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“Use me,” she said, desperate to eradicate the desolation in his gaze. “Sate your hunger.”

His blue irises shrunk as his pupils swelled. While she could still sense his despair, she could also feel his desire—hisneedfor her.

Then he descended upon her.

He thrust into her with everything he had, his cock filling her, spreading her. She felt him harden even more, feeling like she was about to burst. And damn her, she wanted to be filled with his release.

She pulled his lips to hers, kissing him, inviting him in.

His lips glanced against hers as though he were uncertain of what to do next. As though he hadn’t claimed her many times before. But then his kisses grew as hungry and feverish as his thrusts, and she allowed herself to fall into his touch, feeling every bit of his desire.

Starlight burst inside of her, and she cried out.

As she came, something inside her hitched, as though a chord in her chest had been strummed. If she was his instrument, let him play her—in any way he liked.

Essence flowed from her chest, up her throat, and into her mouth until it flooded out of her. He sucked, drinking in the blue wisps. As he did, another orgasm rocketed through her.

As the phantom fed on her desires, he continued thrusting into her until his movements became jerky, desperate. Then he was coming undone.

The expression on his face was both pain and pleasure, misery and ecstasy. It was a male preparing to fall into the deep—and never return.

Tears streamed down his cheeks as his eyes fixed on hers, his lips moving.

Heart drumming, she opened her mouth to speak. But he’d pulled out of her and was on his feet. Somehow, he was fully dressed once more.

Glancing down, she noted that there were long slashes in his shirt, which had traces of blood. Then her eyes found his tear-streaked face, which mirrored the anguish flooding her chest.

“Wait!” she called out, finally finding her voice.

But he was gone, leaving her alone in the dark landscape.

For a long moment, she remained where she was, utterly still.

If this was just a dream, why did it feel so real?

Chapter Three

ARABELLA

Aforce collided with what Arabella thought was her face.

Her body felt distant as she swirled between dreams and waking. There was a distinct throbbing in her jaw. The pain had the hushed voices around her solidifying into words. But no matter what she did, her eyes remained firmly shut.

“If you hit her again, Brynne, I swear I will punch you in the face.”

It was Jessamine’s voice. It sounded both nearby and like it echoed across a great hall.

“What’s wrong with her?” came Cora’s voice. “Could it be Elias again?”

Arabella tried to open her eyes again, tried to speak, but her body felt foreign to her. It was as though—in that place of endless darkness—she’d shirked her flesh. And now that she was forced to don her skin, muscles, and bones once more, everything felt unwieldy.

It was all just a dream, she realized.None of it was real.

Why did that thought hurt so much?

Her head throbbed even as hunger burned in her gut. As her stomach rumbled loudly, the enchantresses fell quiet.

“Are you fucking with me, Arabella? Did you really just pass out fromhunger?” Jessamine’s voice was closer now, just above her. Fingers pressed against her forehead.