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“I refuse to take part in anything criminal.”

Di’s grin stretched. “Did you not stalk him outside his home yestereve? Is that not criminal?”

Kate swallowed.

Di lowered her gaze, knowing she had Kate right where she wanted her. “Aye, I’m very aware of your every movement. You see, I can easily allow you to wallow in misery, sitting in your car outside your fiancé’s house while he beds the very woman who created a great divide between me and my husband. You can imagine all that transpires in his bed, a bed you used to share with him, knowing another now takes your place. Your rightful place.”

Kate’s attention dropped to the woman’s hand as she retrieved a tiny gold vial from her purse. Anger twisted her gut into a knot. Her vision pulsed and her head throbbed.

“I’m willing to work with you, if you’re willing to work with me. And by pledging your loyalty to me through this, I assure you you’ll not gain any mortal criminal record.” Di unscrewed the delicate top of the vial and removed a thin, gold probe from within, coated in something shimmery and silver. “In fact, you will be far more protected by me than anyone could promise you in this realm.”

Di tilted the vial top and probe, keeping a single thickdrop of the strange liquid from falling to the table. When she looked up at Kate again, her eyes glowed.

Glowed.

A wave of heat struck her in the chest, igniting her coiled fury until she wanted to bolt from the restaurant and throttle the very woman she’d been cast aside for.

“Easy,” Di said.

“What are you?” she heard herself ask. What. Notwho.

The question felt frighteningly appropriate.

“I’m the key to getting Bryce back. What do you say, Katherine? Are you ready to have Bryce in your arms, your bed, once more?”

Kate tried to dispel the growing knot in her throat. “W-what are you?”

Carefully, Di perched her elbows on the table, tilting the probe back and forth to keep that single shimmery drop of liquid from falling.

“I am a woman who knows heartache and betrayal. I am a being no mortal or immortal will cross if they value their lives. Such trivial details will be disclosed, should you accept my offer.” She slowly extended the probe toward Kate. To Kate’s displeasure, her gaze followed that bobbing silver drop and a strange, tingling sweetness spread over her tongue. “All of your dreams rest here, in a single drop. Happiness. Love. Revenge. Consequence free. All you must do is accept.”

That probe came closer. Closer.

That silver drop shimmered so prettily. So enticingly.

Her mouth watered.

Her heart thundered with excitement.

Bryce.

He belonged to her, and she’d have him back.

Mine.

She licked her lips, leaning toward the probe.

“What shall it be, Katherine?”

Every dream rested in that shimmering drop.

Every nightmare.

She closed her eyes and parted her lips, unable to refuse the pull of the drop.

22

Bryce found himself herded away from the front door of Rihanna’s townhouse before he could so much as open his mouth in greeting.