"You can use your next wish," Kieran said, his deep voice gentle. "The magic could heal you completely."
She shook her head slowly, careful not to disturb the oxygen cannula. "No. I've already had such an amazing gift - experiencing real magic, being part of this wonderful hidden world." Her voice came out weak but clear. "I got everything I dreamed of and more."
"But Mandy-" Jacinth protested, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks.
Mandy smiled, remembering a much-beloved movie, seeing the scene play out in her mind's eye. "The journey doesn't end here,she whispered. "I know now… that there is more. That it's not the end. And like Pippin said…that isn't so bad." Despite her exhaustion, a peaceful smile curved her lips as she gazed up at Kieran's stern features.
"And at least I found love," she whispered. "Real love. The kind I always dreamed about but never thought I would ever feel. Even though you didn't return it… you never wanted anything from me… except my happiness. Never demanded or expected... just gave. That's worth more than all the wishes in the world."
In that moment, Kieran felt the weight of his feelings for her shift, coalescing into a fierce clarity that had eluded him until now. It wasn’t just the temporary joy they'd shared; it was an unwavering connection that tugged at the very fabric of his being.
He had always respected her humanity, her resilience, and the way she approached life with awe. But now, as he stared into her feverish eyes, he realized how deeply he had come to cherish her—the laughter they shared, the careful way she navigated their world, and her tenacious spirit that breathed life into the chaos. He knew she had become more than just a friend; she was a bright light in his otherwise somber existence.
Caught between the responsibilities of his realm and the undeniable bond they had formed, Kieran felt the stirrings of something profound—a desire not only to protect her life but to be part of it. He wanted her joy, her laughter, her presence beside him, for every day that lay ahead.
"But I do return it," Kieran's deep voice resonated through her, his words carrying a fierce certainty that made her heart skip. "Fight this, Mandy. Stay with us... with me." His large hand engulfed hers, warm and solid, grounding him against the whirlwind of fear that threatened to consume the moment. As he held her frail hand, he felt her spirit flickering like a candle in the wind, and the rush of panic he had long fought to suppress coursed through him.
"Use the next wish," he urged, his voice deeper, with an urgency that resonated from his core. There was no longer anypretense, no walls to protect himself from the truth that had been building inside him. The thought of losing her, the woman who had so effortlessly slipped into the hidden corners of his heart, made his chest tighten.
As he squeezed her hand, feeling the pulse of her life against his palm, he silently begged her to fight, not just for herself but for the future they could forge together.
Mandy struggled to focus on him, her heavy eyelids drooping as she tried to absorb the raw emotion in his voice. After all these weeks of careful friendship, of convincing herself she was content with what they had, his words felt like a physical force pressing against her fragile spirit. She searched his face through the haze clouding her thoughts, recognizing the deep love and sorrow in his expression, a fierce plea urging her to choose to live.
The monitor beeped steadily as she took several shallow breaths. The elixir had soothed the wracking spasms in her lungs, but fatigue weighed down her entire being, making it hard to think clearly. She was so terribly tired.
“I am still only human,” she managed to whisper, her voice barely escaping her dry throat, each word a monumental effort. “And I’m sixty-seven years old.” She paused, feeling the weight of her reality press down on her. “I was already in the high-risk population. I can’t keep using wishes to stay alive forever, and there are only two wishes left.”
She struggled to keep her eyes open. "I want to go out on my own terms, while I'm still riding this wave of joy and wonder. And besides," a peaceful smile curved her lips, "now I know magic is real—that Djinn and shifters actually exist. Maybe there's something to reincarnation too."
An involuntary chuckle triggered another coughing fit. When it was under control, she managed to croak, "Maybe I'll come back as a cat shifter."
Cats! Mandy's heart clenched as she remembered her babies. Her breath caught in her throat, triggering another coughing fit. Tears welled up in her eyes as panic gripped her chest.
"Bach... Mozart!" she gasped, her voice breaking. "My cats!" The thought of her beloved cats waiting by the door for her to come home, not understanding why she never returned, tore at her heart. They'd already been abandoned once, before she'd adopted them. The idea of them feeling abandoned again... Her monitors beeped faster as her heart rate shot up.
"Oh, sweetie." Jacinth's musical voice cut through her rising panic. The Djinn's warm hand squeezed hers gently. "Did you really think I'd let anything happen to them?"
Mandy blinked through her tears, hope flickering in her chest.
"They'll come home with me," Jacinth told her. "Douglas loves cats, and Ben and Molly have been begging for pets. Plus, I don't know if I ever told you, my daughter Talya is a shifter too… she's a caracal, so she has a special connection with all felines." A gentle smile curved her lips, despite the sadness in the dark eyes. "They'll be absolutely spoiled rotten, I promise."
Relief flooded through Mandy as she pictured her cats in Jacinth's loving household. "You'd do that? Really?"
"Of course I would." Jacinth's voice held absolute certainty. "They're part of your family, which makes them part of our family too."
Fresh tears spilled down Mandy's cheeks, but these were tears of gratitude. "They like to hang out together in their cat tree by the window," she whispered. "And they need to be fed in the morning and at dinner time…"
"I know, honey." Jacinth stroked her hand soothingly, though her own tears flowed freely. "I've seen how you care for them. I promise they'll get the same love and attention from us."
Kieran watched as Mandy's eyes began to drift closed, her breathing becoming more shallow. His blue fire stirred with urgent desperation as Jacinth's quiet sobs filled the sterile hospital room.
No. He would not allow this.
Moving swiftly to Mandy's other side, he grasped her free hand firmly in his. The physical contact made his blue fire surge, sensing how weak her life force had become.
"Mandy." His deep voice carried a note of command that made her eyes flutter open. "Stay with me. You must stay awake."
She blinked slowly, clearly struggling against exhaustion. "Kieran." Her voice was a bare whisper. "So tired..."
