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Dahvi huddled with us. "We were told a woman known as The Collector in the Darkwoods might possess thesands."
Ali joined us as if he felt leftout.
Zand rested a huge arm on my brother’s head and rubbed his armpit on my Ali’shair.
Ali hit the genie. "I hate being short," hegrumbled.
Boys…I rolled my eyes. Definitely too much testosterone here. That aside, I enjoyed having the genies there. The way they’d turned my brother around, brought him to life—hell, they’d brought light and joy to our entire life. Not to mention all the laughs and my embarrassing snorts, or the mind-blowing sex I’d shared with Kaza andDahvi.
Zand's eyes narrowed. "Where is thisDarkwoods?"
"A day’s trek," I replied, using every ounce of control not to grab those hugebiceps.
"That's too far for the master on foot with her ankle," saidDahvi.
Damn straight!My ankle still hurt but not as much as yesterday, thanks to the tea Scarlet had givenme.
"We'll need the magic carpets." Zand moved away to select one of my shawls from the rack I hung my meager selection of clothes on. He threw the item over his head and torso, as if preparing toleave.
"Can I come with you guys?" asked Ali. "I've never been to TheDarkwoods."
Neither had I. Rumors spoke of strange creatures and an evil queen dwellingthere.
"Sure," said Dahvi, wrapping an arm over Ali'sneck.
"Nooooo." I tried to drag my brother back to his bed by his arm, but he yanked himselffree.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Azar," he said, his eyes blazing with a fierceness I'd never seen before."I'm part of the team, too." A cough stole the rest of hiswords.
My heart cracked in two. All my brother had ever wanted was to join me when I stole our dinner. To be part of the action. But he’d always been too sick…and I’d never let him. Now, he wanted to show off in front of the genies. Prove his manhood. But I couldn’t risk him getting hurt. The Collector had all sorts of creatures guarding her fortress. Ali was slow and weak. He’d never be able to get out of the way fast enough if a beast tried to pounce onhim.
I swallowed hard to dislodge the boulder caught in my throat. "You're staying here. Dahvi, Zand, and I will go get thesands."
Zand retrieved the lamp from my bag and whispered to it, igniting the burning red letters on its surface. His eyes glowed with regret when he glanced at Ali. "Sorry, littlebrother."
Red smoke poured out of the spout, hooking my brother's arms and drawing himcloser.
"No, Zand.Please."
But my brother’s pleas did nothing to change the genie's mind. And in an instant, he was sucked inside the lamp. Little puffs of red smoke steamed out, reminding me of an angrybull.
Karim went wild andscreamed.
“Shhhh,” I told him and he hid underneath apillow.
"Hey, little brother!" Kaza's said, his voice echoing from within the lamp.“Welcome. Let me show you around. Sorry about thesmell.”
I snorted as Zand shoved the treasure back inside my bag. My poor brother was in for atreat.
“No,” I said to Zand. “We must hidethis.”
“Why?” His brows pressed down over his beautiful, fiery, brown-and-redeyes.
“The Collector accumulates magical goods,” I said. “We can’t have this fall into her hands. Otherwise, she will commandyou.”
Zand and Dahvi exchangedglances.
“Very well,” said the red genie. “Where can we hideit?”
