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Damn you and your kind?

I glance at Olga. “What do you think that means?”

Now my coven sister looks particularly animated. “I don’t know, but the bodies I saw were mauled. Perhaps we’re dealing with a supernatural that is not fully human or one that can shift.”

I shiver at that. I’ve been working hand in hand with the lycanthropes. Could they…?

No, the thought is too twisted to consider. Shifters hold family above all else. They were wrecked when one of their own showed up murdered.

But Charlotte’s final words do bring up an aspect of the killings that I’d overlooked—the manner in which they died. Mauled and steeped in dark magic.

What could the Fortunas possibly want with a bunch of gruesomely killed witches? Where’s the profit in that sort of death?

Whatever the answer, it will happen again in a week unless Memnon and I can stop it.

CHAPTER 41

When I getto my room, my phone is ringing.

I cross the room and snatch it up from where I left it on my bed.

“Hello?”

“Finally.” Kane’s voice is unnaturally gruff.

Goblin’s tits. I don’t want to talk to this man. I haven’t even begun to sort through my own tangled emotions toward him after last night.

“What’s going on?” he demands.

“What do you mean what’s going on?” I say, gathering together the belongings I’m going to need for the next week.

“Memnon is all over the news.”

“What?”

I rush over to my laptop and wake the device up. As quickly as I can, I log into one of the few supernatural news outlets. On its home page is a grainy photograph of Memnon on the street outside the building I was held in. The angle makes me think it was taken by a security camera. His eyes are glowing, and his hair is partially lifted. The camera couldn’t capture his magic, but it’s obvious it must be spread out around him. The headlinereads33 Dead in Largest Magical Attack of the Year: Killer at Large.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“You’re just now hearing about this?” Kane says.

“Hmm?” I’m still distracted by the photo. In it, Memnon’s scar is hard to see, and his tattoos are entirely obscured. But there’s likely more images out there.

“He’s in both the magical and nonmagical news.” Kane pauses, then adds, “Selene, I’ve seen at least one picture of him carrying a woman. Tell me that isn’t you.” His voice has softened. “Tell me after the party, you got home safely—that you’ve been ignoring my calls purely out of anger.”

I draw in a long breath, my heart hammering louder and louder. My gaze returns to the photo.

“Memnon blew his cover saving me,” I admit. “Saving you?” Kane echoes. “What happened to you after you left the party?” In his voice, there’s a note of fear.

“I…I don’t think I can tell you over the phone.”

The line is quiet for a moment.

“Selene, I’m sorry,” Kane finally says. At first I think he’s apologizing for last night, until he adds, “You’re status as friend of the pack will be revoked at the next meeting. We cannot protect the mate of a murderer.”

I tighten my grip on the phone.

It’s just you and your bonds. They are the only ones you can trust.