Note: To read The Wishing Map from the beginning, click here.

The Wishing Map

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Long Night (continued)

Previously: With the Questing Beast vanquished, Gina was finally able to sleep.

⇔ ⇔ ⇔

She was in a lovely semi-coma when a voice called:

“Gina.”

It filled the space around her and within her, just as it had the first time she’d heard it. “Not now. Now isn’t a good time.”

“Now is always the best time.”

She wasn’t going to win this one. “OK.”

“You showed great courage tonight.” There was tenderness in Rhema’s voice.

“Yeah, well…”

“A courage you did not know you had. A courage you did not, in fact, have before tonight, and one that you will need in the future.”

Gina half-smiled.

“Your desires, on the other hand, nearly destroyed you. It is from these that the Beast took its greatest…