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Chapter 9
“You’re not leaving now,are you?” Scarlet asked, grabbing myelbow.
“I’m so sorry. I can’t waste a minute. I need to help my brother.” Plus, every second counted as Kaza got sicker, too. “I promise my next visit will be for a week.” I didn’t have the time to spare rightnow.
Scarlet rubbed her arms. “You don’t want to be traveling through the Darkwoods at this time of night. It’s home to the tiger shifters. And The Collector has lots of other animals patrolling herborders.”
An iciness trickled down my neck. Hmm. Now that Scarlet mentioned those dangers, I was suddenly overcome with extreme exhaustion and needed rest. I’d had enough tigers to last me a lifetime, thank you verymuch.
“That won’t be a problem,” said Dahvi, placing his fingers to his lips towhistle.
“Yeah, we have flying carpets,” addedKaza.
I squeezed my bag to my stomach, and the lamp inside it jabbedme.
Scarlet looked at me with wide eyes crammed with curiosity. “A magic carpet exists? And you went for aride?”
Ugh.Guess I had to confess or tell her something. I sighed and said, “It’s amazing soaring over the lands. Oh, theview!”
She squeezed my hands and bounced on her feet. I gave a half smile, not sure what else to say. Sometimes, the truth was the easiest solution. Even if it was morecomplicated.
“Are you up for a moonlight spin?” asked Kaza with a waggle of hiseyebrows.
“No,” we bothbarked.
“Evil priestess in Terra,” I said to jog his memory. “No magic, remember? No putting my friend indanger.”
“That’s right.” Kaza took a jar of licorice from a shelf and helped himself to a piece. “This land must be soboring.”
Scarlet’s hands flew to her hips. “That’ll be one silver markos, thankyou.”
Kaza kept chewing. “Don’t suppose you’ll accept a magical spellI.O.U.?”
I snorted. Over the years, I’d probably accumulated dozens of I.O.U.s to Scarlet. I was glad she was sogenerous.
Kaza wrapped a clammy arm around me. “You’re very, very sexy when you snort, Master.” His hands ran along my curves and even cupped myass.
Flames claimed my cheeks, and I pulled away. Why did he keep teasing me about that? I swatted his hands away. “Notnow!”
Scarlet ignored the genie and squeezed my hands again. “Stay the night and leave at first light. You can have Grandma’s oldroom.”
Thank the gods! I could do with a proper mattress and pillows. My ankle needed a rest after all the action of today. So did my body and mind. I was confident Zand would keep my brother safe for one night. Worry gnawed at me that they might worry if I was gone for toolong.
“Thank you,” I said, hugging my friend, adoring how she smelled ofcitrus.
“Excuse me a moment,” said Scarlet. “I’ll get you clean bedsheets.”
When Scarlet was out of earshot, Kaza nudged Dahvi in the ribs. “Kinky, Brother. We can lay with the master. Though I’m not sure I’d call having sex with her in a grandmother’s old, mothball sheets a turnon.”
“Hey, keep your voice down,” I said. “No one is having sex tonight.”Gods.My whole body burned. I wanted him to get in the lamp and stop embarrassingme.
Kaza rolled hiseyes.
“Scarlet’s grandmother passed away not long ago,” Iwhispered.
Dahvi shoved Kaza in the chest for me. “Brother, show somerespect!”
Kaza grabbed my hand and placed kisses along it and up my arm. “Please, accept my humblestapology.”
