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He walks over and sits on the bed, affection twitching his lips. “It’s almost dawn.”
“Oh, right.” I rub the sleep from my eyes, then stretch my sore body. “The temple.”
“I wanted to wake you...” His tone becomes distracted as I arch my chest, completing my arm extension.
“But?” I prompt.
He clears his throat. Lifts his gaze to mine. “But you needed your rest.”
I toss the sheets off. “I’m good now. Let’s go.”
It takes no time to get dressed in warm clothes. I wrap a scarf around my head to keep the temperature from hurting my ears. Last, I tuck Tinger’s pendant beneath the shirt and reach for my sword.
Fox stops me. “You won’t need it.”
“Oh?”
“We won’t be long.”
That’s right. It’s almost dawn. “Okay.”
He gathers me into an embrace and bands steel arms around me.
“So tense.” I wriggle. “No one would ever believe you’d just fu?—”
Weflicker. Changing landscapes flash around us. It only takes a heartbeat, and then we land on the crisp, frost-covered lawn inside the Cabinet of Curiosities. After catching my bearings, I look around. The stone statue silhouettes seem more macabre before dawn. A shudder runs through me. Fox is already at the rock, testing for the entrance.
“So what do you hope to do?” I ask, jogging over and then blowing on my hands.
He glances at me. “Wait until we’re in to talk.”
My brows knit together. “You’re acting odd.”
“Here.” He taps a spot on the rock.
I place my palm and feel the itch of fire ants against my skin. Taking Fox’s hand, I walk in.
Chapter
Fifty-Eight
WILLOW
The light of thousands of manabeeze blinds me. I wince, shield my eyes, and wait for them to adjust. Nothing has changed inside the temple. Styx stands frozen in the middle, taloned wings flared and ready to attack. The scent of moss, rock, and dirt surrounds us.
Fox exhales a shaky breath and starts emptying his pockets onto a table.
“What are you doing?” I ask warily.
He takes another deep breath. Another shaky exhale, as if he’s summoning courage.
“Fox?”
Jaw working, he stares at the table and plucks open buttons on his coat. It comes off. His shoes are next.
I laugh nervously. “I think sex in here once is enough, don’t you?”
As his shirt comes off, he finally lifts his eyes to mine. Monumental sadness strikes me. My throat closes. The walls cave in.
