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“Well played, vampire.” Dante raised his hand, and one of his many servants retrieved Vivian’s cloak. Liam didn't hesitate to wrap it around her. “Sit.” Their host gestured to the empty seat next to him.

Liam accepted the offer, sitting at Dante’s side with Vivian curled in his lap. She peered at the fire demon, pupils dilated, cheeks flushed.

“Pay up, Dante.” She giggled.

Giggled? Vivian never giggled.

Later, he would reflect on this and curse himself for failing her—yet again.

The demon smirked. “You’ve entertained me as no one else has for many years.” His expression turned guarded. “Both you and your protector will stay here tonight as my honored guests.”

She hesitated, eyes glazing with confusion. “But…my question.”

“That was our agreement, wasn’t it?” Dante pursed his lips, then flicked an imperious hand. “Ask.”

She furrowed her brow, as though she struggled to collect her thoughts. Unfortunately, with Liam’s brain floating on a cloud, he wasn’t in much better shape.

At last, she said, “How do we destroy an object teeming with dark magic?”

“You can’t.”

Vivian huffed a frustrated sigh, sinking deeper into Liam’s lap.

Dante held up his hand. “Not yet.”

“Explain, please,” she said pertly.

“For so many years, you believed you were free. You were wrong. All you’ve done is hide from the truth. A piece of your soul is tied to this object. You can’t destroy it without destroying yourself.”

“Fucking Alistair,” Liam grated. “You mean to tell me a piece of Vivian’s soul has been trapped inside of that thing this whole time?” He rubbed her bare knee, offering comfort. The feel of her satin skin beneath his palm had warmth flooding his veins. He held his breath, fighting the effects of Dante’s herbs and failing.Concentrate, dammit.He blinked, drawing the demon into focus. “How do we break the connection?”

“By staying here as my guests tonight,” Dante said vaguely. “All will be revealed to you in the morning.”

After Vivian’s performance, she shouldn’t have to wait for that revelation. What was Dante hiding? Liam bared his teeth. “Seems you’re coming up a bit short on that answer you promised her.”

Vivian extended her hand and patted the demon’s forearm. “A generous offer but—”

Dante grabbed her wrist and stiffened hard enough to fracture his spine. While holding tight to Vivian, he pinned his freaky glowing eyes directly on Liam. “What brought you together will also tear you apart. When lightning strikes, don’t let go, even when all seems lost. You must carry your burden into the clouds to a place with no end. Only then will you regain what you’ve lost. Only then will she be free.”

With the oracle’s eerie prophecy delivered, he jerked his hand from Vivian’s and shook his head as though coming out of a trance. Dante scowled, seeming unsettled. “Gods, but I hate it when that happens. Touch deepens the connection, makes me sound like a fortune cookie, and frankly, gives me a fucking headache.”

“Apologies. I didn’t realize,” Vivian said, rubbing her wrist.

Liam eyed the pink marks Dante left on her flesh and sliced the male a glare through the smokey haze. “Might want to use an oven mitt next time you’re channeling the spirits. Maybe it’s the weed talking, but I’ve eaten fortune cookies that make more sense.”

Dante smirked, showing little concern. “One’s future isn’t for me to interpret. Stay here tonight, my friends. None will harm you in my kingdom. There is no place safer. Stay, drink, dance. I promise, come morning, you will have vanquished your fears. Only then will your path reveal itself.”

Liam huffed a disgruntled sound. “So says the mighty Oracle of Fire. Just so we’re clear, I’m pretty sure I could have picked up the Sunday paper and read that kind of bull-shittery in my horoscope.”

“Trust me, my friends.” Dante’s grin was overly bright. “You are exactly where the fates want you.”

Vivian peered up at Liam, gaze heated. “Let’s stay a bit longer,moncoeur. I haven’t felt this good in years.” She ran her finger over the cut she’d left in his chest, tucked her crimson nail into her mouth and sucked.

Liam’s brain stuttered.

He drew a deep breath of Dante’s herbs and took inventory. Vivian had just given him the lap dance to beat all lap dances. Dante’s special herbs hung thick in the air. One of the demon’s curvy servants had just delivered another round of those flaming concoctions. The half-naked woman in his arms was a sure thing.

He exhaled a smoke-laden breath and grinned. Whatwasthe harm in staying for one night?