AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you,” I told him. This lighter side to him was nice tosee.
Pale-red flames flickered for a moment when our fingers skimmed as I accepted the bowl. Tiny fireworks went off insideme.
Dazed by our connection, I bumped into a chair, spilling stew broth onto mykaftan.
The corner of Zand’s mouth lifted in a smile as if he knew the effect he had on me. His gaze trailed my neck. “My brother imprinted onyou?”
“What?” I touched my collarbone. My skin burned redhot.
Damn. My sex rash. Hope he didn’t know what it was. Shame burned across my cheeks. Gods. Zand must think me a slut for sleeping with his brother so soon. To cover my blotchy skin, I put down my stew and yanked my green cotton shawl off the coat hanger on my front door. Quickly, I wrapped it around my neck, face, and head, concealing the evidence of my special moments withKaza.
All the pleasant memories from my explosive activity with him drained out my toes. I pulled my shirt tighter across my waist, feeling cheapened by what had happened between us.Gods.These genies were doing something to me. Bringing out strange feelings. Turning me into a lustful beast and I couldn’t controlmyself.
How was Zand going to react if I said yes? Especially considering they’d all come to be trapped in the lamp first place because Kaza had slept with the former master’s wife. My stomach clenched, and I braced myself for anexplosion.
“Now you are connected.” Zand touched his chest where his heart was, then gave me a kiss on the cheek, as if welcoming me to thefamily.
What? Was this the same broody guy I’d metearlier?
My breath caught in my throat as he squeezed past me. I was a good foot shorter than he was, and my eye level only reached his chest. The bowl I held out to the side almost dropped as my lustful beast took hold, urging me to run my hands along his rock-hard stomach. It took all my restraint to stuff her deep insideme.
Gods. What were these genies doing to me? I didn’t sleep with a guy…correction, a hot genie…this easily. Developing teenage crushes on more than one person—or genie—at the same time wasn’t like me. Suddenly, I was convinced the genies had some sort of magical spell over me. In that case, I had to stay level headed until my wishes were delivered. Focus on what really mattered; I had to save Ali andKaza.
My stomach grumbled, and I sat down, taking a few spoonsful ofstew.
Dahvi kneeled on the floor and lifted my foot onto his leg. “The swelling has gonedown.”
Dahvi’s fingers worked their magic as he massaged my good foot, and a groan slipped past my lips.Gods.If I had of known what I was missing out on, I would have gotten another boyfriend sooner. Praise to the gods for blessing me with the genies. They were really going to extremes to impressme.
Iranmy fingers along the yellowing bruises on my ankle. Last time I’d rolled my foot, I’d been out of action for two weeks. If it wasn’t for my neighbor sharing her scraps, Ali and I would have starved. Time was not a luxury when the vizier and the palace guards were huntingus.
Suddenly, the stew tasted like sand, and I didn’t feel hungry anymore. I pushed the bowl aside and turned to Zand. “Any luck with themedicine?”
The red-vested genie scowled. “The Avestan did not have what I needed.” His voice was hard andstrained.
“But, Brother,” said Dahvi, pausing his massaging. “We must get the herbs before the vizier finds us, or Kaza willperish.”
None of the genies were dying on my watch. I owed them a debt for saving my life. Honor might not be my middle name, but I always repaid my debts. Anyway, I couldn’t deny the selfish voice rising in my head, reminding me I needed these three genies to save my brother. Now that the vizier was out for my blood, I was alsodead.
I glanced at my brother, and he pursed hislips.
Zand cleared his throat. “He told me a lady called Scarlet, out in Terra, might have what we’reafter.”
“I know Scarlet very well,” I said. “She owns an apothecary store out in the Terran province. She also happens to be my closefriend.”
Zand’s heavy brows relaxed as if this news gave himcomfort.
Over the years, she’d helped me so many times when Ali was sick. Couldn’t thank her enough. She tried to get Ali’s medicine but was unable to without paymentupfront.
Terra, where Scarlet lived, was a dangerous province in Haven. Ruled by a strict priestess and her order. Magic was forbidden in Terra, and no one was permitted to enter or leave. Combine that with the guards crawling all over my city, and…well, my skills were really going to come in handy. But I wasn’t going alone. Not with my banged-up ankle. One of the genies was coming along with me. Since Dahvi had done such a wonderful job with my massage, he’d just earned himself a ticket. While he might be better at caring for my brother, I believed Zand would do a better job to protectAli.
Dahvi jumped to his feet. “We must leave atonce.”
“No,” said Zand. “We need to sit and meditate for a fewhours.”
Whoa. One at a timeplease.
“What?” I said. Time was of the essencehere.
