Despite protests from Rory and Simon, Haydn strolled into the room without knocking.
“It’s fine,” Evelyn told her guards, who retreated to the hallway.
Haydn dropped casually onto the couch. “Hello, love.”
“Why are you here?” Evelyn asked impatiently.
“Don’t you want the present you begged me for?”
“Two. I asked for two presents.”
“Such a greedy queen.”
“I’m not in the mood for games, Haydn.”
He slipped a bracelet onto her wrist. It looked like three small, golden snake skins braided together.
“What does it do?” she asked.
“It’s beautiful on you, my love,” Haydn crooned. “That is its greatest magic.”
Evelyn glared at him. “Is it enchanted or not?”
“No.”
She gasped as the bracelet turned icy cold. “What is it doing?”
“Detecting a lie,” Haydn said.
The bracelet’s temperature shifted into a comforting warmth.
“Just fucking tell me what’s happening,” Evelyn snarled. “It’s on my skin!”
“The bracelet knows if someone is being honest,” Haydn explained. “It will turn cold at a lie, and warm with the truth.”
Evelyn was intrigued and her annoyance with him ebbed. “Show me again. Tell another lie.”
“I have gone to bed with other women since meeting you.”
The bracelet went cold.
“I think about you most of the day and dream of you at night.”
It became warm again.
“I’m so happy for you and your husband.”
Cold.
“Okay, I get it,” Evelyn said quickly. “The bracelet works.”
Maybe this is what I need to stop myself from lying to Leo anymore. But I’ll also know if he tries to lie to me.
“Do I get athank you?”
“Thank you, Haydn. It’s both impressive and pretty.”
“Just like you.”
