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“You had one date, and then she realized she just wasn’t that into you…since she already had a mate, something she didn’t recognize because you’d locked away her ability to feel it.”

“I blocked the pain your rejection and neglect caused, at her request,” he said.

“And then you swooped in and tried to take her for yourself.”

“Is that why you’re here? To stake some kind of claim? Because you’re wasting your time. Jasmine turned me down when I asked her out again. Jealousy is unnecessary.”

I wanted to plow my fist into the asshole’s smug face. “The reason I’m here is because she’s missing, and she hasn’t answered any of my calls or texts.”

“Unsurprising, since she feels nothing for you.”

It took all my strength not to stagger back a step. I ignored his verbal strike. “Are you sure you haven’t seen her?”

“Are you suggesting I’ve somehow lost all cognitive recognition?”

“No, I’m suggesting that you’re hiding or withholding something from me for some reason, and I strongly suggest that if you have seen or heard from my mate, you tell me right the fuck now.”

“I assure you, I have not. And if I had, the decision to contact you or anyone, for that matter, would entirely be hers.”

Then he shut the door in my face.

Every instinct in me roared to get inside, that he was hiding something. I felt for the buzz of magic, something I was more than familiar with, but there was nothing, and no wards either. I’d seen a human security system, though, a panel inside by the door, an alarm. I strode back to the hearse and got in.

Then I pulled my phone from my pocket and hit Willow’s number.

“Any news?” she said before I could say a word.

Wills had been struggling with Jaz’s disappearance, all her family had. But Willow had Violet to think of, and she was limited to how much time or how far she could go searching.

“No news. But I’ve got this…shit, it’s more of a gut feeling than anything else. It’s probably nothing, but I…I can’t seem to let it go…”

“Jasmine’s your mate. Your instincts are invaluable. Listen to them. Do you need me to come to you?”

“No, I’m on my way to you now. I need your help with something.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

I disconnected and started the hearse. I just needed to pick something up from Willow, then I was coming straight back.

Xavier had to leave sometime.

Jasmine

* * *

The door to the basement room opened again and Xavier walked back in, the strain of our session today was still etched on his face.

“Who was at the door?” He’d left me in this room several hours ago. I was just thankful he’d kept me here in the “real world” for a little while instead of his metaphysical, monstrous one. He’d showered and changed, but that was the only difference I saw in him since he left to see who was banging on the door.

“A couple clients. I sent them away. Let’s get back to work.”

I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to delve into Xavier’s pain again, not yet. It was too much, too awful, but when the session was over for the day, he’d put me back where no one could see or hear me—and where monsters hid in dark hallways.

The small comma butterfly fluttered over to me now and landed on my shoulder, offering me comfort. The little guy had tracked me here before Xavier trapped me in this house, and somehow he found me. I’d been feeding him water and overripe fruit from the food Xavier had given me.

“Ready?” Xavier said.

There was real fear in his eyes. “Yes.” He was seriously struggling but determined to do this no matter the cost to him, or me.