Cody stared down at the bowl, his fingers tightening around it. “Why?” His voice was barely a whisper.

A denial would have been easy. There was no reason not to deny it — unless it was true.

But now what? Admitting he had feelings was one thing; realizing he’d been enchanted for years was something else entirely. Still, there wasn’t much choice but to rip off the bandage all at once. “I think you’re having withdrawal symptoms. From a love potion, or something like it. And I think those symptoms get worse when you’re around someone else… someone who stirs real feelings in you. Maybe even thinking about it is enough.”

Cody’s head shot up. “You mean Fleur…” He shook his head. “No. That’s impossible.”

“Did she ever bring you drinks?”

“No. Never. I brew my own tea — I’d notice if something was tampered with. The taste would change, or the consistency.”

Orion felt a knot tighten inside him. He knew he was close. “Maybe it wasn’t in your drink. Maybe it was something else.”

“Why are you so convinced of this?”

“You said yourself it’s tied to me somehow. What else could it be? You didn’t deny being attracted to me.”

Cody lowered his head, picking at his nails.

“Are you ashamed or something? It’s not exactly a secret that I like you. For years.”

“Well… it wasn’t that obvious,” Cody mumbled, his face flaring red again. “I thought you flirted like that with everyone.”

Okay, maybe he did flirt a little too easily. But Cody’s reaction was the only one that had ever really mattered.

“I’m not ashamed,” Cody said quietly — and finally he looked up. “Not… because there’s anything wrong with you. But because I’m with Fleur. I’m not supposed to feel like this.”

“And do you like Fleur just as much?”

“I…” His gaze drifted off and his shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.” He hunched over, groaning as he pressed his hands to his eyes. Every muscle in his body seemed wound tight.

Orion stepped beside him and placed a hand between his shoulder blades. “Does it hurt?”

“Like hell,” Cody groaned.

“Maybe it wasn’t tea, but she’s done something to you.” Orion grimaced. What he really wanted was to storm straight to Holtgaard and confront her — but that would be useless. She’d lost her memories. “You need to wash her traces off you with the Titan’s Purifying Tears.”

“Purifying tears?” Cody mumbled, still holding his face. “From a Titan? What are you talking about?”

This wasn’t the time for a history lesson. By now, he’d figured out most people in Holtgaard had long forgotten how this place came to be. “Every creature that lives here knows the Titan. Mos can take you there. It’s about an hour’s walk.”

He wished he could go with him — but it was obvious his presence only made things worse for Cody. Even his cats stayed away from that place; there was a strange pull about it. If they touched the water, the enchantments he’d placed on them would vanish.

They’d lose their voices — maybe even their memories. And then what would be left of them?

About as much as what remained of the people in Holtgaard.

“Did you talk to my sister? Did she lose her memories too? That was our second theory — that your memories aren’t leaving because they’re tied to something outside Holtgaard’s borders.”

Cody lowered his hands. Orion flinched when he saw how bloodshot his eyes were. This conversation needed to end soon, so Cody could recover a bit from this contact.

“Your sister still has her memories. She… she left three weeks ago.”

Orion dropped his fork. “What?”

“She went looking for you.”

“And you’re telling me this now?” Okay — maybe that wasn’t entirely fair. They’d barely had time to talk, and there were things Orion hadn’t told Cody either. Yet.

“I’m sorry,” Cody mumbled. “Like I said… I don’t feel like myself. It's hard to focus on anything involving you."

Orion understood — but still. The thought of his sister wandering the wilderness for three weeks made his throat tighten. It took him a moment to realize she wasn’t thirteen anymore. She was the same age he’d been when he left.

And he’d survived too.

“I’ll send the cats out to look for her. Meanwhile, you and your ogre friend head for the Titan.”

Orion fought the urge to go along — even if only at a distance — but that would mean Locke would follow too. He had to stay here, keep Locke away from Cody, and cast another binding spell on him. It never held for more than a day, and Locke always got more violent afterward, but at least it bought him some time.

Hopefully, Cody would be healed by the time he got back. Then Orion could ease him into the truth about Locke — another burden Cody really didn’t need.

His eyes swept the shadows in the garden and the woods beyond, but he saw no sign of the dark swirl that would betray Locke’s presence.

“In the meantime, I’ll start looking for the missing memories.”

Cody gave him a quick glance. “How?”

He had no idea. If Locke or Luther had anything to do with it, they wouldn’t just hand over the answer. And even if they did, there was no guarantee it’d be the truth. He tapped his fingers against the table. Though… maybe there was a way.

“I’m going to brew a truth serum.”

Cody’s eyes flew open. “That’s illegal.”

“Not here.” Orion grinned. “Nothing’s illegal here.”