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Every inch,Memnon says, giving my hand a squeeze.

I glance over at him only to see empty space. A split second later, a man in a business suit bumps against what looks like thin air, stumbling a little on the congested sidewalk. The man looks around, then glares at the woman in front of us before moving on.

Memnon and I have both placed enchantments on ourselves that make us invisible. It takes a lot of power, but it’s a simple enough spell—one that bends the light to hide you. I used it before when I had to bring Nero through a couple airports, but this version of the spell is a lot more sophisticated.

We continue onward, toward the Equinox Building, sidestepping other pedestrians where we can. The two of us left Memnon’s car in a parking garage a block back.

Beware, Memnon says. The building is crawling with guards, security cameras, and wards.

I’m not worried about the first two issues, especially being essentially invisible at the moment. It’s the third one that might be tricky.

What sorts of wards?I ask. There are wards that can confuse the mind so you wander in circles, wards that form impenetrable walls, wards that make you irrationally scared, wards that will slingshot you ten feet back if you touch them.

From what I learned when I picked up bodies here,Memnon says,the spells change frequently, so the Fortunas’ enemies can never be sure what they’re dealing with.

Considering we’re now the enemies in question, that’s not exactly what I was hoping to hear.

Besides wards, remind me again what else can we expect?I say. We’ve been over this several times, but now that adrenaline is surging through my veins, my thoughts have scattered.

There will likely be guards posted around the perimeter of the building, especially since they’re expecting you,Memnon says.I will take care of any of them we run into.

For once, I’m grateful that Memnon isn’t squeamish about violence. I try not to think about the fact that I still am.

We get to the stoplight across from the Equinox and wait for the light to change.

If these enchantments fall,Memnon says,it will only be a matter of time before they see us. And once that happens, things will unfold quickly.

I swallow. This is the part of the plan that truly terrifies me. We aren’t heading through the lobby like Sophia demanded. I have to force away my worries over what Sybil might endure for this breach in plan.

The light changes to green, and Memnon and I cross the street, the sound of cars and horns blaring.

If both murders and illegal auctions are happening inside this building, then it will be a fortress, one that is safe for the Fortunas and their clients but not for us, Memnon says.

Which means that the only way out is to stop the Fortunas first, along with anyone who works with them.

As soon as we step onto the city block where the Equinox Building is located, I feel the tug of the first ward against my skin. I glance up and see the faint edges of the glittering spell, the spindly threads of this one a raspberry color. It looks like nothing more than a shimmery spiderweb, the strands of it faint.

I hear a gasp from a woman behind me. When I turn to look at the middle-aged woman, her eyes are wide.

Our illusion is gone,Memnon says down our bond.

Fuck.

The first ward apparently strips enchantments.

The woman hurries away, and the flow of pedestrian traffic continues on around us, the rest of the crowd indifferent to the fact that two people manifested out of thin air.

Should we redo the spell?I ask Memnon.

My mate attempts to, his magic spiraling out of him, but the enchantment only forms for an instant before dissipating again. It looks like the ward won’t allow illusions at all.

So we have no choice.

We walk down the block to the Equinox parking garage entrance, which gapes like a mouth. My skin pricks; I don’t see any cameras nor any obvious guards, but that doesn’t mean anything. The Fortunas might already know I’m on their city block.

I reach into the armhole of my dress and pull out my phone from where I’ve tucked it in my cleavage. I check the time.

11:39 p.m.