Page 67 of Ashes and Lilies
“I’m not doing shit!” Miles whined as he held his earlobe. “You either let it go, or I’m done.”
“Where did you even find that needle?” Damen asked. He didn’t seem overly concerned about Miles’s plight but more worried about Maria rooting through his house. He led me back to my pillow, and I sat down, tucking my legs under me, before he kissed the top of my head and returned to his previous seat on the couch. “Do you carry a sewing kit around with you?”
“I found it in the hallway.” She shrugged, not resisting as Miles snatched the needle from her hand. “It was in the sewing machine.”
Damen frowned and looked to the doorway. “You mean from the vintage Singer set that I haven’t cleaned yet?”
“It’s covered in rust!” Miles was holding up the needle to the light. “You’re going to give me tetanus!”
I glanced back at Julian, our future doctor. Surely, he would have something to say. He’d taken a seat on one of the high-backed chairs behind me and was in the process of opening a thick book.
However, he must have felt my eyes on him.
“Oh, you’ll be fine.” Julian yawned as he crossed his legs. “I’ll give you a shot.”
“That’s not helping,” Miles snapped at him.
This was getting ridiculous. Besides, if I remembered correctly, after Miles, it was me. Maybe if I quickly took my turn, this whole thing could be forgotten.
I leaned over the board and spun the arrow—it landed on two, which led me to one of the last two pieces that I needed: the ring.
“Fine.” Maria sat next to me as I began rooting through the jewelry box. “But only for Bianca.”
“I don’t see a green ring,” I said, my mood dampening. I was so close to victory, yet it was falling further out of reach.
“What?” Maria sat on her knees. “There has to be one!” She began to pull out the remaining pieces, and she frowned. “I must have forgotten it.”
“Just use this one.” Damen handed me the black titanium band he’d been wearing on his right pinky finger, and I frowned at it.
“No thanks,” I muttered. It was not the same.
But then I remembered.
“Hold on!” I jumped to my feet. The others stared at me. This would be a perfect use for the ring I found in Professor Hamway’s basement. I’d completely forgotten about it until this moment.
“Just wait,” I told them, and I rushed up the stairs to Damen’s room and into my dirty clothes pile. Thankfully, it was still in my pocket, so I grabbed it and ran back downstairs.
“I have this,” I said, slightly out of breath as I sat back next to Maria. I slipped the ring on the pointer finger of my left hand. The others were watching me—Miles stood out as having the most peculiar expression etched into his features—as I held out my hand. “I should probably return it, but I did find it fair and square.”
After all, it wasn’t even stealing. The ring didn’t belong to her—it was Rosalie’s. I could claim it as payment for setting her spirit free.
“Return it where?” Julian asked. He lowered his book to his lap and looked at my hand. “Whose ring is it?”
“It was at Professor Hamway’s house,” I said, holding my hand to the light. To think, it was so shiny and sparkly now—it would be breathtaking when polished and made like new.
“You stole a ring from Aine?” Damen’s voice tightened, every word laced with disapproval.
“I did not steal anything!” I gasped and held my hand against my chest, covering my treasure. “I found it in the basement. I bet she doesn’t even know it exists. It’smine.”
“That’s still stealing.” Damen narrowed his eyes and held out his hand. “Give it to me.”
“You should give it to Damen,” Miles added, frowning at me.
“No!” I leaned back. They were so wrong. “You can’t make me!” I didn’t understand why I cared so much, but it was the principle of the matter. I’d found it first.
“Here, darling,” Julian interrupted. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold pocket watch. “I’ll trade you.”
I looked down at my hand and back to the lustrous watch inJulian’s hand. This was such a difficult decision, but ultimately, the promise of something new won. “Okay,” I said.
