Finally, a helpful idea. “Yes! Yes. Let’s do that. I’ll wait here in case she shows up.”
Redd planted a quick, firm kiss on my forehead before he hurried in the direction of his new woodworking shop, his strides long and fast.
I kept knocking. And shouting. If I wasn’t careful, I’d start to draw a crowd.
I didn’t care.
“Kizzi!” I shouted again, dragging her name out like I was belting a song. “Open up or my mate will take the door down!”
Still nothing.
I kept knocking.
I had already tried the windows, shoving my fingers in the crevices in an attempt to force my way through, but they were as solid as steel. I doubted even throwing a boulder at the glass would make a scratch.
The tender skin on the side of my hand bloomed into shades of red and brown, swelling angrily.
Eventually, Redd returned, tools in hand and determination clenching the muscles of his jaw.
He got to work.
He hammered, sawed, even pried with a crowbar.
It made no difference. His forehead gleamed with sweat from the effort, and the door did not budge.
Tears threatened to squeeze my throat and prick the backs of my eyes.
“Kizzi, this isn’t funny! Open up!”
Miraculously, as I was manhandling the doorknob in another attempt to break it, the knob turned.
The door swung open.
Kizzi stood there, scrubbing a fist over tired eyes, her hair a wild mass of green tangles and a cloak hastily tugged around her shoulders. “Gods!” she groaned. “Why do you look like that? Who died?”
I shoved my way inside. “You did! We’ve been knocking for hours!”
Redd followed behind me, pulling the door shut with a loud click that raised the hairs on my arms. A slimy sensation slithered over my skin. I shivered.Magic.
“You knocked? I didn’t hear a thing. Did you at least bring tea?”
My jaw dropped open in outrage. “Did I bring tea? I was trying to rescue you from death’s door!”
“I just woke up a minute ago. I’m perfectly fine.”
“Did you miss the part I mentioned about the knocking? For hours?”
Redd interrupted me. “A few minutes, really.”
I glared at him. “Ages.”
Kizzi shrugged. “I must’ve been in a deep sleep. Oh, I increased the protection enchantments on the door and windows, too. That could’ve done it.”
I fought off a surge of annoyance. “You think?”
A sound from Kizzi’s back bedroom snagged my attention. It was somewhere between a trill and a growl—like the purr of a cat. A large, scary cat. Sookie, my own cat baby, had sweet precious purrs. This one was… more.
Kizzi snapped into movement, suddenly looking much more awake. “Oh!”
