Déjà vu. That was the name for this feeling—the one that told you how you’d done all this before.

But they had important things to talk about, things he needed to discuss now before he got drunk just from the sight of her. “You got the file I sent with all the magic I saw in town. I don’t know what most of it means—almost any of it—but at least now you have the info. Do you see a—pattern, anything we can use?”

Nadia thought about that for a moment, then smiled. “Can we maybe not worry about that right now?”

This seemed weird to Mateo, but their brief separation had made him want to see her so badly—and maybe he ought to make that clear before they got to anything else—

“You look amazing,” he said. Then he closed his eyes, feeling like he was getting it all wrong. “I mean—I feel weird even thinking about this when Verlaine’s still—”

“Shhhh.” Nadia put one finger over his lips, which was a way hotter move than he would have thought. “It’s okay. Tonight is just for us.”

Mateo stroked one hand through her hair, which was as heavy and soft as he’d dreamed. She closed her eyes like—like it felt good, like even that sent shivers through her, and Mateo’s heart began to pound.

He trailed two fingers along her belly—her skin was warm through the thin cotton of her dress—and slid his hand around her back, bringing Nadia into his embrace. This was so freaking scary, but why? Nadia was the only girl he’d ever really cared about … the only one he’d ever loved. But maybe that didn’t make it easier. Maybe it made it even harder to believe that he could be with her.

But he could believe it. To hell with the curse. To hell with Elizabeth and whatever her plans were. He and Nadia had something Elizabeth couldn’t take away.

Mateo closed his eyes as he leaned closer.

Against his lips, Nadia whispered, “My Steadfast.”

“Your Steadfast. Yours completely,” he answered. “Always.” And then he drew her into the kiss.

Elizabeth kept her eyes open as Mateo kissed her.

A male Steadfast! It violated every magical law, every principle of the Craft. Even the One Beneath himself should have been unable to accomplish such a feat. And yet Nadia Caldani had done this.

There is a strangeness to her power, Elizabeth thought. Nadia was not stronger than Elizabeth, but her talents could be turned to uncanny purpose. Perhaps it was this that had made her so significant in Mateo’s visions of the future. This also was the reason that further steps should be taken to make sure Nadia could not interfere with tomorrow night.

Those steps would be so much easier now that Elizabeth could avail herself of Nadia’s Steadfast.

Mateo kept kissing her, his hands clutching her against his body, his lips finding her cheeks and her throat. It was almost amusing to feel her physical response—imagine, being carried away by something as silly and primitive as human sex. She hadn’t indulged in so long; no doubt that was why. Elizabeth laughed softly before kissing his mouth again.