Page 105 of Lethal Souls

She gives me a nod and a warm smile.

“Willow!” Maia runs my way, throwing her arms around my waist. I laugh, holding the urn up a bit as Minka joins her. They bury their faces into my stomach, and Hassha laughs, grabbing the urn from me so it doesn’t fall out of my hands.

“Hi, girls.” I squat and hug them back.

“Do you want to collect seashells with us?” Minka asks. “Blackwater has the best kind.”

“Will you? Please?” Maia pleads with rosy cheeks.

I laugh. “Sure.”

“I’ll have this delivered to your home,” Hassha says, gesturing to the urn.

“Thanks.”

“Yes!” Maia hisses, elated. “Come on.” They grab my wrists and drag me across the field.

“Make sure you’re careful in the water,” Hassha calls after us.

“Don’t worry,” I call back. “I’ll keep an eye on them.”

Hassha sends me a grateful smile before handing the urn to Milandra and then facing Danica. The last thing I see before we’re dipping between the trees is her placing both hands on Danica’s shoulders.

When we’ve passed a thicket, Minka says, “Where’s Caz?”

Maia instantly blushes, and I suppress a smile. She still has a little crush on him.

“He’s around,” I answer, not really knowing myself. “Somewhere.”

“Why aren’t you with him?” Curiosity burns in Maia’s voice.

“I was training with your aunt Korah.”

“Why wasn’t he training with you?” Minka tosses in.

“I think he’s busy.”

“Are you mad at him?” Maia asks, a splash of sadness in her eyes.

“What? No!” I laugh, squeezing her hand when she slips it in mine. “We’re fine. Don’t worry.”

“Are you certain?” Minka asks, inclining her chin. “Because I have my sword in my tent, and I can give him a slice or two if he’s upset you.”

I bust out laughing. “I thought you liked Caz.”

“I do. But I don’t like to see you sad.”

I hesitate. “I look sad to you?”

“A little,” Maia quips, giving my hand a squeeze.

“Oh.”

We near the shore, and when their toes hit the sand, they take off, instantly searching for shells. I’m relieved because I swear those girls can read minds just like their mother.

Hell, maybe they can but they aren’t fully aware of it yet.

I let the thought go and slip out of my shoes, ready to join them until I see a burst of white light in the sky. A dark figure appears like a splotch in the light and hurtles toward the shore.