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My whole world collapses to just this, just us. He can’t be serious. “You did what?” It comes out so quiet, it’s barely a breath.

Draven presses his forehead against mine, inhaling my scent deeply before he takes a step back to let me breathe. “I went to him first. That’s the thing, baby. When a man truly wants you, nothing will stand in his way from letting you know it.”

It feels colder without him close. Not just the space I’m in, but everywhere. All places, all things.

And while the romantic in me wants to believe that’s sweet, the more rational part of me knows I’m just being used as a pawn again. Being moved from Alex’s space to Draven’s.

“And he said okay?” I ask. “He doesn’t care?”

Before responding, he shoves his hands into his jean pockets with a frown. “He doesn’t care. He never will.”

Yeah. I’m getting that. Nodding a little, I squeeze the bark behind me as I start to get lightheaded. “Right. Okay then. I’ll um...”

“Do you care?” he asks before I can leave. “About him... this marriage... anything aside from surviving?”

“I was trying to,” I admit. “I was trying.”

“Save that energy for me,” he says too cockily. “You’re gonna need it.”

He seems to have his mind made up that he will have me one day, and honestly, he’s right. He will. Because knowing that there’s zero hope for Alex and me to ever make this work, I have to figure something out. And I might as well enjoy it when I do. “Can I think about it?”

“I’ve been patient so far. I can be patient a little longer. Don’t expect me to hold back once you say yes, though. That tease of a taste wasn’t enough. All it did was make me feral for you.”

Which means I’m an idiot for wasting time. He wants me, I want him, nothing else should matter.

But other things do matter, and I need to make sure he’s not playing me first. For all I know, this is some ridiculous long con cooked up by both of them to make sure I’m loyal before anyone puts a Creed heir inside me.

“Then keep that energy for me,” I repeat back to him. “But for now, give me some space. I need to think.”

Dray crinkles up his nose like he doesn’t like it, but takes one step back. “Better?”

This fucking guy.

I can’t fight it, it makes me laugh. “You’re an idiot, Dray. Go away.”

The accomplished grin on his face has me rolling my eyes, because even without him confirming it, I know he only did that to make me smile. “Don’t pull a muscle overthinking, little keeper.”

He’s slowly backing away now, leaving me alone against a tree trying to figure out the best way forward. I have an out. He offered me an out.

I just need to take care of something first.

––––––––

There’s no need toguess where Alex is. Since I didn’t see Princess Morella anywhere on the grounds doing her actual job, I already know they’re in his room.

I don’t bother knocking.

Sure enough, I find him bending her over, hips slapping hips as she muffles her moans with a pillow.

Coward.

“We need to talk,” I snap, startling them both as I slam the door behind me. “Don’t stop on my account, I don’t give a fuck what you do.”

Morella scrambles forward as she cusses at me and dives under the blanket, but not fast enough. I still get a generous look at the woman Alex deemed was more important than my life. And Alex himself? The fury on his face does nothing to distract me from the sweat beading on his chest, the heavy cock swinging between his thighs.

It’s a nice cock on a nice body, but he may as well be dead to me.

“What do you want, Sullivan?”