Page 32

Jacinth paced in her living room, her long black hair swaying with each step. The problem of the investigative reporter gnawed at her, demanding a solution.

"Everything alright?" Douglas's voice startled her from her reverie.

She turned to face her husband, his blue eyes filled with concern. "It's that reporter sniffing around Harper," she said with a troubled frown. "He can't get to her, I've seen to that, but I need to figure out how to stop him from publishing anything about her, once he gives up on trying for an interview."

Douglas nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "What are you thinking?"

Jacinth thought a minute, tucking her tongue into her cheek, her brow furrowed. "My mother might have some ideas. You think I should call her?"

At Douglas's encouraging nod, Jacinth closed her eyes and reached out with her mind, focusing her thoughts. A faint crackle of energy seemed to hum around her as she sought the mental connection. "Mother? I need your advice," she said, her voice tinged with a note of urgency. Jacinth waited with bated breath, hoping her mother would answer the call.

A shimmer of golden light filled the room, illuminating the space with an otherworldly glow. Zahra materialized before them, her long, dark red hair cascading in rippling waves to her waist. Her emerald eyes twinkled with a hint of concern as she gazed at her daughter.

"What troubles you, dear one?" Zahra asked, her face softening with affection as she embraced her daughter. Her mother's arms enveloped her in warmth, carrying the familiar scent of jasmine and desert winds. The comfort of her presence soothed Jacinth, although anxiety still coiled in her stomach.

Jacinth quickly explained the situation with Harper and the reporter.

"I've put a look-away spell on Harper and her apartment, and Nathan's home as well," she continued, her mahogany eyes dark with worry, "but I'm worried about the information he's already gathered. This reporter seems particularly determined, and Jake says he's still been seen sniffing around the neighborhood outside the bank and around Harper's apartment building. Although, we've kept that from Harper. But I'm pretty sure if he can't get hold of Harper in person, eventually he's going to simply publish whatever he has."

Zahra listened intently, a small smile playing on her lips. When Jacinth finished, she raised an elegant eyebrow. "The solution seems obvious, doesn't it?"

Jacinth blinked, confused. "It does?"

"Of course," Zahra said, her voice warm with amusement. "Put a reverse look-away spell on the reporter himself. Make him forget he's chasing this story at all."

Jacinth's eyes widened, excitement bubbling up inside her. "Of course! Why didn't I think of that?" She laughed, relief washing over her. "It's so simple, yet so effective."

Zahra's smile widened, pride evident in her gaze. "Sometimes the simplest solutions elude us when we're too close to the problem."

Jacinth nodded, her mind racing with the beginnings of a plan. "I'll track down the reporter tomorrow and cast the spell." She turned to Zahra, a grateful smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Mother. You're brilliant as always."

Zahra returned Jacinth's smile, the warmth in her emerald eyes reassuring. "I'm glad I could be of assistance, my dearest." She reached out and gave Jacinth's hand a gentle squeeze. "Now go, and may your plan unfold smoothly."

As Zahra's figure flickered and disappeared, Jacinth felt a surge of relief and excitement, and her jaw set in resolve. She grinned at Douglas, her mahogany eyes gleaming with determination and a touch of playfulness.

Douglas nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Go ahead. I'll start dinner." He moved towards the kitchen, his footsteps fading as Jacinth settled onto their leather sofa.

Jacinth pulled up Jake's number, drumming her fingers as she waited for him to pick up. The rhythmic tapping echoed her racing thoughts.

"Hey, Jacinth," Jake's deep voice rumbled through the speaker. "What's up?"

"Jake, Mother had an idea to handle our journalist dilemma," Jacinth announced, her tone overflowing with enthusiasm. "You know I set a look-away spell on Harper? I'm going to set a reverse look-away spell on the reporter. He'll forget about Harper, and lose all interest in pursuing the article; in fact, he won't be able to figure out why he's been chasing her. At least," she added with devastating honesty, "that's the hope."

Jake's eyebrows rose, a hint of amusement coloring his reply. "I like that. Harper's been quiet on the subject, but I know her. No way is she not fretting that he may still reveal her identity."

Jacinth nodded vigorously, belatedly aware that Jake couldn't see her through the phone. "Exactly. But here's the thing - this kind of spell is very personal. I need to be actually touching the reporter to cast it." She bit her lip, considering the logistics of her plan.

Jake chuckled, the sound warm and rich. "So, what? You're going to walk up and tap him on the shoulder?"

"Something like that," Jacinth replied, grinning. Her mind raced with possibilities. "I was hoping you could help me out. If he shows up at the bank, could you let me know? I need to get close enough to place the spell on him."

"Oh, this is going to be fun," Jake said, his voice filled with mirth. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out for him. If he shows up, you'll be the first to know." The eagerness in his voice matched Jacinth's own excitement.

"Thanks, Jake," Jacinth said, relief evident in her voice. "I appreciate it."

"No problem," Jake replied, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "I can't wait to see how this plays out. It's not every day I get to be part of a magical caper." He paused, a grin spreading across his face. "Good luck, Jacinth."

Jacinth ended the call, a satisfied smile spreading across her face as she tucked her phone into her pocket. They had a solid plan now - one that would keep Harper safe and protect her privacy.

Rising from the sofa, she followed the enticing aromas wafting from the kitchen. Douglas stood at the stove, stirring something that smelled divine. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing her cheek against his broad back. The solid warmth of him grounded her, as it always did.

"Everything sorted?" Douglas asked, his free hand coming to rest over hers where they clasped around his waist.

"Yes," Jacinth murmured, squeezing him gently. "Mother had the perfect solution. We'll make the reporter forget all about Harper."

Douglas turned in her embrace, his blue eyes warm as they met hers. He cupped her face in his hands, thumbs stroking her cheekbones with infinite tenderness. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Jacinth's heart fluttered as he leaned down, capturing her lips in a soft, sweet kiss. She melted into him, savoring the gentle press of his mouth against hers, the familiar taste of him, the way his arms felt like home.

Jacinth's phone buzzed just before noon the next day. Jake's name flashed on the screen, sending a jolt of anticipation through her.

"He's here," Jake's voice crackled through the speaker, tinged with a mixture of concern and determination. "Across the street from the bank. Got his camera ready, probably waiting for Harper's lunch break. The creep hasn't moved for the last twenty minutes."

Jacinth's heart raced, adrenaline surging through her veins. The sense of eager anticipation flooded her, as well as a surge of mischief. She was a Djinn, after all. Her magic tingled beneath her skin, ready to be at her command.

"I'm on my way." She sprang into action, unfolding her legs from beneath her on the settee she'd been lounging on. With a deep breath, Jacinth closed her eyes and focused. Her form shimmered, fading from view until she vanished completely. In the blink of an eye, she teleported to the small alley to one side of the bank. She made her way to the sidewalk, and stood looking up and down.

The intrepid reporter stood on the opposite side of the street, leaning casually against a phone pole. His camera poised, clearly ready to capture Harper exiting the bank. Jacinth glided towards him, her invisible form moving silently through the bustling street. The cacophony of car horns and chattering pedestrians faded into the background as she focused on her target. She reached out, her fingertips barely grazing his cheek, leaving a ghostly trail of warmth in their wake. To him, it was nothing more than a wisp of smoke, easily dismissed as a trick of the light or a sudden breeze.

As she concentrated on weaving the magical strands of the spell, Jacinth felt the zing of her magic, the pulsing energy, as she wove the reverse look-away spell with practiced precision. As the enchantment settled over the unsuspecting reporter, she retreated, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

Mission accomplished.

The reporter blinked rapidly, his brow furrowing in sudden confusion. He glanced around, bewildered by his unremarkable surroundings. The bustling street seemed alien, as if he'd been dropped there without warning. Why on earth was he standing on this nondescript corner in some kind of small town? He fumbled for his phone, his fingers clumsy as he scrolled through his notes.

The name "Harper O'Neill" leapt out at him from the screen, but for the life of him, he couldn't fathom why it had seemed so crucial mere moments ago.

"A banker?" he muttered aloud, shaking his head in disbelief. His voice carried a mix of frustration and embarrassment. What was wrong with him, chasing after a banker? There wasn't anything remotely interesting about that. He pocketed his phone with a sigh, shoulders slumping as he melted into the crowd, all thoughts of his mysterious quarry slipping away like sand through an hourglass.

With each step, the urgency that had propelled him here faded, replaced by a gnawing sense of foolishness. He couldn't shake the feeling he'd been chasing shadows, led astray by some cosmic practical joke. As he trudged along, the once-burning questions about Harper O'Neill cooled to embers, destined to be forgotten by the time he reached the next corner.

Heading back to his hotel, he pondered his options. There had to be a more exciting story out there, something actually worth pursuing. As he packed his bags, the memory of Harper and the Yosemite fox faded like mist in the morning sun.

Jacinth trailed the reporter at a safe distance, her invisible form gliding effortlessly through the crowded streets. She watched as he entered his hotel, muttering to himself about wasted time and dead-end stories. A wave of relief washed over her as she observed him packing up his belongings.

Satisfied that the threat had passed, Jacinth teleported herself back to her home. Heading to the kitchen to pour herself a well-deserved, celebratory glass of wine, she pulled out her phone and dialed Harper's number.

"Harper? It's Jacinth. Good news," she announced in a bright tone. "The reporter's forgotten all about you. He's packing up and leaving town as we speak. I watched him myself, muttering about bankers being boring. You're safe now."

Harper's sigh of relief crackled through the phone. "Thank goodness," she breathed, her words tinged with a mixture of exhaustion and gratitude. "I can't tell you how worried I've been. It's like this weight has been lifted off my chest." Her fingers curled tighter around the phone, as if clinging to the lifeline of good news Jacinth had thrown her.

"No need to worry anymore," Jacinth assured her, her voice a soothing balm to Harper's frayed nerves.

"Oh, and by the way, those look-away spells I put on your apartment and Nathan's home? They're not just for that nosy reporter. They'll work on anyone with ill intentions." Jacinth's words carried a hint of pride, as if she were sharing a particularly clever secret. She paused, allowing the full weight of her magical protection to sink in. "I'll be adding in another bit to the spell, though. I got the idea from the enchantment I put on the reporter. Anyone who means you or Nathan… or Jill… harm will suddenly find themselves forgetting why they came, their minds clouded with an irresistible urge to be elsewhere. It's quite effective, if I do say so myself."

Harper chuckled, a hint of mischief dancing in her amber eyes. "That's a relief," she said, her foxy-red hair catching the light as she tilted her head.

"But what about door-to-door salesmen and missionaries? Are we protected from them too?" A playful smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth, her freckled nose crinkling slightly as she imagined pushy salespeople suddenly forgetting their rehearsed pitches and wandering away in confusion.

Jacinth burst into peals of melodious laughter, her mahogany eyes twinkling with mirth. She shook her head, causing her silky black hair to cascade over her shoulders. "Sorry, my friend," she said, her voice still lilting with amusement. "You're on your own with those particular nuisances. I'm afraid you'll have to get rid of them the usual way - with a polite but firm 'no thank you' at the door."

"Darn," Harper replied, her tone playful. A mischievous glint sparkled in her amber eyes as she leaned forward, elbows propped on her desk. "And here I thought magic would solve all my problems." She chuckled softly, her foxy-red hair catching the light as she shook her head. "I guess even supernatural powers have their limits when it comes to dealing with pushy salespeople."