Black Truth, White Lies (Black Hat Bureau 3)

Before I dug the flap open, Clay yanked the box out of my arms and set it on the floor at my feet.

“Open mine next.” Colby set a thin box on my thighs then zipped back to her hoard. “Go on.”

The lid slid from my fingers when my gaze touched on the picture in the ornate sterling frame.

“How…?” I cleared a sudden lump from my throat and tried again. “How did you get this?”

The black-and-white photo showed my parents arm in arm. Mom was beaming from ear to ear, holding on to Dad tight. Her joy was incandescent, so bright I had to look to Dad for relief. His face was meant to wear a scowl, he was solemn by nature, but he couldn’t fight his tender smile for her any more than I could battle the sting of tears behind my eyelids.

“I called Meg.”

For Colby, that meant going through an intermediary. It would have emptied her savings to use a proxy, but a tithe must be paid to summon those beyond the veil, and Colby knew she was forbidden to give her blood to any working, no matter who asked her.

Even me.

Maybe especially me.

“I told her you had been thinking about your parents a lot,” she continued, “and I asked if any pictures of them had survived. She reached out to her great-great-great niece and gave her permission to search her things. A few weeks later, she mailed this photo to me.” Her voice softened. “It was taken on their fiftieth wedding anniversary.” She scrunched up her face. “It’s the only existing copy, and Meg says she will reincarnate, hunt you down, and maul you if you lose it.”

“She never told me she had it.” I smoothed my thumb over the glass. “I’ve never even seen it.”

“I wanted you to have a piece of them with you, for when you miss them.”

“Thanks, smarty fuzz butt.” I opened my arms for her, and she slammed into my chest, knocking the breath out of me. “This is the best gift I could have asked for.”

“You’re welcome.” She pried it from my hands then parroted to me, “You still have gifts left.”

Unable to tear my gaze from the photo, I stared as Colby flew it to my room for safekeeping.

Beside me, Asa cleared his throat, snapping me out of what might have beens, if my parents had lived.

“This is from me.” He pulled a small black box from his pocket. “If you’re up to opening another gift.”

Panic cleansed my palate as I accepted the token with damp palms, afraid of its contents.

“Breathe, Rue.” He rested a hand on my thigh. “It’s not a ring.”

Embarrassed to be called out, I flipped open the clamshell lid to find…a fae wrought lariat necklace.

Five dainty sprigs of mistletoe hung suspended from a silver chain. Each vein on every leaf was as unique as a fingerprint. Clustered pearls mimicked berries, ripe and round, and two more bunches dripped from the center strand to form the classic Y shape.

“It’s…” I stroked the leaves with a fingertip, their lifelike texture startling, “…beautiful.”

Despite our audience, he leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. “For the times when you want to be kissed, and I’m too dim to pick up on the subtle hints. Touch the lowest sprig, and I’ll know.”

“So, what you really gifted me was unlimited kisses.”

“As many as you wish.” His teeth scraped my jaw where Colby couldn’t see. “Whenever you wish.” His voice dipped to a bare exhalation of breath no one else would hear. “Wherever you wish.”

A giddy thrill shivered in my stomach as he fastened the gift around my neck.

“Thank you.” I cradled it in my palm, amazed at its lightness. “It’s—”

His lips brushed mine, whisper-soft and PG-13 appropriate.

“And it works.” Clay slow clapped, proving he overheard. “Just what you two needed, a smooch signal.”

“Hey, it works both ways.” Colby fluttered her wings. “Now we know when to cover our eyes.”