Page 47 of Ruling Destiny

By the time I’ve polished off my tiramisu and the waiter has finally bid us good night, Braxton leans toward me and says, “I’m wondering if you noticed a theme to our dinner?”

The rain is still falling, pattering softly against the glass canopy, as my mind reels back to when he greeted me with “buona sera,”then on to the wine he poured, which happened to be a chianti. The salad I barely touched was topped with fresh ricotta cheese and homemade Italian dressing, and it was soon followed by a delicious bowl of pasta. And the music that’s been playing in the background all along is Vivaldi’sThe Four Seasons.

A slow smile spreads across my face. “Is this some kind of immersion experience to prepare me for Renaissance Italy?”

Braxton grins. “But is it your Trip orourTrip?” His gaze glints on mine, and though it takes a moment to register, the second it does, I’m so excited I can barely contain it.

“You’re serious?” I say, hoping with all my heart that he is.

“Dead serious.” He nods. “I think it’s Arthur’s way of rewarding me for today’s Get.”

“That must’ve been some Get,” I say, noting how it’s the first time he confirmed that he Tripped.

“I brought back theSalvator Mundi,” he says. “And Arthur was so pleased that—”

“Wait—” I hold up a hand and lean toward him. “You brought back Leonardo da Vinci’sSalvator Mundi?”

“You know it?” He leans toward me, though he doesn’t seem all that surprised.

“Yeah, thanks to my high school art teacher,” I tell him.

But what I don’t mention is how Arthur thinks theSalvator Mundiholds the clue I’ll need to locate the Moon in Renaissance Italy.

“TheSalvator Mundiis thought to be one of da Vinci’s long-lost works,” I say. “It was purchased for less than two thousand dollars, then ultimately sold at auction for over four hundred million. Though some are convinced the whole thing’s a fraud.”

“Well, I guess they’ll have to take that up with Leonardo.” Braxton shrugs. “Because while I can’t vouch for the one sold at auction, the one I brought back is definitely his, seeing as how I got it from the artist himself.”

“The artist—” I shake my head, needing a moment to process. I mean, I get that as Trippers we often mix with the legends of long-ago times, but that doesn’t mean I’ve grown used to it. And it certainly never occurred to me that Braxton might’ve—

I clear my throat and start again. “By that you mean you actually spoke to Leonardo da Vinci?Today?”

Braxton grins. “I stopped by his workshop. We shared a meal. I told him all about you, in fact.”

Um, what? There’s no way. He can’t actually mean that.

“You. Told Leonardo da Vinci. Aboutme?” I eke out the words.

Braxton nods like it’s no big thing.

“But why? And I’m being serious. Why would you do that? Why would he even care?” I can’t even imagine how a conversation like that might’ve gone.

“He asked if there was anyone special in my life, and you’re the first person I thought of. Well, the only person, if you must know. He said he hopes to meet you someday. And now, if our timing is right, he will.”

“I can’t believe this.” I shake my head. “It’s like…” My voice falters. I search Braxton’s face. “So, what’s the catch?” I ask, not wanting to dampen the mood but sure that there is one.

Braxton shrugs. “None that I’m aware of.”

But that’s where he’s wrong. There is a catch. And it’s a big one. Since Braxton doesn’t know about the Moon, and since I’ve sworn to Arthur not to tell anyone about the Antikythera Mechanism, I’ll be forced to lie to him in Renaissance Italy, too.

The train of deceit will continue to roll, and it’s starting to feel like there’s no end in sight.

And yet…Killian knows. I’m as sure of that as I’ve ever been.

So does that mean Arthur lied when he claimed I was the only one at Gray Wolf who knew about the Antikythera?

But now that I think about it, Arthur actually said:Few at Gray Wolf have seen what I’m about to show you. And certainly none of the Blues…

Fewis a long way off fromnone.And considering how neither Braxton nor Killian are Blues, is it possible they already know?

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