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Amari’s head jerks to the side with the impact. He brings his palm to his cheek, but instead of anger, he laughs—a low, deep chuckle that suggests he enjoyed it.

“You are a fucking asshole!” I snarl, clutching my bag to my chest and storming out of the store, desperate to get away from him, from all of them.

My mind spins as I push through shoppers on the sidewalk.

Why am I letting this vampire get to me?

I’ve dealt with prejudice and whispers and rejection my entire existence.

I’ve been called everything from freak to monster.

But somehow, Amari’s words cut deeper than any of that.

His mockery of my date, of my worth—it stings in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

I feel the familiar pressure behind my eyes, the burn of unshed tears. I refuse to cry over this. Not over him. Not over the opinions of someone who doesn’t even know me. Someone who’s only here temporarily and will be gone in a week, back to his fancy corporate vampire life.

I look back at the retail store, hoping to get as far away from Damon and Amari as possible.

What the fuck is he doing on Wintermoon anyway?

Doesn’t he belong with the other vampires on King Amir’s Island?

I mean, there are a few nomad vampires on the Community Lands, but they keep to themselves.

Someone as high-esteemed as his smug asshole self surely wouldn’t be caught dead here with a bunch of regulars.

I groan when I look forward again and see Amari standing right in front of me. I nearly bump right into him, but I stop just in time. He’s got his hands stuffed in the pockets of his pants, staring down at me looking maddeningly handsome. Ugh, I cannot fucking stand how attracted I am to him.

“Get out of my way,” I snap. I start to move around him, but he just slides over, blocking my path, grinning.

“I apologize for my rudeness back there,” he says, and I stare at him like he’s lost his damn mind.

“You’ve made your point, Amari. You humiliated me in that store and basically said I’m undatable. So what? That’s not enough?” I say, and he falls silent, clearing his throat, then nervously adjusting his tie. Wait, what? Please don’t tell me he’s nervous. This is a fucking joke.

“I was not implying that,” he says, and I just give him a sarcastic smile and roll my eyes at him.

“Okay, fine. Can I go now? I’m not due at the station for another three hours, and I’d like some time to myself.

” I mutter, glaring at him. He just stares at me.

I do not understand this vampire. One minute, he’s practically calling me a slut, now he’s looking at me like.

.. I can’t even put the words together. The way his eyes stare into mine, it’s like there’s a longing there.

Maybe he misses Kemnebi. I haven’t seen him or Moria since they connected.

They’re probably off in a cave somewhere making up for lost time.

We won’t see them until they’ve gotten their honeymoon phase out of their system.

“I haven’t seen Kemnebi or Moria. I miss them too,” I say, but he just keeps staring at me. I let my hands fall to my sides in exasperation, sighing heavily. He doesn’t appear to want to leave me alone. I should just let him apologize. But he’s an asshole. It makes me so mad.

“I am truly sorry for my actions, Carla,” he finally says.

“I shouldn’t have slapped you,” I say back in a murmur. He grins, and here we go again. He shrugs, smoothing his hand over his perfectly cut beard.

“I didn’t mind it,” he says. Oh my god, is he flirting with me?

I scoff and start to walk around him. He follows me, and I look back to see where Damon is.

Nowhere to be found. He’s probably reprimanding Melissa for being prejudiced toward me, which is good because I’m tired of it.

Damon is by the book; he doesn’t put up with this behavior, especially when he catches it.

“What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn’t you be on King Amir’s Island?” I question, keeping my head forward.

He keeps pace with me. “I’m not a fan of the Master Coven, and Damon was generous enough to give me a tour of Wintermoon.”

I force a grin at him, but we both know I don’t mean it.

“This date you’re going on...” he starts, but I just stop walking and glare at him. What the fuck does he care?

“I am not talking to you about my personal business, so you can just stop right there,” I tell him. Then I start walking, leaving him where he stands. He doesn’t follow me this time.

“There’s something off about his scent,” he says, and I pause immediately. Did Damon put that into his head? That asshole, I am going to...

“He’s masking it with his arachnids. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but I’m going to find out. And you shouldn’t be going on that date alone.” I turn around to give him a piece of my mind, but as soon as I turn around, he’s gone again with that vampire speed of his.

Oh fuck no, he’s not chaperoning me on that date.

Goddamnit!

I pause for a moment, gripping my shopping bag so tightly that my knuckles burn with tension. A whirlwind of angry thoughts floods my mind, each one imagining inventive ways to make a vampire pay.