“That certainly explains why he keeps watching me like I’m about to grow a pair of horns and …” He cocked his head slightly. “Who else is concerned about me? I mean, besides you?”
“I’m only concerned because I don’t want anything to happen to you. And, honestly, I was mainly focused on your dislike of the heat and humidity and pests when I previously suggested you skip coming here and stay home.”
Something in his expression gave her the feeling he didn’t quite believe her, but she pushed on with her point because her dad could be back any minute. It was a good hour past his usual bedtime, as it was.
“Teodoro also believes you’ve been sent up from the Maya Underworld. Only he thinks you’re a good demon sent to protect rather than harm. He says that you have more strength than you know.”
Quint sat on that in silence, his expression lined with wrinkles and creases.
“Since arriving,” she continued, “he has heard about your experience with the vulture and pit viper and tarantula, and he believes this plays along with his theory.”
“But I thought these animals were signs of the Lord of Death, who isnota protector.”
“Yes, well, keep in mind there are other death gods besides Yum Cimil. Besides, there are more signs besides the birds, the snake, and the tarantula.”
One dark eyebrow lifted. “Signs that I’m a demon?”
“Yes, but a good one.” When he tried to pull his hand free, she held on tight. “Teodoro has found nine owl feathers since he arrived at camp.”
“Nine.” Quint’s mouth twisted. “Let me guess, one feather for each level of the Underworld.”
“Exactly. The biggest one was left outside our tent flap.”
“Maybe somebody is setting me up.”
“Why?”
“Who knows? But kookier things have happened at previous digs with me and you.”
That was true. “But how do you explain the butterflies?”
“The butterflies?” He shook his head slightly. “What do you mean? There are butterflies all over this place. Calakmul is well known to be a butterfly haven.”
“Yeah, but why do they hover more around you than anyoneelse.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I smell better.”
She leaned over and kissed his bare shoulder. His skin was soapy fresh, free from Teodoro’s goop for now. “You do smell very nice, especially after a shower.”
They sat in silence for a few beats while the jungle breathed around them.
“You actually believe this stuff from KuTu and Teodoro?” he asked quietly.
“I don’t know what to believe, but after what happened at the last dig site, I can’t be as logical as I used to be and rule this sort of woo-woo nuttiness out.”
“Butterflies, huh?”
“Yep. It is kind of odd. I witnessed that when we were clearing more vines from the front of the wall. Several of them kept going back and forth between the stack of skulls and you.”
He tugged his hand free of hers. “I need to show you something.”
There was an unhappy tone in his voice that made her sit upright to better look at him. “What? You didn’t get bit by something, did you?”
“No.” He pulled the ring he’d told her his aunt had sent off his right middle finger and held it out to her. “Look at the inside.”
She stood and held the ring up to the camp light. Inside of the band was a … “You’ve got to be shitting me,” she whispered, frowning down at him. “Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”
He shrugged. “I thought it was just an odd coincidence. Like I said, this biosphere reserve is well known to the butterfly-loving community, and my aunt is a fan of the winged beauties. She’s done glass pieces in the past with butterflies on them, including some charms for me.”
