The leather strap was dark brown; the stone was deep green. When she picked it up, the magic purred against her palm like a kitten. She placed the “gift” in his cupped hands. He regarded the necklace with a silent question in his hazel eyes.

“Do you like it?” she asked.

“It looks like a…healing crystal?”

“Something like that. It’s supposed protect you and bring you luck. But mainly, I want you to feel it against your heart and think of me throughout the day.”

His wary expression warmed into a smile. “That’s so sweet, Butterfly.”

Immediately, he dropped it over his head and tucked it underneath his shirt, allowing her to relax a bit. Then she walked over and hugged him.

“So glad you like it. You don’t wear a lot of jewelry, so I wasn’t sure—”

“I love it. Between this and the ring, I’m all set.”

Maybe she shouldn’t but… No, I have to. “It’s important to me that you wear the necklace. Don’t take it off, okay?”

A frown creased his brows together, and he eased her back in his arms to study her face. “Not even to shower?”

“The stone is waterproof, and the strap can be replaced.”

“Okay. I’ll wear the necklace 24/7.” He paused, worrying his lower lip with his teeth, then finally asked, “Are you ever planning to explain…anything?”

He definitely knows something is up.

“When I can. When it’s safe.”

When I’ve changed things from within.

Even with the shield against divination in place, it wasn’t safe to say more. The work that lay ahead was daunting as hell, as she now had two systems to transform, but why the hell would she think small? If she succeeded, it would shift the way all witches lived, and it would change what witches were allowed to achieve as well. If Leanne had her way, one day she’d run for mayor as a witch…and win.

But first…

“Okay. I’ll accept that. And be patient.” But Trev’s frown lingered, making it clear he wouldn’t be content with her vague assurances forever.

Frankly, in his shoes, she’d probably already be asking dangerous questions. Hell, in his situation, I’d probably already be a squirrel.

“Thank you,” she said from the bottom of the heart she would’ve once claimed was untouchable.

“You’re my wife. I trust you. And while I’m in that ballpark, I feel like I should tell you before you hear it from someone else. In fact, I should have told you much sooner, but frankly, we had so much going on that I forgot.”

Her whole body iced over. “What?”

“When I met Dante a while back, I ran into Sarah, my ex. I wasn’t trying to see her, it just happened, and we didn’t talk long. But—”

“Sweetheart.”

“What?”