Just three final things remained, and then Tessa's magnificent cooking would come to life. At least, that was what she believed.
She stood frozen in the middle of the forest path, trying desperately to remember what the last missing items were. Her brows pinched together so hard it looked painful. She searched every corner of her memory, but nothing came.
It was as if the original host's dead brain cells had risen from the grave only to refuse cooperation.
"I'm taking this as a sign," Valen said dramatically, folding his arms. "We should return now. Obeying the gods is clearly better than testing our luck here."
His voice sounded calm, but inside, the merman was already celebrating.
He had been trying to lead Tessa back for the past hour.
The woman was stubborn beyond reason. Once she decided on something, even ten storms and a landslide would fail to move her.
"I'm sure it's only one small thing," Tessa replied with confidence she did not feel. "We can finish quickly."
