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Avenay crossed her arms, indignant, and opened her mouth, ready to argue, but then her face faltered, realization washing over, and shetook a step back. Color stole over her cheeks and she gave an awkward laugh.

“I-I just do.”

Enid grinned. “Do you think I have you under a thrall?”

Avenay shook her head too aggressively and scoffed. “Of course you would think that. What if I’ve met another demon that I’ve been absolutely wild about?”

Enid took a step forward, getting back into Avenay’s space. “Have you?”

“Maybe?” Avenay’s voice was low, raspy.

“I need to know for certain.”

“Why? It’s none of your business.”

“Your description ofabsolutely wild abouthas me very curious.”

“I’ve met other demons,” Avenay said, defensive.

“Oh? And this demon put you under their thrall?”

Avenay nodded, her eyes dipping to Enid’s lips.

Enid took another step forward, her leg between Avenay’s now, her hands resting on the seraphe’s hips so she wouldn’t fall.

“What was her name? His? I’d like to have a few words with them.”

“What kind of words?” Avenay’s hands gripped Enid’s arms, which was its own torment. Enid was one move away from taking Avenay right here, on the forest floor. Who was this demon she’d had before? Had they left Avenay, still aching and wanting, desperate for their return? Had Avenay loved this demon?

Jealousy ripped through Enid, lashing against her heart. She suddenly wondered about Avenay’s previous lovers, the ones lucky enough to know her secrets, her heart, her deepest longings and hopes, her greatest fears, all the little quirks. All the things Enid realized with a swiftness she wanted. She hated anyone who’d been given that permission to touch Avenay, to learn every dip and curve of her body, every noise she made of pleasure, of how she tasted from top to bottom. She hated all of them.

Enid tugged her closer and Avenay let her, running a hand up Enid’s bicep, stroking softly as Enid’s thigh pressed between Avenay’s legs.

“What would you say to this demon?” Avenay pressed.

Enid leaned forward, a wildness bursting from within her, tangling like vines around her veins, constricting with every pump of her blood. “I would make them regret that they’d ever left you, that they’d ever broken your heart, got your hopes up, and dashed them.”

Avenay leaned harder into her, and Enid’s cunt throbbed. By the goddess’ tits, she was going crazy, wasn’t she?

“But if it was the thrall, could she even help it? Canyoucontrol it?”

Enid had to admire Avenay’s ability to pursue her research at this heated moment.

She leaned down, her lips brushing against Avenay’s ear. The seraphe’s breath caught and Enid closed her eyes in a flash of agonizing desire. “If the thrall were real, I’d have you on the forest floor, screaming my name in ecstasy.”

Avenay gripped her tighter, her breath coming out in a staccato beat. One move, one sign that she wanted it and Enid would make good on her words. But she couldn’t forget the ways Avenay had pulled away from her like she’d touched a hot iron, repulsed.

Enid knew well enough what it was like to want someone who stirred her blood but knew it was bad for her. And Enid would be bad for Avenay. She was smart and beautiful, a seraphe with a promising future. Enid was a demon who had never had a good reputation and had no intention of starting now. She couldn’t be the first one to make them dive headfirst into this. Avenay’s breath hit Enid’s neck, heavy and erotic, and Enid pressed her cheek against Avenay’s, her lips tilting to press gently there.

Something rustled in the bushes,and in a moment,Enid had shifted, pressing Avenay behind her, sword brandished.

Nothing moved, nothing came out, and Enid sent her hearing out, deeper and deeper into the forest. Nothing. It was eerily quiet even.

Silence in a forest was never a good sign. She looked around. They had just passed another creek fed from a small waterfall and off to the right was a clearing with large boulders scattered about, one rising above the others.

Her eyes stuck there. They had passed that same creek twice already, and these were the same boulders they’d seen each time. She took a few steps forward, crouching by an indentation. The same one they’d stopped to look at twice already. Goosebumps pebbled along her arms.

“What is it?” Avenay asked, crouching next to her.