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“Why?” he repeats, the confusion clear in his eyes.

“Why offer that?”

He stares at me for a moment before he sighs. “Because you’re spoiling my Friday vibe, and by the time we’re done for the weekend, I won’t even want to come anywhere near your room again. One and done, remember?”

He still thinks he’s getting a piece of me this weekend. He’s mistaken, but if it gets me a stronger ward, the illusion that he might could work in my favor.

My lips purse as I consider his offer, but my thoughts are interrupted by the sound of laughter echoing up the stairs, followed moments later by Flora and Arlo. He’s tickling her waist, making her squeal, and my heart clenches at how carefree they are. I wonder what that would feel like.

I know it’s not something I will ever feel, not with the path life has set out for me. I’ll either die trying to reach my goal or claim what is rightfully mine, destined to be on alert and guarded for as long as I live.

It’s a decision I’m fine with until there’s a small break in the clouds, just like now.

“Oh, hey, Addi. We were just coming to find you,” Flora states, stepping out of Arlo’s grasp as she approaches.

“Find me?” I ask, pretending the mage before me doesn’t exist, but he seems to have different ideas.

“She’s busy. On a date.”

Flora’s eyes widen and amusement ticks the corner of her mouth up.

“Oh, for her birthday?” she asks sweetly, and I glare at her. She knows exactly what she’s doing.

“Her birthday?” Brody asks, lifting his hand from my door to scrub his chin.

“Yeah.” She points to the plaque on the door that reads my name and date of birth. She’s dead. So, so, dead for this.

“Well, well, well. Would you look at that? Get yourself ready, Cupcake. You’re in for a birthday treat. And you already know what my gift is.”

He’s either referring to his dick, which I definitely won’t be accepting, or the stronger ward. The latter is the perfect gift. With my mind settled on that, I take a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I nod.

Fuck it. Here goes nothing.

EIGHTEEN

BRODY

I’ve never been patient. It’s not a trait that has ever been bestowed upon me, but it seems waiting for Addi is an exception. Leaning back against the wall opposite her room, I tap my fingers on my arm as intrigue keeps me rooted to the spot.

There’s something about her. I don’t know what it is, but it has me tied up in knots.

I grin as I recall the look on her face when she opened the door. It’ll be etched in my memory forever. I knew she would think I wasn’t going to show. That was my plan; to catch her off guard, and it seems to have worked.

I really do need to get her out of my system. It’s driving me insane. The sooner I convince her that fucking me is a good idea, the quicker I’ll be able to think clearly again. She’s consuming every part of me, on a level higher than I’ve ever experienced, which will only make my release that much sweeter.

Her bedroom door opens, pulling me from my thoughts, but when only her head peers through the gap, I don’t get my hopes up that we’re ready to leave.

“Where are we going?”

I grin. I’ve been waiting for that question, and it’s taken her longer than expected to ask it. “Out.”

Her bright green eyes narrow at me. If she thinks it’s a stern look that will make me fall in line, she’s mistaken. It just makes her look hotter; a fact I opt to keep to myself. Otherwise, we’re never going to get out of here.

“That’s not enough to go on,” she grumbles, and I sigh, relenting…a little.

“What else do you need?”

“The location.”