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That’s the problem.

Zaiya doesn’t know how to spot them.

Which means she won’t recognize danger until it’s close enough to touch her.

Patrick catches my eye near the hall that leads to the playrooms. His arm is slung around a young woman already melting under the promise of whatever filth he has planned for her. Amusement clings to him with careless ease. Running for Sovereign clearly means nothing to him tonight.

I head straight for him until I’m close enough that my presence registers.

“Practicing?” I ask.

Patrick turns to offer a smug grin.

“Shouldn’t you be?” he says. “Your little candidate could use the help.”

I stop so close he has to tip his chin up to meet my eyes.

“Zaiya is not your concern.”

Under his breath, he laughs like we’re sharing some private joke.

“Can’t wait to see how she takes it up the ass.”

My hand closes around his throat before the last word is out of his mouth. I drive him back hard enough to make the sconce on the wall rattle. The woman beside him startles and stumbles away, proving at least one person here has a survival instinct.

I angle my blade just beneath his jaw.

“I’ll carve out your eyes for looking in her direction,” I say calmly.

Patrick doesn’t panic. That’s the worst part. He smiles wider, eyes bright with the cheap thrill of risk.

“Do it,” he whispers.

I could.

The image comes quite easily.

But if I throw my life away here, I throw away my ability to save hers. That’s the only reason Patrick is still breathing when Michael grabs my shoulder from behind.

“Enough, Edwin.”

I let go and step back.

Patrick pushes off the wall, rubbing his throat, grin still in place, practically begging me to smack it off.

“I will kill you,” I tell him. “What happens to me afterward is irrelevant. Your time is limited.”

I drive my fist into Michael’s gut as I pass, hard enough to fold him over. His spluttering groan might have amused me on another night. A small comedy. But I’m too pissed off to enjoy it now.

I’ve been letting men circle Zaiya without consequence.

That ends tonight.

I find her near the edge of the main floor, exactly where I knew she would put herself. Watching instead of participating. Trying to shrink away from the room’s notice. Poor angel. Even when she attempts to disappear, she shines.

Calista is beside her, already irritated, already looking for an excuse to abandon her.

She doesn’t stay long.