Page 122 of Moonlight Hearts

“That’s the point.”

The Sandman tutted.“But, Echo, one must take care of what’s best about oneself.Cuddling, my dear, is important.”

I rubbed my arms to stay warm.“Where we going?”

Echo pointed.“Thaeros is our getaway driver.”

“Shotgun!Those seats are heated,” the Sandman said.

Ahead, parked perpendicular to the street we were on, I could see the hood of a silver car.Despite the stairs, both the Sandman and Echo hurried toward it, and I followed, still not one hundred percent certain this was a good idea.

Then again, if Thaeros was in that car, then… Soyer had told me there was no way he worked for Caecilius, and I had to believe that.And Caecilius—

I almost stumbled when I realized what I’d missed upstairs.“Echo, why do you call him Cecil?”

“Because that’s his name.You know that too.”

“I thought—”

“I didnotknow,” the Sandman said, and opened the passenger door of the sleek, expensive-looking BMW.“The things I learn for the favors I owe.Such folly, such grandiose folly!”

I looked past him.Thaeros was behind the wheel.They looked my way, seemingly just as nervous as I was, and when our eyes met, he let out a relieved breath.

They nodded as if grateful and gestured to the back of their car.“Come on, get in.”

Echo went around the trunk, leaving me the seat behind the passenger.I opened the door, glad to be somewhat sheltered from the cold again.

Echo closed his door last, but we weren’t driving away like I’d thought.

I leaned forward in my seat.“Why are we waiting here?”

Thaeros turned.“Echo is making sure we won’t be seen.Are you okay?I, uh…I wanted to come clean.When we met and I said I didn’t owe him anymore—”

“Now, leave now,” Echo said.

Thaeros didn’t hesitate, just turned to face the road and pulled away from the curb at a perfectly normal speed.

“Thaeros, do you have a twin?”I asked.

I could see him bite his lip.He normally touched up his lipstick and gloss, his entire face of makeup, but today, he looked like he hadn’t done that in a long time, the sharp lines dulled and smudged.

“Yes.He prefers ‘he’ exclusively.If you’re ever not sure which one of us you’re dealing with, he’s right-handed.I’m a lefty.”

“Must be a pain with this gearshift, then,” the Sandman said, and looked at it.“Care to sell this car to me?I really do enjoy a heated seat.”

Thaeros sighed as he signaled for a right turn.“Sure, whatever.It was a gift anyway.”

The Sandman played with the heating.“From an admirer?You must have tons.”

Thaeros hesitated, his jaw muscles working.“Yeah.”

I balled my fists.“Who can tell me what is going on here?I just woke up, and I promised not to leave the apartment randomly.”My fingers curled against the seat.“We left the door open.And we left those guys in there.Soyer doesn’t like people in his space.He’s going to be really mad, and I can’t even blame him.”

Thaeros flinched, the Sandman tutted.Echo, though, remained calm.

“I told you.Cecil made a plan to get rid of you, and to show his goodwill, he decided making you fall out of love was nicer than killing you.”

“Th-that’s not what we do.Making anyone fall out of love.We just make them think they’re in love with us, but they never are.It’s never real,” Thaeros said.I remembered then that they’d said something about family, about having issues with family.That comment had made me think they’d been sent by Caecilius.I’d misread that.