Annie's POV:
Jack was still chattering when I caught my breath. He had found his way to me through the crowd. His hands were in my hair. He smelled of fire and honey cake. I held him like he was the only true thing left in the night. He was warm, solid, and mine—and I wanted to keep him there, out of the crowd, out of the night, out of everything that was coming.
"Mom! Mom!" He was bouncing in my arms, his eyes bright. "Auntie Chloe told me! If two people who love each other kiss by the fire, the Moon Goddess keeps them safe! She said it's the oldest luck there is!"
She had told him the whole thing—the way you tell a child a story—never imagining he would carry it straight to me, point it at Jasper. Jack's version of the story was missing half the words, but the half he had were the imp
