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“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 likethis.
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 tatteredsofa.
“Karim,” I said to the monkey. “You guard this. Don’t let anyone find it,okay?”
The monkey squeaked hisapproval.
“Good boy,” I said, patting hishead.
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 wererestored.
Dahvi picked up my brother’s pack of cards. “A game to keep usbusy?”
“Yes, please,” I said, rubbing my hands, desperate to distract myself from the task ahead ofme.
* * *
The crunchof 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 caughtme.
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 thedarkness.
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 itsmaster.
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 thatmatter.
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 weneeded.
“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 intoexistence.
Zand brushed a branch away from our path. “I can get us out of here if needbe.”
That was somewhat comforting, but not the answer I’dwanted.
Something howled and growlednearby.
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 chilledair.
Zand wrapped my shawl back aroundme.
Having him as well as Dahvi by my side gave me a few extra bars ofcomfort.
“Thanks,” I said, forcing asmile.
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 inplace.
A few birds shrieked. Wings flapped, and leaves rustled as the birds flewoff.
My body tensed. Something waswrong.
I screamed and elbowed Zand in the stomach. Normally, I wasn’t this flappable, but I felt completely out of my element in thewoods.
He didn’t so much as evengrunt.
“Crap. I’m so sorry.” I kissed his freehand.
Growls from the woods slashed through myapology.
Ifroze.
