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I turned away from the vampire, giving him my back, not giving him the attention he seemed to want from me for some messed-up reason, and took Draven’s jaw in my hand.

His incisors were extended, and his eyes were glowing with rage. “Look at me.” His eyes didn’t shift from Nero. “Draven, look at me.”

His green gaze finally shifted to mine.

“He doesn’t matter,” I said. “I don’t want him.”

“Who do you want, Iris?” His voice was so low and full of grit it lifted goose bumps all over my body. “I can smell you, little witch, your pussy is drenched.”

“You made me this way. You did this to me. I climbed on your lap because I needed every female in this room to know that you are mine, Draven.” I leaned in and pressed my face to the side of his throat and kissed my way to his ear. “I want you. I want my mate inside me.” I told myself I said it to defuse the volatile situation we were in, but that wasn’t the truth. “Watching that witch being fucked and fed from didn’t turn me on, sitting on my mate’s lap while it happened, feeling your hard body under me, hot and strong, that’s what turned me on.”

The lights came back on, and I knew that all participants in the little scene that had just played out behind me had gone, or at least I hoped so. I’d probably made a powerful enemy tonight, turning my back on Nero, but I wasn’t going to encourage that monster in any way.

Draven watched me silently, hungrily, and I had no clue what he was thinking. His nostrils flared, and his fingers dug into my flesh.

He was ready to jump out of his skin, and I wouldn’t be able to contain him for much longer. “Let’s talk to Lauren, then you can take me home.”

Draven’s eyes grew darker, hungrier. “Be quick.”

I nodded and climbed off his lap. Lauren was on the other side of the room. She was still with her vampire and turned when he said something against her ear.

Her spine stiffened as we approached.

“Hi, Lauren,” I said, smiling.

“Sorry, who are you…and what the hell is that on your face?” she said, managing to look down her nose at me even though I was the one standing.

I ignored her rudeness, and Draven’s furious growl. Her words didn’t hurt me. I’d certainly dealt with bigger assholes than her. “Iris Thornheart, we’ve met a few times at different gatherings.” She’d ignored me then as well.

“Thornheart?” She smirked. “You must be one of Willow’s sister.”

“Yep, that’s me.” Bitch. Willow could take her down without even losing her breath these days. “I’d like a quick word, actually.”

“I’m a bit busy at the moment,” she said and turned away, dismissing me.

“Oh, I think you’d be interested in what I have to say,” I said and held her gaze when she glanced back at me, letting her see I wasn’t in the mood for her bullshit.

Her gaze moved over my face again, and knew she saw something there, besides the obvious, because she whispered to her vamp friend and stood. “Fine, I’ll bite. What do you want?”

“What do you know about Amy Sartori, Imogen Lewis, and Marina Leone?” I asked.

She stilled, her gaze darting away and back. “Why would I know anything?”

Oh, yeah, she knew something. “Because they came here as well, and you guys were friendly.”

Her gaze sharpened, trying to figure out why it was me asking these questions. “I have nothing to say. I’m done with this conversation.”

“If you know anything, Lauren, it would be in your best interests to share it with me.” She started to turn, dismissing me, and I grabbed her arm. “I know you’re worried people will find out you come here, but keeping any information to yourself about those girls to save your own ass is seriously shitty. Imogen is dead, Lauren. If you know something, you need to talk.”

Her gaze spat fire. “You and your friend don’t intimidate me. I said I’m done.”

“Draven is the alpha of the Silver Claw pack, and my family is powerful. You know, people are interested in what we do and say—and neither of us have signed a nondisclosure.”

She stilled.

“So, unless you want your fiancé and your coven to find out what you get up to on Thursday nights, I’d suggest you start talking.”

“I’m not doing anything wrong,” she said, face flushing. “It’s mutually beneficial, and I’m allowed some pleasure in my life.”