Read Online Blood Passage (Dark Caravan Cycle #2) by Heather Demetrios - Free Book Online Page A

decor: bright, handwoven carpets, carved bedposts, and colorful lamps.
    Zanari nodded toward the closed bathroom door. “He just got back from his meeting and now he’s in the shower. Should be finished soon.”
    â€œHis meeting?”
    Zanari sat on one of the unmade beds as she tied the laces on her boots. “Revolution stuff. I asked, but he didn’t want to talk about it.” She grasped the velvet pouch around her neck and held it open as she waved her hand over a circle of earth on the room’s wooden floor. The dirt shot into the pouch, a rainbow of earth.
    In order to best access her voiqhif, Zanari sat in a chiaan -infused circle of earth that magnified her ability to follow the signal lines connecting her to her targets. For Zanari, it was as though the universe were composed of intersecting highways that her psyche could travel along, stopping whenever she saw someone or something of interest.
    â€œSee any movement from the Ifrit?” Nalia asked.
    â€œThere are several still in Los Angeles—they’ve posted a guard at Malek’s house, much good it will do them. There are definitely soldiers in Morocco who are focused on finding you, but nobody seems to have any leads, thank the gods. They have apicture of you in their minds, but it’s an old one, from before the coup. They’re mostly looking for a jinni with your birthmark—just like Haran.”
    Nalia glanced at the bathroom door. Raif had refused to consider going on ahead, but maybe Zanari would listen to reason. “You guys have to leave us—get the sigil. It’s probably only a matter of time before they find me. And the longer Raif stays in Marrakech, the more likely it is he’ll be recognized. We can’t fight off the whole Ifrit army.”
    Zanari sighed. “Honestly? I totally agree with you. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’d feel terrible leaving you alone with Malek, but the thought of him getting the sigil instead of Raif . . .”
    â€œI know. What Malek said last night—it’s true,” Nalia said. “The wish’s magic is in his favor, not Raif’s. I honestly have no idea what will happen in that cave.”
    â€œGods. I keep picturing them both running toward the damn thing,” Zanari said.
    â€œPlease tell me you two have some kind of plan.” Nalia held up her hand. “ Don’t tell me the plan. Just tell me you have one.”
    Zanari grimaced. “Um. We’re working on that. It involves running and hitting.”
    Nalia closed her eyes. “Why is he so godsdamned stubborn?”
    â€œI think my brother’s afraid that if he leaves you now, he’ll never see you again. I think that would kill him.”
    Nalia wanted to deny it, but all she could do was nod. Nothing was guaranteed. She’d be lucky to get out of Morocco alive.
    Zanari stood and grabbed her room key, then turned towardthe door. “I’m going downstairs to get some food—want anything?”
    Nalia’s eyes flicked to the closed bathroom door, panicked. “I’ll come with you. I hardly ate any dinner.”
    Coward, she thought. If she was alone with Raif, she’d have to tell him about Kir. And she couldn’t bear to have him look at her with disgust or hatred. Nalia wasn’t ready for that. Not ever, but especially not now, when everything in her life was so uncertain.
    Zanari rolled her eyes. “Sister, you don’t have to play the blushing maiden, okay? When you and Raif are ready, come find me.” She gave Nalia a wave and was out the door without another word.
    Nalia sat on the edge of Zanari’s bed, staring at the bathroom door. Raif . Tendrils of steam snuck out from beneath it, like the tentacles of a jellyfish . A war raged inside her: tell him, don’t tell him. She didn’t know what to do. She longed for Thatur, her gryphon, who had always counseled her.
    She stood, restless, and