Page 162 of Bedeviled

There’s a broom whose rider can use it to travel back in time. Get it for me, and I’ll answer your question.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Selene Bowers

Seriously, are you just making this stuff up to avoid answering me?

No response.

Selene Bowers

I can’t get you that broom, but I can make you a potion to not be a dick. Would that work?

Bargainer

How about I charge you double? Would that work, sugar?

Shit.

Selene Bowers

Never mind. I hope you have the day you deserve.

When several minutes tick by and no response comes, I make an annoyed noise. I’m somehow both closer to a solution with Eislyn and yet more frustrated than ever.

Swiping away from the Bargainer’s texts, I call Memnon and fill him in about today’s events. It’s only long after that conversation ends that I remember the grimoire the high priestess gave me.

I go retrieve it from my purse and take it to my library. Once I’m at my desk in the quiet, secluded space, do I pull the small grimoire from its pouch.

I set it on my desk, grimacing at the sheer force of the power wafting off of it. Individual grimoires aren’t usually this potent.

The sensation only grows worse once I open the spellbook up, the magic from the pages themselves making my head pound. I can’t imagine what sort of spells lie within it to give off this much power.

Carefully, I leaf through the pages, my eyes lingering on the handwritten instructions and the meticulously painted diagrams. I still don’t know precisely what I’m looking for, not until I find it.

I suck in a breath as I read over the spell, my heart beginning to race.

This is it. The incantation the high priestess wanted me to find. It’s witchery that shouldn’t exist, though Goddess am I thankful it does.

Once I get to the end of the page, I read the incantation all over again—and again and again. I don’t stop until I commit it fully to memory.

Some day soon, I’ll need to use it.

CHAPTER 40

Fear—sickly sweet fear. That’s all I notice at first. It’s so potent I’m sure I’m drowning in it.

My throat closes, my stomach twists.

Selene…

Memnon’s voice calls to me from far off. It’s like swimming through water trying to reach it.

“Selene.” This time it’s a command, and with a sharp exhale I awaken.

My body is pressed tightly against my soul mate’s, and cold sweat coats me. I can feel Memnon’s hand rubbing lazy circles on my back, but tension radiates from him.

I tilt my head up from where it rests on one of his pecs and peer at his face.