26. Must Have Djinn Love

Jennie

My brow creased at his odd request. Once he was human, he could live his life however he wanted. So why was he asking me to reword my wish?

But as I stared into his eyes, I couldn't quite muster up the courage to ask why. We only had moments left together, because once this wish was granted, I knew he'd move on. He'd live his life the way he'd planned, and I'd be nothing more than a memory.

Setting him free meant losing him… which hurt more than anything. But I didn't want to burden him with my heartache.

Jovat deserved to live life his way, on his terms, and with whomever he fell in love with. He should get to do things the way he wished. I would have laughed at my pun, but I was finding it too hard not to cry.

My heart longed to keep him, not as a wish-granting-Djinn, but as mine to love.

Straightening my spine, I shoved aside my selfish desires. I could sacrifice my happiness for his.

"I wish you free, whole, and happy, as a human." I held my breath, but again, nothing happened. "Did it work?"

"I'm… not sure." He didn't seem to know, and my heart spasmed.

It was hard enough doing this knowing I would lose him, but knowing I'd have to repeat it yet again was a special kind of torture.

But before I could speak, three men materialized in my room. A sense of dread welled up in me as he shifted me behind him, as if protecting me.

"Jovat The—"

Jovat cut in, "Jovat The Adorable."

Two of the men ran their hands over their lips, and it took a moment for the first guy to speak again. "Jovat The Adorable, this person has wished you human."

Jovat tilted his head in acknowledgement, while still keeping me behind him.

"Is this acceptable to you?" the one in the middle asked. "Giving up your magic to become a mortal man who will grow old and die on their timeline?"

The Djinn speaking almost reminded me of Santa, with his close-clipped white beard and thick white hair that hung to his shoulders. But he was built like a lumberjack, which really would have confused my whole being if I wasn't already head over heels for Jovat.

Lowering his head, the first Djinn shook his head in seeming disbelief. When he lifted his head to stare directly at me with bright blue eyes, I wanted to duck behind Jovat again. His sharp gaze seemed almost… accusatory, like he believed I'd talked Jovat into this against his better judgment.

The third one hadn't said a word. He merely stood, watching us with russet brown eyes.

"Yes." Jovat's voice held an edge, and I peeked around him again.

Were they about to start a war? Jovat had told me he was young by Djinn standards, but he was incredibly powerful.

If four Djinns started fighting, I doubted it was going to go well for humans. I'd never even thought to add Djinn meeting in my bedroom to my apocalypse bingo. Sheesh, that sounded wrong.

"Then human you become." As the first Djinn said the words, buff Santa stepped forward and Jovat lifted his hands at his sides, staring down at them. Was it working? Could he feel the magic draining from his body?

The three stood, watching and waiting for something.

"Thank you." Jovat bowed to the three before turning to face me.

A bittersweet feeling rose in my chest as his jade green eyes met mine. I wanted him to know how much I liked him—no, how hard I was falling for him. But there was no way I could say the words around the lump in my throat.

He'd truly made my life magical and perfect in the short time I'd known him.

"Can I make one last wish?" I whispered.

Sadness flickered in his eyes as he spoke. "I don't have magic anymore, Jennie."

"I think you can help me with this one."

"Sure, anything for you," he said with a nod of his head.

"Can you make sure I don't die a virgin?"

He lifted an eyebrow at me, a mischievous smile on his lips. "I just said I don't have magic. I can't make you immortal."

I let out a shocked gasp and slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "I wish you knew how much I love you."

I froze.

He froze.

Had I really just said those words?

Jovat swallowed. "I think I can."

"What?" I didn't understand.

"Wish for something else. Something tangible, quick," he said, his words commanding and sharp.

Faced with a mixture of his excitement and my own panic, my mind blanked and I blurted out, "I wish I could Djinn and bear it!"

He stopped, his expression shifting into the disappointed dad look he did so well.

I lifted both hands and shoulders. "I can't help it!"

"If everyone knew that becoming human with magic was an option, our kind might have died out a long time ago." At the unfamiliar voice breaking into our private moment, I jolted in shock.

I'd forgotten about the three Djinn in my room. How embarrassing.

Jovat turned to face buff Santa as if waiting for more of an explanation. But they had nothing further to say and faded away.

"Are they gone this time?" I asked, peeking around him.

He nodded.

"So, you still have magic?" I asked.

He continued nodding, looking down at his hands.

"And how does that make you feel?"

"Happy, because it means I can spoil you the way you deserve." He turned to me once more, taking my face in both his hands and kissing me.

Stunned, I pulled away. "Are you saying you want me?"

He had magic.

He had freedom.

He could do anything he wanted.

"You know you could make a supermodel or movie star fall in love with you. I mean, that chick from—"

Jovat kissed me again.

And again, I pulled back. "You can't silence me with kisses!"

"I don't want to silence you, but I really want to kiss you," he grumbled, kissing me again.

"Besides"—Jovat's lips brushed mine as he spoke—"I'm pretty sure you had another wish for me."

My cheeks blazed red hot, and I regretted bringing it up.

"You can tell me what the perfect first would be for you, or I can decide." He spoke the words in his deep, throaty voice, and my heart began to pound.

I wanted him.

I longed for him more than I'd ever wanted anything or anyone in my life.

Thinking back over the day, and how perfectly amazing dinner over the lake had been, I grinned. Never, in a million years, would I have dreamed up something so romantic, fun, and thrilling.

"I think I'll let you decide," I said, trusting him in that moment with everything I was, everything I wanted, and everything we could be.

As I wound my arms around his neck, I had one more thing to say. Well, one more thing to say before he whisked me away.

I stared into his eyes. "You granted the wish I didn't ask you for, as if you somehow knew what my heart wanted all along."

Flattening my palm to his chest, I felt the steady thump of his heartbeat against my hand. When I looked up into his face again, his jaw flexed as if struggling to find the words he wanted to say.

"And you granted my wish by wanting to spend time with me." His words and the sweet look in his eyes melted me like a chocolate bomb in hot milk.

On an unrelated note, I had a sudden craving for hot cocoa.

"I love you, Jennie," he whispered.

Warmth blossomed in my chest, and I responded. "And I love you, Jovat The Adorable."

THE END