Page 67 of Bedeviled
Let me know! Love and miss you, sweet girl.
Memnon steps in close. “What has distressed you, little witch?” he asks, glancing down at the screen. I swear I see his body react as he takes in the message.
I draw in a long breath. “It’s—”
“Your parents.” He says the words with far too much interest.
The sorcerer’s eyes flick up to me. “I want to meet them.”
“Absolutely not.” Dicks will sprout wings before that happens.
“They invited you to Thanksgiving.”
“You’re already making us Thanksgiving.”
“It can wait,” he says with a concerning amount of finality.
“It’s a long drive to Half Moon Bay, especially if there’s traffic.” I’m grasping at excuses.
Memnon steps in so close that I can smell the faintest hints of him. That scent seems to ground me.
The sorcerer places a hand on the side of my face, and he speaks to me the same way he used to speak to skittish horses. “Of all the miracles, you have your parents in this life.” His thumb strokes my skin soothingly. “Let me meet them.”
I shake my head, even as his words worm their way beneath my skin.
Whatever is going on with Memnon and me, it’s both new and fragile… I’m not entirely sure it can withstand the scrutiny of my parents. And for whatever unhinged reason, I guess I want it to withstand it.
“Please, Empress. They are all the family left between us. Let me love them,” he continues, “as you once loved my mother and sister.” The expression he wears is far too intense.
My eyes sting, and my lower jaw trembles. “I know what you’re doing,” I whisper, my voice hoarse.
“This isn’t some ploy of mine,” he breathes. “This is earnest.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. The ring on my finger feels heavy, but the weight of it feels right.
I draw in a deep breath. Goddess—
“Fine.”
This is such a bad idea.
“But,” I add, “we’re going to leave some things out.” Like Memnon’s penchant for murdering people by the dozen.
He inclines his head. “I will do as you ask.”
I seriously doubt that.
I pick up the phone. Rather than texting my mom back, I call her.
She picks up on the second ring. “Selene!” my mom answers. “Did you get my message?”
“I can make it, but…can I bring a guest?” I ask, eyeing Memnon as he plays with a lock of my hair. “There’s someone I want you and Dad to meet.”
CHAPTER 15
Goddess, why did I agree to this?
My heart gallops as I lead Memnon up the steps to the big blue door of my childhood home, skirting around the nasturtiums overtaking the walkway and ducking under the wisteria that hangs over the porch.
