Page 199

I take his furry face into my hands. “Can you believe I’m getting married?” My stomach flutters at the thought.Flutters!

Nero gives me a look that says,Yeah, no shit lady, no one’s surprised.

But I am caught off-guard in the best way possible. This oath was loathsome to me when I first made it, but now…now I feel oddly thrilled. I was married to Memnon once. He was an incredible husband then.

He will be an incredible husband again.

My phone buzzes from the nightstand, dragging me from my thoughts. I release Nero, who immediately proceeds to clean his face where I touched him, and I grab the phone. On the screen is a text from Kane.

Suddenly, all of last night slams back into me. The demon, the auction, the fight, Eislyn.

Selene, we need to talk in person.

Another text follows the first.

Now.

I sit up in bed, gathering the sheets to me.

It’s about Memnon.

My heart drops. I text back, my pulse beginning to rise.

Why?

I wait impatiently for him to respond.

You asked me to stick my neck out for you a week ago. I’m asking you to give me your time.

I reply:

Fine

Come to my place in thirty minutes.

I glance past Nero to where the sorcerer disappeared down the hallway. I can hear him humming some old Sarmatian song beneath his breath.

Memnon,I reach out down our bond.I have to go to my residence hall to grab a few things for…later today.

Rather than answering, Memnon pads back down the hallway, leaning against the doorframe to his bedroom. He wears only a pair of low-slung joggers, and the sight of hismuscular, inked torso makes my knees go weak. A corner of his mouth is curled up into a soft smile.

His smoky amber eyes glitter as he takes me in. He’s looking at me with so much longing it makes my chest ache.

“Don’t be gone long, little witch,” he says. “I have a surprise for you before we say our vows.”

My heart beats a little harder.

This better be fucking good, Kane.

CHAPTER 54

Though I haven’t beento my residence hall in a week, it’s as though nothing at all has changed—with the exception, perhaps, of the solitude. The house is much quieter and emptier than before. At first I simply assume that’s because the two beings that made this place feel full—Sybil and Nero—are not currently here, but then I realize there’s no cawing, screeching sounds from the various familiars that live here, nor are there any loud cackles from coven sisters. The murmured conversations I do hear are subdued. The house still smells, however, like comfort food. Today, it’s cinnamon rolls.

I drop my things off in my room and head downstairs to grab one when someone bangs the ever-loving shit out of our front door.

One guess who that might be.

I retrace my steps to the foyer and open the door. Standing on the other side of it is Kane.