Page 130 of Harnessed in Gold

“Yeah. One of his many little hints.” Hints I no longer resent.

“Then you should be wearing it, not me.”

“No, he’ll be pleased.” I snatch it from her and slide it into her beautiful black hair. “Trust me.”

Sure enough, ten minutes later, when Leo finally glimpses the faerie sparkling at Liv’s temple, the gold in his eyes shines like a galaxy of stars.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“Tomorrow we crack this code,”Avery declares, setting what we confirmed to be Browne’s grimoire on the coffee table with a flourish.

She and Leo have spent the past half hour flipping through its pages. Turns out Browne wrote most of it in English, with all the sixteenth-century non-standardized spelling we English majors love. But some sections, the most important ones of course, he wrote in symbols. Avery and Leo think it’s either Enochian or the Alphabet of the Magi.

The rest of us have no idea what they’re talking about.

One last time before we all turn in, Aaron checks the police blotter. Nothing. Brier’s team almost certainly got away. Which means they’re still out there looking for us, and looking for the ring.

Avery stretches as she stands. “Everyone come get your shit off my bed.”

As we pop into her room for our stuff, she hands us each a pillow and blanket. To Liv she says, “You’re staying in here with me. I’m the least scary.”

One look at her blue hair and torn-up fishnets, and I burst into a laugh.

She grins. “What?”

Topaz pushes past us, claiming the floor between Avery’s bed and the wall.

Liv hesitates. “But that leaves Betts out there with all the guys.”

Avery smirks. “I’m pretty sure she doesn’t mind.”

I shrug, fine with the arrangement. But when Avery hands me one pillow and Leo one blanket, I blush.

“That’s all that’s left.” She pats me on the back. “So show me you know how to share.”

“But… but…” I stammer.

“Oh, please. Give it a rest.” She laughs and pushes Leo and me out of the room.

Aaron is stretched out longways across the couch, his feet propped up on the armrest, while Rime lies perpendicular to him on the floor, perfectly positioned to trip anyone coming out of the bedroom. Knowing him, he planned that on purpose.

By scooting the dining table against the wall, Leo makes himself and me a private spot behind the armchair, close to the kitchen. We’re both dressed comfortably and warmly in t-shirts and sweats, but the floor isn’t exactly giving. The cold seeps into me within a minute of lying down. As soon as Leo is supine, I scoot against him, nestling into every warm curve of his body. He chuckles, arranges the blanket over us, and pulls me even closer.

“Tired?” he asks.

“Yeah.” I rest my head on his chest and sling a leg over his thighs. “But I’m afraid to close my eyes.”

“Why? The snakes?” He runs his fingers from my temple to the back of my neck, sweeping my hair off my cheek.

“Nah. Once I got over the initial shock, I actually thought they were kind of cool. The rats and mice, on the other hand…” I shudder and push up to look at him. “Do you think Juniper wove with a rat?”

“No, I’m thinking something more agile. Maybe a squirrel or a weasel.”

Probably. She launched herself off that wall and cleared ten yards in one leap, like the squirrels in the backyard trying to pillage Dad’s bird feeder.

Leo traces my cheek. “So, why are you afraid to close your eyes?”

I shrug and bite my lip.