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Beneath my palm, Memnon grins, and his eyes twinkle with mirth. Gone is the angry monster who stormed my room—

Kane.

Fuck, I need to get back to him.

Even as I think it, I’m not sure how to get out of this situation without drawing Memnon right back to the lycan and further hurting the lycanthrope.

The sorcerer removes my hand from his mouth. “Ask me more,est amage. Let me prove our past to you.”

At least he now seems to believe that whatever past existed for him, I have no memory of it.

I search his gaze, part of me desperate to check on Kane and part of me eager to hear more about this man.

“What land did you and Roxilana rule?” I finally say, edging backward.

“Sarmatia.” That word carries a longing with it. “We were an empire of horse lords and warriors, and we moved along the Pontic steppe, with the migrations of herd animals. Though I overthrew the king of Bosporus so I could settle you in a palace by the sea. The constant traveling was hard on you.”

“I’ve never heard of any of that,” I say. I don’t dare mention that my own magic might’ve expunged the information.

Memnon sighs. “Yes, well, much of the recorded history at the time was written by Romans.” He curls his upper lip as he speaks. “To them, we were nameless barbarians. We existed in their nightmares and on the fringes of their world but not in their self-aggrandizing histories. But wedidexist.”

“Uh-huh,” I say, edging back some more. “Just like my childhood existed.”

Memnon narrows his eyes, no doubt understanding what I’m saying perfectly:I’ll believe your word as soon as you believe mine.

Before either of us can say more, I hear a broken voice call out, “Selene!”

Kane.

Dear Goddess, he’salive. Relief courses through my veins.

I take several steps back, the need to get back to the lycanthrope pressing upon me.

Memnon’s expression grows cold, so cold—his eyes most of all.

He nods in the direction of Kane, and I can feel the waves of menace pouring off him. “Est amage, it is taking everything in me not to kill that wolf where he lies. You touch that boy, and he dies.Slowly.The same threat extends to anyone who thinks to pursue you, little witch. Do you understand?”

I lift my chin, refusing to be cowed by this man. “I’ll do as I fucking please. This isn’t the Dark Ages, Memnon.”

The sorcerer’s eyes burn a little as his power resurfaces with his rising agitation.

“No, this isn’t,” he agrees.

I have to hide my surprise that he understood the reference.

“But I am no modern man,” he continues. “I have killed for far less, and I will happily do so again, where you are concerned.”

I scowl at him, my magic twisting and snapping out of me with my irritation.

His eyes drop to my mouth, like he’s actually considering kissing me.

“I’ll be seeing you again soon, Empress,” he says, backing away from me. “Until then, sweet dreams.”

Memnon turns on his heel and walks away into the dark forest, his magic billowing around him.

CHAPTER25

The momenthe vanishes from view, I sprint back to my house, Nero following at my heels.