Free The Charmer by Autumn Dawn Page A

warned you,” Jayems told her,
contrite. “Haunts are notoriously difficult to inebriate. Our
liquors are made strong to compensate. I did not remember at first
that you might become ill.”
    Jasmine stirred herself enough to glower at
Wiley. “Scruffy alien. Should have known all these years that you
were cheating.”
    Wiley chuckled.
    Slitting her eyes, Jasmine peered at Keilor,
who was dressed casually in loose trousers and a dark green, long
sleeved shirt. His hair was loose today, and he looked better than
she could bear to look at so early into a hangover. “What’s the
occasion? Are all your uniforms in the wash?” she asked nastily and
then winced when her head throbbed in rebuke.
    He raised a brow. “Our family is arriving
today, and I’ve taken the day off.” He nodded at Wiley. “Her
mother, Lady Rhapsody, will be here in time for dinner.”
    Wiley blanched.
    Jasmine jerked upright and hissed and at the
crushing pain. She grabbed her head. White lights flashed behind
her eyes and she grit her teeth, panting. Someone picked her up and
carried her to the couch. Something sweet and cloying was waved
under her nose, and then she was out.
    “She’s better off asleep until the medicine
kicks in,” Keilor explained in a business-like manner as he capped
the vial of dream flower oil.
    Rihlia was still pale, and Jayems touched her
shoulder in concern. She knocked his hand away and turned her back
on him. “I don’t want to see her.”
    “Rihlia—“ Jayems began, concerned. He hadn’t
seen her this upset since before Jasmine arrived.
    ”My name is Wiley ,” she snapped
viciously, “And I won’t see her!” Her eyes took on a dangerous
golden glint.
    Undaunted, Jayems tried again. “She’s your
mother,” he said, his body tense. “She’s waited almost twenty years
for the chance—”
    Wiley’s answering response raised the hair on
the back of his neck. No one should say such things about their
mother. Shocked momentarily dumb, Jayems watched her storm off and
winced when she slammed the door to her room. There was a moment of
silence.
    Keilor touched his shoulder. “She didn’t mean
it, surely,” he said quietly.
    “How can I keep Lady Rhapsody from her own
daughter?” Jayems asked in agony. “She’s done nothing to deserve
this.” He began to pace. “She’s coming here tonight, thinking she’s
about to meet her beloved daughter, not confront a waking
nightmare. This will kill her, Keilor.”
    Keilor said nothing. Jayems spoke the truth.
Better that her daughter had never been found than to be returned
to her full of misplaced hatred. Worse, who could understand such
loathing?
    His gaze fell on Jasmine, and his eyes
flared. “Our little gem,” he breathed, and grabbed Jayems. “What do
you see?” he demanded, pointing to the unsuspecting girl.
    Jayems frowned. “A menace, usually.”
    “A girl,” Keilor paused significantly, “who
knows Rihlia better than anyone alive. A confidant, a beloved
friend. Someone with untold influence over your wife. And if need
be, a bargaining chip.”
    Jayems studied the girl. A slow, determined
smile lifted his mouth. “Perhaps the girl might be of some use
after all.”
     
    Jasmine felt a great deal better when she
woke up. Sure, her mouth felt like dryer lint and her head was
fuzzy, but nothing hurt. She opened her eyes, feeling almost
optimistic, and turned her head.
    Jayems and Keilor were staring at her.
    “What?” she asked defensively. She scooted up
into an upright position. Keilor handed her a glass of cool water,
and she gulped it down gratefully.
    “Why does Rihlia hate her mother?” Jayems
asked without warning, staring at her intently.
    Caught off guard, she said the first thing
that came to mind. “Wouldn’t you be mad at someone who dumped you
in the woods and never came back?”
    “That is not what happened!” Jayems snapped,
making her jump.
    Keilor touched his arm, but he didn’t look
any happier. “We’ve told her