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Does that mean he really, truly, finally believes me?

The intensity in his gaze has cooled; all that’s left is a hollow sort of sadness.

“I had horses, I had warriors and armies, I had palaces and servants and admirers, but most important of all, I hadyou.” His voice breaks on that final word, like a wave crashing against the rocks.

“You hadRoxilana,” I remind him softly.

Memnon works his jaw and looks away. “No, in the end, I apparently did not have even her.”

His chest rises and falls faster and faster, and I can sense the violent edge of his magic stirring awake.

“You need to leave,” I say quietly. Memnon got what he came for. It’s not my fault it wasn’t what he wanted.

The sorcerer’s magic fills the room, and mine mounts to meet his.

Memnon gives me one last baleful look, and then he strides past me and out of my room. The door swings closed behind him, and with that, Memnon the Cursed is finally gone.

CHAPTER20

I’m on my stomach,my cheek resting against a soft bedsheet. There’s someone at my back, peppering kisses up my spine.

“Est amage,” Memnon breathes against my skin.

I tense at the sound of his voice.

Hadn’t he and I parted a few hours ago?

I glance around the room. This one has a low ceiling and close walls made from dark wood. Scattered oil lamps illuminate the intricate red-and-gold design on the blanket beneath me.

My fingers trace the pattern. I…I swear there’s somethingright there, on the edge of my mind.

Memnon strokes a hand down my bare spine, and my muscles tighten all over again. I can feel the warm press of his legs against mine, and I can see our magic mingling in the air, the shades going from a rosy orange to coppery pink to dark lavender and a deep sapphire blue.

“Relax, little witch. I only want to make you feel good.” A moment later, Memnon gently flips me onto my back.

The sorcerer is naked and on his knees, his cock jutting forward. The lamplight makes his eyes look almost liquid, and I find my breath catching at the sight of him.

He notices me staring, and the two of us hold each other’s gazes.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he says softly.

Reveal my thoughts? That sounds terrifying.

But as I continue to gaze into Memnon’s eyes, I don’t feel terror—not unless you count this strange falling feeling I’m experiencing.

“I want you to kiss me,” I confess, dipping my eyes to those lips.

I see them curve into a smile—I even get a peek at those sharp canines of his.

Memnon leans in and presses a kiss between my breasts. “Here?” he whispers against my skin.

A wave of goose bumps moves down my arms.

I shake my head.

Memnon’s mouth skims over one of my breasts, stopping to tongue my nipple.

“Here?” he asks.