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Before Soren could answer, he felt it: a surge of cold, a new, ominous tension in the air. A familiar, hated scent.

“I’ve got this round.”

Soren shivered.

The man sliding onto the barstool next to him was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark-blond hair combed neatly back from a ruddy face.

Soren had once thought him handsome, before he’d seen all the ugliness underneath.

Maybe it was turning into a vampire that had corrupted Hendrick, or the toxic culture of the den, but Soren had a feeling he’d always been rotten on the inside.

“You were much easier to find this time, angel,” Hendrick murmured, pushing the new drink toward Soren. “Putting down roots, are you?”

“Just a place to rest for a little while.” Soren hated how small his voice came out, the familiar jangle of nerves in his stomach. He loathed that Hendrick still had this effect on him, after all this time.

“Mm. With that friend of yours.”

Soren’s response caught in his throat, his blood running cold. Did Hendrick mean Gabe? Had he been watching them at the house?

“You know,” Hendrick continued, drumming his fingers on the bar, “it’s a good thing that vampire found his mate. Otherwise, I might be feeling a little jealous right about now.”

Relief washed through Soren.

Roman. He meant Roman .

Soren’s friend had been a fixation of Hendrick’s before, although not one Soren had ever let him get close to.

Hendrick hadn’t taken notice of Gabe.

But Soren’s relief was short-lived. Hendrick had mentioned Roman’s mate. Christ. Soren hated the thought of his ex knowing about Danny. Roman’s mate was sweet, lovely, purehearted—Soren didn’t want Hendrick anywhere near him.

He sat unbearably still, trying to resist the urge to bite at his nails. It was happening, exactly as he’d feared. Soren’s presence was tainting his friends with Hendrick’s attention.

This is why you don’t stay. This is why you should have left..

“What do you want, Hendrick?” Soren finally moved, pushing the unwanted drink to the side.

The big vampire chuckled, the sound grating on Soren’s already fraught nerves. “I want what I always want, angel. To check in with you. To remind you who you belong to.”

Who Soren belonged to.

And just like that, Soren’s nerves left him. He was just so fucking tired of this. These stupid games. This bullshit power trip. “Why can’t you just leave me the fuck alone?” he gritted out, turning his barstool to fully face his ex.

Hendrick’s shoulders stiffened. “I don’t like your attitude, angel.”

Hendrick never did.

But this wasn’t the place for this particular confrontation; the bar was still pretty crowded, and Soren knew Danny—and Gabe too, most likely—would be upset if humans were hurt in the crossfire.

So Soren rose from his seat smoothly, leaving his still-full drink on the counter. He didn’t want to take a thing from Hendrick, even a measly cocktail. “Let’s go for a walk,” he suggested.

Hendrick’s dark eyes glinted. “Lovely idea.”

The fucker thought he’d won this round, that Soren was caving to his demands.

Let him think that.

They left the bar, and Soren directed them toward a nearby park.

Hendrick loomed over Soren as they walked, but he didn’t make a move to actually touch him.

That wasn’t surprising. Hendrick only ever touched him to fuck or to fight.

He had no use for Soren otherwise. No use for any connection beyond the sexual or the violent.

The park was empty this late at night, the abandoned play structure looking positively spooky in the moonlight. Hendrick paused at the edge, his hands in his pants pockets. “This is nice and all, angel. But I was thinking somewhere more…private.”

Of course he was. And in the past, Soren might have allowed it. One night of pain and humiliation in return for another few years of freedom.

But he didn’t want this slimy cretin’s hands on him ever again. “I’m not going anywhere with you, Hendrick.”

Hendrick’s thin lips pressed together tightly. “Are we feeling rebellious, angel? It’s pointless. You know how it ends.”

Soren shook his head, casually widening his stance. “Not this time. I don’t owe you anything, and you don’t have your shitty little squad to back you up anymore. I’m done.”

“I think you’ll find you owe me everything ,” Hendrick growled.

The larger vampire—aggressive jerk that he was—pounced immediately, tackling Soren to the ground.

But Soren was ready for him. His violent response wasn’t any sort of surprise.

Hendrick had never liked talking things out, preferring to use his physical strength to win his arguments.

Why use words when his fists could do the talking?

Soren had his hands out and ready, scratching at the other vampire’s face, aiming for the eyes. Hendrick dodged the move, his fangs popping out, murky brown eyes turning black.

Soren screamed as the asshole bit into his shoulder—not drinking, just tearing at the flesh. He managed to jab a knee into Hendrick’s balls, but Hendrick only grunted and tightened his arms around him.

Soren could feel his ribs breaking. Goddamn it. Broken ribs were the worst .

He shoved his palm up with all his strength, aiming once again for Hendrick’s face. He heard an incredibly satisfying crunch, laughing hysterically when blood from Hendrick’s now-broken nose sprayed his face.

Hendrick’s attack stopped in an instant. He hovered above Soren’s body, stunned. “God fucking damn it , Soren.”

Soren laughed through the pain. Drawing blood from Hendrick was a high he’d never known he needed. “No more ‘angel’?”

Hendrick cursed and leaped off, holding one hand to his nose, scowling at Soren as he cracked the bone back into place. It wouldn’t take very long to heal, but Soren was still pleased at the sight.

They glared at each other, Soren holding himself ready for another attack. Finally, Hendrick sighed, wiping his bloody hand off on his shirt. “I’m very disappointed in you, angel. Very disappointed.”

And then he was gone.