The Alchemy of Desire by Crista McHugh

shadow, turning corners to avoid being seen. After several tense minutes, they reached the stables. “Can you help me on my horse, Diah?”
    “Why?”
    “I broke my wrist when I escaped.”
    Diah’s frown shone through the low light while he examined her injury. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
    “We can take care of it when we get past the gate.”
    More shouts filled the fort. Cager slipped into the stable. “The alarm’s been raised. How were you planning on getting us out of here, Oni?”
    “I was hoping to knock out the guards at the gate and get out that way, but it seems I’ll need to change my plan.” She opened the door a crack and stared at the armed guards in front of the closed gate. Lanterns appeared in the street, chasing away the shadows. This didn’t look good. Then she felt something press against her hip from inside her pouch.
    She reached in and pulled out one of the vials of black fire she’d stolen the other night. The dormant flames rippled through the liquid as she held up to the light.
    “Oni, is that what I think that is?”
    She turned to Diah and nodded. “How far do you think you can throw this, alchemist?”
    “What do you want me to hit?”
    “The gate.”
    Diah peeked out the door. “That’s almost a hundred yards.” He took the vial from her. “I don’t know how accurate I’ll be at this distance.”
    Cager cast a glance at the target. “Nonsense, Diah. I’ve seen you knock acorns off a tree with a pebble when we were kids. You can hit that gate.”
    “Fine.” Diah wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her on the pinto. “I’ll feel better if we’re at a run when I throw it though.”
    Annoyance rose in Cager’s voice. “Why are you helping her on her horse?”
    “She has a broken wrist.”
    Cager grabbed her hand and she gasped. “We can’t have the mistress of the plan unable to handle her own horse.” He drew his gun-shaped wand and pressed it against her skin. The orichalcum glowed as he focused his magic through it, and Oni’s head swam from the pain. He was force-healing her.
    When he finished, the pain vanished and she was able to move her wrist without difficulty. “I suppose you have your uses.”
    Diah waited for his brother to mount. “Everyone ready?”
    She nodded. This was insane, but it was their only chance to escape. It was now or never.
    Cager grinned, pointed his wand at the stable doors and blew them away.

Chapter Nine
    The wood splinters flew through the air as Diah’s horse burst from the stables. He held the vial of black fire firmly in his hand and focused on the main gate. Throwing from a galloping horse would add an interesting level of difficulty, but he made up for it by getting closer. He twisted the stopper between his thumb and forefinger, activating the solution, and then hurled it at the target.
    His horse almost threw him when it exploded. Flames licked at the wooden barricade and eroded a hole big enough for all three of them to ride through. Oni streaked past him and he kicked his horse after her.
    Shots rang out around them from the streets and the top of the barricade. The explosion had bought them enough to time to escape into the prairie before the cavalry could mount their horses and follow. They only needed to get out of rifle range.
    A strangled cry sounded behind him over the crack of rifles and the zing of bullets. Diah yanked on the reins to see what happened. Cager’s horse slowed to a trot and his brother slumped forward. “Cager!”
    He lifted his head and winced. A dark stain spread across the shoulder of his shirt. He reached his hand up to the wound to staunch the flow of blood. “Keep going, you idiot.”
    “Not without you, big brother.” Diah snatched the reins of Cager’s horse. “Hold on.” He spurred his horse into a gallop and the other horse increased its strides to keep up.
    Ahead, Oni’s horse ran like the devil himself was chasing her. They continued at that breakneck