Page 36 of Nemesis

Worse because the pain just goes on and on and on…

“Was this past trauma why you fainted at the club?”

I clear my throat. He lifts the machine away from my skin, wiping at it, but he doesn’t restart.

“Yes,” I admit. “And now I have to find him.”

“The boy? Why?”

“Kade wants him found.” And I’m going to do it. I’ve already decided. It was an unconscious decision. Subconscious.Whateverit is, I know in my bones that I won’t go back on it.

“Fuck him.” Saint resumes the tattoo.

I sink farther into the chair at the next pause. “This is weird punishment.”

“Payment,” Saint says. “When else do I get to pry into your head?”

I frown.

“Don’t scowl, you’ll get wrinkles.”

“Okay, Mom.” I don’t stop, though. If anything, it just intensifies.

Because when was the last time Saint and I had a real conversation? Before Nyx…?

“What about you?” I ask.

He sucks in a breath.

“Any past trauma I should know about?”

“Just Elora,” he says softly. The tattoo machine goes silent. “We’re done.”

9ARTEMIS

I sitat my desk in Bow & Arrow and work up the nerve to peel off the bandage on my shoulder. I’ve been trying—andfailing—to do so for the past hour. Which means, yes, I still haven’t seen what he put on me. It’s a permanent mark that I’ll either have to pay to get covered, if it is indeed a phallic symbol, or…

I don’t want to think about the or. The idea that Saint might’ve been nice or thoughtful for such a brief moment in time.

Doubtful.

He could’ve tattooed his name on my shoulder, for all I know.

Or slut.

I shiver and pull the short sleeve of my shirt down again. I don’t want to know right now.

My attention goes back to work, and I open the security feeds. Scanning to make sure everything is okay…

“Holy shit.” I lean in close to the lower screen.

Kade. Sitting on a stool, drinking something in a short glass. He’s looking around. Maybe looking for me? Or Reese. If he knows Reese was here…

But Reese was upstairs in the VIP section.

So maybe he doesn’t know as much as he let on.

I dial Apollo’s number, tapping my pencil on the desk until he picks up.

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