Page 114 of Shadow's Heart

Caspion said, “I heard the Sandman’s concubines opened the doors wide for her.”

Mirceo cackled. “That had to smart.”

Mina pursed her lips and turned to Caspion. “Are you sure he’ll be here?”

“He probably already is.” The demon had put out the word through his network that Mirceo, renowned as a rake, was attending the rout of the century on the full moon tonight to celebrate his regeneration and his sister’s return.

Mina surveyed the crowd, seeking Adham. Many of the attendees wore masks, and not just Sorceri. He would be in disguise as well, wouldn’t want to spook a target like Mirceo who could just trace away. “Anonymous indulgence must be a draw.” She was one to talk from the cover of mist.

Mirceo and Caspion exchanged looks, had probably attended countless of these fests in their time.

“I’ll need eyes on the inside.” She checked her new sword and inhaled a steadying breath. “You two, remain up here on standby, in case I need you.” Keeping Mirceo and Caspion away from Adham was logical, decreasing the risk to all parties.

Except me.

Mirceo sputtered, “You really expect me to let you face him alone? I just got you back and barely survived losing you the first time.”

Caspion’s face was grave. “He suffered as you suffered, Mina.”

“I am so sorry for that,” she said with her whole heart. “But this is my mission.”

Mirceo rubbed his forehead. “I can’t do this.”

She clasped his shoulder. “Brother, if you believe that I am smart and capable, then you must let me go. You raised me with such care and did an amazing job, but I’m not a child anymore.”

Mirceo looked to Caspion to fix this, to help him make Mina fall into line once more. Whatever he saw on the demon’s face made him mutter, “Not you too.” Exhaling a breath, he said, “Fine. We’ll stay up here. Just don’t lose your mist again, okay?”

The mistake that had brought her to this exact point in her life. “I’m not planning on it.”

“Sister, what if youarewrong about this wastrel?”

She shrugged and smiled. “I’ve never been so right.”

Fifty-Four

Where is he?Mina thought as she misted into the pyramid’s crowd of what must be a thousand Loreans.

The masked crush filled this impressive structure from wall to wall, spilling out of all the rooms. She scanned faces for the male she loved, still surprised that Mirceo and Caspion had agreed to hold back and let her go on her mission solo.

By the light of mesmeric torches, immortals sampled sex, drugs, and gambling. The Queen of Vice must be harvesting a feast of power tonight.

Next to low tables with large opium pipes were rows of dice games. In darker corners, naked bodies writhed. Their screams of ecstasy were an alternating drumbeat to the yells of the dice winners.

Opium smoke hung so thickly in the air it must be embedded into the fabrics, the very stone. How would Adham tolerate it? She tried to imagine him living here but couldn’t. How many centuries had he lost within these very walls?

He wasn’t the only Sorceri she needed to find. She also searched for his nemesis, Enti—the sorceress who’d stolen his future and even this part of his past. Mina was here to change all that.

She’d expected the sorceress to be up on a stage somewhere, the center of attention. Instead she found Enti in a back room, enjoying what must be a game of poker.

Several drunken demons sat at the table, their mugs making rings on the surface and dampening their cards.

Enti’s eyes were bright behind her red mask, her golden ensemble shimmering. She looked fully recovered from her trials in Nightside, her smile even more dazzling. When the time was right, Mina would have to strike quickly with her.

Enti laid down her cards and told the demon across the table from her, “You win again!”

The demon slurred, “Don’t know how you can keep losing. And you, a mind reader!” He hugged the pile of gold between them and dragged it closer.

“Because when you win,Iwin. Another game?”

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