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We’re face-to-face, Lian so much larger than me, and a clawed hand sweeps across my throat and to the back of my neck.

I gasp for air, my body softening, and no matter how much I’m screaming at myself to stop, I press closer to those perfect lips.

Without pause, he meets me, and our mouths clash. I have no idea what to expect, but he claims me instantly as if he’s been waiting for this very moment. Sharp teeth, long tongue, lips—they’re all there. He gently licks my lips, leaving me trembling. Maybe I should be terrified, except I’m kissing him back.

I’ve definitely lost my mind.

His hand grips my neck as he takes me deeper, his tongue filling my mouth all the way to the back. I almost choke. But he draws it out just in time and sucks down on my lower lip, one of his canine fangs nipping my skin, then he feverishly sucks on it.

His other hand dips to my waist, then lower and around to my rear, squeezing my ass.

He growls into my mouth, his groin pushing against me. That huge package of his feels so much larger than I first thought.

And it’s all happening too fast. My cheeks flush.

He whispers, “I can smell your desire, sweetheart. So fucking delicious.” He grinds himself harder against me.

Something in my stomach flutters, along with the embarrassment from his words and the reality that I’m kissing my enemy. I wake up from my lust-induced state, remembering Kazak’s words about not trusting Lian and Corvin. Frantically, I fumble with the handle that presses into my back, and to my surprise, the door slides open behind me.

I stumble backward, ripping away from Lian, who lurches forward but catches himself by the frame he now grips with both hands.

“So,” I gasp, burning all over. “This was a terrible mistake. We should never have kissed.”

“But it seems you liked it.” He drags that long tongue across his lower lip.

“I didn’t. I hated it.” And with a flurry, I spin on my heel and rush across the empty room as he laughs behind me like a lunatic. And it occurs to me then that this whole time, we could have just used the rooms to reach this view. Instead, he risked my life to make sure I needed him as we climbed between the balconies.

Since meeting Lian, I’ve wondered what in the world is wrong with him. Except, now, I realize I should be asking myself that question. I just kissed the monster who intends to drag me to his father, who’ll likely torture me to death.

Wonderful judgment on my part.

Chapter

Fifteen

DAWN

Iopen my bedroom door, ready to head down to the cafeteria for food, except Corvin is in my doorway.

“Oh.” I rear back, surprised. “I didn’t know… Were you about to knock?”

He grins at me, yet I’m completely captivated by the sight of him because he’s a lot, even if I’ve seen him naked when he lay on the bed the other day. Dark pants, boots, and a bare chest, with black leather down his arms and pauldrons on his shoulders. He wears a heavy belt sitting low on his hips, and my gaze lifts to his sculpted chest and all those muscles. Even in his human form, how can someone be built so absurdly?

When I finally tilt my attention to his glacial blue eyes, his grin deepens, as untamed blond hair tumbles messily over his brow.

Fire scales up my cheeks at being caught staring, but with it comes a storm of heat flooding me. It starts up out of nowhere as though someone just lit me on fire, and I stumble backward.

I’m dizzy with the sudden desire that narrows right between my thighs, and I gasp aloud. “Wait, did you just spritz me with something?” I murmur, remembering Lian’s warning about Corvin’s pheromones.

He stares at me, his expression perplexed and giving nothing away. He’s really good. But then I also realize he’s not alone. A young woman steps out from behind him. Dark-haired, she stands about my height and looks extremely ordinary, as though she has no features, which is an odd thing to think. Her skin is pale, and I can’t see her chest rise or fall. She just stands there like a statue. Is she even breathing?

“What’s going on?” I straighten.

Corvin marches into my room with those strong shoulders and bare chest, and Gods, what is happening to me around these monsters? “Get dressed. We’re going into the city.”

“Wait, what?” I sweep my gaze from him to the strange woman who steps into my room, glancing around. “We’re not permitted to leave the compound.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You’re in my company, so we’re going out. Now, get changed.”