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Willow’s next moan was long and low, her hips shifting on the bed as she sucked at my wrist.

“That’s enough,” I said, pulling my arm back. She tried to hold on to it, tried to pull it back down to her. But there was risk in taking too much, in becoming addicted to it.

I couldn’t afford for her to need my blood to survive. That was a commitment I wasn’t interested in.

“Settle,” I said, letting my voice compel her to lie back down on the bed.

I wanted nothing more than to fulfill the craving consuming her body, to give her what I knew she so desperately desired. Especially after I’d left her wet and wanting the night before.

“Sleep, Willow,” I said instead, tucking hair back from her eye.

Panic filled her eyes for a moment before they started to drift closed. She shook her head, trying to fight the compulsion off.

“No. Please,” she begged as I ran gentle fingers over her forehead.

“Shhh,” I said, leaning forward to touch my lips to hers gently. “You will wake in a few hours. I promise, love.”

The whimper she released broke something inside of me. I’d kill the bitch for making her fear sleep.

As if her nightmares of Him weren’t bad enough.

* * *

Kairos stepped into the room, leading some of the other Vessels into my office. I pulled the door to my bedroom closed behind me, shutting Willow’s sleeping form off from prying eyes. He raised his brows at me as he caught a glimpse ofwhoslept in my bed, but he didn’t dare to voice the question.

“You summoned us?” Juliet asked, crossing her arms over her chest. From her position on the sofa, I had no doubt she’d gotten a good look at Willow and the way I’d covered her up carefully.

I moved to my liquor cabinet, pouring myself a tumbler of whiskey. “I’ve invokeddominium,” I said, holding Juliet’s stare.

She grinned, the feline expression on her face nothing but mischief. “On the Madizza girl?” she asked, pursing her lips when I glared at her.

“Yes,” I said, grinding my teeth. I hated to be predictable, but they knew as well as I did just how important a role she would play in the future of Crystal Hollow.

As the last of her bloodline, she would lead the next generation on the Tribunal, and if we could manage to get rid of the Covenant…

They’d need a new Queen.

Having her on our side would work to our advantage in the conflict that had been brewing for centuries.

“Right, so she’s off limits for the Reaping then,” Kairos said, grinning as he shoved his hands into his pockets. The memory of Willow touching him from the back seat was like a burning flame in my blood, making me want nothing more than to rip out his throat.

Even I knew that was probably irrational, since Willow had been the one to do the touching.

I’d put an end to that now that she had more of my blood in her.

“None of the witches are to know about it,” I said, taking a sip of my whiskey and watching their puzzled looks. I could understand it, because what was the point in making a claim of ownership over a witch if I didn’t want the world to know she was mine?

“Why not?” Juliet asked, stepping up and taking the drink from my hand. She tossed back a sip of her own, holding my stare as she handed it back.

“She likes to play games,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “And I want to watch her be the one to squirm for once.”

Juliet chuckled, shaking her head as she made her way back to the sofa. “This should be interesting.”

“Who wants to place bets on how long it takes for her to rip out his throat?” Kairos asked, looking at the other Vessels in the room. While Kairos and Juliet were my closest confidantes, the others were my people in the same way the witches belonged to the Covenant.

They were my responsibility, my duty. But where Susannah Madizza was more than willing to let hers die; I would do anything to protect mine.

Even risk the wrath of the little witchling waiting in my bed.