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“Is a tease,” Jax snapped. “If we find a cure for blood madness, then maybe . . .” Jax trailed off.

I smiled, absorbing the conversation. They wouldn’t know how pleased their words made me.

A scoff and then Tobias said, “There is no cure. We’ve already searched.”

My throat ached a bit. I frowned. Jax choked me! I thought it would be the last of me. My eyes flew open.

“Her pulse changed.” Tobias rubbed my jawline with his thumb.

“Give me a moment with her,” Jax said and his voice reverberated. I stiffened, jackknifing into a sitting position and scrambling back, dragging myself back until I hit the headboard.Where was I? Simple room, a plain, flat wooden headboard—Jax’s bedroom. I’d rarely been in here.

Jax snagged my ankle and dragged me toward him. I screamed and smacked at his chest.

“Asher,” I cried out. “Tobias.” I peeled my eyes over his shoulder, but they were gone and the door was shut. He dragged me to the middle of the bed.

“Shh, Kitten, I’m not going to hurt you.” He wrestled my arms together, binding me with one hand. I panted, thrashing. My chest heaved to the point that it was beginning to hurt.

I struggled to get away, but I couldn’t move an inch.

With his free hand, he clasped my face. He lowered slowly and pressed his lips to mine. I sucked in a breath, and he slid his tongue into my mouth. He flicked it against mine, coaxing me into a kiss. He was a really good kisser . . .

“No,” I gasped and yanked my head to the side.

“I fucking want you.”

“I dislike you.” I panted between words.

“I . . .” he paused and scowled. “I shouldn’t have . . .” he trailed off again. His eyebrows furrowed. “I am sorry.”

I went silent, studying his expression. I narrowed my eyes.

“Can you even feel apologetic?”

He hesitated.

“No.”

“Then why are you apologizing?”

“Tobias said humans respond well to apologies.”

The honesty. I snorted and shook my head.

“What I do know.” He paused. “I do not want you upset. I want you to seek me out. I do not want you to be disgusted by me. I want you to look at me how you look at my twin.” He took a breath, which told me more than anything how worked up he was.

“Look at me as you look at Asher.”

“You will never be Asher,” I snapped, aiming to hurt him.

He drew back slightly and something curiously looking like hurt flashed in his lapis eyes. It was replaced by anger.

“I’m going to fuck you,” he finally spat out.

I gasped, and his stubbornness flared my anger to the surface. He kept doing this angry bit and I was so tired of him.

“I’m going to fuck you,” I snapped right back and wrapped my arm around his neck, using him to drag myself up to kiss him hard. His hands became limp and gave me enough leeway to pull from his grip. I sank my fingers into his short hair, gripping the back of his head.

His fang nicked my lip. The taste of my blood slipped onto my tongue. I moaned, tipping my chin up and sliding my tongue deep into his mouth.