Page 83 of Defying the Relic Hunter

“Kizzy,”he chided.

“Don’t you have a battle to plan, Ethan? I don’t want to interfere with all your manly pursuits.”

With a snarl, Ethan broke our link.

Xenia rolled her eyes. “Males.”

“All that testosterone corrodes their tiny, little brains.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” Xenia agreed, adding hot sauce to her tacos.

No breakfast or lunch made me a very hungry girl. I practically inhaled my food. If I kept missing meals, I might even lose some weight. Yeah, who was I kidding. I examined the menu. Hmmm. Did I go with my favorite fried ice cream or try the sopaipillas or the churros?

“Holy Goddess!” Xenia vanished.

I glanced out the front window. Xenia appeared in the middle of the busy street, grabbed a small girl in a princess dress and teleported away. Its brakes squalling, a semi-truck skidded to a stop. My heart pounded in my chest. “Holy Mary Mother of God, another twenty seconds and they would have been roadkill.”

Holding the little girl tightly to her chest, Xenia reappeared in the restaurant and took a shuddering breath.

“That was too damned close,” I cried.

“I know.” Xenia sat the little girl on a table. “Are you hurt?”

The little girl shook her head.

I stared at her in astonishment. “Ella?”

Ella’s head snapped up. “Kizzy!” She hurled herself at me. “Kizzy.”

I staggered back a step and wrapped my arms around her. “Where’s your daddy?”

“He lost.”

“Don’t worry sweetie, we’ll find him.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” I crossed my heart. “Are you hungry?”

A big smile lit up Ella’s face. “Me want fried ice cream. Please.”

“Chocolate sauce or raspberry?”

Ella giggled. “Chocolate! Lots of chocolate.”

“A girl after my own heart,” Xenia said and headed for the cashier.

“Where was the last place you saw your daddy?”

“At the store.”

“Which store?”

Ella shrugged. “You come me birthday party? Me five.” She held up four fingers.

“Five? Wow. Where’s your daddy holding the party?”

“At the park.”

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