Going to need to nip this in the bud.
“Um”—I put a hand on Memnon’s chest, my insides squealing at his warm skin and hard muscles—“no.”
That sparkle in Memnon’s eyes is still there, but he definitely looks irritated. “What, exactly, are you disagreeing with?”
I huff out a breath. “Listen, I don’t know how they did things back when they were busy inventing the wheel, but you don’t get to tell me what to do. Also—” I give his chest a gentle shove. He doesn’t so much as budge. “Last night and this morning were nice, but now you have to go.”
Maybe if I hustle him out fast enough, we won’t have to discuss the fact I’m seriously in his debt for all the magic he lent me.
Memnon narrows his eyes at me, though the corner of his mouth curls upward. He parts his lips to speak.
“Uh-uh.” I shake my head. “You don’t get to say whatever evil little thought gave you that look. Just”—another little push that gets me nowhere—“scoot.”
Memnon catches my hands, trapping them against his chest. Very deliberately, he steps into my space, and I am suddenly very aware of his naked torso and my skimpy lingerie.
“I will leave you on one condition, mate.”
I grind my teeth. I didn’t realize getting a sorcerer out of my room required conditions.
“You must vow to keep yourself safe.”
That’s…I guess I can do that. “I swear I’ll keep myself safe,” I say. Then I force a big fake smile. “Good?”
Memnon’s gaze drops to my lips, and those eyes narrow again. But after a moment, he nods at my words. And now he’s giving me that affectionate look again. It makes my skin heat and my core clench.
He releases my hands, but just as soon as they’ve left, his mouth finds mine, kissing me with all the command of the warlord king he claims to be.
I melt against those lips, the taste of him intoxicating. My hands fall to his waist, and I draw my fingers over his tattoos.
This man is one big walking Bad Idea, and I’m learning from last night that I have a weakness for them.
Memnon pulls away. He drags the pad of his thumb over my lower lip. “Keep your vow, little witch,” he says.
With one final soft look, the sorcerer leaves me.
CHAPTER 31
“What were you doing out in the Everwoods on the night of October tenth?” Officer Howahkan asks, staring at me across the white table, his long dark hair pulled back in a braid.
The interrogation room is small, plain—it looks like every other bland, ominous interrogation room I’ve seen on TV. The only difference is that the walls of this one are lined with spells. They shimmer and jiggle a little when I focus on them.
I’ve only been in the Politia’s interrogation room for five minutes, but I already feel the magic on those four walls closing in on me.
“I can’t remember,” I say.
I reach a hand down and stroke my familiar. Nero bumps my hand, giving me the courage I so desperately need.
I still haven’t reported what happened last night, and now I’m not sure whether I should. Except for Kasey, I don’t know the names of the witches who attacked me.
Officer Howahkan sighs. “In your earlier testimony, you said the following: ‘He tracked blood into my room. When I realized it wasn’t his, I decided to follow the trail back to its source.’ Do you deny that now?” The officer glances up from his notes, his eyes piercing.
“No, I’m sure I knew what I was talking about at the time.”
The officer gives me a foul look, like I’m giving him an attitude. “Yet you can no longer tell me anything about the incident.”
“I can’t remember anything about it,” I clarify. “I’m not trying to withhold memories from you on purpose.”
Officer Howahkan holds my gaze. Despite the enchantments in the room that compel me to speak the truth, I get the distinct impression he doesn’t believe me.
His eyes drop to Nero. “That’s your familiar?”
Nero stares up at the officer, looking wholly unamused with this situation.
“Yeah, he is,” I say.
“He’s a panther?”
“Yes…” Don’t know where this is going.
“I imagine your panther hunts in those woods.”
My brows come together. “Are you accusing my familiar of killing Charlotte?” The thought is horrifying.
I put a hand on said panther.
“No,” the officer says emphatically. “A human killed the witch, not an animal. But still, I’m curious about the order of events you describe in your original testimony.”