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I lunged at her, my body rippling and reforming mid-leap.

Flesh and bone twisted, reshaped, until it was my panthera form that slammed into Arisya—half-human, half-cat, an indigo blur of speed and deadly grace.

She met me head-on, her own body limned in flickering witchlight.

We collided in a maelstrom of slashing claws and whirling shadows.

I swiped at her, seeking to unbalance her, to find an opening.

But Arisya moved like quicksilver, always a hairsbreadth ahead.

She dodged and wove around my attacks, her magic a stinging lash against my hide.

“Losing your edge, Kae,” she taunted, dancing just out of reach.

“Getting slow in your old age?”

I snarled, baring fangs.

Arisya had always been fast, but this—this was something else.

She was toying with me.

The realization was a barbed sting in my chest.

In my ear, I heard Ryn suck in a sharp breath.

“Careful, Kae. Her power levels are spiking like crazy. She’s not holding back.”

Distantly, I wondered why Arisya wasn’t pressing her advantage.

She could have ended this a dozen times over.

Instead, it almost seemed like she was .

.

.

stalling.

Buying time.

But I couldn’t afford to ponder her motives.

Not with the grimoire still singing its siren song from across the room.

I feinted left, then launched myself at her exposed flank.

At the last second, Arisya twisted away—but not before my claws scored a glancing blow, drawing blood.

Her hiss of pain was gratifying.

The answering crack of her magic, less so.

It slammed into me like a battering ram, sending me tumbling end over end.

I hit the far wall hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs.

Arisya stalked closer, all lethal poise and blazing eyes.

I hauled myself up on trembling limbs, shaking off the dizziness.

No more playing around.

No more distractions.

I gathered the dregs of my strength, tensed .

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And sprang straight for the unguarded grimoire.

My fingers closed around the ancient tome just as Arisya’s spell crackled past my ear, singeing fur.

I didn’t hesitate.

In one fluid motion, I wove the grimoire into the thieve’s pouch that Ryn had devised for me.

It vanished without a trace, the protective enchantments around it undisturbed.

Triumph surged through me, hot and bright.

I whirled to face Arisya, a savage grin splitting my face.

“Too late,” I purred.

“It’s done.”

To my surprise, she merely laughed.

The sound was rich and dark, sending shivers down my spine.

“You think I care about that?” Arisya asked, pacing a slow circle around me.

Her movements were hypnotic, graceful.

Predatory.

Confusion knotted my brow.

“Of course you do. You’ve always been such a goody-goody kiss ass.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue, echoes of old hurts.

“When push came to shove, you wanted the prestige of all this.” I waved a hand at the luxe accommodations surrounding us.

“The prestige of being a magic wielder. And for what?”

My chest heaved with the force of my emotions.

I could feel the old anger sparking to life, the sense of betrayal that had never really faded.

“What now, Arisya? Are you going to truss me up like a good little prisoner for your overseers?”

She halted her pacing, so close I could feel the heat of her body.

The scent of night-blooming jasmine and ozone filled my nose.

“Oh, Kaelen,” she murmured, and there was a wealth of unspoken things in the way she shaped my name.

“You still don’t understand, do you?”

I swallowed hard, my mouth went suddenly dry.

“Understand what?”

Arisya’s smile was a slash of crimson, her eyes gleaming with secrets.

She leaned in until her lips brushed the fur of my ear.

“You were never my prisoner,” she breathed.

“You were always my prize.”

“What do you mean, your prize?” My voice came out rough, unsteady.

I hated how she could still affect me like this, even after all this time.

Arisya’s fingers trailed down my arm, leaving sparks of sensation in their wake.

“Why do you think I let you get this far? Let you believe you’d bested me?” Her laugh was low, throaty.

It sent shivers down my spine.

“I wanted to see that fire in your eyes again. That passion. I wanted you to remember what it felt like to want something so badly you’d risk everything for it.”

I stared at her, my heart pounding in my ears.

“And what is it that you want, Arisya?”

She pressed closer, her body a long line of heat against mine.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Her hand came up to cup my face, her thumb stroking along my jaw.

“I want you, Kaelen. I’ve always wanted you.”

“Kae? Kae, what’s going on?” Ryn’s voice crackled in my ear, sharp with concern.

“Your vitals are going crazy. Did she spell you?”

I swallowed hard, trying to focus past the haze of desire that clouded my mind.

“No,” I managed.

“Not with magic, anyway.”

Arisya’s smile widened, triumphant.

“You see? You feel it too. This thing between us, it’s stronger than any enchantment. Stronger than any vow or allegiance.” Her fingers tightened on my face, holding me captive.

“Stop fighting it, Kaelen. Stop fighting me.”

I wanted to.

Gods, how I wanted to.

But some stubborn, prideful part of me couldn’t let go.

Couldn’t let her win.

“I won’t be your plaything,” I gritted out.

“I won’t let you use me and toss me aside again.”

Something flashed in her eyes, too quick to catch.

“Oh, my love,” she murmured.

“You have it all wrong.” And then she was kissing me, her lips soft and demanding against my own.

I made a sound, half-protest, half-surrender, and then I was kissing her back, pouring all my frustration and longing into the press of my mouth on hers.

Her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging me closer, and I growled low in my throat, my hands coming up to grip her waist.

She walked me backwards, never breaking the kiss, until I felt the tingle of the wards against my back.

Too late, I remembered the trap she’d laid, the devil’s snare that now twined around my limbs, holding me fast.

Arisya pulled back, her eyes dark and hungry on mine.

“Got you,” she purred.

The snare tightened around me, as the world began to fade into shadow.