A Genie's Love (The Djinn Series) Read Online Free Page A

to be the older sibling. I’ve gotta admit, I’m looking forward to some juicy stories on Tig. Crap, I’m blabbering. I mean, shoot, did you want to come inside for a drink or—”
    “No!”
    “Right.”
    Her smile dipped and he could punch himself in the face for causing it. “Not that I don’t want to come in, but I didn’t eat much today and I’m starving. Why don’t you tell me about this place we’re going on the way?”
    It got her in the car and talking.
    A lot.
    Unlike her sister, apparently Cassia didn’t need to breathe. She pointed out every house, every corner and every pothole in the road. It ought to have put him to sleep, but her voice tingled on every word, like a bird in the distance. Perhaps she was a bard, one of those rare witches who could sing words into the magic.
    Then she started humming along to an outdoor street band and he knew that couldn’t be the case.  The sound progressed into outright caterwauling, even after they left the intersection.
    “Are you smiling at my singing?”
    “No.  Well, the key isn’t exactly...that is...you’re kind of terrible.”
    “So? Don’t you like music? I do,” she said, not giving him time to answer. “I shouldn’t sing, but I always sing.”
    “You’re not the least bit embarrassed, are you?”
    Cassia scrunched her nose and shook her head. “I wake up each day and do the exact same thing. That’s cool, though. I like order. But, music is my release. When I’m working out or relaxing, music unwinds me. You could use a little of that, Mister Man.”
    “That’s why you’re here.”
    “I see.” She clicked her tongue and leaned back against the headrest. It got real hard to choose between the two things his eyes should focus on, her or on the road. Cassia caught him smiling once or twice, but he could claim the same. For the first time in ages, he felt young again. Damn this amazing woman.
    And her neckline too.  The space between her breasts cushioned a single teardrop sapphire. Lucky gem.
    “Watch out!”
    “ Oh, khara !” An old-fashioned baby pram wobbled in the road, forcing him to swerve off the pavement. When they jumped out of the car to investigate, the baby carriage was gone. “Did I hit it?”
    “No. I didn’t think so.”
    “Then where is it and why is the street empty?”
    “Good question. This place should be packed. It was five seconds ago.”
    “Magic.” They said it at the same time and drew closer to one another near the trunk of the car. “Something feels off but I haven’t been here long enough to be a good judge of it. This is your town. Tell me, does anything seem strange to you?”
    “It’s weird.  I mean, I get that we’re not in the heart of the city yet, no one else is on the highway. But I can’t think of anything else in particular. Unless...”
    “What?”
    She shifted her weight to the other foot and folded her arms. The muscles twitched as she spoke and she couldn’t stop looking over her shoulder. “See my wrist? I fell today. I’ve fallen a lot since meeting you. That’s not a come on, by the way. I just mean that all day, I’ve been tripping and sliding and...well...that’s stupid, right?”
    “No. We should go,” he said, but he left it at that, feeling no pressing desire to remind her that he’d fainted. One event didn’t necessarily tie to the other.
    She nibbled at her lip again. He couldn’t stand not to comfort her and brought her hand to his lips. “Nothing’s going to happen. So there’s magic around – who cares? Hmm? It’s Galveston. Chances are, there’s some new magic worker with a book from the internet trying something out. Besides, if there were ever two people who could take care of themselves, it’s us.  A djinn and a natural born? A post born witch doesn’t have a chance.”
    “I feel like we’re about to have a moment and I don’t want to ruin it.”
    “But?”
    “Do that again.” She held her hand up to his mouth, not speaking until his