Page 50
Nick's mechanical fingers curl into a fist. “You fucking bitch.”
“Such language.” Vera sighs. “Really, Nicholas, you should be thanking me. That contraption is far more interesting than the arm you were born with.”
I glance at Nick. He's trembling with rage, and for one terrifying second, I think he's going to launch himself at her.
But then his gaze shifts to Toto, still trapped in Vera's grasp, and he forces himself to remain where he is.
“You're going to regret that,” he says quietly.
Vera laughs. “Oh, darling. I've lived seven hundred years. You're going to have to be considerably more inventive than that.”
Nick's expression turns calculating. “Seven hundred years, all thanks to your precious little amulet. Must be terrifying, knowing we have it and you don't.”
Vera turns sharply toward him, missing the scattering of pebbles that tumble down the cliff behind her. “I let my guard down for one moment,” she snarls, swinging her furious gaze back to me. “One moment, and you stole my amulet and hid it!”
“Yep. Sure did.” I give her my biggest grin. “And then you went and wiped my memory, didn't you? Including the part where I hid your precious little necklace.”
Vera stares at me in horror. “What?”
“You heard me. I have absolutely no idea where I put it.”
Her gaze darts toward Nick. “He just said you had it. That it was in Oz!”
“Yeah, about that.” I scratch the back of my neck. “We might've been telling a teeny-tiny fib.”
For a moment, Vera doesn't move. Then her face contorts. “You lied to me?”
“Well, technically, Nick lied. I just stood here looking pretty.”
Her wand trembles against Toto's neck, and my amusement evaporates.
Fuck. Come on, Leo..
I glance toward the cliff, searching for any sign of him. Toto's idea is either going to save us or get us all killed, and there's not a damn thing I can do but keep Vera distracted.
With Nick's speed, we have a chance of getting Toto clear before that boulder comes crashing down.
A chance. God, I hope it’s enough.
“Sounds like you got sloppy,” Nick says, drawing Vera's attention back to him.
“After seven hundred years, I'm entitled to a mistake!” Vera snaps. “And I've had enough of this conversation.”
Toto cries out as Vera presses the tip of her wand hard against her neck.
“Where is it?” Vera demands.
“I told you, sweetheart. I don't know,” I reply, keeping my voice deliberately light despite my fear for Toto.
“Then I'll make you remember!”
She gives Toto's hair another vicious tug, forcing her head back. My hands curl into fists, but I stay where I am.
Any time now, Leo.
A scattering of pebbles tumbles down the cliff behind Vera. The ground trembles.
Vera falters, her gaze darting toward the cliff as dirt and loose stones rain down around her. “What… what is that?”
