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Hesitantly, I reach out, rubbing the fabric of the evening gown between my fingers.

“Thank you,” I say softly. “These are … perfect.” And the gift itself is thoughtful.He’sthoughtful.

Taking the items from Memnon, I disappear into the bathroom and dress. Once I’ve donned the outfit, I lean against the counter, letting my magic drift out to style my hair before I touch my makeup bag. Normally I would do this with Sybil. She was the one who always insisted on getting dressed up. Going through the motions now without her only serves to remind me that she’s in a bad situation, that she has been all day.

I drag on red lipstick, and I make myself think of it as war paint.We’ll get you out, Sybil.

When I leave the bathroom, Memnon is sitting on the edge of the bed, a black bag open at his feet. He glances up, and his entire expression shifts at the sight of me.

“Selene.” His eyes move to mine. “You are so godsdamned lovely.”

A pang of nostalgia seeps into me from the bond, along with an emotion that feels like wish fulfillment.

I smooth a hand over the silk self-consciously.

Memnon rises from the bed and comes to me then and kisses me like I might slip through his fingers.

He pulls away. “I got you something else as well.”

I raise my eyebrows. “There’smore?”

He gives me a conspiratorial look as he backs away. “Don’t you remember, Empress? There’s always more when it comes to you.”

The sorcerer retreats to that open duffel bag, and I follow him over, watching curiously as he pulls out two sheathed daggers, Velcro straps wrapped around them.

My eyebrows hike all the way up. “You got me a pair of daggers?”

“My wrathful queen needs a good set of blades when facing down enemies.” Returning to me, Memnon kneels at my feet. “May I?” he says, gesturing to my legs.

I nod, and he unravels one of the Velcro straps. Lifting a heeled foot, he slips one of the thigh sheaths up my leg, settling it right at the apex of my limb. He tightens and adjusts it until it’s sitting comfortably against me and the weapon lies smoothly against my skin.

Memnon reaches for the other blade and sheath. “I’m still getting used to the sight of modern dresses,” he says as he works, “and I have to admit there is somethingveryprovocative about them.” He lifts my skirt high enough to slide the other sheath on. “Particularly when they hide weapons.” After he secures my second blade, he sits back on his haunches. “Now, show me how easily my pretty, deadly wife can pull a dagger on an enemy.”

I’ve never worn a thigh sheath, nor have I played with blades in this life, but I manage to smoothly reach into the slit of my dress and withdraw one in a matter of seconds. It’s light and delicate, long enough to hit internal organs but thin enough to easily wield.

I press the blade up to Memnon’s throat.

“Good.” His smoky eyes gleam. “And the other?”

Without looking away from him, I unsheathe it, crossing this second dagger over the first so that Memnon’s neck is scissored between the two.

The grin he gives me is downright evil. “Verygood.”

I withdraw the blades from his throat, tucking them back in their sheathes, and breathe down my unease. It’s been a long time since I touched a weapon in earnest. My muscles remember the movements, but my mind snags on the thought of using them.

The sorcerer’s expression grows serious. “Remember, these are violent, dangerous people,” he says, catching my stray thought. “Use those blades the moment you need them—if, of course, you need them.”

Memnon’s eyes gleam, and wisps of his magic are escaping his skin. I know he’s thinking of ending all these people himself. I can feel the call to war roaring across our bond. The warlord is finally back to battle.

“Ready?” he asks.

I draw in a deep breath, the weight of the daggers comforting. “Ready.”

CHAPTER 46

The Equinox is a huge,deep green skyscraper, its glittering outer walls made from reflective glass.

The Fortuna family owns the entire building?I ask down our bond, aghast as I take in the staggering structure.