Page 15 of Magic of Sins

My roommate winks mischievously as I return to the sofa and plop down across from her.

I roll my eyes.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it good company. He’s a sin mage, Ava.”

I’m relieved she’s not judging me. But I’m also kind of annoyed at how easily she’s dismissing this. This isn’t a game, it’s my life. And it feels like it just got really messy.

“Are you going to see him again?” Ava asks.

“There was never any talk of that.”

She tilts her head.

“Then I’ll ask it another way. Would youliketo see him again?”

I vehemently shake my head.

It’s the truth. I never want to see Caden Nox again. And yet,meeting him has awakened something that I didn’t know was lying dormant inside me. A desire that—now that it’s come to the surface—tugs at me relentlessly.

The desire for more.

The days drag by. I try not to think about Caden Nox and the dinner we shared, but I keep seeing the mocking look that was on his face. My meals, which have always seemed terribly bland, now seem inedible. I force them down, trying not to remember the taste of dates, strawberries, and chocolate cake.

Every time I sift through the mail, I look for an envelope with the royal seal on it, hoping for a note from Princess Ophelia asking me to visit her at the palace again. I just can’t believe that one dinner was all there was to it. It feels like my world has been turned upside down, and yet everything is the same. I go to work, get my diligence rating of four and a half out of five stars, and spend my evenings with Ava, who doesn’t try to talk me into going to another underground party.

I’ve been going through the library’s newspaper archives trying to find out more about Caden Nox. He owns a gentleman’s club in the East End where a fire broke out two years ago. The newspaper shows a picture of him standing next to the burned-down part of the building. I trace his distinctive features with my finger before quickly making the article disappear.

“Miss Ashton?” I wince as Mrs.Byron suddenly appears behind me. She seems irritated at finding me here. Even though it’s my lunch break, I don’t have any business being in the newspaper archive. “There’s a young woman here for you.”

Not another customer who wants to complain! Better get it over with quickly.

Sighing, I stand up. I can’t quite read Mrs.Byron’s expression. She doesn’t seem annoyed but rather curious … or suspicious.

I follow her from the cold basement rooms up the stairs to the reception desk. I immediately recognize the woman waiting there, arms folded in front of her chest. It’s Ophelia’s personal guard.

What’s she doing here?

My steps slow down until they falter altogether. My hands clench into fists.

The guard turns to me. “The princess wishes to speak with you, Miss Ashton.”

Her dark brown eyes scrutinize me warily, as if she expects her words to send me running. As if she might have to give chase any minute now and hunt me down. Ridiculous! Like I would have the slightest chance against the might of the royal family.

I lift my chin a little, trying not to let it show how unsettled I am by her being here.

“When?”

“Right now. Princess Ophelia is waiting in her limo.”

I hear a strangled sound behind me, probably Mrs.Byron trying to stifle a surprised squeal. She’s a big fan of the royal family. I’ve seen her lose her composure only once—it was when we received a signed first edition of King Henry I’s biography. She still guards that book like it’s a treasure.

If it were up to me, I would gladly let Mrs.Byron trade places with me. Then she could also dine with Caden Nox and allow him to feed on her sin. The idea of rigid Mrs.Byron gleefully shoving strawberry after strawberry into her mouth is almost funny, yet I grimace.

“The princess is waiting.” The guard is unrelenting.

“Of course. Mrs.Byron, may I leave a little early today?”

When I turn to the librarian, her hand is in front of her mouth and she stares at us, perplexed. She doesn’t manage more than a nod. I take that as a yes and follow the guard to a black limousine with tinted windows parked right in front of the library. Sheopens the rear door and indicates for me to get in.

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