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Zade rips the arrow out of Xavier’s grasp, black fury emanating from him. His hand is going to be nothing but shredded meat and bone if this keeps up. It’s still healing from the knife, yet he shows no indication he’s in pain.

Xavier’s teeth are bared from both agony and frustration, and I can see he’s ready to pounce again.

I grab the arrow from Zade’s hold, and using the sharp pointed tip, I notch it under Xavier’s chin, forcing him to look at me.

“Look at all that blood,” I muse, echoing his own words with a sardonic smile.

Zade readjusts, crouching behind me, his knees on either side as he presses into my back. Xavier’s eyes drift over my shoulder, hatred swirling in his eyes.

My breath hitches, shivering from the feel of Zade’s hand sliding across my midriff, then lower, the tips of his fingers breaching the waistband of my leggings.

Xavier tracks the movement, his face reddening the lower Zade’s hand drifts.

“What are you doing?” I whisper, though the answer is obvious. This is so fucking wrong, yet my pussy throbs when his fingers brush over my clit.

“When you stole from her, did you know the only one she thought of was me?” he asks, ignoring my question. I bite my lip, arousal flooding between my thighs as he continues to softly play.

Xavier snarls but doesn’t deign him an answer.

“I want to show you why,” Zade whispers, his deep voice dark and sinful.

His touch becomes firmer, and a low moan slips free. I close my eyes, embarrassed by that, even though Xavier can’t see anything but the outline of Zade’s hand.

“Don’t be shy,” Zade murmurs in my ear. “Show him why he never stood a chance against me.”

I exhale a shuddering breath, unable to contain the breathless moan, my eyes opening then fluttering shut again from the pleasure taking hold of my body. He expertly rubs my clit, and soon my head is dropping back on his shoulder.

“Zade,” I moan, my thighs beginning to tremble.

“Stop it,” Xavier barks, his voice pained for more reasons than the arrow piercing his spine.

“Are you angry because she never moaned your name?” Zade challenges. He’s right—I never did, despite how hard Xavier tried.

“Did she cry out for God?” he pushes.

“Yes,” Xavier spits, and fuck, I’m falling apart. I thrust against Zade’s hand, rolling my hips mindlessly, the bliss eroding my entire being.

“Good,” he says, a grin in his voice. “That means she was crying out for me.”

“Oh my God, Zade,” I sob, the orgasm building, forming into a sharp point right where his fingers are rubbing.

“That’s it, baby,” he purrs. “Show him who you’re really praying to.”

“Zade!” I cry out, splintering into millions of pieces while my soul breaks free, shooting far into the heavens. It’s then I realize I don’t belong there, not when my dark god is pulling me down into a world of sin and pleasure, making me come while holding an arrow to my rapist’s throat.

We’re all fucking damned anyway, forced to live outside of heaven’s gates. I find I like it better living in the darkness next to my shadow.

Zade slips his hand from my leggings, cupping my pussy over the fabric while I ride out the rolling waves of euphoria.

Slowly, I come down, my vision spotty as clarity gradually resurfaces.

Panting, I look down to find Xavier seething, his eyes glassy as he glares at me.

Why does he look so betrayed when he’s never owned anything more than my nightmares?

“You’re a whore,” he spits angrily. Zade stands, his presence looming, seconds away from taking the wheel and sending Xavier into the afterlife. I reposition the arrowhead against his neck, a droplet of blood forming beneath the tip.

“And what makes you think your opinion of me means anything at all?” I wonder.