Bitter Confessions (Singed #3)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

JASMINE, 13 YEARS OLD

J asmine lay stretched out on the couch, her chin pillowed on her stacked hands as she read. The thirteen-year-old was oblivious to the glorious summer day beyond the library windows. Nothing could distract her from the story unfolding on the page.

Suddenly, she gasped and sat up, cross-legged, with the book in her lap. A few minutes later, she was perching on the armrest. As the story reached its climax, she got to her feet and feverishly flipped through the final pages. When she realized there were no more words, she slammed the book shut, closed her eyes, and bellowed, “Thea!”

Jasmine listened for a response, and when she didn’t get one, she leaped off the couch and ran out of the library as if it were on fire. For a split second, she debated searching the upstairs bedrooms for the housekeeper, but she decided to go with her gut.

“Thea!” she exclaimed as she skidded to a stop on the opposite side of the kitchen island.

Thea didn’t look up from the ingredients she was adding to a mixing bowl. “Finished another book, miss?”

“Yes!”

“Didn’t you finish one yesterday?”

“Two,” Jasmine said distractedly as she paced. “Those were good, but this . This was...” She twisted her fist in her shirt as emotion rose to choke her. “This book had it all. Adventure, mystery, action, high stakes, romance...” She let out a gusty sigh that made Thea’s brows arch. “I could die happy right this second.”

Thea shook her head, used to Jasmine’s theatrics after reading an exciting tale. “What was this one about?”

The girl’s wistful expression vanished as she straightened and braced her hands on the island.

“The book’s called Uncharted Waters . It’s about this girl named Naida who lives by the ocean. Her mother died during childbirth, so it’s just her and her father, who’s a fisherman. He would leave for weeks, even months, at a time. When he fails to return from his last trip, she sets out on a quest to find him. She meets all these characters along the way. One is a man named Amir. She saves his life when she overhears his partner planning to slit his throat.” Jasmine ignored the way Thea’s eyes flared with disapproval and continued. “Since he’s in her debt, he offers to help track down the ship her father was on.”

“Could you pass the spatula?” Thea asked.

“They go on all these adventures. They battle pirates, explore uninhabited islands, and he teaches her how to fight with a sword.” Jasmine fetched the spatula and did a slash, parry, and thrust before she surrendered it. “Gosh, it was so real, I could feel the sea breeze on my face and smell the tang of the ocean.”

Thea slid a tray of sliced pita and vegetables in front of her. “Eat.”

Jasmine smothered the pita with tzatziki sauce and felt her fictional world recede a little as she registered how hungry she was. She couldn’t remember the last meal she’d had. When she was immersed in a book, she didn’t need water, food, or sleep.

“I wish Dad owned ships instead of buildings,” she said absently.

“Don’t let him catch you saying that, miss.”

Jasmine sighed. “But ships are so cool! You can transport cargo, live on them, and be on the ocean, with nothing around for miles.”

“I spent a lot of time on boats in Greece,” Thea said. “One day, you should visit my homeland.”

Jasmine brightened. “Yes! I want to visit Delos, where Artemis and Apollo were born. The Parthenon, Temple of Poseidon, Olympia...”

Thea eyed her warily. “You didn’t tell your father about those Greek myth books I gave you, did you?”

Jasmine grinned. “Of course not. He would have freaked .”

“Yes, he would.” Thea gave her a curious look. “Aren’t you supposed to be studying?”

“I am.”

“Are you? You’ve done nothing but inhale fantasy books for two weeks straight.”

“They’re Spanish, German, and French translations,” Jasmine said smugly.

Thea tried to look stern but failed miserably. “You know that’s not what your father meant.”

“This is the only way I can sneak in fiction,” she said, with a pleading note in her voice.

Thea sighed and continued chopping. “What happened next in this book you read, miss?”

“Oh!” Jasmine tried to remember where she’d left off. “Eventually, Amir and Naida discover the ship her father was working on sank, but several men survived. They visit the island where the survivors were taken. From the moment they arrive, she notices Amir is getting a lot of attention, and everyone seems to know him. Can you guess why?” Jasmine bounced on her toes, so giddy she couldn’t contain herself. When Thea shook her head, she shouted, “He was a prince !”

“Is that so?”

“I was hoping Amir was the son of an infamous pirate, but being a prince is cool too,” Jasmine said with a shrug as she coated a carrot in the garlic yogurt sauce. “Amir fled the kingdom before he could be forced into marriage. It makes sense why so many helped them along the way—they recognized Amir and knew he would repay them generously once he took the throne.”

Thea slid a pyramid of chicken kabobs in front of Jasmine—enough to feed a whole family. Her stern finger-point made it clear she expected Jasmine to eat a few.

“I’m so glad one of the survivors was Naida’s father.” Jasmine’s eyes welled as she recalled the touching scene. “I was starting to think her father died and she’d be left with no family, but...” She waved her hand and continued. “The king was told about his son’s return. He tells Amir if he takes his rightful place as king, he can marry whoever he chooses.” She pressed a hand over her fluttering heart. “Amir proposes to Naida. She has to choose between her simple, peaceful life with her father or one bound by duty.”

Thea’s busy hands paused. “What did she choose?”

Jasmine paused. Thea never asked questions. Most of the time, she wasn’t sure Thea was even listening. That didn’t stop her from regaling the housekeeper with every interesting tale she felt was worth sharing. Yesterday, she’d trailed after Thea helping her dust and change bedsheets, so she could tell the housekeeper about her latest read before Thea shooed her away.

“Well, the queen wasn’t happy to hear that her son wanted to marry a fisherman’s daughter. She told Naida she would never be accepted once her poor background became common knowledge. The queen said she wasn’t suitable to rule at Amir’s side.”

Jasmine flushed with anger, just as she did when she read that horrible scene. Amir’s mom was a witch .

“The queen wasn’t the only one who had something unkind to say. He has these awful sisters as well, who were causing all kinds of trouble. It made Naida realize how difficult this path would be, and that this man, who she thought she had so much in common with, came from a completely different world. She wasn’t sure she could live up to everyone’s expectations, so even though she loved Amir, she turned him down.”

Thea’s brows shot up in surprise. “And she goes home with her father?”

“I know!” Jasmine burst out. “I nearly threw the book across the room. There were so few pages left, I thought they might actually...” She took a deep breath and held up both hands. “A year passes—a whole year —before he shows up, declaring he still loves her and is willing to give up the throne and live a simple life with her.” She did a happy twirl before she composed herself. “Isn’t that romantic, Thea?”

“And who will rule once his father dies?”

Another question. This had to be a record for Thea. “Thankfully, Naida had already decided he was worth the ridicule and challenges that would come. In the end, they decide to rule his kingdom together and live happily ever after.”

“That’s nice, dear.”

“It was glorious.” Jasmine’s face crumped as she slumped against the counter. “I want my own Amir.”

“I’m sure your father will find the perfect man for you.”

“I want us to go on adventures and see the world.” She stared out at the still lake and wished it were a stormy, churning sea. “I want a man who’s willing to give up a kingdom for me.”

“I don’t know how many men your father knows who have kingdoms,” Thea teased, “but they own impressive real estate and companies.”

Jasmine’s disgusted look made Thea snicker.

“I want a prince !”

“There’s precious few of those, and do you really want the responsibilities that come with being a princess? You get so stressed when your father calls you to the city for parties, and you didn’t care for those dance lessons he made you take.”

“Thea! Stop ruining my fantasy!” Jasmine wailed.

“I’m just saying, miss. You of all people can guess what comes with that kind of life. Is that what you really want?”

Memorizing key political figures, learning the customs and languages of the region, endless social events, strict etiquette and protocol... Jasmine wrinkled her nose.

“Not a prince then,” she said glumly. “But someone powerful and influential.”

“Like a businessman?” Thea supplied helpfully, ignoring Jasmine’s glare. “A businessman could take time off for adventures,” Thea wheedled. “And your father wouldn’t consider a man who didn’t have as much power and influence as himself. What if this man is willing to give up his company for you instead of a kingdom?”

It wasn’t nearly as romantic, but it would have to do. “Okay, but he has to love me to death.”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

Jasmine tugged on a lock of her unruly hair and grimaced. “I don’t look like my sisters or the heroines in these books, who have raven-black or blond hair paired with blue, green, or violet eyes. I don’t have freckles or red hair or anything that makes me stand out. Just brown hair and brown eyes. I’m so ordinary .”

“You’re gorgeous just as you are,” Thea interjected sharply, but Jasmine ignored her.

“What if I turn out short like my mom? It’s going to be so embarrassing!”

“I’m sure your father can find you a short husband to match.” Thea cackled at Jasmine’s horrified gasp. “Don’t worry yourself about such things. Enjoy being a child.”

Jasmine put her hands on hips. “I’m officially a teen.”

Thea’s eyes twinkled. “My apologies.”

“And,” she stressed, “I’m reading way above my age group.”

“I don’t doubt that.” Thea came around the island to clasp Jasmine’s face between weathered hands. “Don’t be in a rush to grow up. Enjoy having summer vacations. Run outside, read by the lake, nap in the sun. Don’t worry about how tall you’re going to be or what sort of man you’ll fall in love with. It’ll happen when you least expect it. And Jasmine?” Thea gave her a mock glare. “Your hair and your eye color don’t make you a princess. It’s in here.” Thea tapped her chest, over her heart. “And yours is made of pure gold. Don’t forget that.”

Jasmine allowed Thea to pull her into a hug.

“I’m tired of being alone,” Jasmine mumbled into her shoulder.

“You aren’t alone. I’m here.”

“But you don’t live here.”

“I’m here every morning, before you wake, and I eat dinner with you when you can bear to tear yourself away from your books.”

“It’s not the same. I want a family. I can’t wait to get married. If I had a husband, I wouldn’t be alone.”

“You’ll have one when you’re old enough.”

“It’s taking so long,” she whined.

Thea stroked her hair.

“I want him to be big and strong, so he can carry me whenever I feel like it.”

Jasmine’s face bounced on Thea’s chest as the housekeeper chuckled.

“I want to have a big wedding right here, by the lake.” She pointed without lifting her head. “I want him to be handsome and smart and a reader like me, so we can talk about books, and he won’t judge what I read.” Her tone dropped; became subdued. “Dad thinks these books are polluting my mind.”

Thea laid a protective hand on her head. “That’s his opinion.”

“If he knew about my writing...”

“Let’s keep that to ourselves.”

Jasmine hugged Thea tight. “Thank you.”

“No thanks needed, miss. When you’re here, you can be whoever you want to be. Just remember who you are when you’re outside these walls.”

The warning was loud and clear. Jasmine nodded before raising her head.

“Summer’s almost over,” she said.

“Yes. Soon you’ll be back at school.” Thea pushed her toward the door. “Get some fresh air before you dive into your next book.”

Jasmine snatched two chicken kabobs on her way out and lifted her face to the sun as she made her way to the lake. For the first time, she noticed the cloudless sky and registered the heat. She paused on the shore and grimaced at the sprawling estates opposite them. She wanted open ocean, distant lands, tropical islands, and white castles that glinted in the sun. She glanced back at her home, which was impressive, but she had no one to share it with.

She held the bare skewers between her fingers and stared out at the water, lost in thought. Reading above her age level meant the romance between Amir and Naida was more explicit than any book she’d read so far. The intimate scenes had made her tummy flutter and caused an odd, hollow ache in her chest that she knew instinctively wouldn’t be filled until she had her own Amir. Uncharted Waters had taken her on an emotional roller coaster she didn’t want to end. If falling in love with a fictional character was this exhilarating, she wasn’t sure she’d survive the real thing.

She loved that Amir had let Naida choose their path. He didn’t care what she decided, as long as they were together. Although Jasmine was initially ecstatic about the ending, Thea had a point. Naida deciding to enter Amir’s world meant a lifelong uphill battle. She might never be accepted. She’d have Amir, but would that be enough, with everyone scheming to break them apart and rooting for her failure? They would have been happier living by the ocean… Then again, Naida had battled pirates: she could take on her haters, even the nasty queen. At least she’d experienced her fair share of adventures before becoming a straitlaced royal.

Jasmine wrapped her arms around herself. If books had taught her anything, it was that everything happened for a reason. The more trials a character experienced, the bigger the payoff. If she applied that to real life, it meant the latter half of her life would be epic. Her mother had died when she was a baby, leaving her to be raised by her Greek housekeeper on a sprawling country estate on the outskirts of her father’s kingdom: Manhattan. She saw her father a handful of times a year, usually during the holidays or the summer, when she was expected to shadow him and her sisters at Hennessy headquarters. Negotiations on some large deals had kept her at Tuxedo Park this summer, giving her the opportunity to catch up on dozens of fantasy books that lit her imagination on fire.

She spun on her heel and headed back to the house. Thea would have to be satisfied with her spending ten minutes in the sun. Now, she needed pen and paper to see if she could create her own Amir: the perfect man. She tried to imagine what her future husband looked like. Black hair and green eyes? Would he be brave and protective like Amir, willing to do whatever it took to have her in his life? That closing scene, of Amir kneeling at the feet of the fisherman’s daughter in front of the whole town, made her heart swell so large she could barely breathe.

She wanted a husband who thought she was beautiful and special and couldn’t live without her. If he had to live the life of a fisherman to be with her, he’d do it. What a gift that would be, to be put first, ahead of a nation.

Jasmine had never been anyone’s priority. When it came to her father, business always came first, Colette and Ariana second. She was an afterthought. She had never stood out; never been exceptional in any way. But surely, there was a man out there who would see something special in her. Something worth seizing, nourishing, and cherishing. She had so much to give. So much pent-up love that had no outlet. If her husband gave her a chance, she would show him she could be everything he needed. And if he didn’t love her as much as Amir loved Naida, she couldn’t imagine why they would marry at all.