Jolie snuggled against something comfortable and warm. A sweet note tinged a subtle spicy flavor, teasing her senses. But then her pillow moved.

She tensed and opened her eyes. Hans’s chest slowly raised, then lowered, her head moving with the lulling motion, his arm under her.

Something moved against her backside.

Jolie eased up and peered over. Johnny lay behind her, the three of them tucked into a pantry.

A slight creak caught her ear. She perked, straining to listen. A door rattled.

Her stomach coiled as she reached over and nudged Hans. He didn’t wake. She faced him and shook his shoulder. Nothing.

Jolie leaned over him and grabbed hold of both shoulders and shook.

His eyes flew open as his hands shot up and knocked her wrists to the sides, sending her crashing onto his chest, her cloak billowing around her. When her mouth nearly touched his, heat flared in her and her cheeks burned.

He stiffened beneath her, his breath warming her mouth.

A loud crack split the silence.

His eyes widened in the dim light peeking from beyond the pantry.

Jolie sat upright, and he followed.

“Stay,” he mouthed.

She gave a small nod and moved out of his way while he got to his feet.

He snapped his fingers. Johnny bolted upright, whipping out his crossbow.

Wood splintered as a heavy wooden door gave way.

Words filled her head, and she whispered a spell.

Eerie, hushed, scratchy voices picked up. Images of huge decomposing hounds filled her mind. She changed spells and lit them on fire, using her magic to sense where the intruders were.

“Jolie,” someone whispered in her ear, but the spell wove itself in and out in her mind.

“Dear, you can stop now.”

Just a little more and the beasts would be completely incinerated.

“Forgive me.”

Soft lips pressed against hers and started moving.

Warmth billowed from her core, and she moved her mouth, pushing and pulling, needing more than the gentle kiss offered.

The mouth holding her captive stopped, leaving her chest heaving, her breaths ragged, and moved away.

Jolie blinked, her spell gone. Desire flickered in her, and heat consumed her face. A kiss. One so sweet and enticing.

Her gaze fell to Hans’s inviting mouth. Why’d he stop?

Wait. He’d called her name. Her heart fell. Maybe the kiss was just a distraction.

“Are you okay?” His voice was low and husky, weakening her joints.

Unable to tear her gaze away, Jolie nodded. And then the charming lopsided smile curled. Part of her melted.

“Clear.” A deeper voice came from Johnny’s direction.

Her heart leapt, and she glanced past Hans. Johnny was older, at least in his mid-teens.

Large hands captured her and helped her to her feet. “It’s time to go. Once we leave, head straight for the last artifact. It’s nearly twilight. The magic of your family will repel most of the dangerous creatures, giving us enough safe passage to go to our destination after we get the third artifact. Are you ready?”

Something sparkled in his clear hazel eyes, entrancing her. Wait, he’d asked her a question. She gave him a little nod.

“Good. Mary packed a basket of food. Will you carry it?”

“Yes.” Again, her voice left her soft, and heat flared in her face.

There was a bounce to his step as they left the pantry. He reached out and picked up a basket generously packed, somehow transferred across time, and offered it to her, so she took it. It was much lighter than the basket alone belied. Another spell. She smiled before charred hair punched her nose. She gagged while Johnny blocked her view from part of the room. No doubt where the demonic hounds were.

A shiver stole through her. It was terrifying to see them in her mind’s eye.

The layout of the place came into clear focus in her head, and her heart soared. It held the answer to Hans’s need.

Jolie reached out and grabbed his sleeve and tugged. “There’s a secret side entrance. Will that help?”

He peered over his shoulder, and his shining gaze about took her breath away. “Yes. Which way?”

She wet her lips, her gaze once more falling to his enticing mouth. “To your right, push the lamp on the wall up, up the stairs, another right, door at the end of the hall, we’ll walk out into an alley hidden by an illusion.”

“I’m impressed with you and your family. Once we’re outside, don’t speak, not even a whisper. Johnny and I’ll see to your protection.”

“Thanks.” For helping her, protecting her, saving her. For being there.

He stopped and partially turned her way, his features smoother, less haggard. Perhaps a trick of the light.

Her heart fluttered. He was an attractive man, his trimmed beard adding a mature, sexy mystery to him, those stunning eyes capturing her soul. A soft girly sigh escaped her.

His keen gaze brightened before he faced forward, altered his course, and started walking again.

Johnny’s throat cleared, yet he remained silent, his body neatly staying between her and where the stench permeated from.

She cringed and hurried to keep up with Hans.

Her guide led them through the small building and outside.

Jolie turned and started walking, her actions no longer her own.

Hans’s hand captured hers, and she laced her fingers with his as though it were the most natural thing in the world. And in that moment, it was.

She went to the main, wide, dirt road, the old cobblestones missing, and continued in silence, all the way to the house at the end of the lane, built into the side of a hill. All it needed was a hobbit living there and it’d complete the picture, only hobbits were fantasy, and the door human size.

Instead of going to the door, she went to the side where a smaller door resided, one big enough for a mere doll. She touched it, but instead of whispering the words, they flowed through her mind and spirit.

The door grew while the other shrank.

A silent Johnny took the basket from her and moved aside.

“Close your eyes.” Hans’s voice was a low whisper.

She closed her eyes. The last time she hadn’t done it in time she couldn’t, and Johnny had to throw snow at them.

Phantom pain pinched her poor eyes.

No, Jolie would be quick to do as her guide suggested. Especially if it kept her from seeing something terrifying.

She stiffened. But Hans would see it. He could’ve even seen what’d taken her ring, even if it wasn’t with his physical eyes. She shuddered and clenched her hands into fists to keep them from shaking.

Heat covered her back before his teasing body pressed against hers. She swallowed and waited.

“Both hands this time, dear. Just like before. Only nothing will take anything from you.”

A lump formed in her throat, yet she managed a little nod.

Arms wrapped around her.

She put her hands on them and slid them down to his hands, then, like before, put her fingers almost between his, her palms resting on the back of his large, strong hands.

He eased her forward, the movements of his body helping hers go in the right direction—forward. His hand lowered, hers staying with it, and his fingers curled, so she curled hers. Cold metal shocked her fingers, yet she kept them with his as he gripped and turned counterclockwise. Then he pushed and hinges creaked, the sound deafening in her ears.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.” A quiet, low, haunting voice practically growled from higher up.

Her hackles raised. There was no way it was human. And Hans no doubt saw it.

“Come in and take what you seek, but for your safety, say not a word.”

Ice trickled through her veins. No. She wouldn’t utter a word.

Long, leathery, cold, inhuman fingers wrapped around her wrist, pinning it to Hans’s, and guided Jolie and her companion forward.

“Sense it, witch.”

She inhaled a frigid breath and focused—Jolie turned right—a strong pull beckoned her to the left.

She paused. Which way?

“More than one?” Icy breath hit her forehead from above, prickling her flesh.

She swallowed again and nodded.

“Interesting.” The otherworldly voice was drawled out in almost a hiss. “Then neither. Come.”

They shuffled along, a room barely outlining in light lines in her head, and into another slightly colder than outside.

Another pull overwhelmed her and yanked at her and she stumbled, but the skeletal hand still holding her and Hans’s wrists tightened and steadied her. She sucked in a breath and readied to thank it, but stopped herself in time. They weren’t supposed to utter a word.

“Yes, you sense it. Then it is yours.”

Hans’ body shivered behind her. Perhaps her enchanted cloak worked better at keeping her warm than his winter coat and scarf kept him.

She gently squeezed his cold fingers. Her heart spasmed. His were much too cold.

“Impressive. Though you cower before me, you protect and follow your witch.” Something clicked right in front of her, followed by several more, the sounds echoing off hard surfaces.

“It’s not safe here. I’ll send your other companion away to go and meet you at your next destination. Witch, you must hurry. Follow the sound of echoes. You’ll be teleported once you have what you came here for and can use your voice then.”

It, it was leaving them? After informing them it was dangerous?

Her stomach twisted. Then they were on their own. She gave a head bow in thanks.

Cold, sharp metal pressed against her cheek and slid over it, cooling her blood.

She gripped Hans’s fingers as best she could, soaking up what little comfort and strength she could.

“Yes, most impressive. We’ll leave you to it. Goodbye and good luck.” The metal left her face, and the hand released their wrists. The eerie presence vanished, and the temperature rose a palpable few degrees.

Hans shook harder, and her heart dropped. They needed to hurry and get out of there.

The pull wrapped around her, but she tensed her muscles so it wouldn’t haul them like it’d tried before, and headed toward it. Each footstep was more sure than the last.

Something pulsed between her and her goal.

Hans shivered harder, his teeth chattering. She needed to hurry and get him out of there.

Jolie reached out—Hans tensed. She stopped. Something was wrong.

She took a step to the right. The pulse moved with her. So she stepped to the left. Same problem. Every muscle tensed in her body. Someone or something stood in front of them.

If she could speak, she’d ask them to move, but she couldn’t. But maybe showing them respect would help. Jolie bowed again, then gestured to the left. Nothing happened. As she lifted her foot to step to the right again, it moved to the left.

She put her right foot down and took another step. It, too, took another step to the left.

Her heart lightened, but only by an increment. Whatever it was, it’d given way to their endeavor.

Jolie allowed a small smile and bowed, then stepped forward and reached out, Hans’s hands securely under hers. His trembling fingers pinched hers, moving them from in between his.

When he reached into the wall in Epia’s house, she’d moved her fingers over his. Maybe that was what he wanted her to do. So she moved her fingers, draping them over his. His fingers curled, hers following as though he grasped something spherical.

Laughter boomed around them.

The air stirred, and all quieted.

“K-k-keep y-y-y-your e-eyes c-c-c-c-losed, d-d-d-d-d-dear.” Hans stepped back, pulling his hands away.

Her pulse quickened. She needed him. Needed his touch. She couldn’t do it alone, not without him.

“A gift,” an oily voice hissed, followed by clicks, again, above her. “And a change of clothes. Wear this on your right index finger.”

“T-t-t-thank—”

“No need. No one but you and the other has ever stayed conscious for so long.” Hard, cold metal caressed Jolie’s other cheek. “Well met, witch. Remember, follow the echoes.”

“Thanks.” The word slipped from her.

Amused laughter suddenly cut off, and the temperature warmed to a bearable degree.

“T-t-t-t-ten m-m-minutes.”

“Okay.”