“Is this silver?” Harper asked. “Well, I guess it would be. Given that you’re having a standoff against werewolves.”
“Lycanthropes,” Angela said, eyes still scanning the tiny text in her book.
Harper frowned. “What?”
“Lycanthrope is the correct term. ‘Werewolf’ directly translates to ‘man wolf,’ and since not all members of the group we’re posturing against are men, the word ‘lycanthrope’ is more accurate.”
Angela turned another page, doing it so fast the paper made a snapping sound.
The stairs creaked, and a teenage girl came hurrying up from the basement. She had fair skin dotted with freckles and brown hair tied into a loose braid. She was carrying a few pieces of quartz in her hands and trying her best to avoid stepping on the black cat running between her legs.
“I could only find a few crystals,” the girl said. “If you need more, I think we have to—”
As soon as she spotted Harper, the girl stiffened. Her grip on the crystals faltered, making some of them fall to the floor. She immediately dropped to her knees, ducking her head, and started picking them up. She did it so quickly that a few more trembled out ofher hands.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Harper took a step closer to the girl. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Let me help you with—”
The girl flinched as soon as Harper went near her, eyes still glued to the floor. Harper paused, looking back at Angela.
Her annoyed expression had vanished. Instead, her eyes had softened.
“It’s okay, Eden. Let Harper help.”
Eden glanced at Angela. Then at Harper. Then looked down at the floor again.
Moving slowly, Harper crouched down and started picking up the scattered crystals. The girl didn’t flinch this time.
“Sorry. About startling you.” Harper glanced at the black cat sitting next to Eden. The animal hissed as soon as they made eye contact. “But you seem to be well protected. Who’s your bodyguard?”
Eden swallowed and picked up a piece of quartz.
“Midnight,” she mumbled. “Don’t take the hissing personally. She doesn’t like strangers.”
“She doesn’t like anyone,” Angela muttered from the table. The black cat purred and walked in front of Eden, the end of its tail caressing her chin.
Eden stood, clutching the few crystals she’d held on to. When Harper had picked up her share, she did the same, revealing that Eden actually had a few inches on her. And she was now looking at her rather than just stealing glances.
Harper’s jaw dropped.
“Whoa…” She grinned, stepping back. “Sorry, I just… Your eyes are really beautiful.”
Eden’s face went beet red. But the compliment wasn’t an exaggeration. Her eyes were a shining bronze color, bordered by dark blue on the outer irises. They looked like gemstones.
“Thank you.” Eden cleared her throat. “I like your hair. It’s pretty.”
“Yeah?” Harper twirled a pink lock around her finger. “It was kind of a last-minute change. Did it just this morning, actually.”
A victim of her lack of impulse control, really. Anxious excitement had resulted in a dreadful night’s sleep, with her waking up so early that she beat Nell. She had hours to kill before she could get in the car, and her hair had paid the price, with it now being bright pink rather than platinum blonde.
“You two seem busy,” Harper said, as she and Eden returned to the table. “What are the crystals for? More Chains weapon stuff?”
“Not yet. But maybe.” Eden sat across from Angela, continuing as though reciting something. “Crystals are common tools for arcane users, but if overloaded with energy, they can become unstable. Angela has a theory that, with the appropriate runic precautions, that instability can be captured, overcharged, and then triggered at an elected time, activating the contained power in a burst-like effect.”
Harper set the crystals down on the table. “So, a magic grenade?”
Eden smiled. Angela glanced up from her book, somehow looking both impressed and annoyed.
“An arcane grenade. But yes.” Angela slammed her book shut. “Maya is training out by the perimeter cabins. I can show you the way.”
