Why would you want to spend any amount of time with that heartless addict? Another honest answer I wasn’t going to share. “Evenings are when debtera do most of their work.”

“He refused to cleanse my house,” Magnus said. “Why do you think that is? I mean I know why, but I want to hear what you think.”

I don’t know. We don’t see each other. “He’s not really a fan of long-term jobs. They require too much socializing.”

“That’s not the reason,” Magnus mumbled.

“I heard him sing in church the other day,” Kelela said. She looked smug about it, as if it had been a private concert instead of a regular service. “He doesn’t sound shy to me.”

“He’s not shy,” I said. “He just doesn’t have patience for people.”

“Especially you, apparently.”

“Little sister,” Esjay warned. “Be nice.”

“Who made your amulet?” I asked her, eager to change the subject. “It’s poor work. I’m surprised something in this house hasn’t killed you by now.”

Kelela lifted her amulet quickly to examine it, while I stuffed my face with rice.

I knew pettiness was a poor survival habit—one I would have to put aside, despite this blue-haired irritation across from me.

And I would. After dinner.

“I found an interesting quote circled today,” Magnus said. “‘I have been so long master that I would be master still, or at least that none other should be master of me.’”

“So poetic,” Kelela gushed.

I pursed my lips at her response. “It sounds a bit like a threat.”

“It’s a quote from Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” Kelela said. She leaned her chin in her hand and grinned at me. “You don’t read much, do you? Oh, I’m sorry. Can you read?”

Ridiculous snob. “I actually read a few languages. One of the benefits of being raised in a church.”

Kelela gaped ever so slightly, just enough that I knew I’d won.

“Kelela,” Magnus said, standing to stretch, “let’s find somewhere to digest.”

Kelela pulled her glare from me, circled the table, and took his hand without giving me another glance.

I vaguely heard Esjay say something, but my ears were throbbing with the sounds of my elevated heart. If the other debtera didn’t leave because of the workload, this was definitely why. Everyone in this house was either oblivious or insane.

You could leave now, Andi. They won’t even notice you’re gone. No amount of money is worth all this.

“Andromeda,” Magnus said. “Join us.”