Page 25 of Risking Her Heart

“Know?” I ask, looking from him to the other two.

“Come with us, please,” the two Zmaj say.

I turn my head to look at Zas. He rumbles deep in his chest then nods. I cradle my broken arm, and we follow the two Zmaj towards the mini-mountain range. They lead us on a zigzag across the sands instead of straight. It’s odd and I’m not sure why, but I am willing to bet that there are multiple traps that they’re navigating the way through for us.

When we reach mountains themselves, I see that they’re more of a rocky outcrop. Hidden among the crags is a crack large enough for the Zmaj to slip inside of if they turn sideways. The other two go first then Zas nods for me to go next.

Staring at the dark opening I hesitate for a moment. My heart races knowing that we could be walking into a trap. Inside there won’t be much room to maneuver and even if there was, I’m not going to be any good in a fight.

Pushing down the fears, I step into the cool dark. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust and before they do Zas is on my backside. He curls his tail around my waist, and I move ahead more or less blindly.

It’s a short tunnel that ends in a plain stone wall. One of the new guys presses his hand on the stone. A moment later whatI thought was solid stone slides to one side to reveal a smooth, well-lit tunnel.

I glance at Zas, and he frowns, his eyes narrowing, which pulls his horns down. I arch an eyebrow. He grumbles but shrugs. As I step ahead, he puts his hand on my shoulder, tugging me back and to the side. He moves in front, shifting his hand to mine.

We go down the tunnel which ends in another door. When that door opens, I gasp. Five Zmaj wait inside standing in a semi-circle, but they aren’t what causes me to pull up short.

“Jackie?”

18

KATARINA

She smiles, raising one hand and giving a little wave. I’m frozen in place, thoughts racing to figure this out. How? It can’t be. But it’s her. She’s here. And she looks fine.

“Hi Kitty,” she says, using the pet name she used to for me.

She’s the only one I would ever let call me that. Even my mom didn’t use it. That was hers.

“Jax?” I ask, using my nickname for her.

Her smile widens and she nods.

“Fancy meeting you here,” she says, half-laughing but clearly still uncertain.

“You… how… you’re… uh…”

“Yeah,” she says. “I’m here. I’m so… ah, Kitty.”

She rushes forward and pushes past Zas as if he isn’t a seven foot tall imposing wall of muscle. When she throws her arms around my neck, and we come together there is no mistaking, it’s reallyher. The smell of her, the feel of her, it’s my best friend. I’m so shocked that I forget the pain in my arm for the moment.

I couldn’t hold back my tears if my life depended on it. I hug her with my one good arm so tight I must leave bruises, but it doesn’t matter. All this time I’d thought she was dead. Finding her here, alive, is more than impossible. I don’t know what lies beyond that, but this is it.

“It’s you,” I mutter into her neck and hair.

“Yeah, Kitty, it’s me.”

“How? Why here? I mean… did you know I was alive?” Thinking that, an instant of anger flashes faster than a lightning strike, searing everything in its path. I push her away until I’m holding her at arm’s length. “Jax, did you know?”

Now the pain returns, and I groan, cradling it against my chest.

“No, well not until you two were riding up on us I didn’t,” she says, shaking her head.

I narrow my eyes, watching closely for her tells. The crease between her eyes gives her away.

“Jax…” I say.

The eight Zmaj are carrying on their own conversation beside us, but I’m not concerned with them right now. My best friend is alive, and I could not possibly be happier except she’s not telling me everything.

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