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Absolutely awful. And every time I wanted to lighten up and give them more credit, another story about men harming women would come out. Like the fraternity group chats or private islands full of pedophiles.

The stories never ceased, and women were never safe.

Severin was no different.

He was a villain just like all the rest.

He was the perfect actor. That charming. That clever. That fucking attractive.

He was every girl’s dream, the kind that turned into a nightmare.

He was my nightmare.

And I had lowered my armor. Let him slip through the cracks of my fortress, only for him to prove why no man could ever be trusted.

He’d kidnapped the girl and moved her to another Order compound.

I gritted my teeth and let out a low growl, opening my eyes to see Severin still talking to that fucking actress.

Yep, I was going to kill her too.

“Xenny,” a charming voice whispered in my ear, and I nearly jolted out of my skin. “You look like you’re going to explode.”

“I very well might.” I sucked in a breath through my nose and turned to glare at Kaz.

Kaz leaned against the cocktail table, a glass of vodka in hand. He looked like a Greek statue with a feline grin. Attractive but mischievous.

“I think I might kill a Hollywood starlet tonight.” I gripped the table too hard. “I, uh, am not controlling my Fury rage very well right now.”

“I see that,” he said softly, turning so I couldn’t see Severin and the actress anymore. “Why do you think I came over? Perhaps we could retire to somewhere more private?”

“Are you an eighteenth-century gentleman now?” I laughed, letting him defuse the moment as much as he could and escort me out of the ballroom.

“Why, yes. I’ve been borrowing your sister’s romance novels.”

“Why?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Research, darling.” Kaz smiled. “I am always doing research.”

“More like stalking.”

“If one of us is a stalker, then it is definitely Nika.” He held the door to a private office open. “The girl is obsessed with me.”

“Then maybe stop fucking her and she will leave you alone,” I said, walking in past him.

“I’ve never fucked your sister, and I never will.” His voice dropped a full octave, and I turned around to stare at him.

What?

That couldn’t be correct. They had to have been fucking for fifteen years now.

“What do you mean you’ve never fucked my sister?” I shook my head, not understanding.

“I mean, I’ve never fucked your sister.”

“But you and her…” My face scrunched. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s complicated, Xen,” he breathed, running a hand through his hair. “She betrayed me, okay, and I have never and will never be able to forgive her. Let’s drop it. Besides, this isn’t about her and me. It’s about your jealousy.”