31. Jasmine

Ipracticed the spell for the rest of the day, and we only emerged from the room to get something to eat before returning.

Viscar lurked in the hall when we left. "There you are. I need to clean your room."

"You're dismissed for the day." I squeezed Boshun's hand. "We don't need your services."

"But the grand ball is tonight," he said. "Surely, you need me to press the dress you'll wear, to prepare your bath."

"I can do that for myself."

He huffed. "I realize you're a simple village woman, but—"

Boshun cleared his throat. "Lady Bains is much more than a simple village woman."

"I do apologize, my lady." He bowed, his gaze darting to our door. "Please allow me to assist you. It's my job here. I could get into trouble if I don't at least tidy your room."

"All right. But don't stay long. We're going to eat quickly and return."

With a nod, he opened the door and went inside.

"He can't steal the lamp, and that's the only thing of value inside," I whispered as we took the stairs to the lowest level.

"There's something odd about him." Boshun's gaze shot in the direction of my room. "I don't trust him."

"I don't either, but we won't be gone for very long."

We ate and went back to my room, finding it fully cleaned, a steaming bath waiting, and all my dresses pressed and ready to be worn. Viscar was gone, and the lamp in book form was where we'd left it.

I got back to work trying to learn the spell that involved a mirror and me casting magic that would make the spell bounce back on Cardia. We didn't talk about how we'd lure her to a place where I could trap her. With time ticking away to when I had to ask my final wish, it was more important that I make sure I could do it than anything else.

Finally, after what had to be my one hundredth unsuccessful attempt to build the power needed for the spell, we collapsed on the bed side by side.

I rose onto my elbow, looking down at his handsome face. "We should be spending our time together, not trying to force something that'll probably take me twenty years to learn."

"You're new to magic." He tugged me into his arms. "You're trying very hard."

Tears stung in my eyes. "Because I don't want to lose you." I was sobbing, but it didn't matter. I'd fallen in love with him and soon he'd return to the lamp where he'd be forced to live in a gilded cage forever. I'd never see him again.

"You're everything to me." He rolled me onto my back and kissed me.

I clung to him, taking the comfort he offered while doing all I could to give it back to him tenfold.

He gently removed my clothing, then tossed aside his own.

And after he'd made love to me, he held me while I cried.