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CHAPTER 17

S HADES OF GREEN LEAVES swayed above the wagon as the horses pulled us down the mountainside. I sat next to Zichri, leaning against a trunk. His hand grazed mine as if he were trying to hold it. At home, this sort ofthing never happened. It awakened a tantalizing feeling that swarmed inside of me like bees in a hive brimming with honey, and I liked it. I wove my fingers through his, and his cheeks dimpled.

I told myself, What better way to gain Zichri’s trust?

We hit a bump on the road with a thud and knocked into each other.

Gonzalo peeked over his shoulder, holding the reins. “Sorry, Blas distracted me.”

Blas shouted from next to Gonzalo, “Don’t believe a word he says. The old man is going blind.”

Zichri leaned over my shoulder, his breath brushing against my neck. “Gonzalo can’t see well, but he’ll never admit it.”

“Why do we allow him to drive?” I pursed my lips.

“No one wants to fight him for the driver’s seat.” He rubbed his thumb into my palm, keeping our fingers intertwined. A thick campfire smell lingered on his clothes, drawing me in closer. “We’ve driven down this road many times before, and we’re still alive.”

I forced a smile to my face. The thought of being driven by a blind driver didn’t seem to bother any of the men.

Zichri shook his head at Blas’s laughter. Blas smacked Gonzalo’s back, and Gonzalo grunted. Milo sat across from us, glaring at the scene on the driving bench, not a touch of amusement gracing his face. I hoped he’d take the reins.

Jaime rode on Carmel behind us, gazing at the forest and studying the mountainside. I agreed with Laude—Jaime was the most handsome of the bunch, besides Zichri,of course. Jaime’s eyes reminded me of my papá’s with a mix of green, gray, and brown flecks. Just like the other men, he was tall and strong. But something about his presence calmed the soul. Perhaps, it was that he chose his words carefully or that he remained steady under pressure.

I’d approve of him for Laude, though I’m not sure she wanted my approval anymore. Slumped at the back of the wagon, she screwed up her lips, scrunching her nose. All morning, she had acted out of sorts. She didn’t offer to fix my hair and she knocked over a pail and left it there. I had thought that maybe she didn’t sleep well. She glared at Blas, who glanced over his shoulder, flashing a toothy grin.

The wagon jerked again. My heart leaped. Zichri steadied me by wrapping an arm around my shoulders as he gripped the side of the wagon with his other arm. I breathed in a remnant of the lavender soap from the inn and relaxed against his chest.

“Old man!” Milo pulled himself up to his feet. “If you need me to drive, I’ll take the reins.”

Gonzalo snickered. “You’ll need to wrestle me first, and we both know how that ended last time.”

Zichri leaned close to my ear. “Last time, Milo laid on the floor all afternoon catching his breath. Gonzalo didn’t break a sweat.” The jovial way Zichri nodded inspired a faint chuckle. Back home, my brother and Lux sparred rather than wrestled. Lux said that barbaric people do that sort ofthing. And here I was spending time with—and enjoying—the barbaric sort. Never could I have imagined this.

Laude’s expression dripped with disdain. Her stare could have sent fiery darts in Blas’s direction if she had that power. It was so unlike her to hold a grudge. Yesterday, she had belted tunes and laughed much of the night. I’d fallen asleep before she came to lie on the wagon next to me. What could have changed in that short time?

I patted Zichri’s arm and tilted my head toward Laude. He let go of my hand, and I pulled myself to the back of the wagon bed, next to Laude.

I nudged her side. “You’ve been sour all morning. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She curled the corners of her mouth up and squinted her eyes.

“That’s the most ridiculous smile I’ve ever seen.”

“Go back with Mister Handsome and enjoy his muscular arms.” Her pitch rose as her mouth fell back into a frown. “When we run off, there won’t be any more of that to go around.”

“I agreed to let them take us to the ruins.”

Laude’s jaw dropped. “You didn’t even want them to walk us five paces. Now they’re going with us all the way into the valley? This is the worst day of my life.” She grunted.

I leaned in near her shoulder. “Be civil. We don’t want any stray word giving away our identities.” I pulled away. “Besides, I thought you liked all our companions.”

“I did. Then Blas made a crude joke at my expense. They all laughed at me. Can you believe that? I will never like a Himzo ever again.”

“What of Zichri?”

“He would have laughed too.”

I cringed at the whine in her voice. “Well, what did Blas say that hurt you so?”

Laude turned her face away, crinkling her nose.

Wasn’t she the one so determined to stay with these men that she faked an injury? I gave a mirthless chuckle.

“You laugh at me,” she said in her squeaky voice.

“It’s not—”

“Go enjoy your Himzo and all the hand-holding and hugs and sweet words. He’ll soon be gone when you get your gift.”

Why is she shouting? I flicked my eyes toward Zichri and Jaime, wanting to shake the insolence out of Laude. “Have it your way.”

Jaime feigning interest in the sky. He had to have heard her. In the time I had spoken with Laude, Milo had—somehow—squeezed between Blas and Gonzalo. Blas had part of his bottom on the bench, appearing to hang off the edge. Was this any safer? I clutched the side panel and made my way back to Zichri.

He took me in his arms. “We’re almost there. I’m sure she’ll forget Blas’s joke once she sees the waterfalls. They’re said to have magical properties since the water flows from Valle de los Fantasmas.” He lifted his brows. “We are going to climb the falls to enter the valley.”

I held tight to his arm whilethe wagon pitched and settled again. The idea of finally reaching our destination mixed my emotions into a ball knotted up against my heart. Will we survive? Is this a death sentence for Laude, Zichri, and the others? I tucked wayward hairs behind my ears, brushing away my concern.

Soon I’d possess the one thing I had always wanted … and Lux. He promised to marry me. Would it be everything I had hoped? I sat up straight, causing Zichri’s hand to slip down my itching arm.

Though my skin hadn’t stopped burning, I hadn’t been as bothered by it. My fingers slipped under my collar, and I tugged the fabric over to glimpse the designs on my shoulder. The curve of a faint marking peeked out, unchanged. I released a pent-up breath.

We still had time.