d, his silver-blue gaze narrowing. "You're f

hough she knew they were meant to cut deep. S

heat... it wasn't

trembling with a power she couldn't

minic's face softened, his guard lowering for just a moment. Th

as silk. Scared of what you'll find out about yourself. About

, her pulse quickening.

ight through her. "But you will, Scarlett. Whether you want to or not. Your blood calls to something much old

Scarlett and Theron. His expression was a mixture

his voice low and unwavering. "I'l

t understand, Dominic. This isn't just about power. It's about a bond d

caught in her th

he bond between you and your bloodline. The truth, Scarlett

u have a choice, Scarlett. Join me. And together, we'll unlock the power that's been hidden within y

aving behind only the ling

r hadn't subsided, and the pull of the bond was stronger than ever. She could f

cern. But it was more than concern. It was fear-fear of

like he didn't know what to say.

ing, everything she was being forced to face. She opened her mouth to speak, but the w

ehind them, and both th

, cloaked in darkness. A woman. Her

voice ice-cold and filled with a

like smoke, like a warning. But neither Dominic nor Scarlett moved. Th

ouldn't st

until her breath came in shallow gasps. She tried to hold herself together, to hold on to th

there was

ight. Command. Safe

ser, and her h

h. "I won't let him have you." I don't care what kind o

like it changes everything. Like you

guilt-but also fire. "Because

falling with the force of her anger. "Before the blood, before Th

oved

against the wall, his body pressed against hers,

ht I've told myself to stay away. That you weren't ready. That I didn't deserve you. Bu

hey held her wrists. Not f

olding

alive, drawing her to him like gravity. His scent surrounded her, da

he wo

ered, even as her body bet

ushing her cheek, just close e

d softly. "B

ed into her harder

ide her, Dominic's hands slid to her waist-firm, reverent. He didn't pu

" he said, his voice thick. But if you wan

ed so hard it drowned

ated

ed t

ded

g inside her

t

like

ked out, closing her eyes against the

enched. He stepp

hurt li

truth. But you need to stay here. Stay close. Let me protec

y, fighting every ins

quietly, "Who

arkened. "Someone I ho

w, something cold settlin

d, just a b

," he said finally. "And she knows exactly w

eath caught i

... k

ce was a whis

that even

outside ha

, it h

like a caged beast. The scent of her heat still lingered in the

t what she said," Sca

part where you're supposedly cursed, or the p

she said

yourself. Because there's more you don

hoed from some

slowly. "Did

moved to the door.

mine," he said

her

sil

n-b

of the packhouse. Windows shatte

arlett behind him just as the door ble