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Outside, the sky is a luminous deep blue, and the lampposts speckling the campus flicker to life.

I hadn’t realized how long I’d been working. I pull my phone from my pocket.

6:44 p.m.

Shit.

It’s way past curfew.

You’ve broken curfew before,I reassure myself.What is one more day?

But when it happened before, I had my reasons. Now, I merely lost track of time.

Setting aside my worries about curfew for a moment, I send my mother a quick text—I’m still kicking!—then tuck my phone away and step off the second floor of the house, heading down the hall.

When I get to my best friend’s room, I open the door and step inside.

Sybil is busy typing away on her laptop, but when she hears me, she glances up.

“Selene!” Sybil’s face blooms into a smile. “I didn’t realize you were here. I was going to grab dinner in a few minutes. Want to join?”

“Oh.” I hadn’t even considered it. But I’ve already broken curfew. What’s the harm in lingering a little longer?

“I wouldloveto come to dinner with you,” I say to Sybil.

“Yay!” she says.

I reach down my bond to Memnon.I’ll be out late tonight. Don’t wait up.

It feels weird checking in like this, as though I’m somehow answerable to him. But Goddess forbid the man worries about me. Heads might literally roll.

From the other side of the bond I feel Memnon’s warmth. Hello, Empress, I’ve been missing you,he says, and damn him, but I get butterflies at his words. After a moment, he adds,I might also be late.I’m now involved in a whole new arm of the organization and, Selene, I have so much to tell you.

My breath catches. Memnon has clearly learned something new, something that will probably shed light on the murders. It’s also clearly meant to entice me to return to his house.

I’ll see you later then,I say.

Stay safe,Memnon says.And kill anyone who crosses you.

Not going to address that.

I pull away from the connection in time for Sybil to come up to my side. Her eyes flick over me. “You were talking to Memnon just now, weren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, what did you two chat about?” she says.

“That I’ll be staying late here.”

My friend’s expression brightens. “That means you can come to the bonfire.”

“The bonfire?” I echo.

“It’s a small party happening at the beach. I assumed you wouldn’t be able to come because you’ve been cautious and staying with Memnon, and I didn’t want to make you feel bad for missing out.”

I make a face, annoyance flaring in me. Just because shitty people exist in the world doesn’t mean I need to stop living.

Caution be damned, I am not prey, and I’m not about to start acting like it.