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But hadn’t Soleil herself had a similar thought? Hadn’t she worried she couldn’t compare to the other woman the second he saw her again? Wasn’t there a small part of her that believed he’d take one look at Deni and ask,“Soleil, who?”

“Wear this.”Deni’s mother handed her a small vial of what appeared to be perfume.“It’s charmed.”

“I can lure him on my own,”Deni snapped.“He bought me an engagement ring, for fuck’s sake.”

“Tone, Denillia.”

“I apologize.”But her cold brown eyes said differently.

The mother-daughter duo’s tension practically crackled in the air, and Soleil hoped to use it to her advantage.Ifshe could drive a wedge between the women, she might stand a chance of surviving.

The bold blonde’s beady gaze landed on her.“Does she know?”

“No. From what I can tell,she’snothing but a bimbo.CertainlyTrevor can’t see anything worthwhile in her. She’s a chunk, dirty three-quarters of the day, and cluelessas tohow he’s using her.”

Soleil desperately wanted to take exception to Deni’s criticism and tell that human menstrual cramp to eat shit and die, but for now, she needed to play along. Maybe they’d underestimate her one too many times, and she’d find a way to turn the tables.

A large, invisible hand squeezed her shoulder, and she almostcame out ofher bonds.

“You’re not a bimbo, Dalli, and your body is perfect,”Trevor growled through their connection.

The cavalry had arrived.

Soleil closed her eyes against the threatening tears. Yes, she was relieved he was here, but she hadn’t realized how much it hurt tobe disparagedin front of him. He’d heard and was trying to make her feel better, which somehow made it worse.

“Not as perfect as hers,”she said as casually as she could.

“Meh.She’sscrawny. I’ve had better.”

She barely managed to suppress a laugh. It was no wonder she lovedhim.

“I love you, too, Dalli. Hold on to that knowledge, and don’t forget it as this plays out, okay?”

“You know something I don’t?”

“Yes.”

She waited, but he didn’t share.“What took you so long to get here?”

“I’d have been here hours ago, but the Aether slipped me a magical Mickey. I had to fight the effects.”

“Damian did that?”

“To calm me down, I think.”His fingers tightened.“I was out of my mind when I found out youwere abducted.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was going.”How did she say she took off because she felt insecure since Fintan told her not to trust Trevor?

“He did what?!”

Having forgotten to cloak her thoughts, she winced and sucked in a breath as Trevor’s outraged voice echoed in her head. Unfortunately, her action caught the attention of the women.

“Why did you do that?”Deni demanded, striding forward and double-checking her ties.

Soleil said the first thing that came to mind.“I have to go to the bathroom. I’ve been holding it forever, and I can’t anymore.”

It wasn’t necessarily untrue.She’dbeen sitting for hours, and nature was banging on the door of her bladder.

“Too bad.”