A bus glided past the opening of the alley, its brakes squealing as it came to a stop. BROADWAY/CAPITOL HILL glowed on the sign along its side, declaring its route.

Reacting on instinct, I stumbled to a jog before I even realized what I was doing. I made it to the bus just as the driver was shutting the door.

A cheerful, bushy-browed guy in his fifties or sixties greeted me with a wide smile. “Almost missed you there with those dark clothes. You blend right in with the sidewalk this time of night.” It was barely past six, but late enough that the sun was down and night had set in.

“Thanks for waiting,” I said, breaths quick from the dash. I fed a few bucks into the cash slot in the payment kiosk at the front of the bus and plopped down in the nearest open seat, just a few back from the driver. The bus was fairly full with evening commuters, but not packed.

My heartbeat picked up as the driver shifted gears and the bus lurched forward. It had been almost a week since I’d gone home. Surely I could risk a peek. I wouldn’t even get off the bus; I’d just ride past the shop and make sure everything looked alright. Make sure Nik wasn’t letting the place fall apart. Make sure he was alright.

Heru had wanted Nik to come back to Bainbridge with him—for his own safety—but Nik had refused, claiming the Senate would never consider coming after him. He’d been the host to our creator, the Netjer Re, for thousands of years, and our kind have long memories. He was revered, still, even though Re was long gone. Targeting Nik, making him into a martyr, would send a ripple through the Senate’s ranks, shattering their following and driving too many of their people to our side. They couldn’t afford to go after him. He was as untouchable as anyone could be.

His logic was sound enough to convince Heru, but a seed of doubt had implanted itself in my chest. I wasn’t as convinced of his supposed immunity to the Senate’s wrath. Peace of mind was well worth the minimal risk of a quick bus ride past the shop.

It would be quick. Totally harmless. Right?

Chapter Three

Apparently, I have the will of a Chihuahua. I got off the damn bus.

And the moment my boots touched the cement of the sidewalk on Broadway, I felt a deep sense of rightness. I also felt something slightly nauseating. I’m pretty sure it was an even deeper sense of paranoia. Of what-the-fuck-am-I-doing.

I should’ve hopped right back on the bus, or at least hung around the bus stop until the next bus—any bus—showed up and ridden the hell out of dodge, because if there was one place the Senate was sure to be watching for me, it was the shop. Getting their hands on me would be a big win for their side and an even bigger fuck-you to Heru. And yet, knowing all that, I still let my feet carry me up the block. At least I was on the other side of the street. That little precaution had to count for something.