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But in one thoughtless move, Charlie threw it all away.

The memory of his voice rang in her ears. How he’d begged her, his face battered from a recent beating. He swore if she used her ability to help him win “one more game,” he’d pay back the debt and never gamble again. It wasn’t the first time he’d made that promise. But before she’d found a solution, the loan shark came to collect.

Charlie knew better than to do business with anyone connected to the underworld. He understood the risk, and yet he’d borrowed money from a vampire, of all people.The minute the guy smacked her, her bleeding lip gave her away. Charlie’s weakness had led the monsters straight to her.

Horrifying images flashed in her mind. The splintering of the front door, her father’s broken body, a vampire with flashing fangs. The terrifying recognition in the monster’s glowing eyes.

Liam’s voice rumbled inches from her ear. “Hey, you all right, Sunshine?” Her heart leapt into her throat. Crap, she’d been so deep in her own head, she hadn’t heard him return.

She drew in a slow breath and forced a bright smile before turning to face him. If she hoped to have any kind of freedom, she needed to look the part of Liam’s well-adjusted Chosen.

“Of course.” She shrugged, tucking a strand of dark red hair behind her ear—Red Velvet Number Sevento be exact. Her golden locks were now a fiery red since her exposure at the auction forced her to change her appearance.

Liam’s perceptive gaze shifted from her tight smile to her clenched fists. “Gavin can handle things here if you want to head back home. Once I grab last month’s receipts, we can take off.” Liam turned and headed to his office.

“No!” She grabbed his thick arm with two hands and held tight. “Don’t you dare.” If there was one thing she hated, it was coddling. She’d rather sit through another round of “Bad Moon Rising” than spend the evening at home with Liam fussing over her.

Liam nodded, but his uncertainty vibrated across her sensitive nerve endings. The man was way too intuitive. And hereshewas supposed to be the one with the freaky ability.

“I’m okay, really. Just a little tired, that’s all.” Liam’s broad forehead wrinkled. Shit. Poor choice of words. “No. Not like that.” Heat crept into her cheeks. “Not fromfeeding,” she said in a hushed tone, leaning closer. God, she was making a mess of this.

Six months ago, Liam marked her as his Chosen. That claim gave him exclusive feeding rights. Though he’d been reluctant, her close call at the auction had forced his hand. Liam had always objected to the bond, saying it was too much like enslavement—for them both.

He leveled shrewd green eyes on her, unconvinced. Alex stifled a groan. So what if she’d passed out.One time, during the claiming ritual. It was no big deal. Only, Liam seemed to have taken it personally.

“Sunshine…”

“Liam, I’m fine. You know I can’t handle the downtime. Without something to distract me, the memories of my dad…” She swallowed hard—so not going there right now. “I need to stay busy, and you have a business to run. Working at your bar is the best solution.”

Instead of locking her away in a tall tower, Liam was hiding her in plain sight. At least here at Howlers, she felt useful. Liam might have claimed her, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t pull her own weight. Last thing she wanted was to bekept.

She folded her arms. “Hey, I thought we had an agreement. I stay behind the bar, and you snarl at anybody who looks twice at me.”

Liam glared at something over her shoulder. “Yeah, and if they’d like to walk out of here on two legs, they’ll keep their distance.”

Stools scraped the concrete, and several deep voices grumbled apologies. Her jaw clenched. Since saving her from the auction, Liam had taken the termoverprotectiveto a whole new level.

“Was that really necessary?” It’s not as if they could touch her anyway, with his brand on her neck and his blood running through her veins. Because of the Chosen bond, anyone who stuck a fang in her would become violently ill. Becoming a vampire’s property did have some perks.

He growled a sigh. “Fine, you can stay. But if anyone gives you any shit, you come straight to me or Gavin.” He jerked his thumb at the man hustling toward them with a case of beer under his arm.

“Hey there, gorgeous.” Gavin, the bar’s manager, stopped at Alex’s side and leaned in, the fire demon’s breath heating her ear. “You know, you sayfeedlike some people saysex, all dirty and secretive.”

“Ugh!”Alex ducked, and Gavin twisted, the two of them having perfected this particular dance. They both maintained a strictno-touchyrule for many reasons. For starters, the guy was hot, literally. “That conversation was private.”

Hearing the words feedand sexthrown together was just wrong. While Liam let everyone assume they were a couple, in reality, they were far from it. Cause…Ew. She’d known the guy since she was six, for God’s sake.

She glanced at Gavin and rolled her eyes at the wink he sent her. Dark brown hair tumbled over his forehead. Over a Howlers T-shirt, he wore a denim button-up. The cuffed sleeves revealed his ruddy forearms. He set his box down, then scratched his head just behind his temple.

There were several demons who frequented Liam’s bar. Forced to shear their horns, many scratched the scars that remained. It was a painful sacrifice that allowed them to walk among the humans unnoticed. If Alex’s gift was so easy to remove, she’d chop that sucker off in a heartbeat. The pain would be worth it if it meant she could be normal.

Gavin flashed a crooked grin at her. “I feel you admiring my manly physique, love.”

She coughed a laugh. “You wish.”

He snatched the now-empty box from the counter and headed down the hall.

Liam peered down at her, scowling. “Warned you not to provoke the male. You’re playing with fire with that one.” He held out his hand. “Give it back.”