Page 161

“What happened to the bodies last night?” I ask as I pour out milk into his cereal. “The ones inside the building?”

Memnon tentatively dips a spoon into his breakfast, looking highly suspicious of the rainbow cereal.

“I left them there,” he says. “The Fortunas can clean up their own mess this time.”

He scoops up a spoonful of the cereal and brings it to his lips. After a moment’s hesitation, he takes a bite.

Immediately, he makes a face, and I can tell he is fighting to get that mouthful down his throat. “What on Api’s good earthisthis?”

Memnon looks like it’s personally offended him.

“Cereal.”

“I love you, Selene, but this—this is unholy shit.”

I smile at that, oddly tickled by his reaction. “Fine. You don’t have to eat it.”

Memnon pushes the bowl away.

As he’s about to stand, I place a hand on his inked forearm. “What about the Politia and the human police? Both are probably looking for you.”

He takes my hand and threads his fingers through mine. I stare at our entwined hands, his bronze skin against my paler tone. A thrilling sensation courses through me at the sight.

“They can look. I am not worried about them,” he says. Memnon gives my hand a squeeze. “Remember, there is only one law humans ever follow: might makes right. I don’t plan on being dragged away by cops—magical or otherwise.”

I’m still worried, and I have to fight the urge to go to him now and wrap myself in his arms, afraid he will slip beyond my reach the way he once did.

“There are, however, a few final things I must take care of today,” He says. “I’ll be out for a little while.”

“You’re going back?” I say sharply. There are so many things we haven’t even begun to discuss, but at the top of that list is the fact that Memnon probably incriminated himself to his employers. If he goes back…who knows what they’ll do to him? There’s a chance they’re already looking for him.

Memnon gives his head a shake. “No, I’m sure after last night, I’ve been compromised. Truthfully, I’ve been preparing to leave the Fortunas’ employment long before this. But I need to tie up a few loose ends.”

I squeeze his hand harder. “You’ll be safe?”

He squeezes it back. “For you,est amage, I will be.”

Memnon and I still haven’t spoken about what we learned last night when he takes me via ley line to Henbane. It needs to be discussed, but both of us have other tasks we must handle first.

I’ve come to the decision that until the new moon, I will stay with Memnon. My own identity could’ve been compromised last night, and though Juliana is gone, her family and the criminal ring they run are not. Like Memnon, today is mainly about tying up loose ends.

I left my phone, wallet, and keys in my room, and I need to grab them and anything else I might need for the next week. There’s also a personal matter I want to deal with.

Memnon and I step off the ley line and into the empty, darkened crypt. The candles around us have barely sparked to life when Memnon grabs my arm and reels me back to him.

I have only a moment to look up at him before his mouth crashes into mine. The sorcerer gathers me to him like a man starving for touch, connection.

Reflexively, my lips move against his, but as my mind catches up, I fall into the kiss, just as consumed by it as he is.

Memnon’s hands are squeezing my arms, and now they’re tangled in my hair as his tongue strokes mine. My own hands have moved to his back, and my nails dig into his flesh. There’s a maelstrom of emotions moving between the two of us. My loyalty, his love, these treacherous circumstances that are binding us together.

Not so long ago, I hated Memnon with a passion. Now…now that hate seems to be a very, very distant thing.

Memnon rips his mouth away. “Stay fucking safe today,est amage.”

It’s an easy promise to agree to. Still?—

“I will if you will.”