A Wish So Wanted (The Desert of Wishes Book 2) by Z.R. Abaddi

Author:Z.R. Abaddi [Abaddi, Z.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Eighteen

The only sign that morning had come was the sound of voices outside. It started with slow, soft footsteps echoing on the streets outside Blessed Styles. But Nisha wasn’t comfortable taking the risk of starting out then.

As more sounds made their way through the barrier, Nisha sat with her hand in her hair. She still hadn’t heard a single whistle shrilling through the air. There were no pounding footsteps of guards coming to break down doorways, demanding to investigate every home for signs of the criminal, as Nisha had imagined. Instead, there was just … normalcy.

That scared her more than having guards hot on her heels.

She glanced toward her mother, now fast asleep with her head resting against the wall. Judging by her gaunt frame and the pits surrounding her eyes, she had to be exhausted. It was smart to get rest. Who knew what was coming up, especially with the fact that the guards weren’t after them.

Nisha faced the entrance again, turning her mind back to the problem at hand. There was a possibility that the Speaker woke up and, not wanting the public to know how easily the ring had been stolen, chose to keep it quiet. In fact, she had no way of knowing whether the honored were searching for her and Laila, quietly making their way through the crowd even now.

If that was true, they needed to be on their way. Every moment that passed brought them closer to being found. Besides, who knew how long Soren would wait for them above the well.

Nisha stood and nudged her mother with her foot. “It’s time to go.”

Laila didn’t need to be told twice. She rubbed her eyes and got up to fix the way her outfit hung on her. Nisha watched as she smoothed it out, tucking in the folds of her robe with natural ease. She wondered how long Laila had been stuck in Salstadir.

“It was smart, coming dressed as a Devoted,” her mother commented, meeting Nisha’s gaze. “Was that your idea?”

“No. Someone else’s idea. You’ll meet him soon enough.”

Laila nodded, content with the answer. “We’ll need masks wherever we’re going. Otherwise, word will get out about us.”

She went behind the counter and retrieved a pair of masks. They were blank, with no eyes or mouths, only tight slits to see through. Laila handed one to Nisha.

“These are masks the Salstadirians wear after someone they love dies. They believe that being faceless honors the Angel and sends blessings to the one they love. We’ll get some looks for wearing them without any formal clothing, but well …” she glanced remorsefully toward the bundle of ruined clothing in the corner. “It’s better than everyone seeing our faces.”

Nisha had to agree. She took the mask and slid it over her face. “Let’s go.”

She started toward the entrance, only for her mother to stop her with a hand on her shoulder. “You’re forgetting one thing.”

“What?”

Her eyes fell to the dark sapphire ring. With a grimace, Nisha removed it. She

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