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“Fire in the hole!” Kimi’s voice echoes as a bundle of burning sage sails over my head to land further down the path.

I hold my breath as the smoke fills the hall, and we wait to see what happens. A few of the symbols begin to erode from the stone, not all of them, but enough that our passing will be much easier.

“Kimi, you’re a genius! Keep it up!” I gasp and cough a little at the smell. Ben pulls his shirt up over his nose with a wince.

“I’m so glad you noticed sugartits! This is like Plan B, light, no calories.”

“Mitri, Kimi gets the basket. Ben, would you mind giving him your spare lighter? I think Mitri’s isvintage.” I knew all I had to say was vintage, and Ben would be tripping all over himself to make sure it stayed pristine.

Vendetta:“Umnayadevushka.”

“Still in time out.”

“What are you doing?” Mal’s snarling sounds from behind me while a dark chuckle echoes in my head. It’s not Peacemaker’s tone. I guess hate is Vendetta’s thing.

“I need to focus, so you’re my legs and basket holder,” Kimi says back, and I roll my eyes. I would tell him to be nice to Mal, but who knows how he would interpret it. I’d rather not have to haul a leg-humping Kimi off of him.

The smoke has settled, and I pull Ben back to stand beside Mitri.

“What are you doing?” His voice is muffled by fabric, but his glare is on point.

“Can you see the hexes?” I ask sweetly.

“No, and now I can’t even smell them,” he grumbles.

“Hence the safe spot,” I gesture him farther back.

“I don’t like it,” he says but falls back until we’re a line of misfits pretending to be heroes.

“Me either, but we work with what we have, right?” I ask feebly.

As I maneuver him into place, I realize that Kimi is now getting a piggyback ride from Mal, who is definitely not enjoying being the piggy. Mal’s holding the basketof sage between his giant hands, and it now looks like a small tote. Kimi’s legs can’t wrap around his waist, so his tail is hooked across his chest and shoulder like a seat belt.

“Mal is the perfect flower girl for our vow renewal, don’t you think, wifey?” Kimi grins from over his shoulder as Mal jostles him with a scowl.

“No. We aren’t married. We aren’t going to get married either.”

“You remember the vows. I know you do,” he laughs as I turn away from him and begin eyeing the floor and walls.

“Doesn’t matter. You’re a widow four or five times over at this point. You’re an Investigation Surprise episode waiting to happen.Negativefive of five stars. Do not recommend marrying. I’m leaving a review as we speak.”

Peacemaker:“We can rip his heart out for you.”

“That hurts a lot, and I don’t want that organ anywhere near me.”

“We both know I’m a ten of five stars, sugartits.”

“You’re ten of five stars in bullshit, Kimi,” I begin to pace forward, trying to keep my eyes on a swivel for any random hexes.

“I will watch the ceiling and the right wall,”Mitri’s voice washes through, and I nod in agreement.

With my focus narrowed to two sections instead of everywhere, we move faster with the occasional sage bomb request. Kimi is too happy to oblige.

“Where are they?”I ask the spark as we wait for the latest sage bomb to settle so we can see. Instead of giving me the lifeline laser show I’m expecting, the spark returns to Mal and bounces on his chest.

“Don’t you dare!”I think just as Mitri’s voice comes through sternly,“Nyet.”

“Why are you two staring at me like I kicked your puppy?” Mal asks cautiously.