Scorched Skies by Samantha Young

for defense Ari miscalculated and only three of the guys were forced onto their backs. The other two merely stumbled and righted themselves quickly. 
    Needing back up, Ari jumped, feet first, letting her body slide along the bonnet of the SUV so she landed on her feet next to Charlie. He immediately shoved her behind him, ignoring her yelp of protest. The two guys rounded the car and Charlie moved to meet them. The taller of the two swung at him and Charlie ducked, throwing a forceful punch into the guy ’ s gut just as the other man ’ s foot swung towards Charlie ’ s hand. Charlie raised his other hand and Ari saw the glow of magic in his palm. The man ’ s foot pulsed against it and fell as if he ’ d hit a cushion with no give. Eyes almost as wide as Ari ’ s, Charlie was distracted by his magic and unfortunately didn ’ t miss the fist that flew into his face. He fell back a little and Ari ran at the guy, throwing a punch so that her magic connected with his face instead of her fist.
    Catching on, Charlie got to his feet and cornered the other guy and together they pummeled the attackers with magical fisticuffs. But it wasn ’ t long before the other three had recovered, and just when Ari thought she ’ d dealt with one guy, another was on her. It was possible her magic was stronger than Charlie ’ s and that ’ s why he appeared tired more quickly than her. It was as if he had to force the magic out. And perhaps that was why one of the guys was able to find a break in Charlie ’ s defense, his huge knee connecting with Charlie ’ s solar plexus. Distracted as Charlie fell to his knees, his face paling like he wanted to puke, Ari made a move towards him to help and didn ’ t see the guy come up behind her. He punched her in the head and her vision cut out for a minute, like lights flickering off and on. She slumped, a sickening pain rushing down her neck and into her legs.
    Something felt hard against her back and the lights flickered back on. Why was the sky in front of her?
    Who is that? she wondered, feeling dazed as a smirking face appeared above her. The guy had dark eyes that glittered scornfully down at her. She felt hands pressing down on her thighs, inching her black dress up. “Master Dalí cannot wait to meet you,” he said as he squeezed her leg painfully. “I can see why.”
    The sky brightened above her and Ari broke free of a hold that had been pressing her arms into the ground, strength surging through her as if someone had injected her heart with adrenaline. The human dudes, Ari, they ’ re attacking you! Ignoring the dull throbbing in her skull, Ari whipped an elbow up and cracked it cross the guy ’ s face while he was still stunned. He cried out, grabbing his gushing nose and Ari pushed him with as much force as she could, channeling magic into it to help her knock him over. She scrambled over him trying to get to her feet and screamed in frustration as strong arms hauled her back, fingers biting bruises into her upper arms as her legs were dragged over one of the captors and back onto concrete.
    “Give me the harmal!” a gruff voice shouted above her head.
    No. She squirmed and concentrated her magic on the man behind him. She heard him wheeze as he struggled to breathe. She was syphoning all the oxygen out of the air around him. Would that have consequences? The worry over that made her fumble and her magic dissipated.
    “Quick! She ’ s trying to kill me!”

Charlie? Where was Charlie?
    “Oh shit!
    As if she ’ d conjured him, a leg swung above her head and the hands fell away from her arms. A strong, familiar hand wrapped around her and pulled her to her feet. She stumbled against Charlie ’ s wide chest. He looked down at her, his face strained with worry and exhaustion. His eyebrow was cut and he was covered in sweat and dirt. “You OK?”
    She shook her head. “I need to learn how to fight.”
    He glanced around at the bodies around them. “You did