Page 133 of Harnessed in Gold

“You mean at the library?”

“Yeah. He had it with him, didn’t he?”

Leo nods.

“Okay, so then why didn’t he use it? He could’ve shot River in the leg, or whatever, and gotten Liv away from him.”

Leo’s smile is soft. “If he thought Liv was in immediate danger, he would’ve.”

“How was she not in immediate danger?” A corrupt faerie had a dagger to her throat.

“She was a valuable hostage.”

“Yeah, but he could’ve tried to kill her to prove a point.” Yes, I’m splitting hairs. I know hostage situations are delicate and best left to professionals like Rime. But this was Liv, my best friend.

“Then Rime—and all of us—would’ve acted.” Straining his neck to reach my lips, Leo gives me a reassuring kiss. “The longer he can put off using the gun, the better. Because once they know we have it, we lose the element of surprise.”

True. “And they’ll want to get one too.”

“Exactly. It’s the ace in our pocket, one we’ll hopefully never have to use.”

“Nice poker reference.” I drop my head onto his chest in time to feel his deep chuckle. “Remember playing poker that first time I went to Avery’s?” Five months and twenty Bettses ago.

He draws his fingers through my hair. “You shared your animal crackers with me.”

I scoff at myself. “Because I couldn’t resist you, even back then.” Back when I thought he was no more than a hot senior with strange hobbies and even stranger friends. And that was before I met Topaz and Rime. “What’s up with you and Rime, by the way? Are you friends or enemies?”

Leo chuckles against my ear again. “What’s that word? Friendimies?”

“Frenemies,” I giggle.

“I guess we’re sort of frenemies.”

I fold my hands on his chest and rest my chin on them. “Why?”

He exhales as he gazes up at the ceiling. “It’s complicated, but we’ve grown up together, almost like brothers. So I guess there’s some of that typical sibling competition.”

“But you’re nothing alike.” How can you compete with someone when the two of you aren’t even playing the same game?

“Maybe that’s the problem. We don’t understand each other.”

I shake my head. “Sure you do. You just don’t agree with each other.”

“You’re wise, a chroí.” He kisses the tip of my nose.

“I kinda have an unfair advantage, seeing as I can feel everyone’s emotions.” I comb his hair back from his forehead with my nails. “Rime was terrified you were going to die in that hole.” Just as terrified as I was.

This doesn’t surprise Leo. “Because we’re family,” he reiterates. “My father’s more or less his surrogate dad.”

“What’s wrong with Rime’s own dad?”

“He’s a drunk.” He sighs, his ribs expanding beneath my hands. “And Rime’s the oldest of six, so he’s had to be dad to all his siblings.’

“So your father sort of stepped up to help?”

“Sort of. Mostly he just took Rime under his wing.”

From the little I know about Leo’s father, that might not be a good thing.