Page 2 of The Genie’s Wish (Harmony Glen #10)

Chapter Two

ARMAN

The last thing I expected when I arrived in Harmony Glen was to see the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Even more unexpected? The fact that she wants absolutely nothing to do with me.

She barely batted an eye at me, except when she looked like she was about to faint—or throw up. Did I smell bad? I lift my arm, giving my pit a whiff.

Nope, still smells magical.

She also didn’t fall for my trick, asking her if she had anything she wished for. Though I’m not sure I would’ve pulled my usual stunt—finding a loophole in the wish—on her.

She seems different from anyone I’ve ever met. Besides, a woman who doesn’t want a wish granted, and also doesn’t want me ?

Total madness.

It’s alright, though. I came here for new business ventures, and I’m sure that there are lots of monsters and humans who want wishes granted.

I can’t focus on anything else, though. She clouds my mind, even after a brief run-in. She’s done something unexplainable to me.

Something unexpected and unfamiliar.

My stay here is intended to be short and sweet— and business only. Now, not even a day in, I know it won’t be what I planned.

For someone with such a vibrant and outgoing hair color, she was the opposite—shy and closed off. Even so, I’m drawn to her more than I’d like to admit.

I will break down those walls and gain her trust. I will find my way into the heart I can tell she’s guarding so closely.

There’s a vulnerability within her, but also a silent strength. It draws me to her like a moth to a flame.

My stay in Harmony Glen can be as long as I want it to be. When I read the sign, Come for the harmony, stay for the happily ever after , I thought it was just simply a tourist-attracting statement.

Now, I’m thinking I might be wrong.

Fuck, I’m not thinking straight. Am I really considering stopping my world-traveling wish granting for a woman I’ve barely met?

My brain is yelling at me to be logical, but unfortunately—or fortunately—my heart is the one in control right now.

Pinky, you better prepare yourself, because I’m about to unleash all of my charm on you.

It has been nearly four days since I saw Pinky for the first time. I’ve been all over town looking for her—in the least obvious and least creepy way possible.

I haven’t seen her out and about once . Not one time. It’s as if this woman never leaves her home. What I haven’t done is scour the residential neighborhoods looking for a post-office cart—that would be too much.

Besides, she probably returned it by now. Unless she really did steal it.

Everyone has to go out at some point, so it’s just a matter of biding my time. I’ve been trying to lie low in the meantime, not granting any large-scale wishes that may alert her of my whereabouts and scare her away.

Since it’s my signature move to not grant wishes entirely how the wisher wants, I’ve had to keep my tricks minimal. And Gods , has that ever been hard.

I’m really testing my willpower here. So far, I’m impressing myself.

Besides that, though, I have seen some interesting things since arriving in town—a steel-gray gargoyle flying through the sky, and even a lion-man walking a baby dragon.

A dragon .

This town is full of surprises; new ones tucked into every corner and crevice.

As I walk around in my more human form, I keep my eyes peeled—both for Pinky, and for anyone who looks like they need my services.

I still need to make some money while I’m here; my stay at the local hotel doesn’t pay for itself. It’s much cozier than I expected, homier than the hotels in New Bria where I was last.

All the hotels in New Bria felt like copies of one another. There was nothing personal about any of them. It didn’t really matter, though—New Bria was a great place to cause mayhem and make some great cash.

I had to get out of there after my last wish granting. An incubus named Davian who didn’t like the little spin I put on his wish. He definitely wanted to hurt me, and I don’t overly enjoy being hurt.

Ah shit, I’m just itching to cause a little mayhem. It’s like an addiction, and I need to fuel it. Surely there’s someone in this town I can pull a trick on without ruining my chance with Pinky.

I keep walking, crossing over a small bridge and ending up on Short Street. There’s a hardware store with a vulpine inside—definitely not my target for this. He’s too… he could hurt me.

There’s a pub, but it’s a bit early in the day for there to be any valuable targets to offer my services. The café has a few people I can see through the window, but no one looks like the perfect customer for what I’m selling.

Wait, wait, wait. I stop walking as I watch someone exit the café. He looks like a timid human man, his eyes darting all around. They land on me, and his steps falter.

Bingo.

I waltz over to him. “Hello, my name is Arman, and you look troubled. Anything I could help you with? Anything you wish for?”

He blinks at me a few times before giving me a quick once-over. “Are you an alien?”

“No—a genie.” Geez, isn’t that clear?

This makes his eyes light up, and I know I’ve chosen the right person. “Like a wish-granting genie?”

“Exactly.” I nod, grinning at him. “For the right price, I can grant almost any wish.”

One of his hands rises, scratching his chin as he gazes up to the sky. Does he really have to think that hard about what he wishes for?

He could always get more than one wish—but I’d need him to pay in advance for them, since satisfaction is not guaranteed.

“I wish for a…” He steps closer, getting right next to my ear. “Bigger…y’know?”

Oh, I know what he’s asking for. It’s actually the most common wish human men have, especially since monsters have come out of hiding all around the world.

Human-sized penises just can’t compare, and they know it. They feel the need to change themselves to compete with the new demographic of men “stealing” their women.

As if they ever had a chance to compare to any of us monster men. It’s sad, really.

“A wish like that is definitely something I can do, but it will cost you,” I remind him, crossing my arms in front of me.

Beads of sweat begin to form on his forehead. “How much?”

“Tell me what you can offer, and I’ll tell you if it’s enough.” This is going exactly as I had hoped. “Mind you, this is not a cheap wish.”

He pulls out his phone, scrolling furiously on it for a minute before he turns his attention back up to me. “One thousand is the most I can do—do you take Venmo?”

“Of course.” I smirk, pulling out my own phone.

It takes only a few seconds for him to send me the money, and once I see it come in my account, I put my phone away. Maybe Harmony Glen will have some easy pickings.

To make the experience a little more authentic, I transform into my genie form. My legs disappear, replaced by my wispy bottom. My shirt disappears too—another perk of my magic, my clothes can be off instantly.

I can’t wait to show Pinky that trick.

His eyes light up and scan my genie form. A giant grin takes over his lips, as if he is realizing he’s not being scammed.

He is though. Oh, is he ever.

I wave a hand toward him, compiling my energy and magic to take the form of his wish. He stands there, staring down toward his crotch, watching as his pants shift to accommodate his new size.

His eyes quickly lose their sparkle as his crotch continues to expand, and he frantically looks between me and his growing member. His chest begins to rise and fall heavily.

“Hey, this is too much—stop. Stop!” He panics, both hands flying to his crotch as his zipper bursts.

The tearing sound of fabric brings me uncontrollable laughter, and I clutch at my stomach. His jeans have completely burst, as have his boxers. I stop my magic, satisfied with the new size.

On display, not at all hidden by his puny human hands, is his new, ungodly large penis. This is what he asked for, after all.

“I’m going to the police!” he shouts, turning and rushing off as fast as his falling pants will let him.

“You should probably get some new pants first,” I call back, grabbing my side, which hurts from laughing so hard.

What does he think the police will do? He made a deal with me. He willingly paid me. There was no official contract, so I didn’t break anything, technically speaking.

As I turn around, ready to continue my walk through the town, I freeze. Staring at me through the window of what appears to be a wellness store is Pinky.

Her eyes are wide, her hand covering her mouth. Beside her stands a woman I can instantly identify as a shadow demon. Her eyes are narrowed, and her arms are crossed over her chest.

Well shit, how am I going to explain this?

As quickly as I can float, I rush to the door. Right as I grab the door handle, I hear a click . When I pull on it, it doesn’t budge.

My eyes fly up, meeting those of the shadow demon woman. Well double shit, she’s locked me out . Slowly, she recrosses her arms, raising a brow at me—a silent challenge.

I let go of the handle and look toward Pinky, who stands a few feet behind the shadow demon. Now, she wears a similar expression to the demon, with no emotion showing on her stoic face.

In her eyes though, I can see what she’s trying to hide—surprise. Is it because of what she just witnessed? Or maybe it’s my lack of legs, and how my chiseled chest is on display—in my humble opinion of myself.

“Pinky, it’s not what it looks like. He wanted that,” I try to explain through the glass, though I’m not sure if she can hear me entirely. “Let me explain.”

She shakes her head hesitantly. “You just…I don’t even…”

Before I can get another word out, she rushes off toward the back of the store. She goes through a doorway, disappearing from my view.

It’s almost like I can see my chance with her disappearing, too.

I look back at the shadow demon, who just shakes her head at me. Unlike Pinky, she remains there—almost like a secret invitation to plead my case.

That’s not what I do, though.

Instead, I ask, “What’s Pinky’s name?”

She stares at me, narrowing her eyes. We stay there, locked in this stare. Maybe she’ll be able to see that my intentions with Pinky are different. I don’t know why, but I don’t want to trick her.

I wanted to genuinely grant her a wish, one that would make her smile. I still want to grant her a wish, but I’m hoping that wish might involve me.

Though I can’t actually grant those ones.

The demon lady blinks at me, letting out a deep sigh. “Raya.”

“Raya what? I need to know,” I push a little further, trying to be as nonchalant as possible.

“Why, what are you? Some kind of creep?” The woman rolls her eyes.

I shake my head. “No, no—I saw her the other day, and I just think she’s the most beautiful woman.”

The demon lady’s face softens, her eyebrows moving to a neutral position and eyes widening. She glances over her shoulder, toward where Pinky—I mean Raya, disappeared to.

When she turns back to me, she says, “You’ll have to prove it.”

“ Prove it ?” I repeat.

“Yes. If your intentions are good, then having to make the effort won’t bother you.” She shrugs at me.

I understand now. She’s the best friend, and she’s not going to let anything near her friend that could hurt her. However, she must also want to give Raya this opportunity, since she told me her name.

She turns and walks away, toward the back, not giving me another look.

Holding my head high, I turn and float away from the store. Things aren’t completely ruined. I learned Pinky’s name. If her best friend is giving me even the slightest bit of help, it’s a good sign.

Well, Raya, I will prove to you that I want to get to know you—not trick you.