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I could explain this. I could tell him that Rexton has never laid a finger on me and has been nothing but clinical, but I don’t care to. I’m an adult, and I’m under no obligation to explain my romantic and sexual life to my father.

“Get out,” Rexton repeats. “Cassia has this handled. You’re not needed here.”

He has guts to speak to my father in such a manner. I’ll give him that.

Aziel’s power fills the space, threatening to overpower Rexton’s. The warm hand on my back vanishes as Rexton straightens up, but he doesn’t leave my side.

“My daughter can speak for herself.”

“Get out,” I repeat Rexton’s words, but they lack authority. I’m too exhausted to force it. “I have this handled. You’re not needed here.” Nothing in the room changes. I sigh. “Please leave, Dad.” I’m begging. “Don’t ruin this for me.”

Finally, after another excruciatingly long wait, Aziel vanishes. The air lightens the moment he’s gone, and Rexton silently resumes washing my back.

“You shouldn’t have spoken to him like that,” I say.

Rexton moves to my front, beginning to clean my chest. I realize immediately why he said he’d do this last. The washcloth is burning fire against my wound, and even the slightest bit of pressure against my ribcage has me fighting back tears.

I sag forward when he finally finishes.

“I didn’t enjoy that,” I say.

Rexton winces. “I’m sorry.”

He reaches over me, draping the cloth over the tub’s edge. He’s been beyond kind to me today, and it’s confusing. People aren’t friendly to me, not without reason, and especially not after I’ve treated them the way I’ve treated Rexton. I don’t understand it.

Is this some trick? Did he really mean what he said earlier?

I hum, leaning forward.

My lips find the side of Rexton’s neck. They find the spot where demons place mating marks. It’s an intimate location, one most demons avoid, but I’m not most demons. I breathe in Rexton’s scent, imprinting it to memory as I drag my tongue up the side of his throat.

He stills, drawing in a shaky breath.

“Cassia…”

His skin is salty. I like it. I want more of it.

I dart forward, sinking my teeth into the muscle separating his shoulder and neck. I haven’t broken Rexton’s skin, but I could. It would be easy.

Rexton’s in a vulnerable position, one he has no control over. This ismydecision. I have his skin between my teeth, and all it would take is one purposeful bite to bond him to me. I could make him mine. I could own him.

I hold him in place, enjoying the power it gives me.

“Cassia.” Rexton gulps, his throat bobbing. I feel it against my lips. “If you’re going to mark me, get it over with. The angle you have me at is uncomfortable.”

The corners of my lips twitch of their own accord, and I lick the warm skin between my teeth one final time before releasing Rexton. He straightens up, his narrowed, black eyes meeting mine. His expression is unreadable.

“Not today,” I say.

Rexton nods. Would he have let me bite him? I suppose he didn’t have a choice.

Why doesn’t he look angry? He should be furious. Most people would be. They’d have broken my jaw and forcibly removed my teeth from their skin.

“Let’s get you dressed and into bed.”

Rexton helps me out of the tub, and I stand in the center of the tent like a wet dog as he runs a towel over my frame and helps me slip into dry clothes. He turns away while I change my underwear, but when I stumble over my feet, he curses and does it for me.

“Don’t be so pissy,” I snap. “I didn’t ask you to help me bathe, and I sure as fuck am not forcing you to be here.”