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He gestured almost lazily, and Xavier's remaining men simply...left. Not running, not fighting, just walking away with blank expressions as if they'd suddenly remembered urgent appointments elsewhere.

"Compulsion," my mother breathed, recognition and fear warring in her voice.

"Vampiric persuasion," Gluttony corrected gently. "Though I prefer to think of it as...aggressive suggestion."

Lust released Xavier, who collapsed to his knees gasping. The alpha looked around wildly, realizing for the first time that he was completely outmatched.

"You can't do this," my mother said, her composure finally cracking. "She's bound by sacred contracts. The coven's survival depends on–"

"The coven's survival," Pride interrupted, "depends on you finding a new plan. Because Hazel Blackwood is dead, and Juniper Grey owes you nothing."

"She's still my daughter!"

"Is she?" Gluttony drew nearer, and even the streetlights seemed to dim in response to his presence. "Because from where I stand, I see a woman who was murdered for trying to escape the life you forced on her. A woman who clawed her way out of her own grave to build something new."

His pale eyes fixed on my mother with predatory intensity. "A woman who is now under our protection."

"You can't–" Xavier started to say, struggling to his feet.

"Can't what?" Envy appeared behind him, moving with that unnatural silence. "Can't protect someone from her murderer? Can't ensure she's safe from people who view her as property?"

Xavier spun around, and I saw something that looked like genuine fear in his eyes for the first time. "I didn't murder anyone. She's standing right there!"

"Breathing," Pride agreed. "But not because of any kindness on your part."

The crimson energy that had been building in my chest throughout this confrontation suddenly flared brighter, visible to me if no one else. But the sins...they all turned to look at me at the same time, as if they could sense it.

"She's unstable," Lust murmured, and there was concern in his voice. "The emotional trauma, combined with the magickal confrontation..."

"Get her out of here," Gluttony ordered. "Now."

But Xavier wasn't done. As the sins focused on me, he made his move–lunging not for me, but for the nearest escape route. His werewolf speed carried him past the fountain and toward the street before any of them could react.

"Let him go," Pride said when Envy started to give chase. "We know where to find him."

“No,” I grit out, unable to stop the pressure in my chest, and no longer caring what the consequences were. Ever since the incident with Lust—and the others—my body felt like an overcharged battery, sparking and sizzling with too much power.

“Juniper?” Lust asked. “What–”

Hot magic spiked in the air, standing the hairs on my arms up and freezing me. It was familiar magic, and yet not. What was going on?

Xavier felt it too. He tried to bolt, but Envy and Greed grabbed him, twin shit-eating grins on their faces.

Panic twisted Xavier’s features as Greed twisted one of his arms behind his back.

“Haz …? Help me?”

How dare he.How dare he.

Had he stopped when I’d begged for mercy? Had he stopped when his hands had choked the life from me?

It was too much.

His pathetic groveling.

My mother’s smug superiority.

Something inside of me broke.