My pulse spikes. She’s leaving the room. The door swings shut behind her with a soft click, and suddenly, impossibly, Zane and I are alone. Well, as alone as we can be with a camera staring down at us like an unblinking eye. The silence is deafening after the orchestrated small talk.
Zane sets down his fork. His facade slips the moment Mother is out of sight—his knee jiggles under the table, and the bright shine in his eyes dulls with worry. I open my mouth, not even sure what I intend to say.
Are you okay? Is this a trap?
He beats me to it.
“Don’t react. Just listen.”
I grip my fork tighter and bend my head slightly, pretending to inspect the greens on my plate.
Zane continues, barely moving his lips. “You’re being watched. Audio too, I think.” He clears his throat lightly and then raises his voice to an ordinary volume to say, “This tart is delicious, isn’t it?” as a cover.
“It is,” I reply at normal volume, then murmur under my breath, “I know I’m being watched.” My eyes flick up to the camera in the corner and back down.
Zane nods almost imperceptibly. His voice stays hushed. “I’m going to give you something—a gift. Act natural.”
My stomach does a little flip with nerves. I push a bite of tart around, then take it into my mouth, chewing slowly to mask that we’re doing anything but casually eating. I see him reach into his pocket and pull out a small object under the tablecloth, then his hand finds mine in my lap, and presses it into my palm.
I glance down. It’s a pendant on a fine gold chain—a heart-shaped locket, old-fashioned and elegant. My breath catches. Zane knows I have a weakness for vintage jewelry. To anyone watching, it’s a sweet gesture from a friend.
My fingers close around it. “Thank you,” I say softly, lifting my eyes to him. I inject some girlish delight into my tone. “You got me a gift? You shouldn’t have.” I flash a smile at the camera’s general direction, as if to include any voyeurs in this innocent moment.
Zane grins wider, playing his part flawlessly. “Of course I should. Open it!” he exclaims. But under the table, his leg presses against mine, a subtle signal:Wait.
I hesitate, holding the locket gingerly. It feels heavy for its size, the metal warm from being in his pocket. “I’ll open it later,” I say, pretending to be coy. “It’s probably an embarrassing photo of us, isn’t it? Oh god, is it prom?” I force a laugh.
He joins in with a theatrical groan. “Prom? You think I’d torture you with that?” He pauses. “Okay, fair guess, but no. It’s nothing scandalous, promise.”
He reaches over suddenly and takes the locket from my hand. “Allow me,” he says brightly. Before I can object, he’s standing, moving behind me. I realize he’s going to put it on me, so I lift my hair automatically to give him access to my neck. My heart hammers as he fastens the clasp.
His fingers brush the nape of my neck and I feel him lean in as if to double-check the clasp... or to whisper. His voice is a thread of air, barely audible. “Chase is dangerous. They know, Mara. Dredyn, Jasper, Talon—they know he killed Evie. They have proof.”
It’s a good thing I’m sitting, because the floor feels like it just dropped out from under me. I clench my jaw, forcing my body to stay still, to not react. Zane’s words pierce through me in a dizzying rush, and my mind sparks with a hundred questions. A flood of fierce hope and stark terror all at once.
Zane’s hands rest briefly on my shoulders, ostensibly a friendly pat after securing the necklace. His grip tightens for just an instant. “We’re working on a plan,” he murmurs quickly. “Be ready. Soon.”
Chase killed her. They have proof.
A tremor runs through my body and I cover it by reaching up to touch the new locket at my throat, as if moved by the sentimental gift.
Zane straightens and moves back to his seat, all in the span of a few seconds. My mother could return any moment, and I’m amazed we haven’t already triggered some alarm with the way my heart must be pounding loud enough to hear.
I take a slow breath and turn slightly to beam at him, performing for the camera. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, Zane.”
The door opens and Mother breezes back in, tucking her phone away. Both Zane and I shift our focus back to our plates as casually as we can. My heart is skittering, but I muster a tranquil facade.
“Sorry about that, dears.” Mother sighs as she sits. “Anything interesting happen while I was away?” She smiles jokingly, clearly not expecting any real drama in the two minutes she left us.
Zane jumps in without missing a beat. “Other than me nearly stealing your daughter’s jewelry? Nothing at all.” He winks conspiratorially at her and gestures to the locket now around my neck. “I gave Mara a little present from back home.”
Mother’s gaze falls on the necklace. I see a flicker of something—surprise, perhaps a hint of wariness—but then she nods, approvingly. “How lovely. That was thoughtful of you, Zane.”
“A keepsake, to remember that she’s still got friends who adore her even when she’s off jet-setting and being fabulous.”
I can’t stop replaying Zane’s whispered words in my mind.Chase is dangerous. They have proof. Be ready.
Questions clamor silently inside me. What proof? What’s the plan? How soon is “soon”?
