Devilish Game (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 4)

“We should tell the witches what’s up,” Mac said. “They’ll want to know, and they would provide good backup.”

I nodded. “Smart. Let’s go do that.”

An hour later, after explaining our plan to a group of bloodthirsty witches and coming up with the perfect bait plan, I arrived home as the sun was rising. Mac was in her apartment down below, and Eve had gone to her place just down the street.

I let Cordelia and myself into the little flat just as my stomach grumbled.

Cordelia made a noise of agreement at my side. You and me both, sister.

“The kebab place is closed, but there’s plenty of snacks in the kitchen.”

I’m not sure I’d say plenty.

“You been going a bit wild, lately?”

Depends on how you define wild.

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth—the first since Grey had told me he’d forgotten me. I should probably start calling him the Devil again. The idea made sadness shoot through me, so I shoved it aside and got to work in the kitchen, unearthing whatever snacks Cordelia hadn’t murdered in the last week.

We both gorged ourselves on junk food—something I would definitely regret later—then fell into bed, she in her favorite chair, and me on the mattress.

I picked up my phone and did the thing I’d been both dreading and anticipating. I sent Grey a text outlining the bait plan, so that he’d know what to tell Christoph Venderklein when Anton finally contacted him.

The message registered that it had sent, and I waited, breath held. It wasn’t like his response was actually going to be interesting or make me feel any better, but I couldn’t help my desire to hear back from him. For that small bit of contact. For any contact.

His message arrived a few minutes later.

Fine.

I stared at it. Fine. Just . . . fine.

My disappointment was stupid, of course. And I hated myself for it. F

or the oddly mooning idiot I’d become. I scowled and shoved the phone away, burying it beneath a pillow.

Grey was doing the right thing by cutting ties and forgetting, and I needed to do the same.

Sleep took a long time coming, but by the time it arrived, so did a shadow at the edge of my consciousness.

Grey.

Like before, I could feel him in my dream, right at the periphery. That time, I’d thought it truly was a dream. No consequences.

This time, though?

He was really here. Something about my crazy magic drew him to me, and I wondered if he came willingly, or if I was abducting him.

In bed, I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn’t need to open them to know he stood at the edge of my room. I could feel it like I could feel my own legs.

Would he come to me?

Would I let him?

But he didn’t remember me.

Finally, the tension became too much. I peeked my eyes open the tiniest bit, still cocooned in the partial dream state.

A shadow hovered by the door, tall and broad. I caught the briefest glimpse of cold silver eyes before the shadow retreated, and I was alone.