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Today, there’s cereal.

I raise an eyebrow when I take a long look at the various colorful boxes that were definitely made with kids in mind.

After a moment, I pull out one of them. “Is this what you think of me?” I ask, holding the box up.

Memnon lifts his chin. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

I give him a look as I close the pantry door. It’s annoying how accurately he has me pegged. My heart might have iced over, but I will always have a soft spot for colorful, oversugared cereal.

“I couldn’t buy the one with those round chocolate balls,” he adds, grabbing a bowl and spoon. “It looked too much like goat shit,” he says, setting the items on the table.

“I’ve neveronceconsidered that in my life,” I say, watching him move to the refrigerator. Since last night, he’s pulled on some loose-fitting pants, but his torso remains gloriously, distractingly bare.

“I will not feed my queen food that’s offensive to look at,” he says, opening the refrigerator door. “Now sit down and let me serve you.”

I cringe at that word.Serve.

“I can do it myself,” I say, carrying the box of cereal over to the table.

“Believe it or not, my queen, I want to do this.” Memnon comes to my side and sets the milk down. “Stop assuming otherwise.”

Memnon has me sit there while he pours my cereal, then milk, into my bowl.

I stare down at it. “Who takes care of you?” I ask offhandedly.

“Hmm?” he says. He’s already drifting away, moving to the stove where a teapot rests.

I turn away from my breakfast and toward my soul mate. “Who takes care ofyou?” I repeat.

He glances up, meeting my gaze.

The answer is clear.

No one.

We used to take care of each other, and he had family and friends and a kingdom to give him whatever he needed. But that’s all gone now.

Though my mind still recoils from what happened last night, I force myself to remember the police officers, the dead bodies…

There’s a trail of evidence Memnon left behind when he came for me. He saved me from a nightmarish situation, and he might’ve inadvertently gotten himself into one. And despite his staggering power, not even Memnon is omnipotent.

I feel that armor I woke up with, and I feel our bond within it.

I shake my head as I look at him. “That changes today. From this moment on,Ialso take care ofyou."

This puts me on the wrong side of the law. Shit, it puts me on the wrong side of a lot of things. I don’t care.

Memnon gazes at me, and I don’t think he breathes. I can feel a sharp, painfully sweet emotion through our bond. I know from experience it’s one that cannot be formed into words.

My own emotions get lodged in my throat. I don’t want this to be a big deal. I just want this to be the way things are between us: from now on, we take care of each other. It’s not just one way.

My magic drifts out of me, a tendril of it reaching for one of the cupboards and withdrawing a bowl. Another rope of it opens a drawer and removes a spoon. Both items float back to the table and clatter onto the spot next to me. My power pushes out a chair.

“Sit,” I say. “Come eat with me.”

I force down an apology that wants to bubble up at the command. Instead, I grab the cereal box and pour him a bowl of it while he takes a seat.

He grimaces at the colorful cereal, but when his attention moves to me, Memnon looks happy. Really happy. My heart leaps at his reaction.