His movements paused then continued. “We’re safe.”
The Andre phantom stood behind Gabriel, pointing again for her to leave.
“You’re certain?” she asked.
“I know the Immortal world better than you, mortal.”
“You didn’t sense the demons earlier. I had to tell you.”
Gabriel glanced at her and straightened. He handed her more food and water cubes then motioned for her to seat herself by the fire.
“You need rest,” he said. “I’ll be back.”
Katie rolled her eyes at the gummy cubes before popping several into her mouth. The Andre phantom settled on the opposite side of the fire from her, mirroring her cross-legged position.
“You gonna say anything?” she challenged.
It didn’t, though it did motion to her belt. She looked down at the knife Gabriel had given her. Uncertain, she offered it to the phantom, who shook its head. He motioned to the knife then looked around them.
“You think I’m in danger?” she asked.
It nodded.
“Andre, are you really dead? Or a ghost?”
A faint smile, the first sign of human emotion, crossed its face. It pointed to her other hand – the one holding food cubes - then to the trees.
“Oh, no. Gabe said not to,” she said, frowning.
“Gabe said not to what?” the death-dealer asked as he stepped back into the small camp.
“Nothing.”
“Who were you talking to?”
“Andre.”
The assassin shook his head and crouched near her, warming his hands by the fire.
“Gabe, how much farther do we have?” she asked again with a sigh.
“Not far. I saw the palace when I climbed a tree. Maybe a day or so.”
“I really miss Rhyn right now,” she murmured. “He’d have a way of keeping my mind off of things. I think the demon side of him makes him a better Immortal than people like Kris.”
“Demons are superior to Immortals,” Gabe agreed. “Maybe the half-breed’s demon blood hasn’t weakened him as much as it could.”
Katie looked at him, expecting him to be joking. He didn’t seem to be. She finally allowed herself to admit something about the man helping to save her life: He was acting really strange. Katie stretched out by the fire, exhausted. Gabe leaned across her to grab the bag with his weapons’ polishing supplies. A necklace with two emeralds – identical to the one he’d given her to wear – dangled above her.