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“It’s impossible. Female turn rate is in the low twentieth percentile,” Tobias said, taking a step toward me.

Asher wrapped himself around me. He tipped my chin up to look into his eyes.

“And if you did survive, you would be blood-mad,” he whispered.

Like Bastien.

What. My lips were so numb I could only mouth the word.

I . . . couldn’t be turned into a vampire?

“Oh.”

“Älskade.” The corner of Asher’s lips turned downward. I could hear the pity in his tone. My face heated, and I extricated myself from his arms.

“I need some time,” I croaked, shaking my head as he moved toward me again. I peeled my eyes wide to keep the tears from spilling. I needed to get away—now. The closest exit was down to my room.

I sped to the metal door and slammed it shut behind me.

THREE

asher

Imogen needed to leave.I pressed my fingers against my temples, moving them in little circles. Tobias’s gaze was unfocused, so I angled my glare on Ren.

“You were too harsh, Ren.”

Ren’s jaw bunched.

“With a careless moment, Imogen will snap her neck. I’d rather be harsh, when coddling could mean her life.”

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t approach Cat.” I raised an eyebrow at Jax. “Imogen must have caught on, because she made sure to get up while I was still weighed down by the sun.”

I scoffed.

“Sure, that’s why you’re stuck to her like glue.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Jaxon was suddenly in my face. I smirked and poked his shoulder.

“It means you don’t look like you’re having a hard time keepingan eyeon Imogen.” I sneered. I had hoped my Pet could sway him to her side, but as always, he fell for that toxic bitch. “Have you already fucked her?”

He jerked back as if I’d slapped him. “Because if you did, keep away from Catalina.” My jealous Catalina would fall apart. It would be difficult for her to detach from him, I’d seen the wayshe looked at Jax. I’d encouraged her softness toward him, but it’d been in vain.

“I have nothing to explain to you,” Jaxon snapped.

“Wrong, we have every right to know if you hurt her.”

“YourÄlskade,” he spat. “Because you care for her, it does not mean you get to have the single claim on her. That’s your problem, Asher, fixation. You’ll lose interest. Sure, you’ve held on this far, but.” Jax shook his head. “Knowing you?—”

“Now you’re defining me by my past?” I scoffed. “You think because I was a whore I do not understand devotion?” I leaned close to him. “That makes me more of an authority on it, I know the difference between meaningless fucking to what I feel for Catalina. Unlike you, you think you’re so enamored by Imogen, she treated you like scum at her feet. Only using you to do her bidding?—”

Jaxon stiffened and in a flash his palm lashed across my jaw. The sting left as fast as it came.

“Did you just slap me?” I clasped my face with my fingertips, almost expecting blood. Jax seemed as shocked as I did, so to get rid of that stupid look on his face, I swung my open palm toward him. His head jerked to the side.

Ren shoved both of our chests, forcing us a step back.

“Enough,” Tobias shouted. The shock of it dragged our attention to the oldest of us present and the one that was supposed to be levelheaded. He seemed conflicted, so I said as much.