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“And not a scar on you.” I poked Dahvi’s nose andgiggled.
“Are you saying I fight like a girl?” He tickledme.
“No.” Isquealed.
Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with the urge to kiss him. But as we both leaned in, something jabbed me in the butt, and I accidentally head-butted him. Rubbing my forehead, I glanced over my shoulder. The cheeky rug waved a tassel atme.
“Sit,” said Dahvi, taking my hand and helping me onto the carpet. “Take the weight off yourfoot.”
I’d always been the one responsible for Ali. Getting his medicine, clothes, water and food, cooking, cleaning, and washing. I really liked the way Dahvi fussed over me. Having someone take care of me for a change was refreshing. This was something I could get usedto.
Once I was comfy, Dahvi dragged one of the guards over to the rug and lifted himon.
“What are you doing?” I scrambled to the farther edge, terrified he’d wake up and try to kill meagain.
“We can’t leave them here.” Dahvi went back for the other guard on the rooftop. “When they wake, they will return to the vizier with news of finding us. That will leave our brothers indanger.”
Smart. I can’t believe I didn’t thought about that. My mind still hadn’t caught up with all the complications in my life and my lack of sleep. All of this had left me exhausted. I needed sleep desperately. Gods! I probably looked a sight with dark bags under my eyes. Being around someone as sexy as Dahvi wasn’t helping either. I could barely concentrate on anything besides thoseeyes.
For a few moments, he took my hand and massaged the joints. “We’ll take the guards and leave them a few days’ march fromhere.”
Nice. That head start would give the genies time to recover. A chance for me to save my brother.Gods.So much responsibilityagain.
I patted the carpet. “I have just theplace.”
“Where’s the last guard?” asked Dahvi, scanning therooftop.
“In the alley,” Isaid.
My muscles braced for a bounce as he jumped on beside me. But the carpet didn’t budge. Only the tassels jiggled in thebreeze.
A squeal burst free as the carpet sailed over the edge of the building and lowered us into the alley, the walls of which had been covered in graffiti from the localchildren.
Dahvi tiptoed around the plants potted in wine barrels to lug the final guard onto thecarpet.
With a smile, Dahvi pulled me between his legs and snuggled me, my back to his rock-hard chest. Basking in his warmth, I nestled into him, feeling sosecure.
His breath feathered my neck. “Where to now,Master?”
My belly bubbled with excitement. I was about to go on a magic carpet ride! “Head east for the lands known as The Den. Then we’ll take a detour to visit my friend Scarlet in the woods ofTerra.”
Dahvi whispered to the carpet in a foreign language that sounded like pure magic. The carpet soared above the apartmentblocks.
My stomach sank into my toes. Soon, the sand-drenched alley lay several hundred feet below. Dizziness struck me. Caves and gates, I could handle with no problem. But ridiculous heights like this weren’t mything.
His lips grazed my ear, and my heart trotted like happy, Arabianhorses.
“Look, Master.” He pointeddownward.
Water roared in the fountain at the center of Utaara, which fed the lush gardens filled with hedges, crawling, flowering vines, roses, and fish ponds. The carpet shifted left around tiled archways and monuments. Brightly colored silk awnings and citizens wandering the cobbled streets all contrasted with the sunbaked orangebuildings.
I gasped, and my hand flew to my chest. Such beauty I’d never seen before. This was perfect. I leaned even harder into him, and he held me tighter. Being next to him felt incredible. I’d always imagined strolling through the lanes of Utaara, hand in hand, with someone special. Leaning my head on his shoulder. Having his comforting arm around my waist. Feeling safe, loved, and supported. Dahvi stirred those feelings inside me, which was insane, considering I hardly knew him. Yet he’d done something to my insides I couldn’texplain.
The magic carpet peeled west, heading along the sultan’s road, leading out of Utaara. My heart bounced in my chest at the thought of seeing my friend Scarlet. With Ali so sick lately, I hadn’t seen her in over a month, and I longed to talk to her, get a new batch of tea for Ali,too.
Dahvi’s head pressed against the back of mine. “Utaara reminds me a little of the deserts back home. Tell me about this Terra land. Exploring new places is a hobby of mine and part of thejob.”
“Me, too.” I twisted to look at him, impressed we had something in common. My line of work often called for me to steal artifacts and treasures and exchange them in other realms of Haven. But…at the end of the day, I did not belong to a lamp and a master. The thought of having to eternally serve new masters made my chestache.
