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“It was also delicious.”

Calix leaned over to both Snow and I. “I’m still putting my kitchen back together. How hard is it to put shit back in the same place you found it? Do you think he would like if I went into his shop and moved everything around?”

“I can hear you.”

Calix popped his head up and looked at him. “Well, it’s true.”

“Apologies brother.”

Dresden sat at the table and was fiddling with a piece of wood in his hand. He was the one of the miner seven I knew the least about. He never really came to Ruby’s… maybe once if I tried to think back hard enough, and even when I had come over the short time Barrett and I were seeing each other, he was quiet.

“Dinner!” Calix shouted.

The kitchen filled up with excitement and I saw someone walk in I didn’t recognize. “Who are you?” I asked.

He was tall, dark, and handsome, with green eyes and a familiar resemblance.

“Garrison.” He smiled.

“Gage’s brother.” Snow added.

“Don’t let him hear you say that.”

“Too late.” Gage walked downstairs. “What are we now? A fucking feeding line?”

“Gage. I know it’s hard, but try not to be an ass for the rest of the night.” Snow said, pulling out a seat and directing me to sit in it.

He glared at her, but didn’t say anything.

Holy shit. No one ever talked back to Gage, but she did. I glanced at Enzo beside me. “It’s their thing. He’s an ass. She puts him in his place and he takes it.”

“Shut the fuck up Enzo.” Gage retorted.

“He’s still an ass to the rest of us, but we’re used to it.” Enzo continued, ignoring Gage.

“So, what is your name?” Garrison asked.

“I’m Lilibet.”

“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

“For fuck’s sake. Not at the dinner table.” Gage snapped.

“Seriously, what is your problem? If your brother chooses not to be a dickhead and make polite conversation with a guest, what’s it to you?” Snow pushed.

He just stared at her and shoveled food in his mouth.

That’s how the rest of dinner went, them glaring at one another in silence as the rest of the table carried on in conversation.

After dinner, Calix suggested we go outside by the fire pit, and I was thankful Gage had decided to stay inside. I was used to his general broodiness, but something seemed to bother him a little more than usual and I felt it had to do with Snow, even though I couldn’t put my finger on it. I tried to block him and Snow out so I could focus on getting to know Garrison better while Snow made a plan of attack for the dark Queen. She told everyone about the spell she’d cast, with my help, on the arrows Dresden had made for her.

It was a simple spell in theory, one that would just stun and immobilize the dark Queen so they could bind her with a pair of magic shackles that muted her spell casting. Once those were on her, they would be able to safely store her somewhere until they could figure out what to do about her and her children.

It was Jace’s idea to use the shackles, which he happened to have a pair of in his room. No one in the house seemed to question it, but I found it odd. He had told some story about how he received them when he was a young boy after being picked on by the witches he lived near.

I looked at Snow and watched her, part of me feeling guilty for wanting to stay out of this. I had enough shit going on, but there was something about her that sort of pulled you in- made you want to do whatever you could to protect her, to fight with her, to love her.

They had a plan, and they were going after her tomorrow.