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“Yes, who’s this?”

“This is Officer Howahkan. We had a meeting scheduled for a half hour ago, but you never showed.”

My stomach drops. “What meeting?” What does the Politia want with me?

There’s a pause on the line. “We wanted to follow up and ask you a few more questions regarding the death of Miss Evensen.”

I know Charlotte was killed, but—

“I’m sorry, but what does her death have to do with me?”

There’s another long stretch of silence, long enough for me to realize that whatever the officer is talking about, I should remember it.

“You discovered her body,” he finally says.

“What?” I nearly yell into the phone.I was the one who found Charlotte’s body?

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Memnon watching me like a hawk. I cross my arms over my chest and turn away from him, feeling like between my exposed flesh and this conversation, he’s seeing entirely too much of me.

There’s more tense silence on the other end of the line.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologize, staring down at the scuffed-up floorboards. “I… My magic eats my memories.” I draw in a long breath. “Did I really find a body?”

I glance over my shoulder at Memnon, but he wears an unreadable expression.

Another pause from the officer. “Yes.”

I almost don’t believe him. I know there’s been a string of killings recently—I do remember that—I even remember running with Sybil and seeing the crime scene tape for one such killing—but to hear I actuallydiscoveredone of the bodies? That seems like too big a memory for my magic to expunge.

I head over to my desk, where my planner is laid out. But I don’t even know what day to look at.

Why do I not know what day it is?

“What’s today’s date?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

“It’s October fifteenth.”

I find today’s date, and sure enough, there’s a 10:00 a.m. interview with the Politia written into it.

Hell’s fucking spells.

“Can I come over now?” I ask

“That’s fine.” The officer sounds like he’s beyond ready to end this call. “We’ll see you soon.”

I hang up the phone, still staring at my planner, a scowl on my face.

“Little witch, your memory…”

I glance over at Memnon, who’s now sitting up in my bed, looking completely at home and entirely out of place.

His eyes are exceedingly soft as they search mine. “It has left you defenseless.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “I amnotdefenseless.”

He scowls at me. “I have spent my entire life strategizing. I know a vulnerable position when I see one.”

I glare at him. “You don’t know anything about my life.”