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“You’re too unstable, Salem. I’m sorry, but The Assassins’ Academy has decided to indefinitely cancel your employment here. Don’t bother to try and appeal again.”

The words replay in my mind as I walk over to Peach’s Bakery. I need to cheer myself up after hearing that I won’t be given any assignments again.

Ever.

Which separates me from my triplet brothers, leaving me the odd one out. They’re on an assignment right now, and I fear missing out.

It fucking sucks.

Killing is the only thing I’m good at, and I’m going to be doing it whether or not they pay me. Why can’t they see that?

In fact, I almost killed the director who told me the news. The only reason I didn’t is because I knew that Sage and Silver would be pissed.

I’m different than my siblings.

I don’t feel remorse often, and I don’t care about people outside of my circle. Which is pretty much only my brothers and sister. Everyone else can get fucked.

Opening the door to the bakery, I close my eyes as the sweet smell of sugar hits my nose. The bakery is huge with rows and rows of treats just waiting for me to eat. My brothers have been going on about this place, and I, of course, had to come and check it out for myself. We are known for our sweet-tooths.

I stop when I see a strawberry cheesecake, my favorite, but I’d almost be betraying my sister by eating them from here. She makes them for me, and it’s our thing. She doesn’t need to know about the one I ate when I was in the Mermaid Kingdom.

Fuck. When it comes to desserts, it’s hard to be loyal.

A cherry one catches my eye, and I’m about to call out when a woman steps out from the back.

Not just any woman.

My woman.

My mate .

The pull to her is unlike anything I’ve ever felt, the magic sizzling between us.

She’s a shifter with long red hair, green eyes, and the cutest splatter of freckles on her nose. She has a curvy body that I won’t have to be careful with when I fuck her and heart-shaped lips that I want to see wrapped around my cock.

She’s fucking phenomenal.

And she’s the best baker in the kingdom.

And I love to fucking eat.

I’ll start with her little pussy, and then move to one of those little cherry cheesecakes.

“Peach?” I rasp, and she nods, swallowing hard.

“You’re my… my mate?” she asks, brows pulling together. She steps around the counter and walks over to me, reaching up to touch my face. “Who are you?”

“Salem,” I tell her, kissing her fingers before sucking one into my mouth.

Too soon? I’m not known for being subtle.

“Salem?”

I nod, licking my lips.

Fuck, I like my name on her mouth.

I want her mouth somewhere else.

Her brows raise. She must recognize my name because she steps back from me.

I don’t like it.

“Please leave, Salem,” she whispers, and I frown.

“Why, what’s wrong?” I ask.

My mate is rejecting me?

“You tortured my brother. You don’t remember?” she asks, her beautiful eyes filling with tears.

Before I can admit I don’t know who her brother is, and she’s going to need to be more specific because I’ve tortured more people than I can remember, she zips away, leaving her business trying to get away from me.

Shrugging, I help myself to the cherry cheesecake.

She’s coming home with me whether she wants to or not.

Because one thing about me?

I like the chase.

And the cheesecake?

Fucking perfect.

Continue in… Dark Obsession , releasing on November 28, 2025.