Page 43 of Hidden

My intuition is quiet and I have no idea what that means.

“We need to protect you,” Leif answers. “From others who may claim you.”

Over my dead body.

I smooth my dress down with my palms before sighing. This conversation is over. “If you will excuse me.”

I turn to leave but Leif is there. Too fast.

How did he move so fast?

“Hadley, you don’t understand,” he says slowly. “You’re ours now.”

I pause and take the longest inhale of my entire adult life because there isn’t an ounce of patience left in my body. And then I hear Angela’s voice whispering through me about complete sentences and the ability to just simply say no.

Six months ago I sat in her solarium and watched her tell me goodbye, and I told myself she was just tired.

She wasn’t. And I’m not the woman who walks past that now. Because that entire afternoon holds a different meaning now. And I need more information than just this moment.

“No.”

The word lands like a gong that splits through the air of the locker room.

Leif’s face falls before he reasserts himself. “I believe…”

“He came on way too strong.” Davi tries to smooth over Leif’s failures. I only give him a brow raise. It’s all he gets. “Date us.”

“Us.” I swing my finger to all three of them. “No,” I say it this time with far more confidence. “No.” Just one more for good measure before I push past Leif and step into the hallway.

Fucking them is okay.

Dating all three?

How would that even work?

And I would have said no to one man. I can’t deal with a relationship right now. I have my career to think about and…

Judy. Shit.

“Hadley, wait.” Davi jogs up to me, half-dressed, jeans pulled on but unbuttoned, no shirt.

“Send the human. What? So you can empathize with me?” I snort, jamming my finger to the elevator.

Davi stops walking. For a second, he just looks at me. His jaw grinds back and forth, the muscle along it pulls tight and lets go.

“I’m not playing vampire messenger.” His voice drops, quieter than I’ve heard it all night. “But I am the only one here who remembers what it’s like to be in your position.”

I step inside the elevator, jabbing the button for the lobby. “So you’re their recruiting agent now?”

Davi catches the door before it closes, slipping inside. “I’m trying to help you understand what’s happening.”

“By telling me I’m some kind of vampire Bride? That’s helping?” The elevator begins its descent, and I lean against the wall, suddenly exhausted. Whatever was holding me up an hour ago is checking out.

“You felt something tonight,” Davi says quietly. “Don’t try to deny it.”

“What I felt was lust. Good sex. That’s all.”

“Is it?” Davi moves closer, his warmth radiating toward me. “Then why did you let him bite you? Why did you ask to see his fangs?”