I saw Peggy heading toward the door—Esjay and Kelela must’ve arrived—and lowered my voice. “Then break it off.”

“There’s nothing to break, Andromeda,” Magnus said, and I shushed him and dragged him into my room. “That’s what I’m trying to make you understand.”

“If it were only Kelela being spiteful, I would believe you. But Esjay is also under the impression you’re engaged. What reason does he have to lie?”

“In what galaxy is a verbal promise from a boy whose voice still cracks legally binding?”

“You promised her and then never took it back. It’s your integrity in question.”

“I’ll take it back at lunch, then, if that will make you feel better.”

“Don’t bother,” I said, scowling up at him, my heart, soul, and lungs burning from pent-up tears. “You were never going to act unless I said anything. You were content to have both of us.”

Magnus leaned the side of his head on the doorjamb, helplessly, his palm out to me in supplication. “I want you, my darling—”

“I’m not your darling.”

“Only you.”

“Then you shouldn’t have lied to me about being engaged.”

I pushed past him and headed downstairs, but Magnus followed close behind. “I’m going to tell Kelela.”

I spun on him and pinched my fingers together, wishing the action operated his mouth, that I could shut him up without words. “No more, Magnus,” I said, low and vicious. “This conversation is over. We’re going to have lunch with Esjay and Kelela, and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

“Right, that would be embarrassing. I’ll tell her in private afterward, then.”

“No, you won’t.”

I went to turn around, but Magnus grabbed my arm, holding me still. “Say you don’t want to be with me and I’ll stop fighting for you. But you can’t keep moving the goal post.”

“You lied to me and used me, and I’m supposed to roll over and accept that treatment because you try to make it right after you’re caught?” I pulled away, glaring up at him. “This conversation is over.”

Magnus cut me off before I could go further, standing on the stairs in front of me to make us eye level. “Tell me you don’t want me.” He took hold of my waist and I grabbed his wrists without purpose, my heart suddenly unable to make him let go. “Say you’re only here for a patronage, that you don’t care for me at all, and I’ll leave you to your work.” He cradled my face and I closed my eyes to press back tears. “Because if you dare leave me a shred of hope, I will fight to have you with the last drop of blood in my body.”