He paced outside in the frigid cold as the sun set on the mountains, plunging the world into shades of gold-dusted plum and rose-tinged blue. Why, of all the families in the world, did he have to be born to the Emersons? Not only were his ancestors morally repugnant, but his own father had virtually disowned him, and now… For the umpteenth time, Grey wished he could walk away from his life, from his father, from everything that felt like manacles around his wrists and ankles.

If there had been even a sliver of doubt in his mind about the pendant’s provenance, it had disappeared completely. It was all true. He lived in a world where nanotechnology and ancient curses lived side by side. Grey barked a laugh, then was immediately afraid that he was losing his mind.

“Grey.”

He spun around to see Jaya behind him. She held a small bag, and by its shape and heft, he could tell it held the velvet pouch that in turn held the necklace.

“Don’t… don’t jump to conclusions,” she said, edging forward carefully, as if he were a spooked horse.

“The conclusions have already been handed to me,” Grey said, pushing an agitated hand through his hair. “No jumping required.”

“Grey, what we saw doesn’t mean the pendant is cursed—”

“Then how do you explain it?” he asked, rounding on her. “Hmm? We were standing right there, Jaya.” He thrust his arm out toward the store. “You saw him apply the epoxy.”

She looked up at him, unflinching, her hair streaming behind her like a black silken flag in the cold breeze. “The epoxy was defective.”

“The tube was half-gone,” Grey said. “Silas said he uses it on all his projects. Don’t you think he would’ve noticed that before?”

Jaya didn’t say anything.

Shaking his head, he began to walk away, but Jaya put a hand on his elbow, stilling him. “Grey, please.” After a pause, studying his expression, she said, “I’ll put it away so you don’t have to look at it anymore. Will that help?”

“No,” he said quietly. “I want to see it every day. I need to see it right now. It’s in the darkest corners that things seem the scariest.”

“Are you sure?” There was a wrinkle of concern between Jaya’s eyebrows. “You want me to put it on right now?”

“Yes,” he said. “I want you to put it on right now.” Grey took a deep breath and turned on his heel, rubbing a hand along his jaw. “And I also want to get out of here.”

Jaya slid the pouch out of the bag and pulled the necklace out carefully. Grey held his breath. It twinkled at him, laughing coyly, darkly, under its breath as Jaya fastened it around her neck and put the velvet pouch away. “Okay?” she asked him.