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“At full strength,” continued Zand, twisting a ruby ring on his finger. “Kaza could heal in a matter of hours. But in this state, the wound will kill him in a day or two if I do not find ferrets’ leaf to curehim.”
By the way Zand’s jaw tightened, I knew it killedhimto not be able to zap some medicine into the room. Apparently, family meant as much to him as it did to me. Hearing how dire Kaza’s predicament was broke my heart, and I clutched my chest. The news reminded me of my own troubles with my brother. I hated feeling so helpless. With the genies crammed into my shack I felt even morevulnerable.
I squeezed Zand’s arm. Zings of electricity shot through my body. Being so close to him was intoxicating. Sexiness, power, and confidence oozed from his every pore. Insecurity swept across me at my appearance—nothing but an unattractive grub in my filthy rags. Something flickered behind his gaze. His eyes held me in a trap, like a cobra hypnotizing me. I had to shake myself out of hisspell.
“I won’t let that happen,” I promised. “We’ll get your brother the medicine heneeds.”
My stomach twisted into knots. To be honest, I didn’t know how I’d do such a thing; I didn’t have a cent to my name, and I’d lost the sultan’s jewels. But I’d find away.
Dahvi returned with a pitcher containing the last of our water, bandages and cloths stuffed into the crook of one elbow. He took a seat next to his brother. Something told me he was the brains and the mommy in this family ofgenies.
“Move over, Brother,” said Kaza, pushing Dahvi aside. “Let the master tend to my tiger scratch. I wish to be pampered for a change.” He leaned back, locking his fingers and tucking them beneath hishead.
For the first time in a long time, I laughed. Not just a quick chuckle, but a deep, hooting laugh, which ended with a snort…much to myembarrassment.
Kaza’s mouth curled into an amused smile, as if he found my snorting and blazing cheeks endearing. “Very sexy,Master.”
I tucked my head, letting my dark hair fall over my face. Having three handsome males around me at once made medizzy.
Okay. Focus. Time to clean Kaza’swound.
I dipped a cloth into the bucket and wrung out most of the water. My hands trembled as I removed the bandage on Kaza’s leg. Thank the gods, the blood had stopped. But the wound had blackened. That couldn’t be good. By the looks of it, he might need antibiotics to prevent the injury from festeringfurther.
Worry began to grind into my temples, bringing on a headache. Going back to the local store for herbs wasn’t an option. His prices were through the roof. My friend Scarlet had an apothecary shop in Terra that sold healing herbs. I wondered if she’d take an “I owe you genie wish” aspayment.
Kaza grabbed my hand and kissed it. “Tell me your name,Master.”
I got lost in the golden ring around his blue eyes. That and the smell of flowers, baked goods, and that electrified scent the air always carried before astorm.
The genie tilted his head and offered a wicked smile. “I wish to know the name of the woman whose breast called us out of thelamp.”
“What?” I almost dropped the pitched in my lap. Kaza better stop talking about my boobs in front of mybrother.
“Gross,” said Ali, sticking out his tongue. “Stop hitting on mysister.”
Wrinkles lined Kaza’s forehead as if he were confused. “Hitting a woman is forbidden in my culture. A female is to be worshipped and adored like the mother goddess.” As he said that last line, he gave me a boldwink.
Cute. But a flirt wasn’t going to win me over that easy. The least he could do was poof me into a beautiful gown and take me out to dinner…and he was picking up thebill.
Ali rolled his eyes, as if he thought Kaza was being disgusting again. Comic book back in one hand, Ali pretended to read the pages, although he kept peeking over the rim every few seconds, curiously examining thegenie.
To my relief, Dahvi kept my brother busy, by chatting to him about the story in the comic book on his bedside table. My heart melted at how Dahvi interacted with Ali. Nothing was more important to me thanfamily.
“I’m Azar,” I told Kaza, using light dabs to clean his wound. “This is my brotherAli.”
Ali offered a wave to all the genies and returned to his chat withDahvi.
Kaza cringed as if he bit back pain. Then he flashed his adorable grin that warmed mychest.
“I knew it,” Kaza said. “Perfect bone structure must run in yourfamily.”
To be honest, all the male attention made me nervous. I cleared my throat and addressed all the genies. “Thank you for saving me,guys.”
A shudder consumed Kaza as he kissed my hand again. “Mypleasure.”
Zand sighed and twirled his ring even harder. “Always stealing the recognition,Brother.”
Sparks flew between Zand and Kaza as if bare steel clashed together. The atmosphere in my tiny apartment thickened very quickly with hostility and choked me. Something funny was going on between the two brothers. When Zand kicked the chair away and returned to his original position at the window to brood, I sensed some residualresentment.
