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His pupils expand and he wets his lips as his body presses into mine. Despite all his bravado, at the end of the day, he’s a man and they all want one thing.

“Have you ever wondered,” I whisper, my breath brushing over his lips, “if you’re the problem?” I nudge my nose against his. “You’re as fucked up as me, aren’t you? That’s why you hate me so much.”

He pulls back, but my grip on his collar keeps him mostly in place. “You don’t know anything about me.”

My lips tug back into a razor-sharp smile. “Trust me, I know enough. You get off on hurting people, Drake. What if that’s the reason your bond is broken? What if Bellamy, Rowan, and even Carver are too good for you? What if the Goddess doesn’t approve of you being in the bond?”

His eyes flash. The air around us grows heady. A warning screams through my mind. Drake’s features darken, clouding with rage. My heart skips as the danger registers. The world narrows to the two of us, and for a heartbeat, I worry I’ve pushed him too far.

“Careful, Raina,” he whispers. “If I didn’t know better, I might think you’re obsessed with me and my little friends.”

Disgust rolls over me. That’s what he got from our conversation? “I think you’re the one obsessed,” I reply, tipping my head. “You went out of your way to come talk to me, didn’t you? You sought me out in a room full of people. I wonder why?”

His eyes narrow at my implication. “Trust me, there’s not a guy in this room who would want you.”

Well, damn. I know he’s being purposefully cruel, but those words strike that wound deep inside of me that fears, after my parent’s death, I’ll never be loved. Anger nips at the heels of hurt. Who the fuck does he think he is? I shove him away. “Go bother someone else.”

He starts to say something else, but his focus shifts over my head.

“Everything okay?” Bree asks, stepping in between us, going toe to toe with the mage. She holds his glare until he exhales harshly and walks away. “Sorry. I didn’t know he was here until I looked over, and then I couldn’t hear whatever he was saying. He must’ve cast a privacy spell, but whatever that was, it looked intense.”

“It’s fine.” I play it off with a shrug. I hate that I didn’t realize he was casting. “He needed help with the stick up his ass, but it’s jammed pretty deep.”

Bree chuckles.

“I heard that, little mage.” Drake’s voice brushes over the shell of my ear, a message delivered just for me, probably spelled so my friend can’t hear it.

Fuck you, I want to snarl back, but that would only worry Bree more. Tonight is supposed to be fun. I won’t ruin it for her.

She glances after Drake. “Okay, well, I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“I’m good.” Smiling, I nudge her side. “Now go dance with your friends and stop being a mama mage.”

With one last concerned look, she verifies I’m not hurt before heading back to the dance floor. I grab a drink from a passing tray carried by a server dressed in a starched white uniform and slowly sip the mage wine, watching the dance floor, attempting to relax. To be normal and enjoy the chaos of the party. It doesn’t work.

A grating giggle pulls my attention away from my friends. Melody is next to Rowan and Bellamy, who are sitting at a table on the other side of the room. I force myself to look away, but I don’t get far before Melody leans into Bellamy’s side, smoothing a palm up his chest. He removes her hand, politely smiling at her, but her other hand replaces it. She presses closer.

The muscles of his jaw feather. Shadows cloud around him, and his gaze grows distant, like he’s detaching himself from the moment. He doesn’t want her to touch him. She clearly doesn’t care. It’s people like Melody and Rodderick who shame the Goddess’s name.

My vision narrows to where her fingers play along his collar. Phantom hands roam over my skin, squeeze my wrists painfully, as they did when⁠—

STOP, I scream inside my head, gritting my teeth, scowling at Melody. Funneling all my anger from the interaction with Drake and those memories to the closest target. She rubs Bellamy’s thigh.

That’s it. Fuck that bitch.

The vampire’s gaze finds mine before I’ve even taken a step in their direction, as if he can read my thoughts. Melody brushes her lips over his cheek, taking advantage of his distraction. Rage rolls over me. I’m halfway to them in the blink of an eye. Melody has no right to continue when he’s tried to stop her. Bellamy’s head tips. Melody, too focused on herself, assumes it’s for her and cups his cheek, trying to turn his face to lock lips. Bellamy pulls back, resisting.

The way she’s pawing at him makes me want to rip her head off.

“You should stop,” Bellamy warns her.

She pouts her lip. “You don’t mean that. We could go back to my room,” she purrs.

Ignoring her offer, he tips his chin as I reach their table. “Threshold Breaker.” His shadows perk up, seeming to study me. As far as I know, the shadows aren’t sentient, but I swear they’re taking my measure, determining if I’m a friend or foe.

“Bellamy.” I stiffen as all eyes at the table turn to me. Rowan rests his arms on the surface, his golden gaze curious. I can’t help noticing that Melody is ignoring him in favor of Bellamy.

Melody sneers, a look so ugly it’s fitting for a personality like hers. She and Drake might make a happy couple. The air thrums with her magic, crackles of electricity snapping and popping as she stares me down.