Jacinth rose from her chair in a graceful swirl of silk. "And that's my cue to leave. Breakfast at home will be over by now, and Benny has soccer practice this morning." She bent to give Mandy a quick hug. "Welcome to the family, sister."
The warmth in Jacinth's voice made Mandy's throat tight with unexpected emotion. Before she could respond, Jacinth vanished in a shimmer of blue flames, leaving behind only a trace of jasmine scent.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Mandy staredat the empty space where Jacinth had been, still processing the casual display of magic - magic that somehow, unbelievably, she herself would be able to do as well. She turned back to her cooling tea, wrapping her fingers around the delicate porcelain as she tried to ground herself in its familiar warmth.
Suddenly left alone with Kieran again, Mandy found herself, hyperaware of his presence. The comfortable atmosphere from breakfast evaporated, replaced by a crackling tension that made her pulse quicken.
The air between them felt charged, like the moment before a desert storm. Every small movement, every shared glance seemed weighted with meaning. Her pulse quickened whenever their eyes met. It was hard to focus on anything else when his presence filled the space so completely, when the memory of how perfectly she'd fit against him was still so fresh in her mind.
The memory of his kiss flooded back - the way he'd pulled her against him, the passion in his touch, how perfectly she'd fit in his arms. Heat bloomed in her cheeks. She stole a glance at him through her lashes, finding his silver-blue eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her breath catch.
What did you say to a Djinn prince after he'd kissed you senseless? After he'd saved your life by transforming you into an immortal being? 'Thank you' seemed wildly inadequate, and 'so about that kiss' felt impossibly forward.
The silence stretched between them, charged with awareness. Mandy took another sip of tea, mainly to have something to do besides meet his gaze. The spices danced across her tongue, but she barely tasted them, too conscious of his presence across the table.
She stole another glance at him through her lashes. The morning light caught his long hair, making the shining strands gleam against the deep blue of his robes, and mingling with the silver embroidery. His usual austere expression had gentled, making him even more devastating to look at.
Her heart skipped, then resumed its wild rhythm. She took another sip of cooling tea, trying to calm her racing pulse. He'd kissed her… out of nowhere, he had suddenly kissed her, and what a kiss that had been! She still felt it right down to her toes. But… what did it mean? Should she say something about it?
The brush of his fingers against her arm made her jump slightly. Her eyes flew to his face, catching a flash of heat in his usually cool gaze..
Kieran's lips curved faintly, and amusement gleamed in his eyes. "Are you ready for your first lesson?"
Embarrassment forgotten, Mandy nodded eagerly. Her heart quickened with anticipation rather than nerves this time. After seeing the blue flame dance in her palm, she couldn't wait to learn more about her newfound abilities.
He gestured to her teacup, still full but rapidly cooling. "Think about your perfect cup of tea - the steam rising, the warmth, the ideal temperature for the flavors to bloom. Then simply... push that imagery into the teacup."
Push that into the teacup? She frowned slightly, uncertain how to accomplish that part. Did she need to touch it? Wave her hand? Say magic words?
Kieran's deep chuckle startled Mandy from her intense concentration. She turned her head towards him, to find him watching her with barely concealed amusement.
"Remember your blue flame," he said, moving to stand behind her chair. His presence enveloped her, bringing with it the scent of desert winds and ancient magic. "That same connection exists for all magic."
She forced herself to breathe normally, though his proximity made it difficult. His deep voice so close to her ear sent shivers down her spine that had nothing to do with magic. Her magic stirred restlessly, reaching for his like iron to a lodestone. His hand settled on the back of her chair, and she could have sworn she felt the heat of it through the wood.
Focus. She needed to focus. Mandy thought back to the tiny flame that had danced in her palm. She hadn't actually done anything specific to call it - it had simply appeared when she focused on it, responding to her desire to see it manifest.
Taking a deep breath, she put the glass of tea down on the table, and cupped her hands around it before closing her eyes again. Instead of overthinking the process, she simply pictured her tea at the perfect temperature, steam rising in delicate spirals. She imagined that warmth, willing it into reality just as she had with the flame.
A sudden wave of heat against her fingers made her squeal in surprise. Her eyes flew open to find tendrils of steam rising from her teacup, the liquid inside radiating warmth through the delicate porcelain.
Mandy stared at the steaming teacup, her mouth falling open in delighted shock. The tendrils of vapor curled upward in perfect spirals, exactly as she had imagined.
"Oh my god, I did it!" She clapped her hands together, bouncing slightly in her chair with pure joy. The achievement might seem small - just heating a cup of tea - but she had done it with magic. Real, actual magic.
As she successfully manipulated the magic, something flickered in those ancient eyes - a flash of pride mingled with something deeper that made her breath catch. The usual cool reserve in his expression had softened into something warmer, more intimate. His subtle smile transformed his stern features, and she found herself wondering if he had any idea how devastating that small change in expression could be. Their eyes met and held, the moment stretching between them like honey dripping from a spoon, sweet and heavy with possibility.
The silence hung between them, filled with an unspoken understanding that shifted the air. It was as if the world outside had faded, leaving only the two of them in this intimate exchange.
"You can adjust it further," he said finally, his deep voice carrying a hint of approval that made her cheeks warm. "Make it stronger or weaker, sweeter or less sweet. Simply imagine the taste you desire."
"Really?" Intrigued, Mandy picked up the cup, inhaling the exotic aroma.
"Indeed." His deep voice carried a rougher edge than usual as he watched her delight in her first magical success. He cleared his throat before speaking again, as if trying to regain his typical austere demeanor. "This is one of the first lessons Djinn children learn to control their magic."
