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And it did not include fucking that useless man.

I would not get caught in the snare of this realm.

The sound of Cyloe’s paws padding into the bedchamber pulled me from my thoughts and I cleared my throat, slipping out of the bathing room and shrugging out of my jacket.

My hand dragged across the top of her head as I passed by her, her fur catching between my fingers.

“I need you to keep a close eye on us,” I said, as I shoved my hand into my satchel and pulled out two of the healing tonics. I hoped we wouldn’t need them, but Dukovich and I seemed to have a way of finding trouble. “We will be causing chaos tonight.” I smirked down at her and she huffed back at me.

I wished I could glimpse into her mind and see just how often she judged me. My guess—from the side-eye she was currently giving me—was frequently. I chuckled at the thought, at the attitude she had that mirrored my own. I was starting to see why Andrues loved animals so much.

My skin heated, my cheeks flushing at the mere thought of him and I groaned up at the ceiling.

This fucking place.

My fingers flexed at my sides as I strode from the room, quickly descending the stairs.

“What plan are you concocting?” Dukovich asked, eying me as I stepped from the last stair.

“I have no idea,” I answered, walking to the bar cart and pouring myself two fingers then downing it. “We just need to get into Sethros, see what’s happening, and go from there.”

He nodded, clasping his hands behind his head. “So.” He paused, a sly smile slipping over his lips. “Howbigof a scene is too big?”

I turned my head away from him to hide the smirk that slid onto my lips in response to his question. He loved this kind of shit just as much as I did.

“Tonight, you’re my property, my servant—if anyone asks where you are from, or if you belong to anyone,” I said, turning back to him and pulling a dagger from my belt.

“I will be anything you want me to be, love,” he purred as a smirk slid onto his lips.

My eyes rolled in his direction. “As in, I’m a witch—they will not touch me. And they’re too scared ofmeto touch anyone I claim as mine.”

He took a step toward me and I steeled myself against the scent of him.

“Yours. . . I like the sound of you claiming me,” he said, taking another step closer. My fingers flexed as he slowly slipped behind me and I stayed planted where I stood.

His fingers trailed up my arms, his chest pressing against my back as I used every ounce of fucking strength not to lean into him. My breathing grew more erratic with each breath, betraying me as his fingers caressed my collarbone, slipping up my neck to the cut of my jaw, and turning my head as his lips lowered to my ear.

“Tell me you do not feel that, feel the need that seeps from you when you are around me,” he whispered, his breath trickling down my neck.

My eyes closed as I breathed him in.

I did feel it, in every agonizing second when he was near me.

My eyes snapped open and I pushed away from his touch, the loss of his warmth both angering and grounding me. I whirled to face him as I took two rapid steps back.

“What the fuck are you trying to accomplish? I get that we are in Ammord and desires are forced to the surface of our minds, but why do you insist on vexing me everywhere we are?” I hissed, taking another step away from him.

“What do you want from me, Dukovich? To get between my legs and prove to yourself you can fuck the woman you almost killed? To make a conquest of me to feed your ego?”

“No,” he snapped, his features hardening as he shook his head. “I want toknowyou, Ataliia. I try to stay away from you—it may not look like it, but I do. Every second I am not in your presence, I am counting down the moment until I can be again.You consume me. Consume every corner of my mind, and it is infuriating.” His voice was a low rumble as he took a cautious step toward me. “Your voice, your scent, your fucking eyes—I cannot sleep without dreaming of you. I can not escape the ache, the pull I feel toward them, toward you.” Another step. “I am not a romantic or a gentleman. I do not know how to make you swoon or how to court you, but if I must, I will spend the rest of my life trying to earn your forgiveness for the pain I have caused.”

I stared at him, my chest rising and falling at a rapid pace as I tried to process his words. How dare he.

How dare he.

“I hate you,” I breathed as he took one last step toward me and lifted his hand to my cheek, the warmth of his skin seeping into mine.

“Hate is a feeling, love. And if it’s the only one you have in your heart for me, then I will take it. I will take anything you give me.” My eyes stayed locked on his, unable to pull away from the sincerity they held.