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“I’m pretty sure that’s your fault.” My eyes roll without effort. Why does he insist on the nickname?

A strand of hair floats across my visage. My curls had grown tremendous lengths over the last month, now dangling at the small of my back. A glimmer of an image floats across my mind—of strong hands gripping the lengths of my curls, tugging me backward into a heavy chest while he plunders and bites; wide strong hands caressing every curve and crook of my body. Heat flushes to my neck and I rub away the feeling.

Christian’s heavy presence swallows the morning chill as he steps closer to my bed. He picks up a shirt, it’s Kieran’s. I had washed it and left it to dry, completely forgetting.

“Why was he shirtless in your room?” Throwing the shirt aside, he strides towards me, copper eyes blazing, and in two quick steps, I find myself pinned against the heat of the hearth’s stone frame. My eyes, like twin embers, meet his, a silent battle of wills igniting between us.

A flash of light slices across my eyes, quick as a shooting star. Another vision interposed over Christian—of him standing shirtless before me. His heavy hands splay across the softness of my belly, slowly traveling up my torso, gripping my right breast while his warm mouth laves at the hard nipple. He mimics the action on my left breast, his other hand guiding mine to the hardness of his length between us. It’s angry and dark. In this suffocating shadowed space, no words are shared between us. He bares his teeth, biting hard, blood trickles from the wound and a strangled mewl escapes my lips.

The rising heat of the hearth at my back brings me back to awareness. A heavy breath expels from my lips and I rake a hand through my hair. What is happening to me?

“You have something to tell me?” Christian’s voice is fraught with tension. What’s happening in his head? Did he have the same vision I did? It’s impossible.

Reeling my thoughts, my gaze latches onto his, acutely aware of his muscled arms outstretched by my head. I begin to speak. “I have a lot to tell you. But I want something in return.” Urgency is necessary here.

“I thought you would say that. But we have little time. Say yes to him when he asks you to go to town tonight. You’ll need a mask; bring a second one.”

“I thought the point of this”—I gesture between us—“is for us to give each other information.”

The point of this is for you to open your eyes.

I swat away the annoying feeling, knowing there’s a voice in my head that does not belong to me.

“I’ll have a task for you when I see you,” he says.

“How will I know it’s you?”

“You’ll know,” he says, followed by a quick wink. The flutter of his thick lashes draws me to a new scar. I can only describe it as inky hairline fractures.

Embers curl around my feet landing on exposed skin. I startle and dismissively walk into Christian’s chest. He grabs both of my wrists. “Don’t worry, this investigation will be fruitful for you.”

A gnawing emptiness where memories should reside makes my teeth clench, but the harsh reality of my surroundings sharpens my focus. I’ll be okay. This is going in the right direction. If I repeat this in my mind, maybe I’ll believe it.

“Fine. I’ll be there.”

“Ditch Kieran once you get there; his hubris won’t care that you’ve strayed far. He’ll only care that the town is present to see his shiny toy.”

“What shiny toy?” I ask, disgruntled.

Doesn’t this feel good? Not to walk among the eggshells Kieran has thrown at your feet? Not to pretend to be some proper, fearless woman?

I want to tell the voice in my head to keep quiet. Ignorance is bliss? Maybe that’s what I want.

“It will all fall into place soon enough. Think of this as your trials and tribulations. When one is hit with hardships there’s hurdles to overcome. If you do it all at once, you risk injury to your psyche,” he says, tapping my head lightly with a finger. His face is so close to mine, the scent of vanilla washes over me. A hot flush spreads across my neck as I wrench myself away, my jaw tightening, eyes narrowing with fiery indignation.

Christian laughs as I trudge into the closet. Goosebumps scatter along my nape.

“Wear the black dress I placed there and I’ll take that as a yes,” he teases.

“A yes to what, exactly?” I peek my head around the corner to see him playing with Misty. The pair are embroiled in each other’s presence. She looks bedraggled, and I stifle a chuckle. If only I could frame the moment.

“A yes to our plan. Now get dressed. I’ll be expecting you downstairs.”

“How are you going to get down there without being noticed?” The threshold of the closet vibrates as I lean against it. “Isn’t this supposed to be a secret?”

“There is so little you know, and I intend for you to find out.”

I grit my teeth as he pets Misty one last time and disappears into a small door hidden in the alcove.