“Remember, Reid,” I whispered, tears thickening my voice. “Please. I don’t know what you gained by doing this, but give it back. It isn’t worth it.” When I reached out to him, unable to stop myself, his knuckles tightened on his knives. He pushed Célie behind him once more.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The pattern.” The sounds of the beach fell away as I wrung my hands, imploring him to look at me. To see me. “It’s your magic. Only you can reverse it. You lost consciousness in L’Eau Mélancolique. Think back to that moment. Remember what you chose to forget.”

“Lou.” Coco shook her head sadly. “Don’t.”

“He needs to understand. I can help him—”

“He did understand. That’s the point. He made a choice he felt was necessary. We need to respect it.”

“Respect it?” My voice rose hysterically. “How can I respect it? How can I respect any of this?” I flung my arms wide, dangerously close to my breaking point. “If he doesn’t love me—if he doesn’t even remember me—what was the point in all this, Coco? What was the point in any of it? All the pain, all the sorrow, all the death?”

Tears limned her own lashes as she took my hands in hers. “He did this for you, Lou. If Morgane has forgotten, maybe you’re—you’re finally safe.”

I tore my hand away from her. “I will never be safe, Coco. Even if Morgane has forgotten me, Josephine hasn’t. Auguste and his Chasseurs haven’t. How are we supposed to win this war if Reid can’t separate friend from foe?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head helplessly. “I really don’t. I just know he saved our lives.”

Reid wrapped an arm around Célie’s waist then, pulling her away from us. I closed my eyes against the sight of it. The sight of them. He’d made a sacrifice for the greater good, yet again, my blood spilled upon the altar. “You’re both insane,” he said brusquely. “Come on, Célie. We need to go.”

Célie’s voice rose in protest. “But I don’t want—”

“You’re making a mistake, Reid,” Coco said.

He chuckled darkly. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back for you, witch. And your friend. I’ll even bring some friends of my own. Perhaps we’ll build a bonfire.”

“Oh, you’ll be back all right, brother.” Beau rose to his feet. “You have nowhere else to go. But you won’t be taking Célie with you.”

“With all due respect, brother—”

“All due respect means honoring the lady’s request,” Coco said. “She doesn’t want to go with you, and you don’t want to pick a fight with me, Reid. Not without your Balisarda.”

The threat hung heavy in the air.

I finally opened my eyes.