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She was suddenly staked to an invisible wall with the tumultuous power brewing in his blue eyes now right on her. “Especially…andnever…that body.”

An explosion of sparks popped off in her blood as she focused on breathing along with the utmost importance of the conversation, the one about saving humanity, not which body he preferred, her angelic one over this human one. And yet, vanity insisted the fate of the world depended on confirming it.

“What if I told you that I can give you all the power you need without requiring… this.”

He gestured at her with clasped hands, his elbows still on his knees.

“This… body?”

He only nodded, still staring at her with a million plans swirling in the depths of his passionate gaze. She definitely needed to know and understand all of them.

“What’s… wrong with this body?”

“I don’t like it,” he said without missing a beat.

“I can… take on any type I wish.”

“Unless they lookexactlylike the Bellatore, no.”

Oh mercy. So hewassaying he liked her angelic form more. She remembered what they were talking about. This power he claimed to have. “Are you referring to… the dark powers in you?”

His stare boiled with a silentyesunder raised brows.

She swallowed.

Then remembered to breathe.

“I don’t…quiteunderstand.”

“I think you do.”

Flashes of what had passed between them in that dark-lust realm brought her pulse to a raging pound in her body. She really needed to knowexactlywhat this entailed. But to ask felt like suicide. The sudden need for her angelic powers seemed most necessary to learn this answer without hearing him say it. Because if he clothed these bright ideas with his decadent words and tongue, they would be a trap she would not escape. Or want to. And yet, how would she find out? She could not use power. She mustn’t. She would have to use her human skills and work her way to understanding.

“You want… to use the dark lusts on me?”

He didn’t answer right away. And she was very sure those dark powers prowled just beyond the stare-snare she was now in. “If byme,you mean the Bellatore, then yes.”

“But…” She licked her suddenly dry lips. “This power is greater if…”

His head shook slowly.

No?

“Notthispower. It’s created forthe spiritualandhumanity. And… I havezerointerest in your human facades.”

“What…”

No, not what.

“Why…”

“You want to hear me say the words,” he said, or seemed to discern. His brows drew together in such a way that brought hot shame to her human cheeks.

“I just…”

“Yes or no, Bellatore,” he offered again, his patience silky. “Do you want the power I have to give you? Or would you prefer to gain it with that human body through demons? That question was purely sarcasm and in no way denotes an option. I’m offering you power, and I expect you to take it.”

Everything was off the rails in her human body now. There was only one thing left to do and that was ask a stupid question. “What if I say no?”