“They’re beautiful,” she managed at last. “And creepy. She makes necklaces out of them?”
“She makes whatever she wants out of them. Most of them go in the bottom of the Lake of Souls, where they can find their loved ones and be in peace.”
The idea of emeralds swimming around in a lake was too much for Katie. She felt nauseous again at her overwhelming situation and stopped, leaning against a tree. What she would give for a sip of real water!
“You ok?” Gabe asked, returning through the forest to her side.
“Just don’t feel good,” she said. “And, Gabe, I feel like someone’s following us.”
“I would sense it if so.”
“I’ve felt it since we started out again. Maybe I’m immune to magic here, too.”
Gabriel went still like he did when he was stretching his senses to test their surroundings. She held her breath.
“I sense something, but magic is blocking it. C’mon. We need to leave the forest,” he said, shifting after a long moment. “We should move as fast as you can.”
Her hopes rose as he started forward at a faster pace, until she realized he hadn’t yet abandoned his pursuit of concentric circles. By the time dawn came, she was breathless from keeping up with him, and the jungle looked as if it’d never end.
The snakelike branches overhead were creepier when she could see them in daylight, and the few birds and insects she saw made her shudder. The sense of being followed didn’t leave even in the full light of day.
Gabriel stopped at midmorning, and she sagged against a tree, exhausted. The large death-dealer’s gaze went from their surroundings to her face. She wondered if she looked as tired as she felt.
“Start eating one every couple of hours,” he said, holding out a handful of the food and water cubes.
She grimaced and took them. Gabriel peeled off his heavy jacket as she chewed and watched him. His hands absently traveled over all the places on his body where weapons were hidden and he pulled free a dagger with a jagged edge.
“Stay here,” he said and moved into the jungle. “I’m going to circle back to see what might be there. Rest for a few minutes.”