“Withholding details isn’t lying, Andromeda. Everyone does it, even you—blazes, especially you. But none of that means I used you. I would never use you.”

“You already have.” I braced myself against the door as he approached, halting him with my words. “Don’t touch me.”

“Why, will you bite?”

“If I have to.”

He let out a short, breathy laugh, his gaze so steady I felt naked beneath it. “You are remarkable.”

I took an even breath to calm my nerves. “I’m going to bed.”

“Not like this,” he said, reaching out to me. “Not angry with me.”

“I am a human being with free will. I am going to bed.”

“You know I’m a tactless fool sometimes.” Magnus sighed heavily, as if he were in pain. “Stay with me, Andromeda. Forgive me and stay.”

“I can’t forgive you if you never actually apologize.”

I shut the door in his face, just in time to partially block out his annoying “I didn’t apologize?”

I leaned my back against the door, covering my mouth to mute my trembling breath. I couldn’t believe I actually thought … but of course it had all been in my head. I should’ve known better—anything that felt that good could never be true. God, I was an idiot. Any man who could kiss one woman while being committed to another, no matter how tenuous the commitment … How could I believe anything he said ever again?

And yet his voice, right up against the wood of the door, muted but somehow still ringing through me … “I’m sorry, Andromeda. Please, believe me. I’m sorry…”

I hated that his pleading softened me. That he held such power. That I wanted nothing more than to open the door, forgive him, kiss him again and again.

Instead I threw the lock and buried myself in blankets to block out his pleas.

CHAPTER 17

I hadn’t had much time to devise a plan, and the one I did come up with was rocky at best: Stand outside Tom’s room just before the Waking begins. Cleanse whatever Manifestation comes to make him “vanish.” Don’t get eaten alive by the house in the process. Magnus had said the servants’ quarters were cleansed, and so I wouldn’t have to worry about any other strokes getting in the way.

At three minutes to ten I put my knife in my pocket, and grabbed the fireplace poker just in case. I had my amulet on, of course, but after the terror of that first Waking I didn’t want to take any chances.