Wish For Me (The Djinn Order #1) by A. Star Read Free Book Online Page A

family tradition or not. You guys and Ash are the only ones who know that is my hippie ass middle name and I want to keep it that way.” Irving had stated he would figure it out, and I wondered if he had yet. Then again, who cared?
    “I hate the tradition too,” Elena said around a mouthful of shepherd’s pie. “I think one of us should end this travesty and give our daughters names after our favorite desserts, instead of flowers.”
    I grinned. “I claim shortcake! Strawberry Shortcake St. Pierre.”
    “Ooh, I like it. I choose eclair. Chocolate Eclair Favreau.”
    “Caramel Flan St. Pierre,” my dad tossed in with a goofy grin. Elena and I burst out laughing, more at my dad’s silly expression than anything.
    “You all are such children,” Mom said, reaching for more of my aunt’s spinach salad. But the corners of her lips were turned up into a smile, telling me she enjoyed our antics more than she would ever admit to.
    I stayed for dessert—my mother’s famous Crêpes Suzette—and a few rounds of what we called Vulgar Charades, but after that, I told my family I needed to get home because I had a test to study for. It was true, though the idea of studying on a Friday night made me want to gouge my eyes out.
    It was as I settled into bed for a long night of Jim Carrey’s greatest hits on Netflix, that Irving came to me. I was completely shocked by his appearance, but it wasn’t because I hadn’t summoned him. It was because of the blood.
    He was covered in it, so much that I had no idea whether Irving was the bleeder or if I should be reporting a murder to the authorities.
    Irving stumbled across my bedroom and reached for me. “Glory,” he choked out.
    “Irving!” I exclaimed, shooting out of bed to help break his fall as he collapsed to the floor. I let him roll over in my arms, not wanting to hold him too close. I didn’t want to hurt him anymore than he already was.
    He cried out and reached for his left shoulder. That’s when I saw the steel arrow sticking out of it.
    “Ohmygod!” I screeched. Irving had been shot. “Tell me what to do, Irving!” But all he gave me was a gargled groan.
    I shot to my feet and practically ripped the door down trying to gain access to the hallway. I was so glad Ashlyn had a date that night. There was no way I would have been able to explain why a man was bleeding out on my floor and why I hadn’t bothered to call an ambulance.
    I threw open the door to the linen closet and pulled every available towel from the shelves. I tripped in my mad sprint back to my room and ended up slamming my foot into the doorframe.
    “Fuck!” I cursed, but the adrenaline racing through my body swallowed the pain and allowed me to focus on Irving, who was bleeding everywhere. How could a single arrow cause this much damage?
    I dropped to my bare knees, grabbed a big towel, and applied as much pressure as I could to his wound without touching the arrow. Irving still cursed me, though. Shit. That damn arrow had to hurt like hell!
    “I’m going to pull it out!”
    He grabbed my wrist and squeezed. “Barbs,” he growled.
    “The arrow has barbs?” He nodded. “Fuck. Okay, how do I take it out then?”
    “Button,” he sputtered. “Find—” He was cut off when his body spasmed with pain. His teeth clenched in agony and blood spurted from his nose when he coughed.
    I cursed again. “Hang in there, Irving. I’m going to get this fucking thing out of you.”
    He roared in agony as a response.
    I searched for the button while trying to keep Irving from bleeding to death on my floor. I found it hidden in between the steel fletchings at the base of the arrow. As gently as possible, I pushed the button, keeping the other hand firmly on Irving’s shoulder.
    Irving’s blood-curdling bellow let me know that the button had done something excruciatingly painful.
    “I’m sorry!” I cried.
    “Out! Out!” he shouted.
    I didn’t know what else to do, so I followed orders. I wrapped