ra'

ted in rage. "I'm

The ones you sent him while he was still with his actual mate. What was it

e spat out, her fa

Kade could confirm." Kade didn't spea

ildfire. People leaned in, turned away and judged t

brushing the shell of my ear. "

slightly. "I di

throat. "So ungratefu

his too much." I p

arties are." His breath was warm against

rrived, smoothing over the chaos with a practiced smile and cheerful announcements. B

, eyes blazing. "Y

ands. "Selene, not

she snapped. "After letting

n't le

Selene hissed. "You

guilt on his face. I could hear them clearly but I didn't giv

lder, voice rising.

ouldn't hear. But Selene wasn't having it. She turned and s

owly, the crowd shifted, still buzzing. I let out a slow breath. Rowan hadn't moved. He

ng glance. "You did

ause it was entertaining. Yo

." I snor

hrugged with

lk away but he

lled after me and I rolled my eyes, w

u-I don't need sav

of me, blocking my path with that damn smirk again

idn't look offended. He smiled like I'd just handed him a compliment. We walked side by side into the ballroom. And even t

e rim of my glass. And I saw Kade, he kept glancing at me nervously, probably not wanting to be caught b

o

really listening to, some debutante trying

too long tonight to startle me anymore. Somehow, without ever really announcing his intention, he'd claim

not bothering to look a

" I replied,

pity him, but I don't

red low in my stomach. "You're en

." He a

plied rolling

gain, voice lower

wer. Just gave me a look, one of those unreadable, hal

called rais

though I didn't want to admit it. He didn't wait for me to change my mind. Just tugged me through the crowd, weaving through bodies and conversations. He kept going, past the main hal

o close it felt like we were breathing the same air. His palm flat was against the wall beside my he

doing?" I as

ike he was memorizing something. Then, slowly, he

w you something

bathroom." I didn't kno

he corrected, grinni

You brought me here t

in a fraction closer, the air ti

art t

iculous," I

. I hated more that part of me didn't want to. His hand slid to my waist, fingers grazing

on

me stop him and I did. My hand came up between us, pressing flat against his chest. His chest was s

anded on my

top it, a small, involuntary moan that escaped like a betrayal. I sucked in a breath. Rowan pulled back, smug. His lips were slightly red and wet

he said, voice thi

ing," I hissed,

d that he was right again. He looked down at the mark

" he said lightly. "Thou

ave no

ed. "But you kn

om the inside out. I wanted to push him away but heav

it, Liora." He sounded like a demon sent to seduce me. Hi

adn't pulled away. Because every cell in my body was buzzing, sparking, alive in ways I didn't want to admit. Because Row