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“I have a grimoire.”

I scoffed. “How does a vampire get a grimoire?”

“—and it’s very old. It may have a spell in there to help. My friend, she used it to help me once.”

The tension in my body eased, my snark falling away as I truly considered his words. A witch had helped a vampire. “You didn’t kill her, did you? This isn’t some guilt trip or revenge or something?”

“No! I didn’t... I could never hurt her. It’s a long story. But if I give you the grimoire, maybe you could—”

“No.” I shook my head, unable to believe what he was actually asking me. “You’re a vampire. And you’re lying.”

I was done with this game, done entertaining his sob story, or whatever this was. I had no idea how long my spell would last.I had made sure he wasn’t looking for Arya, and I had no further reason to be here.

“Khet,” Julian said, but there was no power behind the word. “I can’t do magic, not like a witch, but I’ve seen some of the grimoire.”

I took another step backward. “Only some?”

“The book itself is spelled, making much of its contents unreadable to anyone...to those without magic.”

That sounded about right. Witches were known for their secrecy, so it made sense they’d lock the magic, especially the higher-level spells, to ensure it didn’t fall into the wrong hands.

“I can get you into that school,” Julian continued, his gaze lighting with something—maybe determination? “I know the director.”

I spit out a laugh. “I’ve met him. Real charmer.”

“Caesar can be blunt. And stubborn. But he owes me.”

I shifted my weight to one foot, putting my hands in the back pockets of my jeans. The fact that I was even entertaining this vampire was beyond me. I should be gone by now.

I shook my head, turning to leave. “No. I’m sorry. I can’t trust you.”

A ping on the pavement caught my attention, and I whirled back. I expected any number of things—a gun, a knife, maybe some brass knuckles. Instead, a piece of jewelry glinted in the dim light from the street. Some sort of pin or brooch or something.

Julian’s fingers were outstretched as if a magnet pulled them toward the pin. “It’s the only thing I have left of her. Please. You have to believe me.”

I stared at him, long and hard. Maybe he’d gotten out of the spell. Maybe he was trying to lure me in for a bite. I wanted to believe him, wanted desperately to have someone—anyone—on my side. But that was a leap of faith I just couldn’t take. Not tonight. Not after so many mistakes. And certainly not with a vampire.

“Keep it,” I called, backing away.

“Please.”

The look in his eyes was so desperate, so clawing, my own heart began to break for him. I swallowed. “I can’t. You’ve got the wrong girl.”

“If you change your mind—”

“I’ll slit a wrist or something. I’m sure you’ll come running.”

Julian paled—if that were even possible. “No. Don’t do that. Alice had a spell she could use to speak to me over long distances. Sedjed ka.”

I repeated the words in my head as I walked away, not wanting to lose them. I was nearly to the street again, but I hesitated, torn between fleeing and running back to him.

I went with option one, probably the smartest choice I’d made all week.

I knew people were staring as I darted down the sidewalk, wondering what the rush was. But I didn’t care. I wanted to be long gone, out of sight, far enough away to not be stalked or followed with superhuman speed. My heart struggled to keep up with my pace, and even if I wasn’t still scared witless, I needed to get all that energy out of my system.

Sedjed ka. Sedjed ka. Sedjed ka,I thought with every thumping step, committing the phrase to memory. If the spell worked, that could come in handy. I might try it sometime when my curiosity got the better of me, which it usually did.

I began to sing softly between pants, the song Gram had taught me to mask my scent from vampires. The tune worked to ease my nerves as the words of the spell scrubbed my scent from any nearby vampires. It was just a precaution. No sense leaving a bread trail to my doorstep—no matter how hot he was or sincere he seemed.