Forty-seven

I was walking back to my house, smiling slightly at the way Damon had tried to fool Raven into giving him some sugar when Aspen came up. He looked tired. I knew our hunt earlier had been long, but he wouldn't be looking like he went through hell. "Aspen, what's wrong with you?"

"Zahra isn't here."

I blink. "What do you mean?"

"The last one to see her was Willow. That was at noon meal." Aspen ran a hand through his hair. "She said that Zahra took both babies."

I cursed and turned. "Where all have you checked?"

"Everywhere. She isn't with anyone in the village. She isn't in her home, and she certainly is not at the meadow."

I begin to walk frantically to the exit of the village to see if I could track her down, but then Finx appeared with a grim expression. "Tell me you do not have bad news," I hiss.

"I followed her. Lucas had wanted to see the children. I was about to jump out and grab her when someone else intervened."

I raise a brow. "Who?"

"Roan, I believe it was that man who helped us rescue Zahra."

"Marin?" Aspen asked.

Finx nodded. "It sounded like his voice."

I cursed once again. "Show me where they were."

As we walked, Finx told us what conversation was had, even though there wasn't much of one. Then he explained how Marin threw Zahra away without even moving, then his conversation with Lucas. By the end, I wasn't sure if I could predict Marin's or Lucas's movements.

"What about the children?" Aspen asked.

"Lucas has them."

"Seems like he got what he wanted, then."

I shake my head. "No. They're still infants. They still need Zahra, which means Lucas needs Zahra."

We made it to where Zahra was made to go, and I began looking for signs. Immediately, I found where she hit a tree and fell to the ground. I could tell she had tried to get up, but couldn't, meaning she is hurt. I saw what must be Marin's prints near where she had laid. I walked around a bit and finally saw Lucas's prints going off towards his home. I spent a while looking for anything else, just to be sure, then sighed. "I don't know what to do. I don't know where Marin's home is or how strong he is."

"What if I tried to summon her?" Aspen asked, softly.

I shrug. "You could."

Aspen laid on the ground and closed his eyes. He wasn't gone long when he opened them again with a frown. "She's blocking me. I didn't know she knew how."

"She isn't," I say. "Remember, Marin healed her mind from Lucas's hood before. He probably has a tight hold of it now."

Finx cocked his head slightly and seemed to listen, then he started walking, gesturing for us to follow. Aspen and I stayed quiet, letting Finx do what he did best.

After twenty minutes, he stopped and held up a hand. Aspen and I halted too, and waited, listening for anything. But I heard nothing. Saw nothing but trees, grass, and forest life.

"Someone is close," Finx said, looking around slowly. "Someone who knows Zahra."

"What?" I ask. "Who would know her besides those we already know?"

Finx shakes his head. "They're saying something about trying to find her. They are saying they want to make sure she's alive."

I shake my head. "I don't know who that would be."

Eventually, whoever Finx was listening to had changed their topic of conversation and moved off. I was confused and worried, but something nagged at the back of my head that had to do with said people Finx was eavesdropping on. I didn't know why, and had a feeling I wouldn't find out.