Page 181 of XOXO

I put my hands out in a soothing manner. “Calm down, buddy. We won’t need weapons.”

Cash peered down at his axes and whispered, “Sorry guys,” before re-sheathing them. His now saddened sky-blue eyes wandered back to me. “A mission without weapons seems boring. What the hell are we doing?”

“There are only four days left until the Snow Moon and I have yet to get Ember or anyone else a present.”

Cash’s blond brows shot up his forehead. “Shit! I haven’t gotten Cinder one either. Whatever you’re doing, I’m in.”

“I was going to go to Dazeth to look at books, but without Zayn or Zila, I’ll have no clue what to get.”

“Then where shall we go? Maybe Tessalone? They have the biggest market.”

“I was thinking Mazuria. Cali said I should get something in honor of a Fire Caster. Maybe you’ll find something for Cinder since she’s also one.”

“Sounds good. When do we leave?”

“Now.” I turned and headed toward the foyer, Cash followed behind me. “The women left to go shopping, so that will give us a few hours to really dig our heels into this mission. But you have to keep it a secret. You can’t be telling Cinder when we get back.”

Cash nodded. “My lips are sealed, buddy. Let’s do this!”

I stopped at the front door, my eyes drifting to Cash’s bronzed chest. “You may want to put clothes on first.”

“I can’t help that I’m sexy and people prefer me shirtless.”

He flexed his muscles, his pectorals practically winked at me before he ascended the staircase. His long legs took two steps at a time as he sang, “Off to a mission. Off to a mission,” over and over.

I crossed my arms and sighed, wondering if I should have chosen my sidekick a little more carefully.

Once Cash had dressed, we left the manor and approached the golden platform of the portal. Envisioning the land of Mazuria, our destination, I wielded the portal to go.

Unlike my mate, portal rides didn’t bother me. With the calmness of the wind whipping my hair into a frenzy, accompanied by dancing lights sparkling across my eyes as my body was hurled from one land mass to another, the fleeting time was tranquil.

A few seconds later we landed on the only part of Mazuria that was sandy—a beach right next to the ocean.

Both of us gave a nod to the portal guards when we exited before heading down the dirt path into town.

When we approached the market, which was packed with last-minute shoppers searching for gifts for their loved ones, my nervousness tripled. I was hoping there were still things available for me to buy.

With the excitement of a child, or possibly a puppy, Cash burrowed his way through the crowd to the first stand that caught his attention. I hesitantly followed, apologizing to everyone he’d shouldered his way past.

Cash held up a cast-iron pan next to his face, which beamed with pride. “What about this for her?”

Considering his mate loved to make food, and mine would rather be fighting—or gouging her own eyes out—I shook my head. “Ember doesn’t cook, but Cinder does.”

Cash looked at the pan again before nodding. “You’re right. I’ll get it for her.”

My eyes swiftly glanced at the different cookware options the seller offered. Knowing Ember wouldn’t make use of them, I decided to part ways for now.

“I’m going to walk a few booths down and see if I can find anything there.”

Cash ignored me, picking up a giant stock pot, holding it out like he was weighing it with his enormous hands. I shook my head with a laugh before turning away.

Random people bumped into me as I strolled past a booth filled with spices and another with herbal medicine, but nothing got my attention enough.

“Would you like to purchase a sapling, my lord? All proceeds go to charity.”

I stopped walking and eyed the small oak trees the old lady was selling.

“These are going to be huge. What would I do with one?”

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