Page 60 of Harnessed in Gold

He turns to me, relieved, I think, at being understood. “Yes, exactly like that.”

“But there’s nothing wrong with her.”

“No. She’s wise enough to be a scholar or a councilor, but being Unwoven, she can’t become either. She’s unlikely to marry, or to ever leave my parents’ home, and it’s such a waste.”

I don’t realize until now that I’ve taken his hand. “I’m so sorry. It has to be hard being away from her for so long.

He nods. “And to leave her with our father.”

My throat tightens.

“He’s ashamed, and when he’s ashamed, he gets desperate. I was hoping he’d have given up by now, but Rime says he hasn’t. He was taking her out almost every day, trying to force some kind of connection with something. Making her climb trees or chase after foxes or… or dig up insects. Last summer, before I left, he forced her to swim in the lake every day for two weeks, no matter how hard she cried.”

Before I can stop them, words tumble from my lips, “He’s a monster.”

“He’s not,” Leo says firmly. Then he sighs. “Well, yes, he can be. He has very… rigid views. But in the case of Summer, it’s more than that. He’s afraid for her, because if Brier manages to accomplish his goal, Nàdarian society will be as stratified as feudal England, and the bottom rung will be?—”

“The Unwoven.”

Leo nods, shoulders sagging and eyes full of despair. “Brier’s the most powerful fae to be born in centuries, and he thinks those with power are meant to use it. He claims they’ve been chosen by the gods to rule over nature and dominate those who are weaker.”

And who could be weaker than the Unwoven: those with no power, untouched by magic? They’re the fae the gods turned their backs on.

I clasp both Leo’s hands, tight enough that he winces. “It’s not going to happen,” I say, blinking furiously to clear my stinging eyes. “Not on my watch. We’re going to find that ring or whatever-the-hell-it-is, and you’re going to defeat him.”

“Betts—”

“He can’t—hewon’t—succeed.”

“You really aren’t a shrinking violet, are you?” he murmurs, like he’s humoring me. But there’s gratitude in his eyes. Maybe he thought I didn’t care.

But apparently, I do.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Hoping to lighten the mood,I get Leo talking about Rime’s streaming habits while we finish our lunch.

“He’s discovered reality shows,” Leo tells me. “Police procedurals.”

“Oh? Well, that makes sense, right? With him being in the militia and all?” I can only imagine what Rime thinks of our law enforcement and our levels of crime.

Leo gives me half a grin. “He’s curious in his own way.”

I grin back. “That’s one way to put it.”

“He’s also been watchingThe Office.”

“Oh god.” My laugh comes out as a groan. “He’s not going to start quoting Dwight Schrute, is he?” I drop my face in my hands. “Lord, help us all.”

Leo’s deep chuckles have me peeking back up. He’s smiling—broadly—eyes twinkling and shoulders relaxed. I haven’t seen him looking so happy since, well, we were standing in that kitchen, half-dressed, sharing those pretzels.

“Rime told me your name for the weapon,” he says, eyes still dancing. “Themacguffin?”

“Oh yeah, that.” Why am I blushing?

“Brilliant.” He tips his root beer glass to me. “Except now I can’t get him off TV Tropes.”

I burst into yet another laugh. “Sorry-not-sorry.”