my eyes and try to remember the feeling of the sun on my skin while I sat on that bench listening. “There was something about the chief, something that sounded…erotic? I just remember Lu and Mel.”

George looks at his note pad. “And Mel doesn’t think that whatever the chief is doing with Jake is helping and wants them to stop?”

“Yeah, something like that. Fuck. I’m so useless!” I push out of my chair and pace again. A primal scream escapes me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see George look down, probably in completely disappointment that his guardian is such a screw-up.

He tries to calmly reassure me. “You’re really not. I promise if this didn’t have to do with your family, you’d be way more on top of the details. I’m sure your emotional involvement is making you doubt yourself.”

“Um, no. My ineptitude is making me doubt myself.” I stop pacing and cross my arms, pouting.

“Yeah, about that…” George switches out the book containing the hikey sprites entry for another volume and puts his finger where he wants me to look. I walk back to the table, bend over the text, and recognize the passage about the Jinn from our first day in the library.

…they can also invade a human body through possession if they feel they have been wronged. Jinn are known to be summoned by sorcerers to possess and afflict their enemies. These afflictions often manifest as epilepsy, apoplexy, and hallucination, as well as many other mental illnesses.

I have to read the words three times to understand what George is getting at. Once it clicks, my eyes widen into floodlights, and I gape at him. “You think my husband is possessed by the Jinn? And you expect me to be okay going back to that house now?”

He stares back for a moment with his head tilted before he responds. “You have to go back because of the kids. But the good news is I found a way to know for sure. I think… Any chance you have access to a wolf?”

I furrow my brow while I contemplate if he’s the one who’s afflicted. But my face relaxes, and I actually smile when a possibility pops into my mind. “Do you think a fox would work?”

Chapter 20

Miranda

WhenJakegetshomeat dinner time, he doesn’t try to initiate sex. He kisses me on the cheek only, with his hand resting gently on my waist and no lower. He tells me dinner smells delicious and asks how my day was. It’s completely different from how he has been behaving lately. I’m not even sure how to respond. I try to be civil back, but I feel like I’m being cold. I am just still so hurt and embarrassed by what he said this morning.

We have dinner as a family, as usual, but for the first time in a long time it feels like we’re all truly present. Everyone remembers their manners and the kids don’t even fight, with each otherorme. Jake remains respectful of my personal space while showing affection by holding my hand and winking at me at opportune moments in the conversation. The whole time my conversation with George is replaying on a loop in my mind. But Jake is back to being Jake. He can’t be possessed by a Jinn.

I’m legitimately scared of how the night will go once the kids are in bed. I don’t know how I will pull off this test, even with the blessing of Minori (I had no idea kitsune could speak or had names).

Once the kids are in bed, I start cleaning the kitchen. Even though my body’s not sore from today’s practice, my brain feels like a slushie, which might be because of Maybe-Jinn-Possessed Jake. As I’m cleaning the counters, I hear Jakes’ footsteps approaching me. I suck in my breath and go rigid, bracing myself for yet another fight. He walks up to the sink, and I eye the towel I left out next to the sink. (The towel I will definitely be throwing out after this evening.) I know his nightly routine.

Come on Jake… wash your hands… you know you want to…

My lungs are starting to burn from the breath that wants to escape when water hisses out of the faucet. Just a few more seconds and I can breathe again. I hope. I feel a trickle of sweat forming on my chest.

The water shuts off, and I hear the familiar schluffing sound of terry cloth on dry hands. I look at my husband over my shoulder and hope he will still be my husband in a moment.

“Ew gross.” He begins by sniffing his hands and then moves to the towel. “Miranda, what the fuck is wrong with this towel?” He isn’t angry or scared. He’s…amused.

I turn fully around to face him, a look of confusion plastered on my face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He laughs. “This towel smells absolutely horrible.” He tilts his head patronizingly and inquires, “Did you leave the laundry in the washer too long again?”

I want to punch him in the face, even though it appears he is not a Jinn. Instead, I mirror his head tilt and retort, “Oh, you know me. I’m sure it’s notthatbad. Let me see.” I take the towel from him and pretend to inhale, already aware of how bad that towel reeks.

Minori was more than willing to empty her glands on it when I asked her the best way to get her scent inside my house. Apparently kitsune really love a good practical joke. Or, at least, my new kitsune friend does.

She didn’t run away when I approached her in my yard earlier. She spoke clearly and calmly. “I have watched your family for longer than you have noticed me, Guardian. I see the changes in your mate. What do you need of me?”

I looked around quickly to make sure no one would see I was conversing with the fox. My voice quaked although I tried to sound as strong as I’m supposed to be. “There is a test I need to do. Jinn are afraid of wolves. I know you’re not a wolf, but I am hoping your scent will elicit the same response from a Jinn?”

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