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And in that moment, I don’t know whether Darius was the one who made Nix a monster. Or if it was me.

PRESENT DAY

I don’t know how long I’ve been standing here, holding the mister over the same orchid. Memories like this tempt me to believe there is a version of my brother who can still be saved from what Darius made him.

But that is precisely the belief that will get Luna taken.

Nix cannot be reasoned with. Darius saw to that long before I took his head; he seeded his poison into Nix’s blood. And that poison has no antidote.

I know that now.

Which is why The Covenant has to be destroyed.

I find Luna in the library. I stop in the doorway, in the dark between two lamps.

Luna is seated at the long table with half my occult collection spread around her. Books stacked, notes everywhere, her glasses pushed up into her curls. And Kim is perched on the edge of the desk with a mug in his hand.

She’s laughing.

A real laugh, head tipped back, and the way she’s sitting – twisted toward him, arms folded on the table’s edge – does something spectacular to the neckline of her sweater.

All the years I’ve spent on this planet, and I am still absolutely transfixed by her breasts.

After our conversation in my study, some part of me is hoping Kim will reach out and touch her. Draw a finger down her throat, along the curve of the top of her breasts so her cheeks flush and she flutters her eyelashes at him.

He doesn’t. He rubs the back of his neck, which is what Kim does instead of the things Kim wants to do.

They can’t hear me, but I can hear them perfectly.

“—so, wait.” Kim sets his mug down. “You just told him? Straight out?”

“I believe my exact words were, ‘I’d much rather do it in front of you.’”

Kim coughs like he’s choking on something. “You said that to Lucien Thornfield?”

“He took it well.” Her smile curls at the edges. “He said he wants me to be happy. That he’d thought about you before. That he’d be involved if I wanted.”

There is a long pause. Kim picks the mug back up, and puts it down again without drinking.

He exhales. “Okay, so, I might have thought about him, too. Like that. Which is confusing, because he’s also the most annoying creature I’ve ever worked with.” He drags a hand through his hair, then looks a little more serious. “But I never thought he’d…”

He exhales loudly, making his lips flutter. Then meets her eyes. He’s talking quickly now, like he’s been storing this all up and now needs to say it all before he loses his nerve.

“I’m not against sharing you with Lucien if that’s what you want, what’ll make you happy. But I need to know I’m not the backup guy, Luna. The daylight understudy. The one you keep for beaches and Sunday mornings because your actual boyfriend bursts into flames if he steps outside during the day.” He inhales deeply and meets her eyes. “I can’t be the third wheel. Not with you. You matter too much for that. And for me, there wouldn’t be anyone else. Just you.”

Luna is quiet for a moment. When she speaks, her voice is steadier than his.

“I’m in love with Lucien,” she says. “I’m not going to lie to you about that. But what I feel for you is real, and it’s growing, and you’re not a consolation prize. I honestly couldn’t choose between you right now if you made me.”

Kim reaches out and tucks a curl behind her ear, then presses a kiss to her forehead. She lets her eyes close.

“Right.” His voice comes out rough. He stands, clears his throat. “I’m going for a swim.”

“A swim? Now? We’re meant to be researching how to destroy the⁠—”

“This conversation has me overheating. I can’t research until I’ve cooled down.” He chuckles then kisses her lips.

She leans into him, and it becomes something more passionate. Her hands looped around his neck, his fingers skimming her neck and her chest, just like I’d hoped they would.