Page 125 of Wicked Bonds

“My memories of growing up here are tied to lighthearted moments of experimentation once I came of age. I also don’t remember much about my immortality, just that it involved a jealous lover. He killed me after a night in bed with him and his wife. And I woke up immortal.”

It wasn’t a grand story.

Balthazar hadn’t been all that pleased with the man, but he’d been more intrigued by his own immortality and had chosen to embrace the second chance at life rather than seek revenge.

Of course, it hadn’t been the last time a pride-wounded male had killed him for a bedroom performance. Fortunately, Balthazar’s ability to control emotions helped him perfect the art of reading his lovers better and knowing what to expect from them.

He no longer bedded aggressive types.

Unless the need truly called for it.

“I don’t have a single memory here of Leela,” he continued, frowning. “Which is strange. Because I sensed moments in Venice. And even in Japan.”

“Those are more recent,” Patreel replied. “The memories here are much older. And from what I understand, Melanythos spent several years with you afterward to fully manipulate your memories and plant a strand for her to tug on in the future as needed. It was intricately done.”

“Several years?” Balthazar repeated.

“Yes. While Leela was in reformation.” Patreel glanced at her. “Your mind was altered after his, but just as thoroughly impacted.”

“Clearly,” she deadpanned.

But Balthazar was still mulling over theseveral yearscomment. “Are you saying IknowMelanythos?”

Patreel considered him for a moment. “Yes, I believe so. Unless she altered the memories of herself as well, but I doubt it. Ingraining herself in your history would give her immediate access to your mind for any needed manipulations in the future—which, as I’ve said, has been required several times since the first instance.”

Balthazar’s brow furrowed.

He didn’t likeanyonein his mind.

And to have known her, too?

That just added insult to injury.

But who was she?he wondered, repeating her name and thinking back on that period of—

His eyebrows flew upward. “Melanythos.” The name rolled off his tongue… the name… so similar to another… “Nythos.”

No. Impossible. That couldn’t be…

But the timeline…

He swallowed, his gaze finding Leela. “Describe your half sister to me.” But he already knew it was her. It had to be. Because it made too much damn sense.

“Um. Auburn hair. Black eyes. Pale. A bit shorter than me. Curvier, too. And she has more of our father’s sensual touch than I do…” She trailed off, her expression hardening as she caught the glimmer of understanding in Balthazar’s eyes. “What is it? What did she do?”

Balthazar’s jaw clenched, a curse threatening his tongue.

He’d watched her die. He’d mourned her death. He’dkilledfor her.

And all of it… had been a ruse? A way to manipulate his mind into forgetting Leela?

How much of it was true? Had he fucked her like he had in his memories? Did Aidan and Luc truly bed her, too?

His fists clenched.

He’d been tricked before, but never like this. Never by someone he’dloved.

Unless those emotions had never existed either.