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“She’s not going to put up with begrudging duty,” Krave whispered. “And neither will I. Neither will Kildare or even Reuban. I’m not sure what’s coming but I’m damn sure that whatever it is, we’ve been designated as his personal ass-kickers to any threats—and his heart is included in that.

And for some mysterious reason, how you feel means everything to him. He’s a part of her and you, and us, but especially you, I think. I mean, have you seen him? He’s got her lips, her nose, her ears. And her huge heart.”

“Giving him love requires that I have it to give,” Kaos said quietly. “I have surrendered all that I am to protect My Queen.”

“And she did the same for you. Her son’s father—Mr. Perilous Pants.” Krave leaned in, eyes narrowed. “You know damn well she’s not going to let you brood around in that tacky doom bullshit, so you better find a way.”

Kaos lowered her hand to the bed, keeping his hand over hers. “I am a vessel of wrath,” he said. “Designed to fight in a war that demands a precise mix of this tacky doom bullshit. And unless otherwise commanded, I will continue being what I was created to be.”

Mild disgust twisted Krave’s mouth. “Good grief,” he muttered. “A martyr with a God complex.” He leaned in again, his anger catching up. “Listen… Wrath Daddy—this war you’re so eager to fight isn’t just about destroying. It’s about protecting what survives it too.”

Kaos didn’t look at him.

Krave moved in closer. “Whatever weapon you think you are? It belongs to her. And if she decides to use you to plant flowers and braid the boy’s hair, you better start sniffing daisies and learning to part straight lines.” Krave watched his stone profile for a beat. “Because if you don’t… I swear to all that dwells on high, we’ll pin you down and fuck the father into your pasty white ass with a cock made of fire and divine winds. And I bet Reuban would happily use his servants touch to make sure you orgasm lullabies.” He angled his head at him, silently daring him to resist.

Kaos finally turned his black eyes right on him as a flicker of something dark curled at the edge of his mouth. “You just got my cock hard.”

Krave’s grin came out to play as he eyed his brother before clapping him on the back. “There’sthe black bastard I love sodearly.”

The Sinner’s Bond

Larena needed a human body to survive Reuban. Being subject to him while in her angelic form was like being a lightning rod in a thunderstorm. Every word, look and touch, reduced her to quivering, desperate molecules at the mercy of his lust. It wanted to punish her, and God help her, she wanted tobegfor it.

She wasn’t sure what was happening anymore. The archangel would have answers, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear them.

“Can I stay in the vehicle?” she asked, breaking the thirty minutes of silence when they arrived at the mall.

He pulled into a parking spot and put the vehicle in park. The measured breath he took seemed to suck it directly from her own lungs. “Of course you can’t,” he said softly, turning in his seat.

“I don’t know what help I could be, I tend to mothers, not men.”

He shifted in his seat and placed his arm on the rest between them, leaning only a few inches toward her.

Her pulse galloped as she leaned toward the door.

“I think we need to establish some rules,” he announced, his voice gentle. She hated his voice gentle. Because she loved it too much. She wanted to bathe in it while naked. Oh God, the Sinner’s Bond was overtaking her, changing her, corrupting her.

“Larena?”

Her gaze snapped to his. “Yes?”

His eyes lowered to her chest. “Why are you panting? Remember lying only makes things worse. Foryou.”

He liked tormenting her. And she loved that he did. He wanted to slowly take her apart. She wanted him to hurry and do it. Slowly.

“I’m waiting,” he murmured.

She fought with herself and her words. “I think you know why, you know what this… bond does.”

“I have some ideas.” He held out his hand, palm up. “Tell me while you hold my hand.”

She sputtered out several gasps and looked around. “Shouldn’t we go before they close?”

“We have an hour still.” He flicked his fingers, beckoning for her hand.

She slammed it down on his palm with a huff then closed her eyes as his hot fingers closed over hers. Sogently.

“You’re panting more now.”