“Wait, what?” I snap. “There’s an expiration date on my wishes?”
Genie lowers his head. “No, I lied. But I feel if I don’t stretch my powers, I might get rusty. So when you really need a wish, I might be off.”
“Can you do magic without wishes?” Hart asks as he strides over to where I’m sprawled on the ground, keeping all the pressure off my floof.
“A little, yes. Iamthe genie.”
“Then stretch your magic that way. We have enough chaos happening without suffering the consequences of your wishes right now.”
The genie sighs. “Fine.” He flicks his fingers and tiny tendrils of pink glitter skitter across the ground and explode into a flurry of pink flowers.
“Pretty,” I muse.
“Thank you,” the genie says with a bow.
War cries break through the air, making me and Malachi jolt to our feet. Okay, he jolts and I fall, but he catches me, so that’s a win.
“Who goes there?” Hart snaps as we back into a circle.
Whispers of dread curl around me, making the chill in the air sink into my bones.
“It is I, it is us, it is we. The forgotten, the frozen, the fearsome creatures that make the hairs on your arms rise. We are the ones your mother warned you about.”
“My mother warned me about men with perfect hair and witches offering sweet treats.”
“Maiden fair, maiden strong, maiden of the song.”
“Got to love it when they speak in riddles,” Hart growls. “Makes them seem so scary.”
He doesn’t sound in the slightest bit scared. In fact, he sounds amused, which is a worry given he’s rarely amused.
Something launches into the air, and a split tempo later, a sticky net covers us. Malachi growls and tries to drag it from him, but it only clings to him tighter.
Theo shifts at my back, and I sense he’s about to dragon out.
“Don’t,” Nash advises. “We are too close. You’re more likely to hurt us than save us.”
“I wouldn’t struggle, it only makes my web shrink to contain you.” Out of the forest, a spider twice the size of me crawls out, its many many eyes scanning over us with delight.
“That is not creepy at all,” Hart says.
“I don’t like spiders,” Genie mutters before disappearing.
“Coward,” I mumble.
“Now, I do so hope you’ll stay for dinner. My children are starving,” the spider declares.
That doesn’t sound so bad.
“It means we are the food,” Theo corrects me.
I blink at the spider and fold my arms. “That’s rude. I’m hungry, and I didn’t threaten to eat anyone.”
“I volunteer,” Malachi drawls.
I roll my eyes, and the spider hisses. “Have you no self preservation?”
“Us, yes,” Hart answers. “Her, not so much.”
