Teddy set his jaw. “Yes.”
“What type of snake is it?” Saint asked.
“Trimorphodon. The shape of its head is unmistakable,” Wren said. “Otherwise known as…”
The words dried up as a thread snagged in Wren’s brain and tugged, unraveling a woolen blanket that had previously been held up over a truth that was now completely obvious.
“As?” Teddy prompted.
Wren continued to stare, heart pounding with newfound information. Seeing everything from the past few days—no, for the past decade—in a completely new light.
Teddy touched his arm. “Little Bird?”
Wren’s eyes snapped to his. “As a lyre snake.”
“A liar?” Saint joked to try and lighten the mood. “What does it do? Evade taxes or something?”
Wren snorted, then let out a small burst of derisive laughter before looking up at the ceiling.
“Don’t bust a gut or anything,” Saint grumbled.
“He certainly thinks he has a sense of humor,” Teddy said.
“Why are you discussing me like I’m not here?” Saint asked.
“Not you,” Wren said. “Don’t you understand what this means?”
“What’s going on, Wren? You think this snake means something?” Teddy asked.
“You’re good with symbolism. Can’t you see it?” Wren begged, digging his fingers into Teddy’s arm. “They killed every animal in here. Wiped them clean. Destroyed all evidence. But they left one snake, in the middle of probably the most important and eye-catching thing in the place, and it’s a lyre snake, seemingly completely uncursed.”
“A liar,” Teddy repeated, almost inaudibly.
“He’s taunting us, Teddy.”
Teddy met his gaze, eyes bouncing back and forth like he was reading lines of the truth scrawled there.
“Who else knows exactly where we are at all times? Who shows up conveniently at every step forward? Who knew that we had visited Adam and that he had talked?”
“Kellan.”
As soon as the name met the dusty air, large metal gates came thundering down, every exit suddenly impassable.
It was impossible not to recognize in the moment, no diagnostics needed.
“It’s a bond curse,” Wren said. “This was a trap all along.”
“The name must have activated it,” Teddy said.
“Well, how do we deactivate it?” Saint asked, walking over and kicking a door. “Any bright ideas?”
“We need a cursebreaker,” Teddy said. “Just not any of the ones here.”
Saint groaned. “Eerie’s never going to let me live this down.”
Teddy drew out his phone. “Worry about thatafterwe get out of here.” He stopped and frowned. “There’s no service.”
“But you just called Avery!” Saint said, pulling out his own phone to check.
