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“It doesn’t take restraint not to sleep with you.” I gnashed my molars together, lying. “Just a few functioning brain cells.”

Dante pinned me with that smoldering look for a few beats, as if he knew it was torturing me. When he broke it, it was all I could do to not visibly exhale in relief.

Dante’s eyes darted to the glass. Instead of teasing me about my obvious desire, his lips thinned. “You need to learn to control your power, learn about what you are, Hadley. And whether you like it or not, the only place to do it is with The Order of the Thorns.”

I screwed up my nose. “I make it a point not to find salvation in places with names like ‘The Order of the Thorns.’ Sounds like a guaranteed way to be part of some kind of mass suicide. No thanks. I’ll drink myself to death the old-fashioned way. Over decades.”

Dante didn’t smile, nor did he say anything else. He just let his own words hang in the air.

We both knew I was out of options. I couldn’t stay here. And though he was a prick, he wouldn’t lie about me putting Donny in danger; he was fond of her too. So going to her was out.

And I had no one else.

No one else but Dante and this fucking Order.

“Fine.” I slammed my glass down. “But the second I hear about a blood sacrifice, a leader with multiple wives, or any weird culty bullshit, I’m out.”

“You won’t hear any of that.” Dante leaned forward, lips almost meeting my ear. “But you’ll hear yourself screaming my name when I seat myself so deep inside you all you’ll feel is me.”

My body coiled in anticipation, my pussy clenching with the force of my need. Goose bumps pebbled my arms, and I actually leaned into Dante before I found my senses.

Then, realizing what I was about to do, I pushed my stool back with a clatter, standing to glare at him.

His lips were curled in a lazy, confident smile. But his eyes were hooded, dark with desire, hands fisted on his thighs.

“Anything you try to put inside me, I’ll burn right off,” I snarled at him, voice shaking.

My body felt uncomfortably hot, in a way that had nothing to do with “divine power.” Unable to think of what to do next, I raced for the door, leaving Dante behind.

A temporary solution.

Because soon, I’d have to figure out how to exist with Dante. To weather his sexual innuendos without submitting to him.

In principle, that should’ve been easy.

But every cell in my body yearned for him.

Dante fucking Fields.

“This is a surprise.” Sharon greeted me at the door of her house.

She looked the same as always, impeccably groomed, not a hair out of place. But I could see shadows that even makeup couldn’t hide under her eyes. They were bloodshot too. Her smile was strained.

I guessed her and her son hadn’t hashed things out yet.

Not my business.

“Come in, I’ll make you some tea.”

“I’m not staying.” I stepped inside, my reply blunt.

She visibly stiffened, her smile fading as she pointedly looked me up and down. I was dressed much as I always was, leather jacket, jeans, boots. But she must’ve surmised something when her eyes met mine once more. “You’re leaving.”

I nodded. “This afternoon.”

What I wasn’t thinking about was where I was going. Or who I was going with.

“You can’t stay for a little longer?” Her question sounded like a plea. “I know Colton⁠—”