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I didn’t want to pry, but I assumed the tension had something to do with clashing temperaments. Discord was bound to occur when two strong personalities were stuck together in a small space—like the inside of a lamp! Gods knew, I’d go mad if I could never leave my shack. Sure, I loved my brother, but spending every waking minute with him would drive me batty,too.
Dahvi grabbed a set of cards from Ali’s side table, shuffled the deck, and dealt Ali a hand. My brother eagerly accepted, as if wanting to avoid further familysquabbles.
Feeling a little awkward, myself, I dove into cleaning Kaza’s gash. Thanks to the distraction of his dimples, I managed to remove the dried blood without heaving. His piercing gaze drilled into me, as if searching for my deepest and darkest secrets, forcing me to hide behind my hair and lookaway.
I grabbed some plum wine from another cupboard, and applied that to disinfect his wound. Kaza moaned and bit hislip.
“For someone several hundred years old, you sure do whine a lot…worse than my littlebrother.”
Everyone chuckled atthis.
Kaza’s shudder and pain-filled grimace corrupted his fleetingsmile.
I squeezed hishand.
“He doesn’t look so good,” said Ali, poking Kaza’s sweaty forehead, accidentally flashing his hand ofcards.
No, the genie didn’t. We had to do something about the fever. Once I’d bandaged him up, I’d brew him some of Ali’s special tea to reduce hisfever.
Dahvi laughed, snatched Ali’s cards back, andreshuffled.
Touched by their connection, my heart went light and fuzzy. Dahvi treated Ali like a younger brother, and I drew strength from the fast bond they’dmade.
I placed a fresh bandage on Kaza’s leg and tied it. “How did all three of you get trapped in thelamp?”
The genies glanced at each other as if they hadn’t expected my question. Tension clouded the room again, and I braced myself for anexplosion.
Zand spoke for them. “Kaza refused to stop lusting over the wife of our lastmaster.”
Kaza huffed and lookedaway.
Whoa!This news helped me understand the conflict between the two brothers. Zand had suffered for his brother’smistake.
My heart sagged against my ribs. I related to this. My mother had left me to raise myself and my brother. These days, I allowed few people into my life because I couldn’t trust they wouldn’t hurt me. After what my mom had done to us, I vowed that no one would ever hurt meagain.
“For inviting her affections and taking her to his bed,” continued Zand. “He caused her husband to seek out a sorcerer to curse us all, and trap us in the lamp. There we remained for hundreds of years. His curse stipulated that we would only be allowed out when a master appeared—one who would grant us freedom from servitude.” His voice trailed off on the lastpart.
An ache took residence in my chest. I couldn’t imagine the pain of being trapped in a lamp for so long. Missing my brother and only friend. Deprived of my freedom. Denied the opportunity to live life as I chose. Never to see the stars at night. Never to breathe the roasting air of Utaara. Never to hear the sitars playing in the marketstalls.
Once I had my wishes, I intended to grant the genies their freedom. Did that mean I was the master prophesied in the previous master’scurse?
Kaza’s face turned dark, like a brewing storm. “How many apologies will be enough,Brother?”
Zand’s burning eyes locked on Kaza. “Master, may I leave your hovel to scout this new city formedicine?”
My breath caught in my throat. “What if the vizier or sultan’s guards catchyou?"
“I can take care of myself,” he replied, tossing one of Ali’s robes over his head andvest.
I didn’t doubt that. It would probably take four normal men to subdue the large, muscular genie. What if he got injured, too? Or worse? The vizier had magic capable of bleeding Zand’s magic. My brain felt ready to explode from all the pressure. After what had happened to me recently, I wasn’t sure I wanted anyone else taking any more risks and getting themselveshurt.
“Master.” Zand grabbed both of my hands and whispered in my ears. “Beware your heart with mybrother.”
Whatever did he mean? I wasn't giving my heart to anyone. Least of all the playboy Kaza. I didn't have time for love. Even if I did, I wasn't about to share myself with a genie—or three—who wouldn't stick around once I used up mywishes.
Still, my chest warmed at the concern radiating from the redgenie.
“Thank you,” I said, touching his arm, my fingers itching to crawl up his biceps andshoulders.
