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Frowning, I unfolded the thick paper. It wasn’t normal notebook paper, almost like cardstock. Inside, there was one sentence typed out:
You looked better with brunette hair, Emy.
My frown deepened. There were no more words, no other context. I flipped the paper over and glanced at the back. My heart constricted and my blood froze.
On the back of the note was a butterfly sticker.
My eyes cut to Emersyn. “What does this mean?”
Emersyn pressed her lips together. “I—I’m not totally sure. There has been this anonymous account spamming my comments sections in my recent videos. I thought it was just someone trolling me, but they’ve said this exact same thing.” She swallowed hard.
“When did you get this?” I gestured to the note.
“Today. It was left taped to the door of my home studio.”
My jaw hardened. Emersyn had been going hard at the Shadow Stalker in most of her recent videos. After she learned what he’d done to Lark, and that he was getting away with all his crimes, she made it her personal mission to blast everything we knew about him out to her audience. She wanted justice.
And maybe the Shadow Stalker wasn’t happy about that.
I held up the paper. “Can I keep this?”
She nodded. “Please. I sure as hell don’t want it.”
Emersyn’s eyes were round with fear, and I touched her shoulder. “It’ll be all right. You’ll have the whole Hearthstone team behind you with this. We’ll figure out what’s going on.”
A touch of relief flashed in her eyes. “Thanks.” Her gaze darted to the side. Her face might’ve flushed. “I think your brother might be trying to get your attention.”
I glanced over my shoulder, meeting August’s pointed glare. I frowned and waved a hand at him. His arms were crossed over his chest and he started toward us.
“I should probably go get some more eggnog,” Emersyn said in a rush as she slipped out from the corner and scurried out of the room.
I turned around, my forehead furrowed at Emersyn’s quick getaway when August arrived.
“What were you two talking about?” he asked, brows raised.
“I’ll fill you in later.” I shoved the note in my pocket. My fingers grazed a soft, small box there, and my gut twisted in nervous knots.
My eyes shot to Lark. She was still talking to her mom in the foyer, her smile bright. She was wearing a cardigan she’d made herself with a huge Christmas tree on the back, the thing filled with little butterflies of all different colors in place of ornaments. Even though her father was trying to ruin the best things about her, she wasn’t letting him win. I loved that about her.
August nudged me on the shoulder. “Winnie’s here, huh?” His lips curled into a grin. “Isn’t that who you were waiting for?”
My heart thudded against my ribs. Hailey and Emersyn had distracted me from the thing I was obsessively thinking over this entire night.
I swallowed, my mouth dry. “Yeah,” I said with a nod.
August’s grin widened. “So, are you ready?”
My fingers curled tight around the tiny box in my pocket that could change everything. “I guess so.”
August looked like a kid on Christmas morning, absolutely giddy. “Want everyone outside?”
I nodded.
My brother pulled in a deep breath and cupped both hands over his mouth. “Hey everybody!” he bellowed throughout the room. Everyone instantly stopped what they were doing to look at him. “We have a surprise for Lark Meadows waiting outside!”
I looked over at Lark. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth dropped open. Her eyes bounced from August to me. Giving her the best smile I could, I went to her, taking her hand.
“What’s going on?” she hissed, as everyone’s eyes watched us.
