CHAPTER TWELVE
Our host set the platter on the ground between Tegan and me, and beamed at the two of us. “Eat to your heart’s content. There’s plenty more in the kitchen.”
Tegan grinned. “I think this’ll be enough for our two stomachs.”
“Ah! I nearly forgot!” He rummaged in his pocket and drew out the necklace with the flawed stone. “A little souvenir of your trip here,” he told me as he draped the necklace around my neck. “And the sooner that flawed stone is away from temptation the better.”
I gaped at the precious if flawed gem and shook my head. “I couldn’t take this.”
Burke scoffed. “Nonsense. It suits you very well and I am glad to be rid of it. Those fools have used it too often of late.”
I cupped the jewel in both hands and examined the pale stone. A large black cr
