Page 146 of Bedeviled

I swallow down my emotion.

But, for now, it’s not meant to be. I let my eyes wander over the bare walls of my room once more. I notice my window is still open, so I release a bit of magic and let my power shimmy it closed.

The window snicks shut, and with that, Nero and I head out.

I close the door behind me, touching the number 306 fondly. “Thanks for the memories.” Memories that were strange and terrible and wonderful and oh so brief. Much too brief.

My hand slides away, and I turn from my room. The lights in the sconces flicker and buzz as Nero and I head down the hall. On the stairs, I pass Olga and her vulture as she carts out a box that absolutely reeks of formaldehyde and dead things.

Even that, I’ll miss. I’ll miss all of this place’s weirdness and my coven sisters being unapologetically themselves.

I reach Sybil’s room just as she, Sawyer, and—to my surprise—Kane exit it.

“Are you sticking around for our last dinner?” Sybil says, heading toward me and Nero.

Technically, I still need to sneak off to Beldame Library and look up a laundry list of items, including what that purple drink Eislyn gave me was. But this is the last meal I might ever share with these coven sisters, and I really, really don’t want to miss it.

I’ll simply visit the library afterward.

“I am if you are,” I say.

“Then that’s a yes. We’re heading down right now.”

Right as the group gets to me, Kane touches my upper arm and says to Sawyer and Sybil, “Hey, give us a sec. We’ll be right down.”

We will?

I raise an eyebrow at the shifter, and he has the audacity to not even look a little bit sheepish about the command.

Sybil peers at us, her eyes lingering where Kane is still touching my arm. She bites her lip, likely swallowing some smartass remark she would’ve made before she was locked into pack hierarchy.

Instead, she says, “Sure thing, Candy Kane. We’ll be downstairs.”

The endearment earns her a literal growl from Kane, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing.

It’s so hard being a big bad alpha when there are mouthy witches around.

Sybil ducks her head and lets Sawyer drag her and Merlin away.

I turn my attention more fully to Kane, and I’m sure the shifter can see the question on my face.

“I wanted to see you—one last time,” Kane says.

His wording makes the hairs at the back of my neck prick with foreboding.

“It won’t be the last time we see each other,” I insist. “Unfortunately for you and your pack, one of your newest members happens to be my best friend. So like it or not, so long as Sybil lives on pack lands, I’ll be visiting. A lot.”

He gives a tight smile, his eyes a little too bright. “I’m going to hold you to that, Selene.” His eyes scour me then, and everywhere they seem to land, gooseflesh breaks out.

“Is there something else?” I finally say.

He gives a disbelieving laugh. “You’d never know that less than a week ago you fought a demon—several, if the rumors are true,” he says, almost to himself. His gaze sharpens on my face. “You’re impressive as hell.”

Oof, compliments make me uncomfortable. Especially those given by my almost-boyfriend.

I duck my head, suddenly finding the panther at my side incredibly interesting to focus on.

“Listen,” Kane says, clearing his throat, “I know things won’t ever work out between us, and I’ve made begrudging peace with that, but I hope we can still be friends.”