Page 45 of Shadow & Stars

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Until Roman’s star changed my life.

Was this all part of my death, my afterlife? Or was this a case of fractured rules?

Possibly a combination of the two.

What it did mean was Roman was alone with Ismael and the demon monarchs, facing a possible death sentence of his own—if he could truly die right now.

But how did I get back to him?

A growl rumbled in my chest. I yanked the weed free, tossing it over my shoulder.

“I won’t lose him.”

Magic still existed here, meaning somewhere out there Roman existed in this timeline with the device dormant in his chest.

If I could find him, maybe I could reach the future him.

I’m not giving up, Roman.

I hurried inside, a plan already formulating in my head.

14

ROMAN

“Answer me!” the silhouette of the man at the top of the stairs hissed.

At least he could see me.

I held up my hands. “I’m not here for trouble. Just want to shelter for a bit.”

“You’re trespassing.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t huh me, fuckface.”

Any bets for this prick not having his name on the tenancy agreement?

Rather than snipe, I stayed civil. “Okay. I’ll go next door.”

“You do that.”

I kept my hands up, side-stepping toward the room on my right.

“What are you doing?”

“Going next door.”

“No. Go back the way you came.” He huffed. “Hang on… What the…” I almost heard the cogs of his mind whirring. “How did you actually get in here?”

“You didn’t see?” I asked.

“No. I heard you breathing.”

“Good hearing.”

“My ex called me a bat with my super ears.” He sighed. “And now he’s a rat.”

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