“Do you think we’ll make it out of here?”
“I hope you do. I have no faith I will.”
“I’m sorry for snapping at you about the bugs, Gabe. I’m just exhausted.”
“I’m normally much more patient.” Gabe looked her over then offered what smile he could muster. “Too much on my mind.”
“You’re afraid, too,” she said, studying him. “Gabe, if we don’t make it for some reason, I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“I did it for a man I see as my brother.”
“You keep saying that,” she said and rolled her eyes. “But I think you kinda like me, too.”
“You’re growing on me,” he allowed. “Much like fungus.”
Katie chuckled, and he was almost relieved at the sight of her smile. Her features had grown paler and gaunter under his watch. He feared the underworld would sink her spirit, too. One of them had to have some sort of hope they’d make it out alive.
“Please, Katie, try to get some rest. We’ve barely had any down time since arriving, and you need it,” he said again. “I’ve gotta make sure nothing has found us yet.”
“You need rest, too, Gabe.”
“I’ll rest when you’re safe.”
Another small smile crossed her face, and she sat down. Gabe left her, knowing even if she did sleep, it wouldn’t be long. Death may have ignored their presence in her domain for three days, but something had made her reach out to him now. He knew they’d have problems at some point and only hoped he could get Katie out of the underworld, before his own fate was sealed.
Rhyn approached the boundaries of his newest prison – the one meant to keep everyone else on the Caribbean Sanctuary safe from the magic he couldn’t control. The ocean’s calming rhythm and flavorful breeze made the beach more bearable. Tents had sprung up two nights before, and the two people who could keep his powers from spinning out of control remained at the center of the beach. He was far enough away from the Sanctuary’s fortress not to cause a threat to those there, so long as the two people buffering him stayed close.