Page 159 of Bedeviled

The high priestess rises from her seat. “Read it, and you’ll figure it out soon enough.” She gestures to the stairs, my not-so-subtle cue to scram.

I cinch the pouch shut and stand, Nero rising alongside me. “Thank you for the meeting,” I say sincerely. My blood is thrumming with all the revelations it brought. “And the book,” I add, holding the bag up a little sheepishly.

She nods, and with that, I turn and head for the stairs.

I’ve just placed my foot on the first step when she calls out, “Oh, and, Selene?”

I pause, glancing back at the high priestess.

“Good luck.”

There’s a lot from my talk with the high priestess to unpack with Memnon, but when Nero and I return to the house, my soul mate’s car is gone. On the front stoop, a pink package waits for me along with a note taped to the door.

Hunting down a few of Eislyn’s bonds. Forgive me for my absence. I bought pastries to appease you, my beautiful, vengeful queen. Enjoy your dessert, I’m going to have mine the moment I get between those pretty thighs tonight.

XXX,

Memnon

I feel myself flush at the note. But I gamely take the box of pastries into the kitchen and pull out what looks like a chocolate croissant. My heart flutters at the gift. This was really, really thoughtful of him.

I lean against the counter and take a bite, expecting buttery bliss. Unfortunately, I’m too distracted by the high priestess’s words to taste much of anything over my own churning thoughts.

Goddess, but right about now I could really use my bond with Memnon. I need to talk to him about everything the high priestess revealed.

I’ll just have to get ahold of him the old-fashioned way.

I pull out my phone to call him and inform him about what I learned today. Rather than tapping on his number, however, my fingers scroll down to a different contact on my phone.

The Bargainer left me and Memnon his number, and I stare at it now. I’ve looked at it a few times since I received it, but I’ve never quite had the nerve to call or text him. Taking another tasteless bite of my croissant, I decide to do so now.

Selene Bowers

Hey, so I have news on the Eislyn situation.

I wait for a minute. When the Bargainer doesn’t respond, I set down my pastry and message him again.

Selene Bowers

So, apparently the Flora Kingdom keeps the judgements of every person who’s committed a crime, including Eislyn, stored on spelled scrolls. It’s these scrolls that enforce the judgments. So because Eislyn has been banished, her judgment is keeping her from returning to the Otherworld.

I feel foolish writing all of this out to a fae king. The Bargainer must certainly know all this already.

Finally, finally, he replies.

Bargainer

And?

That’s it? And?

I tap out a response.

Selene Bowers

And if we hide Eislyn’s scroll, she won’t be able to find it and presumably destroy it.

The Bargainer responds much quicker this time.