Page 34 of Demon Heart: The Complete Series

XAVIER

T he rain soaked me through in no time, my clothes and hair soggy. I reached an alleyway mere feet away from Roman’s flat.

Leaning against the wall, water sluicing across the bricks from overflowing drainpipes, regret thrummed through my bones.

What was I doing?

I knew exactly what—finally correcting a mistake. This entire time spent with Roman only added fuel to my shame. I didn’t want these flushes within, this fascination, these silly notions of exploring a fragile connection.

This had to end now.

The shame sizzled too fiercely. Cowering with a witch, hiding from Tanith. That wasn’t me. I was Xavier, a force far greater than her and her new human friends. They should be on their knees in my presence, trembling in fear of my power. Not this. Not this gross twist of circumstances.

Not this growing obsession with a witch.

I had to reset my mind. Stop Tanith. Be Xavier again. Cease being the puppy dog in the glow of warm, amber eyes.

Only, Tanith had the upper hand. She kept her secrets close. She held all the power.

And Roman’s eyes were but one of his many traits binding me to him.

Break them.

Be free of this.