“Evelyn? Did your father give this to you?” Damien asked.
“No. Why would he?”
“Then who did?”
“It came in the mail from Lochmatten yesterday.”
Damien dropped the chain. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It didn’t seem that important. I was wearing it yesterday and you didn’t notice.”
“I was distracted by your dress disaster. Did Ritter give you anything else?”
“No,” she lied.
He doesn’t need to know about the book.
“Do you even know what the necklace is?”
“It’s a locket with… magic?” Evelyn was quickly losing confidence.
“The women on the Legislative Council in Lochmatten wear these necklaces,” Damien explained. “They keep a portion of their magic inside the locket.”
“Why?”
“It’s mostly symbolic, I think. Something about humbling themselves in order to focus on what is best for their people, instead of their own power and potential. You can identify women of the council by those necklaces, like kings in crowns.”
“Then why would Haydn send one to me?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t like it.”
Evelyn thought through what Damien told her. “There’s already magic inside. That means it belonged to someone before me.”
“But Ritter didn’t tell you who or how he got it?” Damien asked.
“No,” she replied, fingering the locket.
“Well… if you’re going to keep it?—”
“Of course I am!”
“Then Ritter gave you the right advice.” Damien looked pained to admit that. “Keep it hidden and don’t open it. I don’t know what happens if a locket is opened and I’d rather not find out.”
“Should I be worried?”
“No. I don’t know what game Ritter is playing, but I won’t let anything happen to you.”
He smiled reassuringly. His bright green eyes were alluring, drawing her instinctively closer.
I should want him, not Leo.
No, shit, I can’t think like that. Damien is my friend and Leo’s best friend. That’s just… it’s not happening. It can’t.
Damien wrapped his arms tight around Evelyn and pressed a kiss to her head.
But would it be so bad if something did happen with him?
35
