Shimmer Read Free

warmly from her exposed bellybutton.
    When he finally lifted his eyes back to meet hers, she saw a new knowledge in them. A small twist of fear wound its way up her spine. Perhaps he wasn’t as dimwitted as she had supposed.
    His eyes widened in astonishment. ‘Are you a genie?’

you wish
    The stupid boy slapped his hands on his thighs and let out a great whoop of delight. ‘I can wish for anything? Anything at all?’
    Kora shrugged. ‘You cannot wish to harm or change any human.’
    She wondered if he was really even listening to her. His eyes were glazed and he was alternating between shaking his head in apparent disbelief and letting out great whooping sounds.
    â€˜There’s really no limit?’ The words tumbled out of his mouth fast. ‘I can wish for as much stuff as I want?’
    She took a deep, slow breath and nodded. She really hated humans.
    â€˜Okay,’ he said. ‘I wish for … a motorbike. A Honda XR650.’
    Her magic stirred and the heavy gold bands that glowed on her wrists and ankles tightened. It was an uncomfortable sensation, as if she wasn’t in complete control of her own power. Her magic seemed to flood her body the moment he said ‘I wish’, but then just flowed directionless until she took control of it. Not that a motorbike required much magic.
    She waved her arm and a huge motorbike appeared before them. The relief was instant. The heavy bands remained, but loosened their grip, and she rubbed absently at her wrists.
    The boy gaped at the huge bike. ‘I can’t believe it. You really are a genie!’ He stepped forward to run his hand lovingly across the engine. ‘It’s a four stroke. Air cooled.’
    She rolled her eyes. Not only was he human, but he was a human boy.
    He swung a leg over the seat and gripped the handlebars. Then turned his head and grinned at her. ‘I wish for the keys.’
    A quick tightening of her bands and the keys materialised in the ignition. He revved the engine and the bike rocked on the spot like a restless horse at the starting gate. The bike seemed big and heavy, even for a boy his size. Maybe he would fall off and kill himself. She sniggered. That would unharness her.
    She thought he might have said something but she could not hear him over the racket the bike was making. With a look of determination he kicked out the stand and leaned forward over the bike. A twist of his hands and he had roared off in a cloud of dust across the barren land.
    Within seconds she felt the tug on her wrists and ankles. He was building up speed and the invisible bond between them tightened painfully. The bands dug deep into her flesh and the next thing she knew, she was being dragged along the hot, hard ground after him, forcing her to use her magic to protect herself.
    The boy didn’t get very far on his bike before there was an almighty thud and they came to a sliding stop. She looked up to see him lying on the ground clutching the burn on his arm. The bike was on its side, engine still running and sending up angry clouds of dust.
    They were still too far apart. Her wrists and ankles were torturously painful. The boy was looking at her. He staggered to his feet and lumbered toward her. The relief was bliss.
    He slumped down on the dirt next to her. He carefully lifted his hand from the blistering welt on his arm as if he wanted to be sure the pain wasn’t about to come to life again.
    â€˜So what on earth was that?’
    â€˜Whilst I am your genie we cannot be more than a hundred metres apart.’
    â€˜You mean you have to be hanging around all the time?’ His expression was horrified. ‘What if I want some privacy?’
    â€˜Then you can wish to unharness me.’
    â€˜Unharness you?’ His eyes narrowed suspiciously. ‘Like, set you free?’
    A small flicker of hope fluttered in her belly at the word ‘free’. ‘That is correct.’ She could