Page 34 of Dark Witch: Twin Destinies

As Aru got Julian's attention and pointed at Jasmine, the doctor frowned, pushed away from the table, and walked over.

He checked her pulse and breathing. "You're feeling the effects of the altitude," he said, reaching into his bag and pulling out a small oxygen canister. "Here, breathe this in. It'll make you feel better."

Jasmine took the canister and inhaled deeply, closing her eyes as the pure oxygen flooded her lungs. Almost immediately, the color returned to her cheeks and her breathing became more even.

"Thank you." She handed the canister back to Julian. "I feel better, but that was a temporary fix. What if I need more oxygen?"

Julian smiled. "I brought plenty, and they also sell them here in the general store, so don't worry about it."

Edgar nodded in agreement. "You should pack some canisters in your backpack while trekking."

Aru cleared his throat to get their attention. "Tomorrow morning, Edgar, Jasmine, Dagor, Negal, and I will take one of the helicopters and start our aerial search. We'll fly to the first location we marked on the map and continue in ten-mile intervals. Hopefully, Jasmine's unique research method will point us in the right direction, and if we get lucky, our equipment will pick up the rest."

Aru was mindful of the other guests and staff who were within earshot, and that was why he was using the terms he had. A shrouding sound bubble wasn't advisable when it was obvious that they were being spied on. Their group suddenly going silent would have been even more suspicious than the mention of scrying sticks and alien technology.

Aru turned to the others. "The rest of you will have to stay here, ready to provide support if we need it."

Edgar couldn't imagine what support they could provide, but Aru had probably said that just to make them feel less useless. The only reason that Gabi, Frankie, and Margo had joined them was that they were all newly mated and couldn't stand being away from their mates. Ella had the slim excuse of having emergency response medical training and her ability to assist Julian if needed. Still, the real reason she was here was because of her mate.

Edgar didn't mind—on the contrary. Traveling with a large group was more fun, and the ladies made it look less suspicious.

25

PETER

Aweek and a half had passed since Peter had arrived with Marina in Safe Haven, and things had settled into a comfortable routine. He was making the rounds, patrolling and taking turns in the surveillance room while she worked in the lodge, preparing it for the next retreat that was supposed to start on Friday.

Standing on the sandy shore, he pulled out his phone and thought of an excuse to call her. Perhaps he could tell her the joke Malcom had told him that morning. It was stupid, but Marina would laugh anyway because she did so at all his jokes, and he loved hearing her laughter.

She did that much more often now that she was feeling more secure in their relationship.

"Hello, love, how is work?" he asked when she answered.

"Larissa and I are scrubbing the tiles in the bathrooms. Do you want to help?"

He chuckled. "No, thank you. If you had said you were scrubbing by yourself while wearing a naughty French maid outfit, I would have come running."

"You're such a perv."

"I know. That's why you love me."

It felt so good to say that without thinking twice about it and knowing that Marina would respond in kind.

"I do," she admitted. "And the idea of wearing what you suggested makes me feel all tingly in the right places."

Peter groaned. "You are killing me, woman. I'm on duty, patrolling, and now I have to do the three-legged shuffle."

She laughed. "You started it."

"I did."

"So, what did you call me about?"

"I wanted to tell you a stupid joke I heard."

"Tell me."

"So, this guy goes to see a marriage counselor," Peter said, grinning as he watched the waves crash against the beach. "He tells him that he thinks his wife is poisoning his tea. He even took the tea to a lab, and they confirmed it. The counselor tells him that he needs to go to the police, but the guy refuses. He loves his wife, and he wants to find out why she's trying to kill him."

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