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In the carriage, Kleos clung to me, adorable and silly, giggling, pliant, flirty.All the signs pointed to a lust potion. I'd know soon enough if I was right, but I had very little doubt.

Someone had intended to rape her tonight.

Keeping myself in check, stopping the dark curses I wanted to cast on an unknown shadow, I ran through everything we'd discovered this week.

There were other potions to force a person to be obedient, to lose their wits, to feel tired; choosing a lust potion was a purposeful move with a specific goal. I’d thought the culprit was a close relative aware of her history, but her parents, aunt and uncle, wouldn't have done this. Would they? I couldn't dismiss it, but that was improbable.

Who else? The guy she'd danced with? He was too young to have tried the rituals on animals decades ago, and frankly not powerful enough to get away with it.

I was missing something.

Ever so aware of Kleos's presence, I felt her shift on her seat to press her thigh against mine, her bust folding onto my shoulder.

Please, let me be wrong. Please, please, please.

"You smell so good."

I groaned.

It wasn't the first time she'd mentioned my smell, but she hadn't sounded like that before. When she asked if I used a specific cologne, it had sounded like mere curiosity. Now, she purred the words, her pupils dilated, those dazed eyes zeroing in on my lips. She was obvious.

"Kleos." There was no way around it, I had to tell her. "You've been drugged with a lust potion. At the moment, anyone with a cock is likely to smell positively divine."

Her eyes widened.

After a second, I corrected myself. "Actually, never mind the cock. Pretty sure you'll jump anyone with a pulse in a few moments."

"Oh." A chuckle escaped her."Are you sure?"

"No." Only about ninety-nine percent certain, given that hearing about it amused her. "And I hope I'm wrong. But that's my primary theory given the symptoms. I'd need to test your blood to verify it."

Or wait ten to twenty minutes, at which point she was liable to fuckingjump me.

What had I done to deserve this? There was no way I could let her do that. It didn't matter that I hadn't drugged her; she was in no state to consent to anything. If I let her touch me, I was taking advantage of the situation.

At the same time, I couldn't leave her alone. Her fever would only increase, especially if she was pushed to fuck and couldn't do it.

Tonight was going to be fucking torture. Quite literally.

"Thanks, Jaxx," I said to the driver as he stopped in front of the bridge.

I helped Kleos out of the carriage, half carrying her, as she was still draped over my shoulder, chuckling to herself softly.

"I'd appreciate it if you kept the specifics of my company to yourself?" I handed him five golds.

"Of course, Master Regis." He waved off the tip. "No charge."

I watched the proud horses trot out for a few seconds, wondering whether he'd keep his word. It was possible. It was also possible that my mother mightask, in which case, nothing could be done.

"All right, let's get you in your dungeon."

Again, she laughed.

I didn't bother to attempt to walk alongside her—it would have been akin to a particularly slow and awkward three-legged race. Instead, I lifted her up under the knees again.

"Like a princess," she drawled lazily.

She sounded tired.Please, please, please, let her sleep it off.