Page 189 of Bedeviled

Just what does Memnon think will happen after this evening?

“Please, est amage, do not follow me, and do not call on any unbidden gods for help.” He gives me the barest shadow of a smile, even though I feel like I’m slowly being crushed under the heavy weight of my own grief.

His fingers lightly caress my cheek. “I will find a way to fix this—I will.” His voice grows steely. “But I won’t make the mistake of putting you in harm’s way again.”

Before I can react Memnon lifts a hand. “Sleep.”

The world falls away.

I wake to Nero’s cold, wet nose nudging my cheek.

I exhale, pushing myself to a sitting position. Reality is a tidal wave, knocking me over, pulling me under as the night’s events return to me in all their sordid detail.

I wrap my arms around Nero and openly weep then. Long, keening cries. Everything hurts, but crying, crying feels good. Cathartic.

And poor Nero is getting squeezed within an inch of his life. Unfortunately for him, right now he’s my emotional support animal. He seems to take it all stoically.

Eventually, my tears trickle off and I loosen my hold on my familiar. Around me the Everwoods is empty. There are no witches, no demons, no Memnon.

How long have I been asleep?

My eyes rise, taking in the dark sky. It must’ve already been early morning when I was first ambushed at my and Memnon’s house. If it’s still technically early morning, then I probably haven’t lost too much time.

Which is fortunate, considering all that I have to do.

I force myself to my feet and swipe at my cheeks with the back of my hand, drawing in a steadying breath.

I don’t care what Memnon said to me earlier. Like hell am I letting him take down Eislyn alone. Two thousand years is a long time for Eislyn to continue breathing air when she’s done the unthinkable.

Time to ruin that bitch’s day.

My voice is steady when I call out to the night: “Bargainer, I’d like to make a deal.”

CHAPTER 45

Nothing happens.

Of course nothing happens. That’s the sort of night I’ve been having⁠—

“You could’ve called, you know.”

I jolt at the sound of the Bargainer’s voice at my back.

When I turn around he’s standing there in the darkness, a paler shadow amongst the rest.

I send up a witch orb, its amber-orange glow illuminating the fairy’s form. He looks particularly other right now, with his white hair, capricious face, and eyes that seem to dance in the light.

His gaze dips to Nero, and he startles. “What’s that?”

I place a protective hand on my familiar’s head. “This is my cat.”

“That is not a cat. That’s a minor demon.”

“Forget about Nero,” I say. “Eislyn is making her move tonight. Likely right now.”

The Bargainer folds his arms, and I think that maybe he’s not going to drop the subject of my cat. His gaze flicks over me impassively.

“Did you hear me?” I finally say. “It’s happening⁠—”