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KAI

My eyes stay locked on her as she eats her salad while Bella has settled on the crook of her neck.

My snake doesn’t like anyone.

What the fuck is happening?

Either I’m completely mistaken, and Iris is actually a kind-hearted individual, or she’s simply excelling at playing her game.

And she did say she liked a good game.

I know I’m right. I feel it in my bones.

Even though I have to say that her encounter with Melanie quite surprised me.

I didn’t expect her to take the lead.

Another reason not to trust her.

Archer makes small talk while Elijah frowns when his phone vibrates.

“Excuse me.” He stands up and answers at the same time. “Logan, I believe I’ve made myself perfectly clear when it comes to these types of calls.”

His voice slowly dissipates, leaving behind an empty echo as he likely retreats into his office.

“So, Iris,” I start. “Archer told us you were working in a pub.”

“That’s correct.” Her brown eyes fixate on mine.

“How long have you been working there?” Standing up, I carefully gather the plates and carry them to the sink, where the sound of clinking dishes is soon accompanied by the ringing of Archer’s phone.

“Excuse me, I have to take this call.”

Archer quietly slips away, leaving Iris and me alone.

Maintaining eye contact, we steal a glance at each other, and a sly smile curls at the edge of her mouth.

“Nobody is here,” she sips her water with a smirk. “Feel free to stop asking questions you’re not interested in.”

“Oh, but I’m very interested in your life. More than you’ll ever know.” I lean back on the chair and cross my legs over each other.

“I bet you are.”

I stand up abruptly and walk towards her, feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I firmly grasp her chin, causing Bella to constrict her hold around Iris’ throat.

“Make one wrong move, and Bellatrix will ensure your breath disappears into thin air,” I warn.

My touch usually makes people uneasy, but not her. She glances at the spot where my pinky finger used to be, unfazed by its absence.

“Kale, your words turn me on more than anything.” I notice Bella’s body tightening her grip, and I can see Iris’s breath catching in her throat.

“What’s your game?” My grip doesn’t leave her jaw as mine tightens.

“I don’t have any.” She struggles to speak as Bella coils around her neck.

And I have to say, it’s a beautiful view.

Just seeing her face reddening and breath-deprived makes my dick twitch.

“Count your days before I discover it,” I spit out.

“You’ll have to trespass my rook for that.”

“We’re not in a fucking chess game, and you’re not the fucking queen of the game.” My anger is boiling in my veins, and her smirk doesn’t ease my state.

“Am I not?”

“What is happening here?” Archer comes behind us just as I release Iris’s jaw and extend my arm so Bellatrix can slide on it.

Iris coughs but maintains a smile. “We were just… getting to know each other.” She takes another sip of her water before standing up. “Thank you for dinner, Kale. But the show must go on.” She winks before standing up.

“I’ll accompany you,” Arch says, his eyes shooting me a dirty glare.

What can I say? He excels at sucking me off, but his judgement is terrible when he’s infatuated with a girl.

“See you soon, Iris,” I say her name with disdain, the words dripping with contempt, while Arch presses his hand against her back, and they both exit the kitchen.

I find myself alone with Bella as I pet her skin.

“You keep the house, girl. Daddy needs to keep an eye on someone.”