Chapter Thirty-Seven

Surprised by a returning couple in their hotel suite, Holland panics until Adam smoothly intervenes. While Holland gathers her father’s pages, Adam turns the couple from furious to apologetic, securing their swift exit through sheer charm—implied magic he later admits is borrowed from the Bank.

As they head for the exit, Holland spots two people in cowboy hats she suspects are Bank affiliates. To avoid attention, Adam drapes an arm over her and initiates a lingering public kiss so onlookers avert their eyes. He then leads her to a valet car and prepares to steal it.

During the theft, Holland suddenly perceives Adam as Gabe, triggering panic and a nosebleed. The car’s radio plays the same song regardless of station, mirroring her hallucination. Adam’s concern grounds her, but the persistent music suggests an inexplicable phenomenon beyond simple vision.

Holland questions whether nosebleeds signify anything magical; Adam knows of no such rule. She experiences a memory gap, discovering she’s wearing sneakers she doesn’t remember changing into; Adam explains she borrowed them from the hotel’s guest room before leaving.

With heightened dread over visions, physical symptoms, and vanishing memories, Holland and Adam continue driving toward Jericho Monroe Studios, the next clue in their hunt for the Alchemical Heart.