Page 105 of Harnessed in Gold

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

I wake earlythe next morning, nestled against Leo’s sleeping form. Wanting to avoid the cold slap of reality, I snuggle in even closer. Here beside him, there are no mysterious powers, no guns, no dangerous fae to hide from. And no best friend to lie to. There’s just Leo and me in this warm, safe bed.

He stirs, lashes fluttering. Dark brown eyes peer back at me, and a lazy smile spreads across his face. “Hi.” He threads an arm around me, pulling himself into my dreamy little bubble.

“Hi.” I breathe in his woodsy scent and the sweetness of jasmine.

We linger, dozing, smiling, playing with one another’s hair. Finally, I sigh. “I have class in a bit.”

He props up on an elbow, worry creasing his forehead.

Before he can argue, I insist, “I can’t stay here. I have to go to my classes.”

His frown deepens.

“If I skip, I’ll get behind, and then—” I hesitate, not wanting to say what neither of us wants to accept: my life and future are here, in the Subworld, where we earn degrees and get jobs to pay the rent.

His nod is reluctant and resigned. “You should be alright,” heassures himself. “They won’t reveal themselves during the day. Not when campus is so busy.”

The thought has my imagination running wild. What would happen if three malevolent faeries unleashed their magic out on the quad? Probably nothing. Most students would shrug and go on their way, figuring they’ve stumbled upon LARPers or the Society for Creative Anachronism.

“But come back tonight,” Leo urges, peering down at me with anxious eyes. “Please.”

I bite my lip and nod. “Okay.” Never mind how I’m going to explain any of this to Liv.

I stall getting out of bed, even after Leo is up and tugging on a pair of sweats. I don’t want to face Rime.

As if summoned by my thoughts, a fist pounds on Leo’s door. “Hawthorn!” Rime barks. “I need a ride!”

Startled and mortified, I scramble to my feet, so fast I nearly fall on my face.

Leo steadies me. “It’s okay.”

I twist out of his grip and start collecting my clothes.

“You’ve got two minutes!” Rime warns. “Then I’m coming in.”

Leo hollers back, “Don’t even think about opening that door.”

“Why not?” Rime snorts. “Something you don’t want me to see?”

Oh god. I suppose I should be grateful he didn’t barge in last night, but that doesn’t keep my skin from prickling with embarrassment and guilt. As I shimmy into my jeans, I notice I put my sweater on backwards. I slide my arms out of the sleeves and spin it around my neck, my hands popping out of the cuffs at the same moment Leo embraces me.

He’s dressed, albeit barefoot and disheveled. “Don’t worry about him,” he tells me for the umpteenth time. I’m too exhausted and defeated to argue as he arranges my hair.

From the living room, Rime irritably shouts, “Let’s go!”

“Godsdamnhim,” Leo grumbles, releasing me and swiping his socksoff the floor.

“Maybe something happened with Brier’s team?”

“I doubt it.”

In other words, Rime is punishing us.

Leo opens the door and waves me through. With my head held high, I make my way to the living room, where I busy myself putting on my shoes and gathering my bag.

“I’m not a taxi service,” Leo snaps.