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Chapter 12
Intense heat blastedme as the carpet swooped low, providing us with a better assessment of the situation. The swelter didn’t seem to bother the genies. Their affinity for fire probably related to their magicalflames.
Below us, people screamed as they ran into the streets, fleeing their burning homes. Children wailed above the roar of fire.Some appeared to have lost their parents and stood fixed to the spot, obviously too terrorized to move. Many fleeing slum residents were apprehended by palace guards who rounded up the crowds and forced them to their knees. Several of the guards brandished swords, threatening those who tried toescape.
The air rushed from my lungs as if I’d been struck by a hammer. What in Utaara was going on? What were the palace guards doing? Were Ali and Kaza still safe in thelamp?
The carpet landed in a back alley a few lanes from all thecommotion.
"Where is the thief?" I heard one of the guards shout. "She's committed a treasonous crime against thesultan."
Someone whimpered. "I don't know who you're talkingabout."
My whole body froze. They were after me. The guards were tearing apart the city, hunting for the genies and me. Under the vizier’s orders no doubt. That sick bastard had no heart. Burning down the city to fuel his appetite forpower.
Queasiness tumbled insideme.
Ali! Kaza! I had to get tothem.
My brain screamed at me to run to my home. But my heart said otherwise. I had to save these people. Their homes were burning because of me. My heart won out, and my feet obeyed, carrying me forward. But I only made it a few yards in the direction of my home before someone caught me by the arm. Strong arms coiled around my waist and lifted me into theair.
"Let me go, Zand." I kicked and hit him, struggling to getloose.
"You're staying with me," he replied, his voice harsh as he moved measide.
Dahvi’s body set alight with pale fire. He raised his hands as if calling something to him. Thick smoke streamed into the lane, leaving a dense haze, from which I could barely see my own hand in front of me. I coughed and covered my nose and mouth with my shawl. Fire weaved through the smog like a flying snake. Tightness strangled my chest. I shielded my eyes from the intenseheat.
Zand jammed me against thewall.
“What are you doing?” I banged my fist against his chest. “Let me go or we’lldie.”
“Cease your protests,” he said, grabbing my arms, preventing me from fighting. “I’m protectingyou.”
To our right I saw the raging fire and smoke pour intoDahvi.
“No!” My breath hiccupped. I wriggled and kicked Zand, and he squeezed me until my lungs felt as if they might burst. The bond we shared told me the big brute didn’t mean me harm. He just wanted me to calmdown.
The color of Dahvi’s flames intensified as if the fire fueled him. Smoke cleared from the lane. The fire died down until it was nothing but a single flicker in genie’spalms.
Gods.
I glanced up finding no more flames crawling on the rooftops of the shacks in thelane.
Exasperated gasps cried out from theslums.
“The fire,” yelled someone in the next alley. “It’sgone.”
“What?” Zand released me and I raced down to theintersection.
Not a lick of fire or smoke anywhere. Scorched buildings were left in its wake. Confused and sooty faces examined themiracle.
I spun around staring at Dahvi. He'd used his magic to absorb the energy from the fire! I was at his side in aninstant.
“Thank you.” I went to hug him but stopped, unsure if doing so might burn me, but his arms slide around my back and pulled me to him. Luckily he wasn’t any steamier thannormal.
“Come,” said Zand. “Our brothersawait.”
At the end of the alley, we turned left, then took another right until we reached myhome.
