Blood Passage (Dark Caravan Cycle #2) by Heather Demetrios Page B

gravel and the sound of things crushing. “I like to kill.”
    Nalia raised her hands, palms out. “So do we.”
    The Ifrit sent a ball of flame toward them before charging. Out of the corner of her eye, Zanari caught a blur of motion. Nalia.
    In seconds she was behind the Ifrit, lacerating his back with razor-thin bursts of chiaan. Her face glowed from the magic within her. It was the first time Zanari had seen Nalia in action. No wonder the Ghan Aisouri were able to rule us so easily.
    The Ifrit soldier didn’t stand a chance. He screamed and as he toppled forward, Nalia drove the point of her dagger into the beast’s neck. First flesh, then bone, gave way.
    Nalia grimaced as the blood poured out, but Zanari kicked the soldier for good measure as she pulled the knife out of the body. She wiped the blood on her pants and handed it to Nalia; one less monster to kill the tavrai.
    Malek was staring at Nalia as though he’d never seen her before. And it was true: he’d never seen this Nalia before.
    â€œLucky for you she granted that amulet,” Zanari said to him. She had no doubt Nalia would have made short work of Malek if she could.
    Malek ignored her and moved toward Nalia. He’d noticedwhat Zanari hadn’t—Nalia’s pale face as she looked down at the dead Ifrit. “Are you all right?”
    This was a different Malek, softer—kind, even. Gods, he really cares for her, Zanari thought with disgust.
    At the sound of his voice, Nalia thrust her dagger back into its holster and gave a toss of her head. “I’m fine.”
    Up ahead, a wall of crimson smoke descended on the souk.
    â€œWe need to evanesce,” Zanari said. The Ifrit were closing in, more than even Nalia would be able to handle—they had to get back to the human section of the medina.
    â€œI can’t.” Nalia gestured to Malek, who stood just behind her. “You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”
    â€œI know the city,” Malek said. “I’ll be fine. Distract them so I can get away and I’ll meet you back at the riad .”
    Nalia glanced from Malek to the Ifrit, then nodded. “Wait until we’ve got them running before you head back.” She turned to Zanari. “Ready to piss off some Ifrit?”
    Zanari manifested a second scimitar so that she held one in each hand. “That’s what I was born for.”
    Malek leaned against the wall and lit a cigarette as though he could care less that highly trained killers were a block away.
    Nalia rolled her eyes. “Let’s go.”
    They evanesced so that they stood on the opposite side of the street, just steps away from a trio of Ifrit.
    â€œLooking for us?” Nalia called to the nearest soldier.
    As expected, he gave chase. Zanari knew Malek was slipping down a side street, safe, while she and Nalia sprinted down a narrow cobblestoned alley, sending painful rays of magic over theirshoulders every few seconds at the Ifrit who pursued them.
    â€œI can’t believe we’re trying to save his pardjinn ass,” Zanari said.
    Fire rained down as the Ifrit closed in on their prey. Nalia directed her chiaan into a well and the water flew out, creating a protective curtain that doused the flames.
    â€œNice,” she said, taking in the wall of water. Zanari shook her head in awe—to have the power to channel every element!
    â€œI need more access to the wind,” Nalia said, motioning to a nearby roof. She evanesced, her body dissolving into the air just as an Ifrit charged through her wall of water. Zanari sent a stream of chiaan into the beast’s chest, an instant kill, then she shifted her body into a cloud of jade smoke and joined Nalia on the roof.
    â€œWell, you’ve made this easy,” a voice behind them said.
    Zanari turned. A group of Ifrit had assembled on the roof, and they hadn’t come alone.
    Goose bumps scattered across Zanari’s skin as she took