Page 151 of Blue Moon

“It’s a type of lizard.”

“How big is it?”

He held his hands a foot apart.

“Also venomous?”

“Not as venomous as some of the snakes.”

Oh, great. As long as it was only going to kill me a little bit.

“Where’s the study? Because I’m never, ever going in there.”

“It’s through the door by the big bookshelves, but I always keep it locked. Safety first. The lid on Hedera’s vivarium is missing a clip at the moment, and she gets out sometimes. Nobody wants an accident, and your dog doesn’t have the best judgment, does he?”

Rocky had excellent judgment, but I bit my tongue. Unlike some people, I knew how to be vaguely diplomatic.

“Marcus Antonius, are you climbing into the tub or not? That milk is getting cold.”

Beside me, Michelle gave a quiet snort. “Keep your tighty-whities on.”

As he stepped into the stinking pool, I noticed he winced as he knocked his foot on the edge of the bath. Good.

“Do you want me to drizzle the honey now?” I asked sweetly.

Kacie grabbed my arm. “No, let’s get the palm leaves.”

The three of us made it into the Egyptian wing before Kacie and I dissolved into laughter. I liked her. Last night, we’d made a pact that we’d leave this place together, no making a run for it alone, and it was a promise I intended to keep.

“His face,” she choked out. “I can’t believe you made him do that.”

“Waste is a scourge on modern society,” I mimicked.

“Did you see the lumps floating?”

“Like tiny cauliflowers. How the heck are we meant to cut palm leaves? Or can we snap them off?”

“He keeps the sharp knives hidden away, but there are scissors in the kitchen.”

“Can’t cut anyone’s throat with scissors, now can we?”

Kacie stared at me. “You wouldn’t?”

It was tempting. I mean, I’d missed two shows, and rescheduling in Vegas was a nightmare. But I’d already killed one and a half people this year, and that was enough.

“Blood gives me the ick.”

“Nobody needs to kill him,” Michelle said, and she looked brighter than I’d ever seen her. “Didn’t you see his ankle? The temperature he’s running? The way he’s breathing faster? If he doesn’t get medical attention, sepsis will take care of the problem for us.”

“What?”

“A wound all pink and swollen like that? He needs antibiotics.”

“Are you sure? Maybe he’s just hot?”

“Why would he be hot? We’re the ones who filled the damn bath with milk.”

True.

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