“Oh. That’s the first time you’ve called me Lottie.”
“Yes,” Miko replied bluntly, letting go of her skirt and marching off to join Rio.
Sayuri was waiting at the end of the cars, holding two small envelopes and dressed in a long white summer gown and cloak that floated around her like butterfly wings. She looked so delicate, so shimmering and ethereal, but Lottie could see the edge in her midnight-black eyes.
“Princess.” Her lips curved knowingly and Lottie couldn’t help rolling her eyes as she smiled back at her.
“Pink Demon,” she said in return.
Sayuri handed an envelope to Lottie. “Here, as promised.”
Excitement twitched through her, knowing what was in the package. It held the power to change everything, and with unexpected reluctance she peeped inside.
“I don’t understand?” She stared at the contents of the envelope. She’d anticipated information on Leviathan, but all she could see were metallic fragments.
“I stole this from Haru’s bin in his room. It was one of the first things he was asked to do when he joined Leviathan—to take this to the design center and destroy it.”
“But what is it?”
“We don’t know, and we’ve never figured it out, but we know it was important to their leader, and he wanted it gone.”
Evidence. Shaking the package, Lottie watched the little crumbs of metal swirl about, muted silver, something that might once have been pretty but was now dulled. A sudden light caught her eyes; a single shining rock among the fragments, possibly a gem of some kind, was glowing up at her. It was so unexpected that it made her quickly close the envelope, hiding away from the gemstone that felt like a watching eye.
“Do you have the letter?” Sayuri asked, her tone turning deathly serious.
Lottie nodded. “Yes. You can count on me.”
“I know. That’s why I’m also giving you this.” Before Lottie could react, Sayuri opened the other envelope, revealing a glossy black snake tied with red string. A perfect lock of her silky hair. “I saw that lock of hair in the chest, and I want you to bury this in Rosewood.”
Lottie coughed. “You cut your hair?”
“Only a little at the back. Look.” She pushed her head forward to reveal a blunt clump, just below her ear. “I did it with the blade; it was like cutting butter.”
Lottie stared at her in disbelief and admiration, her hand clasping her own overgrown locks.
“I believe in this, Lottie.” A semblance of a smile crept over her face as she closed Lottie’s fingers around the envelope. “I’m trusting what you think you’ve figured out. Once you confirm it, I want you to embrace whatever it is, no matter how hard that is to do.” She smiled at her, a genuine smile filled with trust and warmth. “We’re a team now, Lottie.”
With a deep breath, Lottie silently agreed, reaching out to wrap her arms around her new friend, unable to articulate the dread growing inside her, knowing that Sayuri understood.
You can do this, she told herself.
But the truth was, they both knew, she didn’t even have a choice.
Ellie watched as Saskia, Jamie, and Haru appeared at the same time, lugging everyone’s suitcases to the cars. It still baffled her that Saskia was so effortlessly good at pretending to be fine with Haru.
That Partizan training, she admitted reluctantly.
She half smiled at Jamie as he made his way to one of the vehicles and felt a wash of relief when he returned the gesture. It was so normal being around him again.
After he’d found her in the woods, they both knew things were going to be different. Somehow she’d always known that one day something would come between them—she’d just never expected it to be something they had in common.
“What are you looking at?” Anastacia asked, sliding over next to Ellie. Her hair was up, something she didn’t usually do unless they were training, and it looked good, showing off how much stronger her delicate frame had become. They were all changing so much, constantly growing.
“I’m not sure,” Ellie replied uncertainly, her gaze falling on Lottie. She’d changed too; they were nearly the same height. Lottie’s hair had grown loads since they’d met, a tangled weave of her old life—a Lottie that Ellie had never known. But the thing that struck her the most was how much she looked like Liliana. That unstoppable princess Ellie had admired as a child was right in front of her eyes.
Whatever Leviathan had been looking for in Takeshin, it wasn’t there—or at least that’s what they were telling themselves. Lottie had hardly been able to look at her since they’d left the Kiri Shinrin, and her smiles had turned pensive. The strangest thing was, Ellie was scared to ask. It was like she knew, they all knew, that something was waiting for them at Rosewood.
Her line of sight was abruptly cut off by Haru marching forward to assist Jamie, equipped with a happy little smile as usual. It was creepy. Over the last few weeks he’d been as quiet as a mouse, an invisible presence around them, sneaking along in the background like a menacing spirit. Supposedly he’d been looking for the hidden treasure, so why was there no urgency? Simply being in the same room as him put a bad taste in her mouth.
What are you planning? she thought. What do you want with me and my Partizan? She’d be glad to see the last of him.
Jamie knew Ellie was staring; she could not have been more obvious. But he decided to ignore it. Soon they would be back at Rosewood, and he could put all the madness of the summer behind him. At least he hoped so. The only problem was that he felt like something had followed them out of the
