Page 58 of Djinn in Love

Putting her hands on her hips, Veronica stared the other woman down. She hated confrontation, but it was clear that Jasmine’s machinations weren’t going to end until it happened. If that was what the younger woman wanted, that was what she would get.

“You need to grow up,” Veronica said.

“Excuse me?” Jasmine said, the picture of affront.

“Your jealousy and bitterness aren’t hurting anyone but you.”

“That wasn’t what you were saying when you walked into the kitchen and saw Jasper kissing me.”

Before Veronica could reply, Jasper interrupted. “No. She walked in and saw you crawling all over me. The only time I touched you was to push you away, but you came right back at me before I could even tell you no.”

The temperature in the room ratcheted up a few notches and Jasmine’s confident demeanor took a hit.

“You should tell her the truth, Jasper,” she said, trying to salvage the drama she seemed intent on having. “You should tellher that you’ve been seeing me behind her back every chance you get.”

This time it was Veronica who scoffed. Jasmine glared at her, her eyes narrow and her fists clenched. “Denial isn’t a good look, halfling.”

Jasper’s body went rigid at the slur that Jasmine threw at Veronica, but she didn’t give him a chance to intervene.

“It would be difficult for you two to be carrying on behind my back considering we’ve spent every night together since we returned from the wedding.”

“You’re not with him at his office,” Jasmine shot back, once again smug.

“No, but his mother is, and she’s been calling and texting me off and on all week. I doubt very much she would be doing that if you were holing up in Jasper’s office with him for a nooner.”

Jasmine blinked at her, but Veronica saw Jasper’s lip twitch.

“You also don’t realize that I’m an empath, Jasmine. I can feel everything you’re feeling. Mostly because you don’t even bother trying to shield yourself. Your thoughts are so loud that I can hear some of them. I know you’re lying. It’s leaking off you with every breath you take.” Veronica paused to take a calming breath. “And I can feel Jasper’s emotions. He wasn’t happy with you at the wedding, but now? He’s repulsed by you. I can feel it. Even if you succeeded in separating us, he would still loathe you for what you’ve done today.”

Jasmine whirled toward Jasper. “Is that true?” she asked.

“It is. What you did today is cruel and cold. Even if I didn’t have Veronica any longer, I wouldn’t want anything to do with you.”

Those words finally seemed to pierce the thick hide of denial that Jasmine had wrapped around herself.

“What a horrible thing to say,” she whispered.

Jasper released a harsh bark of laughter. “A horrible thing to say? You came into my home and forced yourself on me because you’re jealous and spoiled. You want your way no matter the cost or the pain it causes anyone else. Yet I’m the horrible one?”

Jasmine’s face paled and then hardened. Veronica knew before the woman spoke that she was going to make it even worse.

“I wish you would break things off with her and never see her again,” Jasmine said.

Veronica couldn’t believe that she had the gall to try and use Jasper’s magic against him, knowing it would push him to grant her wish.

An evil gleam entered Jasmine’s eyes as magic swelled around them. The kitchen heated up even more, as though the room itself were in a large oven. Veronica watched in awe as Jasper seemed to grow in height and breadth, his skin taking on a darker red hue and his black hair and eyes shifting and shimmering with the ghostly trace of fire.

“You dare?” he asked, his voice deep and resonant, filled to the brim with magic and anger. “You dare try to use my own magic against me?”

Veronica knew from their conversation a couple of weeks ago that Jasper’s magic would encourage him to fulfill the wish, but that he would ultimately get to choose whether he did. She assumed Jasmine was a powerful djinn based on the tension running through Jasper’s body. The scent of wood smoke entered the kitchen, and a small flame raced along the edge of the countertop behind Jasper.

After a few tense moments, he released a long breath, and his body seemed to relax. His skin returned to the normal olive tone, and his body no longer seemed as large. The fire behind him snuffed out with a puff of smoke, leaving a small scorch mark on the countertop.

“You are no longer welcome in my home, Jasmine. Ever. And I will be speaking to my mother about what you tried to do here today so she understands when I refuse to ever be in your presence again. If I see you on the street, you will be a stranger to me. If you call me or speak to me, I won’t hear your voice. You no longer exist in my world.”

“I’m your sister-in-law!” she cried, gesturing wildly. “You’re going to have to see me sometimes.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do, and I no longer want to deal with you.” He went in for the kill after that. “And my mother will not be happy when she hears about what happened here tonight.”

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