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Something inside of me fissures as I watch their backs disappear behind the dense of trees. No…he told me…I continue searching the perimeter of the Wood but he doesn’t reappear. My blood thrums. I can no longer hear the drums or mewling around me. This is a mistake. Has to be.

That fissure in me cracks further, splitting me wide. I can hear it. The groaning crunch as I break, my heart bursting in bitter agony as I spill out.

No, that’s not me breaking. It’s the dāemon unleashing itself at the ground. The cracking sound, the earth shredding under my feet.

I look around, panicked. No one is close enough to have spotted the splitting ground, but a few Magi have turned their heads in the direction of the sound. I step back, once, twice, bump right into a drink table. Glasses clink and wobble.

My body tremors right along with them. The dāemon unfurling in a fresh wave of agony that threatens to send me to my knees. It shatters one of the glasses and more heads turn my way.

I bolt for the Wood in the opposite direction. A couple is embraced against a tree and I sprint past them as the dāemon sears and slashes, shattering rocks and splintering branches. My lungs struggle to gulp in air as sobs tear up my throat. The dāemon leaves a path of destruction in my wake.

Someone’s going to see me. I breathe heavily as I clamp my will down around it, grunting as I reign the tides back in. Once I’m confident I’m alone, I settle my back against a tree, the bark rough against my bare skin. I swipe back the tears that have sprouted free, sniffling quietly.

I saw him.

He was coming to me .

And then…

This proves it. This thing between us…it's simply how he is with women he’s attracted to. He is attracted to me but that doesn’t appear to be an exceptional common-stance in the least.

Minutes pass, and my heartbreak gives way to anger. I peer around the dim Woods. What am I supposed to do now? My only option is to wait. Wait for him to be done. I cross my arms over my chest, trying to force that throbbing cavity to close, trying to will myself not to care. I knew how he was. He brought a woman back to his bed with me right there in the other room. I knew, I knew, I knew.

The worst part is I can still feel the henbane coaxing me to move. To find him. And do what? Watch him fuck some other woman? My vision hazes with the thought. The henbane affecting me hadn’t even been a possibility of the many disastrous scenarios I imagined would happen tonight. He said it had little to no effect. That idiot .

No, I’d only thought the henbane was calling us to each other. Now I realize how stupid I was to think that. The henbane calls based on magical compatibility. It wasn’t calling me to him at all. It’s simply an aphrodisiac like Sitri said. And I want him so badly I’d merely thought it felt like I was being pulled to him.

“Are you okay?”

I startle, peering around the clearing until I land on the Magi who’s posed the question. He strides forward, brows knitted over large, icy blue eyes. An expression of genuine concern. “Are you okay?” he repeats.

Every muscle in my body has gone tense with his closening proximity and I slowly unloosen them.“I…yes,” I say hoarsely.

His brows furrow even further. “It looked like you were crying.”

“Oh…I’m fine,” I mumble.

He’s doubtful, eyes assessing me. “I don’t think I’ve seen you here before. Is it your first year here?”

I release a breath in relief. He doesn’t recognize me. “Yes, first year,” I repeat heavily. He continues to move closer. “I…should probably go,” I say, pointing. “Thank you, though.” I turn to walk away, pleading that he won’t follow.

“Wait, you came here for a reason, did you not?”

I turn back around and wring my hands in front of me, suddenly far too aware of my nakedness. “I came here with someone.”

“Ah.” He runs his hand through tawny brown hair. He’s quite a bit smaller than Sitri, which I find altogether less intimidating. He has a boyish face, but he’s handsome enough. I make the mistake of allowing my eyes to wander down and quickly pull them back up. He appears amused by that. Shit . He searches the otherwise empty clearing. “And where did this someone disappear to?”

“They um…” I falter, emotions swelling with the real answer. I should lie. Tell him they’ll be right back.

“Let me guess…they became preoccupied with someone else?”

I find myself nodding, and it feels good to shred that truth to someone.

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” I murmur. He cleaves another step forward, and I cut one back.

Chuckling softly, he raises his hand in surrender. “No need to be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you.” His mouth twists into a frown as he studies me. “Actually, maybe I do know you from somewhere.”

I shake my head. “No, I—I don’t think so,” I stammer.

“What’s your name?”

“Eleanor,” I lie.

“Eleanor,” he repeats, reverently. “I’m Orion.” He slowly creeps forward and offers out a hand. I take his trepidly, before quickly clapping mine back to my side. “I think someone would have to be crazy to leave you behind.”

I know he wouldn’t be saying this if he knew who I was. What I am. He moves forward but I don’t step back this time as he reaches forward and lifts a lock of my hair. The action is forward but cautious, not unkind. He twists it between his fingers. “I like this glamour. It’s unusual.”

Despite the situation, I don’t feel threatened by him. Or maybe I can no longer bring myself to care what happens when the worst thing that could happen already has. “I could be a distraction for you to become preoccupied with,” he offers.

He really looks at me then, gaze trailing down unabashedly, and to my surprise, I feel a spark, a vicious glee. You have no idea…how fucking angry it makes me that other men are going to see you like this.

I still have this desperate pulse between my legs, and if Sitri’s going to find someone to satiate his fire, then I can too. But it’s not desire that spurs me forward. It’s my own violent madness. I’m practically giddy with it. I clamp my jaw tight to keep the manic laugh from bubbling up. “Alright,” I agree eagerly.

He flashes me a surprised, lopsided grin. He didn’t believe that I’d agree. He advances on me, hands wrapping my shoulders as he tugs me to him. My eyes drift shut as he leans forward and brushes his lips over mine.

I’ve never kissed anyone before. Outside the bloody one Sitri stole and I’d barely been cognizant for that. The kiss is soft, wet and warm but there’s no feeling in it. I move closer, place my hands on his arms and kiss him angrily. It only makes me feel more hollow. His hands sweep down my body, and I cringe, regret rising swiftly. His tongue forces its way into my mouth, and his hands clamp around my waist before they begin sweeping up, up, almost to my breasts. I don’t want to do this, after all.

I’m about to extract myself, apologize for my mistake and hope he takes it well when the air around us shifts and his body is ripped from my hands, leaving the space in front of me cold and empty. My eyes flash open and I gasp as his body crashes into the tree across from me and crumples limp and lifeless to the forest floor.

I already know who it is.

Can feel him lighting himself into every one of my veins, every pump of my blood. He stalks forward, fully dressed, violence rolling off his every step. My body jerks. Emotions rise up inside of me in quick succession. Relief, exhilaration, anger…desire. I hate myself for it. I hate him for it even more. For bringing me here, leading me on just to abandon me.

“Pandora—what—the—fuck!” I’ve never seen him so furious, voice shaking with the weight of his wrath. It feeds this sick, twisted feeling inside of me like logs, dry as bone to the licking flames. How does that feel, Sitri?

He comes to a halt a safe distance away, chest still heaving as his fists clench and unclench at his sides. I cross my arms over my breasts, muscles tensing as I fight back the desire compelling my body to go to him. His mouth opens and closes, a strangled sound pushing through his teeth as he struggles to form words. “What are you—do you—what—the— fuck, —pet,” he manages to get out, enunciating every syllable as he motions a jerky arm in the direction of the Magi’s unmoving body.

My eyes flicker over there, guilt dimming my fury as a sinking feeling of dread washes over me. “Is he…”

His eyes dart to him for a split second before he snaps his head away, choking out a noise of disgust. “He’s not dead. Knocked out.” Relief loosens my shoulders. He doesn’t share it, fingers trembling at his sides. “Divine--fucking--mother, that wasn’t enough.” He swiftly turns back to the Magi on the ground and I start forward to stop him.

“Sitri, don’t! He didn’t do anything…” I trail off, steps faltering as he stalks past him, and places his hand against the bark of a tree. My body jolts as a thunderous crack spits the wood, fissuring the tree right up the middle. I watch in horror and fascination, taking several paces back lest he take the whole thing down. Sitri releases a growl as the rupture works all the way up the tree to where the limbs split off into smaller branches.

A tantrum. He’s throwing…a tantrum.

Good .

As fast as the log splits it seams right back together until the crack is a faint scar marring the wood. He breathes heavily, head sagging forward with his hand still splayed against it.

“Sitri…what are you doing?” I heave, voice faintly disappointed.

His hand finally drops back to his side. He turns back to face me, eyes still glaring embers. Another series of sputtering noises spews from his lips and I nod along rather patiently and encouragingly considering what he’s done, internally brimming with vengeful satisfaction.

“The fuck are you even doing?” he clips out, still half-crazed as he waves his hands.

“What am I doing?” I ask haughtily. “Did you remember my existence?”

His eyes bulge even further. “I—was—looking for you!”

“You-- abandoned --me.”

“I told you to follow me out!” he roars. “Gods forbid you have to follow one fucking direction!”

I take two careful steps forward and halt, dropping my voice as I say, “If you think I’m going to follow you into the woods behind the woman that’s leading you there by your…. cock you’re fucking mad!” Emotion creeps into my voice and I snap my mouth shut, fuming.

His lips pop open, recognition lighting his eyes. He squeezes them shut with another low sound of exasperation. When he opens them a small fraction of the anger has evaporated. “I put her to sleep and warded the area. I didn’t—I didn’t do anything with her.”

My shoulders sink, and I wrap my arms across my chest, searching his face, dumbfounded. “You…didn’t?”

“No, I did not.”

Relief washes over me in a thick wave, the horrible mangled feeling in my chest lightening slightly. I shake my head numbly. “Then why—“

“I told you I need it to look like I’m participating.”

“ Participating ?” I repeat blandly.

“Yes, pet, participating. I definitely do whatever you—“ His eyes start to flick down my form before he squeezes them shut. “Gods, put your fucking clothes on, would you?” He shapes his hand in sharp aggravated movements, summoning my clothes from wherever he’s dropped them. They thump into my chest and he turns around rapidly like the mere sight of me disgusts him.

That well in me swells. I clamp my teeth around my bottom lip to keep it from trembling as I turn around and begin clumsily shuffling my clothes on. “I can’t read your mind, Sitri. You tell me nothing and expect me to understand everything.”

“You don’t need to understand to do as you’re told,” he hisses. “I told you explicitly, follow me out. If you lose me go to this tree and you—you—“ He breaks off with another snarl. “What were you even thinking? I didn’t feel the mark. You weren’t even afraid. You…he could’ve hurt you, he might’ve…why would you do that?”

I tug my dress down and turn around to face him with a fake facade of composure when I am anything but under the surface. “It was fine,” I say with a shrug. “He was nice.” I know I’m still trying to piss him off when he growls again and I exult in another gleeful spear of satisfaction.

“Men are only nice for one reason, pet,” he snaps.

“Yeah, well, you’re a man.”

“I am a man. That’s how I know.”

“You’re not a very nice man.”

“No, I’m not fucking nice,” he agrees and suddenly I don’t feel like I’m winning the argument…I feel like I’m being rejected all over again.

“Besides,” I say casually. “He didn’t even know who I was.”

He snorts. “Yeah, that’s obvious, pet.”

Obvious…because no one would be caught dead with a nought. That swing catches me off guard, slices right through my indifferent shield.

His face softens, and I blink numbly as the pieces come together. “You…didn’t want to be seen leaving with me.”

“Pandora,” he sighs. “I am trying to protect you.”

“Right.” I let out a bitter laugh. The energy demanded releasing or else I’m going to cry. I turn around and drop to the ground to tug my boots on. Hating how even now desire courses through me, hot and heavy and thick. Why am I being drawn to this man who’s ashamed of me in every way? “Pandora,” he repeats,

I refuse to meet his gaze as I pull myself to my feet. “I want to go home,” I say, voice bland and face void of emotion. He positions himself in front of me…so dangerously close and tips my head up to meet his eyes. I stare off into the trees behind him. “I swear I’m trying to protect you, Pandora.”

My answering snort catches in my throat.

“You don’t understand. People close to me turn to ash.”

“I’m already close to you and I’m already ash,” I snap.

“No, you’re not,” he says, heavily shaking his head.

“I am alive but I’m not living, Sitri.”

“Is that what this is about?” His eyes turn sharper and more severe as he jerks his head toward the Magi’s unconscious body. “ Living ?” he asks, mockingly.

He’s too distractingly close, fingers warm against my chin. I grab his wrist with the intention of yanking him off of me but once I feel that contact my skin against his I can’t bring myself to pull away. I do the next best thing and dig my nails in. His pupils expand, instead of appearing annoyed he looks… affected. “What do you care?”

His eyes bulge. “Really, Pandora? Of course, I fucking care,” he snarls, voice echoing through the otherwise silent clearing.

“Careful, Sitri, someone might hear you.”

He stiffens, tossing a paranoid look around the clearing and I snort again.

“Do you know why I said it was obvious that he didn’t know who you were?”

“Because I’m a nought,” I spit. I pull back finally finding the will to release him with the dash of anger.

He swiftly flips his arm so it’s my hand captured in his grip. I yank, and he gives me a firm tug, wrenching my arm up over my head.

“No.” There’s an edge to his voice that makes my heart skitter in my chest. I let out a grunt, struggling to wrestle free and his grip tightens painfully around my wrist.

His expression darkens as he leans forward. “Because no one would knowingly fuck with what’s—mine, ” he says, those last two words coming out in a venomous rage.

The utter audacity of that statement leaves me in a gaping fury. “I am not—just because—you don’t get to claim me—“

“ You—are—mine, ” he snarls. “You were given to me .”

He can’t be…serious and yet his face is deadly serious. Another humorless and indignant laugh escapes me. “You’re a lunatic and you didn’t even want me. I’m not your possession . I’m not your pet and I’m not in any way yours! ”

“Really?” he asks, all arrogance.

“Let go of me,” I snap, trying to wrestle free once more. He reels me in even closer. I lodge my other fist at him and he catches it and strings it up over my head too. I let out a startled yelp as he yanks, hauling my body flush against his. I buck my hips forward and freeze when I feel his erection, sharp like a blade prodding my belly.

It’s the perfect weapon, the only one that could bring me down, igniting like a fire in my body. I’m so aroused I feel mad with it. We’re both rigid and then he moves, his grip loosening as his thumb draws slow circles over my wrist. The sensation echoes between my thighs. I collapse forward, angrily smashing my face into the hollow of his chest. Resting against his large powerful, warm body, as I breathe him in with a small groan.

I can’t fucking help myself.

I feel each rise and swell of his chest against my face as my breasts expand and sink against his abdomen.

His mouth finds the top of my head, breaths puffing against my hair as he leans down to find my ear. “Is this what you want?” His voice is low, hypnotic but there’s still an edge of taunting that leaves me afraid to answer. “Is this living, Pandora ?”

I thrust my hips forward, drawing a hoarse grunt as I mold my body around his shape, lifting one knee to slide it over his leg. “Answer me, pet.”

“Yes,” I gasp out.

His lips coast over the crown of my ear, hot breaths sending shivers down my spine. “You’re living because of me , Pandora. You exist because I have kept you alive. Whether you want to believe it or not, everything I do is in order to keep you living.” My body tenses as the tone of his words morph, each speared with careful precision. I inch my hands back and he binds them like vices.

“But if you would like to keep--other--people--living,” he hisses. “I suggest not—repeating—this. Because if you ever let someone touch you like that again, next time, I’ll—fucking—kill—him. ”

He releases me and steps back so abruptly it sends me stumbling forward. I catch my footing and whip around. “You’re insane,” I gasp out. “You’re actually fucking insane.”

It’s the blazing smugness flashing in his eyes that has the full weight of the trap I just fell into washing over me like a cold breeze.

He doesn’t want me. He only wanted to prove his point. Prove that I am, in fact, his to do as he pleases. The rejection makes my cheeks sting.

“You,” he growls, a wildness flitting in his eyes. “Make me insane.”