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“Fuck you,” I grumble, whacking his chest with my free hand, but he doesn’t flinch. Instead, he presses my palm against his chest with his own. His eyes soften as he steps in closer and looks down at me.

“That’s what I think it is, too, but I won’t let that happen.” It feels like a promise—one I’m not sure he will keep.

“Why not? It would make both of our lives easier,” I breathe, reminding myself just as much as him that he’s not supposed to be claimed by me, a fae.

“Says who?” he rasps, and I feel a slight jolt to his heartbeat beneath my palm.

“Says me.”

“And you seriously believe that?” he pushes, eliminating the minuscule distance that remains between us. His hand releases mine at his chest to cup my cheek, crowding my space as my mouth opens and shuts, but nothing comes out. “Because I think you like it just as much as I do.”

“I don’t,” I stumble, shaking my head, but the words fall flat between us.

“If that were true, I wouldn’t be standing in here right now. The ward would be separating us.” Fucker. He knows he’s right, and I hate it. Even as I mentally yell for him to get out, the magic doesn’t react because they’re not true thoughts. “Coming with me is more for yourself than it is for me,” he adds, his thumb trailing over my bottom lip, making my throat dry up.

“I highly doubt that.” My pulse is thumping so hard, I feel like it’s vibrating my whole damn skull as I peer up at him.

For the first time since he stepped in here, he releases my hand and I flex my fingers to ease the growing ache, but it’s quickly forgotten when his hand moves to cup my pussy over my combat pants.

I bite back a moan, hating how fucking good it feels when he does that.

“Come to the party with me, Addi. I’ll protect you and make it worth your while.” Now that is definitely a promise. I don’t believe he’ll protect me. I never believe that from anyone. Somewhere along the way, someone always lets me down. It’s not always intentional, but it happens all the same. Which is why it is definitely safer to keep everyone at arm’s length. It’s been a long time since I let anyone in, other than my sister and father, and I prefer the isolation.

I know my presence is going to be necessary because he’s right, I don’t want to call his father’s bluff. Not when I can see the uncertainty swirling in his eyes. Besides, I don’t back away from shit like this. At least this time, I’ll have a few days to prepare for a duel.

With my mind made up, I press my pussy against his grip, watching his eyes flare with desire.

“Do I get to request payment in advance?”

He grins. It’s so delicious I almost forget how much of an asshole he is. He leans in close enough for his lips to brush against mine as he speaks. “So fucking needy. It’s hot. But no, we have breakfast and classes to get to, remember?”

“Ass,” I bite, hating him throwing my words back at me.

“Say yes.” The trail of his lips against mine makes my whole body tremble. “It’s for your safety, that much I can promise you.”

“Fine,” I rasp, and he grins wider.

“Good girl.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue tell him to go fuck himself with his good girl appraisals, but he cuts me off by crushing his lips against mine.

I give in, fighting for power between us as our lips collide and our tongues dance together. He presses his palm against my pussy, making me gasp as my back arches while bringing his other hand from my cheek to my throat.

He devours me, leaving me pent up and wanting before taking a brisk step back.

The distance between us is suddenly too much, but it does the trick of bringing me to the present.

“Let’s go, Alpha,” he mutters, dark eyes set on me as he backs away toward the door. It seems I’m not the only one struggling to part ways right now. But it’s for the best.

Clearing my throat, I straighten my cloak and head for the door. “Why do you keep calling me that?” I ask, unable to stop myself. He’s said it twice now. Alpha. In a pack, that’s your leader, and that’s not what I am.

“Because I see what you are,” he admits, reaching for the handle and waving for me to step through the doorway first.

“Which is what?” I ask, my heart racing in my chest.

“Capable of being anyone and anything you believe. You have the alpha spirit in your bones. A strength and power that is undeniable. Either that, or you just have me so captivated that I would follow you to the pits of Hell without a care for anyone or anything but you.”

FORTY-TWO