Page 2 of Harnessed in Gold

For her and for Nàdar.

CHAPTER ONE

I waketo the bright sun streaming through the sliding glass door. It shines on Rime’s blond hair and pointed ears like a spotlight. He’s asleep on the floor nearby, his massive form tangled in a blanket and one arm splayed above his head. I stole his bed on the couch, poor guy, and he didn’t make the slightest protest. He just let me pass out like a drunk frat-groupie.

I vaguely remember Leo offering to drive me home, and I more distinctly remember thinking,No way am I gonna let him carry me to my dorm.I’ll stay here, but I’m not sleeping in his bed. Ever again.

So here I am in his living room. My suitcase and borrowed shoes sit by the door, but how they got there I don’t know.

I sit up and pat the back of my head. My updo has come half undone and my eyeliner is crusted in the corners of my eyes. I was in a sort of trance last night, my mind on one track: deliver the message. Once the words were out of my mouth, the bone-crushing fatigue set in. I’d harnessed my own energy to see through those glamours, and no amount of chocolate could replenish it. Not that there’s much real cocoa in Cocoa Puffs, anyway. They only kept me awake for about fifteen minutes, and even then I was barelycognizant. Only now, after some sleep, am I truly aware of my surroundings. I’m in the same room where two weeks ago the truth came to light. Where Leo’s disguise fell away before my eyes.

I twist my shaky hands in the blanket and sigh.

On the coffee table lies my phone, in the same place I haphazardly tossed it last night. When it rang for the thousandth time, Leo grabbed it out of my bag and thrust it at me with a barely contained growl.

“Call him.”

He didn’t ask questions, and I didn’t explain. Instead, I met the accusation in his eyes with defiance in my own. There were two voicemails and three texts from Zander, and at least as many from Liv. Apparently, she had no clue about Zander’s little room-switch plan. I shot her a quick message, assuring her I was fine, then silenced my phone.

Checking my messages this morning, I see that she’d promptly replied:You scared me. Glad you’re safe. Talk tomorrow.

Talk? I shut off my phone and untangle myself from the blanket. How are Liv and I supposed to talk when there’s almost nothing I can tell her?

As I peel myself off the couch, Rime stirs but doesn’t wake, even though it’s past nine.

When I showed up last night and announced my news, I imagined the three of them running off in hot pursuit—scoping out the hotel, interviewing witnesses, stalking the bad guys through the mountains—but none of them even left the apartment. And none of them are up and moving now.

I creep past Rime to my suitcase and dig out some clothes to change into. In the hall bathroom, I wash my face, wiggle out of my wrinkled dress, and pull on a sweatshirt and jeans. Because why do a walk of shame to my dorm this morning when I didn’t do anything fun last night to earn it?

At my first step back into the hall, Leo appears in the kitchen doorway. I freeze and stare, my breath caught in my throat. His hairis tossed every which way, looking so soft and touchable. He’s in sweats and a t-shirt, both in shades of gray, looking exactly as he did after our night together. Only that morning he was sleepy and rumpled and content. And I was the one who’d made him look that way.

He manages a hesitant smile. “Good morning.”

“Hi.” I smooth a hand over the appliquéd flowers on my folded dress.

“Feeling any better?”

“Yeah,” I say politely, even though I want to throttle him. No, kiss him. No, run away. “Thanks for letting me crash here.”

“Of course.” He motions to the kitchen. “Do you want some coffee?”

“Um.” I jerk a thumb over my shoulder. “I should probably get going.”

He sucks in his bottom lip as though he’s biting back words, but when he speaks, his tone is even and patient, “If you don’t mind staying, just for a little while, we’d really like to hear more about what you saw.”

Okay, I know I wasn’t exactly coherent last night. I made my dramatic entrance, all set to deliver my news, then crashed less than a foot from the finish line. And now, this morning, just because those beautiful brown eyes are paired with pointed ears, I’m ready to quit the race altogether? If my ability has any purpose at all, it has to be for something like this.

It’s time to put on my big girl panties and do what I can for the greater good.

I inhale, nod, and follow Leo into the kitchen.

Rime calls from the living room, “You’d better be making me some tea!”

Leo heaves a sigh.

Incredulous, I ask him, “You make him tea?”

“Absolutely not.” He sets the cream and sugar by the hissing coffee maker.