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“Green,” Granger mutters.

I glance at him. “What?”

He rubs at his temple, frowning. “I don’t know. Every time we talk about Vera, I keep seeing something green.”

“What kind of something?” Leo asks.

Granger closes his eyes for a second. “A light, maybe. Or a stone.” He shakes his head. “It’s gone.”

Leo and I exchange a look.

“Well, that was helpful.” Granger sighs. “Add it to the list of shit I apparently don’t remember.”

Leo turns to me. "If we stay here, she’ll find a way to flush us out eventually. If she wants us in Fable Forest, then I'll give her what she wants. I’ll go, let her think I'm walking straight into her trap, and use it to draw her out."

"You will be walking straight into her trap." I clench my jaw and glance at Granger, who looks every bit as furious with this plan as I am.

"I agree with Leo."

We all turn to find Toto standing in the doorway.

"The detective said so himself,” she adds. “They don't know what they’re dealing with, and we're sitting ducks here."

I stare at Toto, realizing she's right. Sighing, I glance at Leo. "Fine. But I'm coming with you."

Leo opens his mouth to protest.

"Me too," Granger echoes before he can say anything.

"Me three."

We all turn to look at Toto, horrified.

"Absolutely not," Leo growls.

Toto crosses her arms and glares at him. "How are you going to stop me?"

I don't have to look at Granger and Leo to know that their eyes have gone straight to her cleavage. She's tiny, barely reaching Granger's chin, but she's built like an hourglass.

Leo stalks closer to her. "You are not coming with us."

Toto drops her arms as he backs her up against the door. Her chest heaves, anger flashing in her eyes. "Fine. If you step one toe out that door without me, I'll tell every wizard outside what you're up to."

She gets in Leo’s face, refusing to back down. "And they'll have every flying monkey on your tail before you can get to the portal."

"You know where a portal is?" Granger grins, gazing at her like he's in love.

She shrugs. "Sure do. And I'll tell you... if you take me with you."

Leo's jaw ticks. I'm sure Toto thinks it’s anger and frustration, but I know it’s actually fear. I know because the same fear is coursing through my body—not for us, but for Toto.

"I'm safer with you than I am here," Toto adds, raising her chin and holding Leo’s gaze.

"Fine," Leo relents, throwing his hands above his head. "I'll wait exactly ten minutes, and then I'm leaving with or without you all."

I nod, hoping Toto is right.

Because if anything happens to her on this journey, Vera won’t have to come looking for me.