Back at home, my troubles came flooding back. Furniture was overthrown. The lamp busted. Cushions tossed onto the floor. A plate smashed.

My heart caught in my throat. Gods! Had the vizier’s guards ransacked my place and taken the genie and my brother? Breathing was close to impossible as I tip-toed through the mess that was once my hovel.

“Ali! Where are you?” My voice quivered.

Karim jumped up and shrieked at me pointing to the kitchen counter. His eyes were wide and startled. I crushed him to my chest.

A grunting sound from deeper inside. Hope flared in my chest. Someone was alive. Ali!

On the kitchen floor, I found Zand and Ali in a tangle of limbs, roughhousing, shoving each other, and making guttural noises. Neither of them wore a shirt or vest. Both were covered in a sheen of sweat. Ali had the genie in a headlock and pinned to the ground.

“Submit. Submit!” my brother yelled and laughed.

“All right, you win,” said Zand, his abdomen tight and showing off his abs. “Again.”

I glanced at Dahvi, who stood there watched them, running his fiery pendant up and down his necklace, and grinning.

What the heck was going on here? Exactly how long had they been wrestling like this? A rush of panic clawed at my insides. Did the monster of a genie hurt my brother? Ali was in no condition to be messing around. Where had all this strength come from all of a sudden? He'd been so weak for so long. Was the genies’ magic somehow breathing new life into my brother?

“What are you doing?” I snapped. “Ali, you’re sick. Why aren’t you in bed? Who busted up the house?”

Ali and Zand both glanced up and then collapsed onto the floor, laughing.

Karim started moaning nervously in my arms. He always did that when I told him off. The poor little thing thought I was yelling at him. I stroked his head and hugged him.

“I feel better.” The cough that followed Ali’s words told me otherwise, and I narrowed my eyes in his direction.

"You were gone for a day,” Ali said with a shrug as if it wasn’t a big deal. “We were bored. Messing around."

Clutching Karim in one arm, I grabbed Ali with the other to check for bruises. "You could have hurt him," I barked at Zand.

"Azar." Ali removed my hands away gently. Our gazes met. Annoyance flickered in his eyes. “I’m not a kid anymore. Stop fussing over me.”

My heart sank. He'd never pushed that before. We’d always been so close. He leaned on me. Relied on me. And I him. Now, it felt as if a crack had opened in the ground between us.

Zand gave me a kiss on the cheek before picking up the shards of broken ceramic from my plates. “We’ll fix this in no time. Don’t worry.”

Heat scaled down my neck.

Damn, that genie. I wanted to punch him right in the nose. My brother could have been seriously injured.

My hands fisted. “You just need to be careful, Ali.”

A long cough rocked through him and had me reaching for him.

Zand gave my brother a good thump on the back, as if to help Ali clear his chest. It worked, and my brother stood straighter and smiled.

"Your brother's been cooped up for too long," said the red genie, flicking his long mane over his shoulder. "My mother used to tell my father that a little fun is good for the inner flame. Revives it." He thumped his chest with a fist.

My eyes lingered on the spot where he’d hit himself. I ought to be pissed at him, but damn him and his logic…and his sexy-as-hell chest. Maybe having the genies around served as a good distraction from Ali’s poor health.

Dahvi put his hands on my shoulders and squeezed, massaging the taut flesh. I brushed him off and restored the fallen lamp to its original position.

Part of me was joyous that Ali had taken to the genie. He'd always wanted a brother. When Ali was younger, he would play in the streets with the other boys in the slums. As a teen, his health had fluctuated, which had made it difficult for him to keep friends to play with. I guess I was grateful that Zand had entertained my brother. But part of me couldn't get past the bitter sting of Ali’s rejection. I couldn’t lose him like I'd lost my mother. If I did, I’d have nothing.

Maybe I was being ridiculously overprotective, like a momma bear. Ali was a grown man. In a few years, he'd make a home for his own family. Where would that leave me? A penniless thief and alone.

Ali's muscles shook hard as he righted the tattered sofa with Zand. My heart screamed to go and help him, but my brain told me otherwise. Let my brother be a man.

Karim scrambled from my arms, and leaped onto the sofa where he bounced around. Ali laughed and gave his head a ruffle.

Dahvi tossed some cushions onto the sofa.

"Where's Kaza?" asked Zand as he restored the lopsided cart that made up our dining table. "Did he get his medicine?"

I couldn't utter a word past the hurt still jammed in my throat.

Dahvi answered for me. "The ferret’s leaf tea didn’t work on Kaza. He’s in the lamp."

"Give it to me," growled Zand.

I removed the lamp from my bag, but it zapped me the moment Zand touched it.

The genie cupped the brass object and lifted it to his face. "Don't worry, brother. I'll find a way to save you."

A puff of yellow smoke hit Zand square in the eyes.

"I’ll toss you in the flames of noruze for that, Brother." Zand shook the lamp really hard, as if there was liquid inside and he was mixing it up.

Ali bent over laughing.

Kaza yelled something in what I assumed was djinn language. Most likely a curse or something. Served him right. That smoke stank distinctly of fart.

“Gods,” said Ali, holding his nose. “That reeks.”

"Believe it or not," said Dahvi, opening the door for some fresh air. "That's Kaza’s way of thanking us."

That lifted my spirits a little, and I snorted with laughter. Genies had a weird way of thanking each other.

"Sexy, Master." Kaza's discombobulated voice piped from the lamp.

Gods. He was loopy if he thought my snorting was attractive.

“A little taste of his own medicine.” Zand smiled, revealing a perfect row of straight white teeth as he farted into the lamp’s spout and jammed a finger over it.

A series of pounds on the side of the lamp sounded.

I snorted a laugh again.

“Not funny, Master,” Kaza moaned, his voice distant and echoing.

Gods. I was lucky I only had one brother to deal with. A whole household of men meant too much testosterone, and competition stained the air.

I accepted the lamp and returned it to my bag, wondering how Kaza was doing. Was he in pain? Did he need anything? I assumed he would have said something if he was too uncomfortable. But, hey, I wasn’t a guy, and I didn’t understand the whole tough-act thing.

After that little fart and wrestling exchange, it was time to get serious and plan our next move to get the magical sands Kaza needed before it was too late. Two days had passed since we had escaped the vizier. Time wasn’t on our side, and it wouldn’t be long before the creep and his guards found us.

"Zand." I grabbed him by the forearm, needing to discuss the next steps. "My friend, the healer, says Kaza needs something called the sands of Katar. Nothing else will heal a magical creature."

Zand loomed over me, sending my pulse into orbit. I stared right into his perfect chest muscles. My tongue itched to lick and bite them.

Gods, woman, control yourself. We have a mission here!

Zand put his vest back on, meaning my eye candy wasn’t so visible, and my focus could at last realign.

"Where do we find these sands?" he asked.

Dahvi huddled with us. "We were told a woman known as The Collector in the Darkwoods might possess the sands."

Ali joined us as if he felt left out.

Zand rested a huge arm on my brother’s head and rubbed his armpit on my Ali’s hair.

Ali hit the genie. "I hate being short," he grumbled.

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 and Dahvi.

Zand's eyes narrowed. "Where is this Darkwoods?"

"A day’s trek," I replied, using every ounce of control not to grab those huge biceps. 

"That's too far for the master on foot with her ankle," said Dahvi.

Damn straight! My ankle still hurt but not as much as yesterday, thanks to the tea Scarlet had given me.

"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 to leave.

"Can I come with you guys?" asked Ali. "I've never been to The Darkwoods."

Neither had I. Rumors spoke of strange creatures and an evil queen dwelling there.

"Sure," said Dahvi, wrapping an arm over Ali's neck.

"Nooooo." I tried to drag my brother back to his bed by his arm, but he yanked himself free.

"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 his words.

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 on him.

I swallowed hard to dislodge the boulder caught in my throat. "You're staying here. Dahvi, Zand, and I will go get the sands."

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, little brother."

Red smoke poured out of the spout, hooking my brother's arms and drawing him closer.

"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 angry bull.

Karim went wild and screamed.

“Shhhh,” I told him and he hid underneath a pillow.

"Hey, little brother!" Kaza's said, his voice echoing from within the lamp. “Welcome. Let me show you around. Sorry about the smell.”

I snorted as Zand shoved the treasure back inside my bag. My poor brother was in for a treat.

“No,” I said to Zand. “We must hide this.”

“Why?” His brows pressed down over his beautiful, fiery, brown-and-red eyes.

“The Collector accumulates magical goods,” I said. “We can’t have this fall into her hands. Otherwise, she will command you.”

Zand and Dahvi exchanged glances.

“Very well,” said the red genie. “Where can we hide it?”

“Here,” I said, crossing the room and shifting the mattress aside to reveal a loose piece of concrete. I stuck a finger under it and lifting it to reveal a cavity I’d hollowed out for items like this.

Zand rested the lamp in the space, and I replaced the concrete to conceal it. “Let’s leave at nightfall,” he said, taking a seat on my tattered sofa.

“Karim,” I said to the monkey. “You guard this. Don’t let anyone find it, okay?”

The monkey squeaked his approval.

“Good boy,” I said, patting his head.

I sat beside Zand, his breadth squashing my right side against the armrest, but I quite liked him pressed against me. My foot tapped with impatience. What were we going to do in the meantime? I wanted to leave now. Heal Kaza and camp somewhere safe until all the genies’ powers were restored.

Dahvi picked up my brother’s pack of cards. “A game to keep us busy?”

“Yes, please,” I said, rubbing my hands, desperate to distract myself from the task ahead of me.

* * *

The crunch of leaves and twigs told me my genies were close. Thank the gods. Moonlight failed to penetrate the thickened canopy of The Darkwoods. Eerie shadows reached out for me like a monster’s claws. Even with my eyes well-adjusted to the dark, I could barely see a damn thing. My foot rammed into a log, and I stumbled. Zand was fast on his feet and caught me.

I glanced up into his eyes. The red in them flickered. For one instant, I was filled with the overwhelming desire for him to kiss me. But he set me on my feet and kept walking. My shoulders sagged as I continued deeper into the darkness.

We had waited for the cover of night to leave. Not ideal, considering that was probably when most creatures in the Darkwoods came out to hunt, but, hey, the darkness shielded us from any eyes as we’d taken to the skies on Dahvi’s magic carpet. Now the rug floated a few feet behind its master.

A glow erupted to my left, casting more shadows across our path. Zand’s palms blazed with pale flames. The light wasn’t exactly ideal. It was a beacon for all things that went bump in the night. But I didn’t like the idea of stepping on something sinister. Rumor had it The Collector had unleashed all sorts of creatures on her land. Poisonous snakes and insects. Flesh-eating unicorns. Blood-thirsty worms that lived underground. This was the one place in Haven that I did not want to step foot on in the dark…or in the light of day for that matter.

But if this trip was going to heal Kaza and help Ali, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I just hoped my heart lasted long enough for me to get in and out of the woods alive with the magical sands we needed.

“Your magic is slowly returning,” I said to Zand. “What else can you do?” Behind my question, what I really asked was if he was strong enough to poof me the cash I needed into existence.

Zand brushed a branch away from our path. “I can get us out of here if need be.”

That was somewhat comforting, but not the answer I’d wanted.

Something howled and growled nearby.

I spun around, and my shawl fell off my shoulders. My entire body was taut, on high alert. I didn’t like this place one bit. Put it down to being seriously out of my element and in strange territory. I shivered from the cool and moist air gripping me like icy fingers. The cooler climate didn’t serve me, even if the desert winds at night carried chilled air.

Zand wrapped my shawl back around me.

Having him as well as Dahvi by my side gave me a few extra bars of comfort.

“Thanks,” I said, forcing a smile.

Branches grazed my skin like witch’s fingernails, and I yelped, bumping into him. He wrapped an arm around me, clutching my waist. Warmth spread through me, chasing away the chill of the forest. The comfort of his arms distracted me from the sudden silence sticking to the air. The shrill cry of crickets, so prevalent a short time ago, had fallen still. All the hooting had stopped. Not even a wind blew, and it seemed as if the trees had frozen in place.

A few birds shrieked. Wings flapped, and leaves rustled as the birds flew off.

My body tensed. Something was wrong.

I screamed and elbowed Zand in the stomach. Normally, I wasn’t this flappable, but I felt completely out of my element in the woods.

He didn’t so much as even grunt.

“Crap. I’m so sorry.” I kissed his free hand.

Growls from the woods slashed through my apology.

I froze.

Zand stood like a bear on hind legs—stiff and ready to attack.

Dahvi held his arms tight to his body, scanning the forest.

A nasty smell washed over me. Fur, dirt, and urine. The marked territory of some animal. Red eyes blinked in the distance amid the trees. Not just one. Six pairs. Judging by the height of their eyes, they stood taller than wolves. Probably deadlier, too, if they had anything to do with The Collector.

“The Collector’s beasts,” I whimpered.

Zand and Dahvi remained taut and alert.

Claws raked along the ground, the sound of a beast threatening to pounce if we took another step.

A growl rumbled.

Two of the beasts charged. Their pounding footsteps told me they were huge.

I backed up, straight into a tree.

The weak glow from the genie’s flame illuminated the attacking creatures. All fangs. Horn for a nose. Clubbed tail with spikes. Covered in hair all but on their back, which was covered by a rock-hard plate.

The animal to the left launched at Zand. He was much faster and dodged the attack, deflecting the beast with a fist to the face. The creature struck a tree and hit the ground with a thud. It whined and stumbled to its feet.

I gasped, surprised that the genies possessed immense strength, too.

The animal limped into the darkness.

My throat tightened. I didn’t like seeing any living thing get hurt. But if it came down to my life or theirs, I knew what I’d choose.

The second beast charged.

Dahvi drove the creature back with a punch to its ribcage. Branches cracked from the impact. Gods, he was fast.

A short, savage roar exploded from my right. I flinched.

This time, an entire pack of the beasts crashed forward, filling the space between me and genies.

I glued myself to the tree, not moving, barely taking a breath.

The genies delivered blow after blow, repelling the monsters. One bounced across the ground, coming to a stop against a log. Another got launched through the air and stuck in a hole in a tree trunk. A third hung limp from a branch. The fourth shot straight up and never came back down. This left only one—the largest, most formidable-looking one, which I assumed had to be the alpha. An uppercut from Dahvi knocked it out cold.

“Enough!” said a commanding, feminine voice.

The beasts retreated into the shadows.

I glanced around but found no one.

Zand and Dahvi spun as if they’d heard something I hadn’t.

I followed their gazes up into the canopy.

“What are you doing in my land?” Darkness concealed the speaker.

I’d bet my life it was Red, also known as The Collector. My ears pinpointed her location—a branch fifty feet to my left.

It felt like quicksand stuck to the roof of my mouth, and I couldn’t get a word out.

Zand took charge of the situation for me. “If you are The Collector, we’ve come to bargain for the sands of Katar.”

A woman dressed in a long green robe stalked farther out along the branch upon which she stood. The bowstring she pulled taut creaked, her loaded arrow aimed at Zand. I wondered if he was fast enough to catch an arrow she launched at him?

What kind of way was this to greet a potential customer who intended to trade with her? Only a crazy person would set their beasts on someone, and then threaten us with a lousy bow. And after what she’d witnessed the genies do? Damn…the girl had some balls. Perhaps she wasn’t so willing to negotiate now that my genies had kicked her beasts’ asses.

Shock rattled through me like a freight train when the robe slipped from her head, revealing her face. I had expected a hideous hag or worse. But she was the opposite. At about five feet three, she stood a little shorted than me. Red curls cascaded over her shoulders. Pale skin glowed red from Zand’s palm fire. Her full lips were the color of roses, and she had curves in all the right places on her toned physique.

Sure, I wasn’t bad to look at, with my lean figure and dark features. But this girl was beautiful. I shouldn’t be jealous, but that emotion flared awake inside me.

Her posture shifted; she pushed her shoulders back and straightened her neck. “You fools couldn’t afford the sands of Katar.”

Talk about sassy. Guess you had to be in a career like hers to have such attitude. Add to that little fact that they we were also trespassing on her lands. Guess she had a right to be a bit rude.

“How much do you want for the sands?” I asked.

“Ten thousand markos,” she replied.

I almost fainted. Who had that kind of cash? Not even Ali’s medicine cost that much.

Zand circled her tree like a tiger sizing up its prey.

Not a hint of fear crossed her face.

“Once you heal our brother,” said Zand. “We will pay whatever you ask.”

Her green eyes didn’t stray from the fire in his palms. Hunger for power rolled in her eyes.

“We pay amply,” Dahvi mumbled, his gaze glued to the rise and fall of her perfect breasts.

Fire boiled in the pit of my belly. I’d expect such behavior from Kaza, not Dahvi. But then there was the tiny part of me that couldn’t blame him for gawking. Her breasts were perfect, and this wasn’t the time for me to allow the crazy, green-eyed monster to take over—actually, there was never a good time for that, but especially not now. We had people to save.

The words that came from Red’s perfect mouth hit me like a blow to the guts. “Money upfront or no deal.”

Just as fast as she had appeared, she vanished into the gloom.

My heart sank to the bottom of my chest. We were screwed. “Let’s go,” I said and turned around.

But Zand wasn’t about to give in so easily. “I have something far more valuable to barter,” he called out.

A response from The Collector came out of the shadows. “Oh, yeah? Like what?”