For a moment he looks surprised that I would actually care about something like that, and his annoyance dissipates. “Right, well, tell him what happened—that you ran into me on your way to the restaurant and that I gave you the necklace. Nothing more.”

I grumble.

He slips his necklace over his head and holds it out to me. “Do I have your word?”

I sigh. “You have my word.”

He drops the necklace in my hand.

“But tell me this, why would Layla not want Ash to know she’s here?” I say, making a last-ditch effort to get some information.

“Sorry. Can’t,” he says, and looks behind him in the direction of the restaurant. “You can ask Layla yourself. Meet us at Twelve Clarence Hill Road in Hampstead at four a.m.” He takes a step backward.

“Wait,” I say, but he just shrugs as he walks backward.

“See you in the morning,” he says, and turns away from me.

For a few seconds I stand there, baffled. What the hell is going on here? First Aarya and Ines, now Matteo and Layla? Why would Layla do this—say goodbye to us at the Academy and then follow us in secret? I can’t imagine that she doesn’t have a good reason, I just don’t know what it could be.

I stare at the little golden necklace in my hand, wishing I didn’t have to give it to the apothecary. Did my mom really have one of these?

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and it jerks me out of my thoughts. I open the screen and there are seventeen new messages. But instead of reading them, I just text back: Got the necklace. Going to make the trade. Will be home soon.

Chapter Nineteen

THE SUN IS setting as I stare out the window of my cab at the quiet London streets, dripping with white lights. And it dawns on me—today is Christmas. I missed all the cheer and peppermint hot chocolate. I missed the decorated tree in Pembrook town square, the carolers and the god-awful holiday play our local theater puts on. And I missed Lucille’s menorah lighting, where Emily and I routinely eat freshly baked donuts until we feel sick. And most of all I miss Dad.

The cab stops at the corner next to Aarya’s apartment. I hand the driver some cash and step out onto the street.

I enter the code on the keypad outside her door and make my way up the stairs, my mind spinning with everything that’s happened. I knock twice on the apartment door, and before I even pull my hand away, it opens. Ash stands on the other side.

“November,” he says, and some tension leaves his shoulders. It’s obvious that he’s been doing the Ash equivalent of pacing since I left.