Chapter 86

Bruno narrowed his eyes, confusion and curiosity crossing his face. "Lucian? Why did you choose that name in particular?" I opened my mouth to say, "Lucian is my sister's boyfriend." But the words stuck. No. Anna had nothing to do with this world. I couldn't risk dragging her into it. "It just… came to me," I lied. "At the moment, I panicked. I said the first thing that came to mind." Bruno was quiet for a beat too long. "You are lucky," he said finally, his voice cool and flat. "If you had said any other name, especially your real one, or if you had revealed you were the masked Apollo, you'd be dead. Right there on the bathroom floor." The way he said it, so certain, sent a chill across my scalp. I rubbed my neck, trying to swallow my nerves. "I won't slip again," I said. "And Thursday? I won't take the mask off. Ever." That made Bruno smile, a faint and dry smile. "Good." Then he started to examine my wrist. The routine helped settle my breathing, the familiarity grounding me. "Can I