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Another knot loosened.

She averts her eyes, tipping her head down as the robe parts, but doesn’t fight me when I gently nudge it off her shoulders, sending it fluttering to the floor.

She’s stark naked beneath it.

I release a relieved breath when I see her bush is still intact, but my eyes instantly rise a few notches, landing on her belly. “I wonder how long it’ll be,” I say, brushing the backs of my knuckles over the flat of her belly, “until you get bigger.”

She wraps her arms around herself, shivering. “I wish it were over with.”

I don’t.

That’s what I think about as I fill the ancient porcelain tub. I want to see every second of her change. Every new inch. Each new curve. I’m already half hard by the time I open the bottle of mineral oil and turn to the steaming tub.

“Ready?” I ask, jerking my chin at the water.

She’s still standing in the middle of the bathroom, her bare shoulders a dejected curve. “I’ll just shave it off. Who cares?”

“I care,” I snap, thrusting a finger at the tub. “Get in.”

Snidely, she asks, “Why? Afraid I won’t be pretty for you anymore?”

“Get in,” I repeat, voice full of low warning, “or I’ll put you in.”

I only move one step before she growls, stomping her way to the tub. She jabs a foot into the water and then swings the other over the lip of the tub, dropping into the water with her full weight. It sloshes over the edge, splattering against the floor.

I release a whistle. “Goddamn, we havegotto have Lex run a DNA test between you and Wicker. You’re both such bratty little bitches sometimes.”

She hugs her knees, fists flexing. “Fuck you.”

“Exactly.” I kneel on the floor behind her, gathering up her hair. It’s tacky, not completely dry, which is probably good.

“Stella can do this,” Verity says, shoulder flinching inward when my fingers brush her skin. “And Danner could have brought me home. You don’t have to be here.”

“Let me give you some advice—”

“Why does everyone think I need advice all of a sudden?” she snaps, hugging her knees tighter.

I try to stroke my fingers through her hair, snagging. “Because you’re the Princess who accepted an invitation from your biggest enemies on April Fools’ Day.”

She goes abruptly still, and I don’t need to see her face to know she’s doing the math, realizing the date. Ultimately, she deflates, muttering, “They’re not my biggest enemies.”

“And Danner isn’t your biggest savior.” I grab the bottle of oil, thumbing the cap. “He’s old. He can’t protect you, and more importantly, he works for Father.”

“Danner’s always been nice to me,” she argues.

“That’s because Danner’s a nice guy.” I pour a generous stream of oil onto her hair, eyes dipping down to the mound of a perky breast. “A nice guy who helped Father put you on that throne. A really stand-up dude who guarded the door during our cleansing. A true fucking hero, always making sure the whips and dungeon are in top shape.”

She tries to twist, catching my gaze. “What are you saying?”

I wrench her head back straight, massaging the oil into the sticky locks. “Danner tries to do good within the narrow parameters he’s given, but he serves Father before all else. He won’t be loyal to you, or me, or even Wicker or Lex.” This time when my knuckles brush her shoulder, she doesn’t flinch away. “You should be careful about how much you show him.”

She appears to take this in as I work the oil through her hair, trying to separate the strands. Eventually, she shrugs, saying, “I think he’d protect me.”

“He’d protect our baby because it’s Father’s only priority right now. But you?” I scoff, eyeing the point of her soft knee. “You’re just a vessel, Verity. You’re disposable to all of them. Never forget that.”

“Like I am to you?” she asks, voice bitter.

It makes me pause, jaw clenching, because it’s been years now, and this girl still doesn’t get it. “Have you forgotten?” I ask, leaning forward to drag my lips against her ear. “I made you mine long before I wanted to put that baby in you.”