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Her breath hitches, her eyes darkening as a shy smile spreads across her face, before she leans over and captures my lips with hers, stealing a bruising kiss I’m more than happy to give.

When she pulls back, her smile is bright and my pulse races. “Thank you. I thought tying myself to you would be just another role I had to play, something new I had to pretend to be, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“You have given me a freedom I never even dreamed of. You push me to be who I really am. You fight to see the side of me that everyone else said I had to keep hidden, and I’m so grateful for that.”

I smile at the confidence in her voice…and the happiness I can hear without seeing the bright grin lighting up her face. I want to puff out my chest with pride that I’ve been able to do that for her.

“I’m proud of you for breaking down the walls you’ve hidden behind, but I can promise you, we still have a long way to go. We’ve barely scratched the surface of exploring your sexuality and your fantasies,” I tell her, my voice deepening, a low rumble that echoes the molten promise coursing through my veins like lava, heating me from the inside out.

I love the way she shifts in the worn leather chair, the soft scrape of the material can be heard as she rubs her thighs together. Using the subtle friction of fabric against her skin to soothe the ache my words have ignited. It’s a stark reminder of my own burning desire.

I ache to possess her, to lose myself in an explosive release until the world dissolves into a shower of blinding stars. And with that thought, a familiar frustration resurfaces like a sour taste in my mouth as I curse the fucking Hawks and their infuriating party.

“We’re here,” Bram announces as he turns off the engine, having parked off to the side of the house, next to the large courtyard. He climbs out and rushes around to the passenger side, opening the door for Wren, which confuses me, as my best friend is anything but a gentleman.

I climb out, holding my hand outstretched for Harper to take, and once she’s out, I lace our fingers together. I want her by my side the whole time we’re here, as I don’t trust any of the other House Pledges and their grabby hands.

“Wow, this building is beautiful,” Wren states, sounding almost awestruck as she tilts her head back, trying to take in as much of the vast mansion as she can.

Hawksmoor House has a very different feel to Crowhurst. They’re both grand in their own way, but Hawksmoor seems bigger, as it’s split into an East and West wing, with communal rooms in the middle.

While our House is old and gothic, Hawksmoor is more modern and spacious. It’s nowhere near as rustic as Falconridge, or as pompous as Eaglemont, but it is extravagant in its own way.

Some people argue that the Houses reflect the personalities of the Pledges assigned to them, and, to some degree, that’s true. Crowhurst House is dark and imposing, but there’s something almost understated about it. You can’t tell what you’ll find inside by looking at the exterior.

Although it’s mysterious and gothic, reflecting our ability to watch from the shadows while we assess the situation, there’s a subtle quietness which matches the way we strike.

Hawksmoor House has a more modern, open-plan setting, which fits with the way the Hawks like to watch. They’re observant and methodical, but have been known to strike in explosive violence, letting their emotions rule them in the end.

Falconridge House is the most rustic of them all, looking almost like an old-fashioned log cabin—just a much larger version. It’s subtle and quiet, but modern fittings show how each new generation of Pledges has added to them. This reflects the Falcons’ perfectionism and their ability to remain unimposing until it’s too late.

Finally, there’s Eaglemont House, which any Crow will refer to as a fucking eyesore. It’s a large white marble mansion complete with columns at the entrance and gold accents throughout—very similar to my childhood home. The sleek modern finish makes it seem cold but rich, which sums up every arsehole Eagle I’ve ever met. They all have massive egos and are ruled by their pride, and each kill is a show of their power.

I’m a little biased when I say Crowhurst House is the most beautiful, but Hawksmoor isn’t as bad when compared with the others. Still, I don’t trust any of the arseholes inside, and I won’t be letting Harper out of my sight.

Bram knocks on the door, but doesn’t wait for someone to answer before letting himself in, guiding Wren beside him. A Hawk Pledge with short blond hair rushes over to the door, making it look like he’s holding it open for us, when we’re almost already inside.

“Welcome to Hawksmoor House. May your evening be filled with the darkest horrors,” he states blandly, like he’s repeated the same line a hundred times already. If it weren’t for the clown smile painted on his face, I’m sure he’d be frowning.

“I hate clowns,” Harper mutters from beside me as I pull her inside. She sidles up closer to me when her gaze flicks over the numerous clown decorations throughout the large entranceway.

The Hawks’ Halloween Party has earned its reputation for all the right reasons, and they throw out all the stops to decorate the place. If you picture the tackiest haunted house, then give the owner an unlimited budget, this is what you get. It may not be my thing, but I can appreciate the effort.

The Welcome Party we’re well-known for is nothing more than an excuse for people to get pissed and fuck, so they’ve definitely outdone us when it comes to effort. All we have to do is make sure there’s plenty of booze and condoms available.

The further into the house we get, the louder the music becomes, and the rooms seem to get smaller now they’re full of people. I follow Bram as he leads us into the dining room, which they’ve turned into a large bar.

“What do you want to drink?” I ask Harper.

She narrows her gaze at me, seeming almost suspicious. “Am I allowed to drink?”

My lips tip up into a smile. She’s learning my rules, and that makes me very happy. “As long as you stay with me and don’t get wasted, that’s fine.”

She gives me a small nod. “I’ll just take a glass of white wine, please.”

I pass her order on to the Hawk Pledge running the bar, keeping my eye on him as he pours the drink. I don’t trust anyone after what happened at Viper’s. Handing it straight to Harper once I receive it, I’m mesmerised by the way her throat bobs as she takes a mouthful, my cock throbbing at the sight.

Everything about this girl turns me on, and it scares me just how much I want her. When Wren has her drink, she takes hold of my girl’s hand, which I reluctantly had let go of to get our glasses, and pulls her towards the next room. “Come on, I want to dance.”