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Shaking my head, I don’t recognize the man standing in front of me. Years ago, when I was just a young vampire, I thought he was brilliant. He had drive and a fire in his gorgeous brown eyes. Now, all I see is madness. I’m starting to question if it was always madness. Was I just too naïve and young to recognize before? Maybe Markis isn’t the one that changed. Maybe it’s me.

“They had no idea what you were looking for. You could’ve killed the Alpha and walked away. Those babies,” I shout thelast words when I think about the small children crying out for help. “They didn’t deserve that.”

He looks back at me with cold eyes, his head tilting to the side. “Your weakness is showing, wife. Khalif was right. Your compassion is your downfall.”

“Do not mention my father to me.”

He knows this is a subject we do not speak about. His bringing it up so casually proves how far we’ve fallen from each other.

“I chose you to stand by my side as I take my rightful place as the ruler of this world. I chose you because I thought you had it in you to be my queen.”

“I’ve done everything you’ve asked,” I shout. “I have sat quietly by as you’ve slaughtered entire colonies of vampires, witches, werewolves, and humans. Anything you have asked of me I have done. But this… this ruthlessly killing of innocent children—”

“You have not done everything,” he snarls.

His anger caused me to step back. He tucks away his fury and replaces his pinched face with a calmer glare.

“I’ve asked you for one thing you cannot give me.”

The tightness in my chest has me looking away.

“I need a queen that will bear my heir, Mizani.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Isn’t it?” he asks. I turn back to him. “I’m doing all of this for us. The power of the key will bring us a child. Our very own child. And here you are crying over spawns that are not yours. Maybe it’s time I find another mate. One that is worthy of being my wife.”

“No,” I plead.

This is the moment I should have had the strength to walk away. This is when I should have seen him as the mastermanipulator that he was. But I was still too in love. Too blinded by my need to be loved.

He pulls at the snaps of his linen trousers. “Come prove to me you still deserve to be my wife.”

I ignore the wave of disgust that floats through me as I walk toward him. He pulls his heavy erection out. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he pushes me to my knees.

“Open for me,” he demands.

Like a fool, I do as he requests. He slides his dick into my mouth, hitting the back of my throat. I do as he taught me, sucking him off.

He tosses his head back. “Yes, wife. Prove you are worthy.”

I come awake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The memory of the taste of him is still in my mouth.

Placing my hand on my chest, I try to regulate my breathing.

“It was just a dream. Only a dream. You’re not there. Markis is not here,” I remind myself.

“Is Markis the ex?”

Enzo’s voice nearly scares the shit out of me. Looking down at the floor beside my bed, I find him lying on a pallet on the floor on his back, his arms under his head.

“What the hell are you doing in my room?”

He turns his head to the side, looking at me.

“You better be glad I didn’t climb into that bed with you. Now, answer my question. Is Markis the one after you?”

“Yes,” I say, throwing the covers off me.