Hand still extended, he waits for me to accept it.

I curl my fingers into a ball. “I’m sure Chloe would love you showing up with me.”

“Who cares what she thinks?” He shrugs. Grasping my hand, he tugs me forward, and, as if on cue, snow flurries flutter down around us. “Come on, Ellie. It’s New Year’s Eve. Let’s toast to new beginnings.”

Not wanting to deal with the stares if I show up with him, I disentangle my fingers from his, shoving my hands into my pockets, halting our progress. “No, thank you. I’ll celebrate when I have reason to celebrate. Until then, I’m happy here.”

He sighs, closing the distance between us. “Okay, ‘happy here.’ I’ll stay with you, then.”

“You don’t have to. I’m fine. Go back to the party.”

“I’m not leaving you alone in the dark. You never know what’s lurking in the woods. Especially when there’s a full moon.”

I’m struck by an urge to reach out and brush the snowflakes from his eyelashes, and it’s all I can do to keep my hands to myself. “The only thing lurking is you. But then, you are pretty dangerous…” Narrowing my eyes, I look him up and down. What am I doing? Am I flirting? I don’t know what, but something about him throws me off my game.

He studies me. “What aren’t you telling me? It doesn’t add up. You’re not a legacy, but you’re familiar. I feel like I know you, but that’s impossible. You showed up out of nowhere and beat some really talented thieves to compete in the Quest… Who are you?”

I meet his gaze, my heart thumping. “I’m just a girl from Ojai.”

“I don’t know what to make of you, Ellie,” he says, raising his fingers like he’s going to touch my cheek. I long for him to cup my jaw, but he quickly drops his hand. “One minute you look like you want to kill me, and the next—”

“Hi Chloe,” I say loudly, sensing movement in the trees and cutting him off.

Seconds that feel like eternity pass before Chloe emerges. “There you are,” she says. Harbor is at her side, and Liam trails behind them. “Did you get the dirt on her yet?”

My skin goes cold, but my eyes remain glued to Garrett’s beautiful face. “Couldn’t stop thinking about me, huh?”

“Actually, yes.” He glares over his shoulder at Chloe. “I was worried when you didn’t show up.” He says it too softly for the others to hear.