Page 92 of Harnessed in Gold

“What now?” I ask, still trying to get a good breath. “What do we do?”

“Nothing,” Leo answers, his firm hands gripping my shoulders. Because I’m kind of panicking. “We figure out where they’re staying and we keep tabs on them. That’s all.”

“But—”

“We don’t want them to know we’re here.”

“Because then they’ll know the macguffin is here,” I reason.

“Exactly.”

“But what if theydoknow you’re here?”

“Until we have proof of that, it’s safest not to reveal ourselves.”

Chewing on my lip, I glance past Leo to the corner the enemy disappeared around. “They didn’t look like they were on a mission at all. They were just kinda… strolling.” Like tourists in a new town. “I don’t think they’ve been in Alderford long.”

“That’s valuable information,” he says, peering over my shoulder and up the hill. “Where were you when you saw them?”

“Dimitri’s,” I say. “With Liv and the girls. I had to go out with them. I freaked Liv out, so now I need to prove to her I’m fine and?—”

“Freaked her out?”

I inhale sharply. Why do I blather when I’m anxious?

“Yeah, look, it’s no big deal, but I should get back up there or she’ll start freaking out again. I mean, I kinda left in a panic, so—” I jerk a thumb over my shoulder and take a few steps backward.

Leo frowns.

“What?” I ask.

“Just—” He shakes his head and sighs. “Stay alert.”

I have no idea how long I’ve been gone, but apparently it was long enough for the girls to polish off the rest of the pizza.

“Sorry about that,” I say breathlessly as I slide back into the booth. “Domestic squabble.”

Mia giggles, but Liv’s questioning look is sharp. “Domestic squabble? What is that supposed to mean? And why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”

No ghosts, just faeries.

I weave the yarn I spun on the short trip up from McDougal’s. “Because I had to break up a fight between Leo and Rime.”

“What?” Liv’s eyes widen while Mia and Jenna lean in close.

I point to the window. “I saw them walking down the hill, yelling at each other.”

“Really?” All three of them crane their necks to get a good view of the sidewalk, like Rime and Leo are still out there throwing punches, preferably shirtless.

“Yeah,” I say. “By the time I caught up to them, they were down by McDougal’s, and Leo had Rime by the collar.” Of course, my stupid brain flashes images for me of Leo doing that very thing to a red-eyed Rime in his apartment. And hissing,Put it back on.

Put back on your glamour.

I shudder, then collect myself. “I don’t even know what they were fighting about. Some stupid, competitive guy stuff.” I take a bite of a cold French fry. “They’re constantly at each other’s throats.”

Liv is giving me side-eye, which is impressive considering she’s sitting directly across from me. But Jenna and Mia are enthralled. They pepper me with questions: How long have they been friends? Do they fight over girls? Do they play any sports?

I almost have fun making up answers.