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control like that. Ever.
    Avoiding his question, I lay my head on his chest. For the few micro-moments when he held me, all my fears disappeared. He stroked my hair, trying to tame the wind-blown strands, and then held me at arm’s length. As though he were capturing my image and hoarding it away into his soul, Khaldon’s devilishly defiant, verdant eyes traced every line of my face.
    I returned the heartfelt exchange and cupped my hand against his cheek, searching for additional strength to channel and absorb. His black silken pharaoh-like strands spread across my hand as the winds stirred in the ocean breeze. My thumb caressed the sharp line of his jaw and pulled down his lower lip, revealing his intense grin. I tucked his thick locks behind his ear and leaned in close, wrapping my arms tight around his torso. He returned the gesture. I closed my baby blues once again and listened to his steady heartbeat as though nothing in the world could alter the rhythm.
    We slowly walked back toward the boat, and I eased into the welcomed embrace under Khaldon’s arm. Arriving back at camp, we watched as Briggs held the cigar out for Ludovic and stole it away as soon as the tobacco got close enough to his mouth.
    I shook my head again … boys.
    I stepped up to the pile of guns and tools next to the sandcastle and picked up a firearm. Not really sure of what I was looking at, I picked up a sizable pistol. “Okay, gents. I need some help. Who wants to show me how to shoot this thing? I’m not going in there without knowing I can handle the gun and not kill you at the same time.”
    Khaldon, Briggs, and Ludovic stared at each other, exchanging volumes of conversation with their eyes without ever saying a word.

Chapter Three
    A fter a long period of silence , I broke the peaceful sounds of the surf and nesting birds and defended my request. “Look, guys—I don’t want to end up being the Warning: Do Not Enter sign to other people who come upon my head impaled on a spike.”
    They checked one another again to give credence to my concerns.
    “Ever since Amicula betrayed us, I don’t trust anything that has to do with her or her minions.” I studied the weapon in my hands, wishing there was an owner’s manual I could download into my brain like in the movie Matrix . “Guys, I need to be able to operate this weapon with confidence, or I shouldn’t be going. Period.”
    Khaldon grinned from ear to ear. “Fair enough. You won’t see me arguing. Chicks with guns. Totally hot in my book. Let me prep the 9mm for you and we’ll do some practice rounds until Torch and Harris arrive.”
    Briggs pulled out his own 45 auto pistol and showed me the inner workings of the firearm. “Chey Chey, you have a point about dzhe queen’s niece, I don’t trust her either. But it sounds like you’ve been watching too many ’orror movies again.”
    “I think my imagination just has the best of me. I shouldn’t have watched that cannibal zombie TV show last night.” Why did my sisters and I have to be obsessed with horror movies?
    I hugged my arms to my chest hoping to find safety within their grasp. “Impaled meat hooks through women’s breasts. Natives hacking through skulls to eat their captive’s brains—I just can’t handle the imagery.”
    Intuitively on cue, Briggs’ stomach thundered beside me and he licked his lips.
    I scrunched up my face, eying him warily. “This isn’t funny, and there’re sandwiches in the cooler if you’re hungry.” My hands kneaded my temples once again, trying to evade the headache. “Why couldn’t I have settled for watching Must Love Dogs or some other romantic comedy instead?”
    “ Ma chére, do not fear. Khaldon’s right.” Briggs patted my arm and placated me with a Don’t Worry, Be Happy smile. “Most likely, dzhe Rakshasa will be drunk with fermented drinks praising their goddess tonight. Dzey’ll never know we were dzere.” Briggs cocked the firing pin into place, and then fired at