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“Youhave to admit the situation looked bad,” she said. “Andyou do have a certain reputation.ButnowI’mglad we’ve gotten everything out in the open.”

Hadhis eyes darted?

“Rök?”

“C’mere.”Hereached for her. “You’vepicked up a spiderweb.”Heteased it out of her hair until her lids went heavy, her own irritation melting away.

Thoughshe’d steeled herself against his charisma and effortless charm, this tenderness might prove her undoing.

“Ineed to focus on keeping you safe.”Hebrushed his knuckles along her jawline. “ButwhenI’vedelivered you from this place,I’mgoing to make love to you.”

Hisconfidence shouldn’t bethatsexy. “Yousound sure of yourself.”

“Donedeal.”Hisgaze gleamed with anticipation.

Maybethat was exactly what needed to happen.Shecould enjoy him, getting him out of her system.Shewouldn’t become a swimbo—because she would never summon him again.

Thudthud thud.Thatsound broke the moment forPoppy. “Moremood music.”

Heglowered in that direction. “Timeto push on, huh?”Whenshe nodded, he took her hand in his, and they continued deeper into the lab.

WasPoppyhis fated one?Stilldoubtful.ButRökwastrying.Andhe did care about her.

Expectationfilled her, changing her entire outlook.Thisthreatening place didn’t bother her.Thepast didn’t bother her.Theywould find a way out of this lab, break the curse, then enjoy each other.

Forjust one night.

Buoyedby that knowledge, her steps were lighter, her lips curving on their own.

Readingher thoughts once more, he said, “Everythingis prelude again, isn’t it?”

They’dreached the curtain, prompting her to remind him, “Ifwe survive.”

“Themotivation of all motivations.”Hedrew the cloth back, revealing steps to a platform.Chuckingher under the chin, he started up.

Asthey climbed, she murmured, “We’rein deep.”

“Heardit’s the only way to swim,” he murmured back. “Juststay frosty.”

“Ah-firmative.”

Atopthe platform stood what looked like an old transformer, with voltage meters and levers.Positionedbeside it was a stainless steel table.Metalrestraints jutted from it like ribs, but they’d been wrenched open.

Röktested one of the restraints. “Nomean feat to break these.Thatwizard must’ve thoughtFrankensteinwas a how-to manual—and he actually brought something to life, something strong.How’dhe do it?Electricityand magic?”

Shenodded. “You’dbe amazed at what those two elements can do.Talkabout a haunted house with a history.”

“Thenwhere’s the subject?Wasthat its blood on the door?”Theunspoken question:Isit inside with us?

“Itcan’t still be alive, right?It’sbeen locked in here for potentially decades.There’sno food.Eventhe spiders and rats all died out.”

“Noneof this is in my wheelhouse.”

SheandRökedged past the gurney.Behindit sprawled a decapitated corpse in a bloodstained lab coat.Thesevered head lay nearby.Whitehair covered the scalp, the gnarled face frozen in a macabre scream.

Poppysaid, “Meetthe castle’s owner.”

“Andmore.”Rökpointed to a long, lumpen form not far away on the platform. “Thatwas the subject.”