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Lucy leans back against the couch. “Should I ask him?”

Coraline’s jaw clenches. “He shouldn’t be bothered with something so trivial. He put me in charge of?—”

“Should I mention that, too?” Lucy asks. “That you ordered Ava out of the room because he gave you the power to do it?”

Twin strips of pink appear on Coraline’s high cheekbones. “Never mind.”

“No, it’s okay,” I say, closing my laptop. “I’ll go study in my room. I’m hardly getting anything done in here anyway.”

“Stop your performance.” Coraline’s voice is ice. “It won’t impress Damian, trust me.”

My whole body stiffens. “Excuse me?”

Her jaw ticks. “I know exactly what you’re doing. Pretending to be naive and sweet, thinking it will bring out his protective instincts. Do you think no one has ever tried it before?”

“I’m not pretending to be anything. Just because you’re obsessed with Damian, doesn’t mean everyone else is.”

She smirks. “Another game I’ve seen a million times. Pretending like you’re the only one who isn’t interested in him, thinking it will make him want you more.”

I groan. “Coraline, I’m not like you. I don’t build my identity around men. I don’t let their interest in me determine my value. I’ve always found that…pathetic.”

As soon as the words are out, I want to bite them back in.

What a cruel thing to say. For all I know, Coraline was forced into this life like I was.

And it’s not even true. Iamlike her. I’m just like all of these women, and I was pompous and naive to think otherwise.

Coraline’s face grows at first white and then red. In a snap, her hand flashes in front of my face. I hear a cracking sound at first, and then my cheek starts to sting.

“Oh shit,” Lucy mutters.

My eyes mist over, and a tear falls. Coraline stares at me with her eyes wide and lips parted. She seems just as baffled by her own behavior as I am.

“Coraline, that was really bad,” Lucy says. “Ava’s going to have your handprint on her face. And everyone saw you do it…”

It’s only then that I recognize the quiet in the room and the rapt expressions on all the girls’ faces. Some of them look almost gleeful.

“I’m sorry—” Coraline flinches. “Ava, let me get you some ice?—”

“No,” Lucy says. “Let me do it. Coraline, you need to keep a low profile.” She turns to me. “Let’s go, and hope to God Damian doesn’t find out about this.”

18

Damian

Euphoria is pumping through my veins like a drug.

It’s time to start offering my affection—warmth, kisses, and lavish gifts. Her room is ready now. Decorated just for her. In a few minutes, I’ll present it to her. Along with everything else I’ve been aching to give her.

She fears me enough now, and her complicity shows it. She’s followed the rules perfectly these past two weeks. Her only show of defiance has been banging on my office door demanding her phone.

“I need to see the dictator,” she told Hunter in that adorably indignant voice of hers.

It’s good. It’s a sign that she misses me.

Everything is going according to plan. I only wish I felt better about Kane. He’s been silent. Oddly silent.

If he weren’t plotting something, he’d be making his resentment known, loudly and often. That’s always been his nature. He’s as transparent as he is volatile.