“I’m not discussing the incident formally named ‘Grow a Genie in a Bottle.’”
I have no words. Wait, I do. “You were making mini genies?” I whisper as if it’s some tremendous secret.
He groans. “No, I have a date.”
“And she prefers her genies green and hairless?”
“Not quite. The hair loss wasn’t intentional. The green was a shimmery shade to highlight my eyes.”
“It’s more like smushy peas.”
“You mean mushy peas,” Nash corrects.
“Are they smushed?”
“Fair point.”
“Now I can’t go on my date,” the genie laments. “At least until it wears off.”
I didn’t realize there was a population of genies living their best lives away from the chaos of the realm. I guess they can’t sit around waiting for us to rub them out. That would be boring at best and soul-destroying at worst. I don’t think I could tolerate my own company for more than a diurnal.
“Back to the wish,” he prompts.
I wave him off. “Not today, Greenie.”
“Rude,” Genie snaps and disappears.
Malachi chuckles. I twist my neck from side to side and shuffle my butt in the saddle, gasping at the pain shooting through my back.
“You okay?” Nash asks.
“I think my back and butt are protesting the amount of riding I’m doing.”
He glances at the sky, shadowed by the thick branches rustling in the breeze. “Then we stop for the night.” I open my mouth, and he drops a kiss on it, making my thoughts skitter. He pulls away with a smirk. “We shall see what we can do about the sausage situation.”
“I have a solution,” Hart mutters.
“I think there’s a tavern about a turn’s ride from here,” Malachi says.
“Can you manage until then?” Nash asks with a furrowed brow as I grit my teeth and nod. I’ve endured worse. This is nothing.
I cease my complaining and take to narrating the forbidden forest to distract myself.
“Look at their eyes hiding in the brush,” I say. “They must be bored out here if watching three knights and their murderous maiden is what passes for entertainment.”
“It’s you they are watching, Daphne,” Nash says.
I point at a trio of glowing green orbs. “Real question. There are three eyes. Do they belong to one strange creature? Or three one-eyed strange creatures?”
Malachi leans forward to study them as they follow us. “What if it’s one normal two-eyed creature whose friend lost an eye?”
“Don’t encourage her nonsense,” Hart grumbles.
I gasp. “How sad. I hope that’s not the case.”
Nothing comes out for a closer look, and I think it’s because of the man behind me. They know they are in the presence of someone more terrifying than anything they possess.
Nash’s hand rests against my belly, holding me close and creating a need inside that won’t be satisfied until I have all my knights beside me, dragons included. Well, one dragon in particular. Unless he has offspring with a pretty pink girly dragon. My chest tightens. Theo better not have found someone breathing to rub against. It should take at least an annus to get over and move on from our love.
