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His jaw clenches, his Adam’s apple bobbing with each deep swallow. “I don’t mind being locked up, but I hate not being there for you. How are those two pricks treating you?”

“As you’d expect, but I’m alive. Yesterday, I caught them brawling outside my door. I swore they were going to kill each other.”

“Best if they got it over and done with.” His mouth twitches, but when I don’t smile or agree with him, he frowns. “Don’t tell me you’re growing fond of them? Dawn, they can’t be trusted.”

I shake my head. “I know.” Darkness shifts behind his eyes, and if given the chance, he’d end Corvin and Lian in a heartbeat. And I hate to admit it, but they are growing on me.

Suddenly, I lean in closer to Kazak, staring at his lips, while his gaze devours every inch of me. His mouth slowly pulls into a smirk as though he can read my thoughts on how ridiculously attracted I am to him. He lifts his hand and cups the side of my face, pulling me closer. I grip the cold bars with my life because there’s so little space between us.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispers as though all the chaos we experienced hadn’t taken place. And I remind myself that I have so many questions for him when we’re alone, but right now, those thoughts fade.

Our faces are inches from one another, then he presses closer and our lips graze. He’s warm, slow, and intoxicating. The pleasure flaring through me is almost jarring in how fast it spreads. We kiss through the bars instantly as though I lack control over myself, and I’ve longed to kiss him for so long. It’s just as indulgent as it was the first time we kissed. His tongue slides past my lips, and I open my mouth for him to take long strokes in my mouth. He ignites fire between my thighs as fast, it makes me dizzy.

I arch into him, my body trapped by the cage between us, but I push my hands through them and fist his shirt, needing so much more. Ever since our time in my bedroom, he’s awakened something feral within me. Maybe it’s knowing that he wants me as much as I do him or that he’s finally giving me what I’ve craved from him.

I remember the warning from the cloaked man in the portal back at the village where he said I had to select the three monsters as my fated mate before the red moon or perish. Selecting Kazak seems like the best choice, we are both drawn to one another.

“I’ve missed you so fucking much, Dawn, that I’m barely holding it together. When I close my eyes, all I can picture is you naked on your bed, your legs spread for me. It’s driving me insane.”

Fire floods every part of me, my cheeks flushing hotter. “How can you say those things?”

He chuckles, then kisses me tenderly before letting me go. “Because it’s the truth.”

Suddenly, the click of metal reaches us, and I retreat, my heart in my throat. “The guard’s returning.” I scramble backward, already moving down the hall.

“I’ll keep missing you,” he says and blows me a kiss, leaving me melting down to my toes. Then I spin and run for my life.

Insy stands in the open doorway, panic scribbled across her pinched face, and I throw myself toward her as the main entrance creaks open.

She instantly shuts the escape door behind me and places a finger to her mouth. I don’t move, don’t breathe.

Footfalls sound in the prison, but they aren’t panicked, so they don’t suspect us.

Then Insy snatches my arm and hauls me up the stairs. Both of us are frantically taking two steps at a time, my breaths sluggish. We’re in the storage pantry in no time.

We keep running until we charge into my room.

I shove the door closed, and we’re both heaving for breath until we burst out laughing.

Collapsed on the couch, she tosses a triangular cushion at me. “That was too close. You took too long.”

“But we made it out, didn’t we?” I wheeze.

She grins, her teeth on show and her eyes still confusing me, as I can’t exactly tell where she’s staring. Wiping her eyes from the laughter, she gets to her feet. “I’d better get back to work before someone starts looking for me.”

She grabs her now-deflated bag on wheels and glances over her shoulder. “Thank you for making this the best day I’ve had in a long time.” Then she lets herself out with a flourish, and I laugh.

On my feet, I head to the bathroom to wash my face. Next, I stroll into the bedroom, curious about the new clothes Insy brought me. It was rare that I got brand-new outfits back in the village. And now I have a wardrobe’s worth.

The first dress I pull out is extraordinary—light blue with gold-embroidered edging. It has thin straps that connect to two panels, that fall down my chest, offering cleavage down to my belly button, baring my shoulders, ribs, and back. The dress would reach my shins with a high split up the front of one leg. A gold-and-blue brooch sits on the belt that cinches the dress.

There are no such gowns back in the village, so of course, I need to try it on. I strip down to my underwear and reach for the dress, still unable to believe that such a garment belongs to me. I step into it and wriggle it over my body as the fabric whispers over my skin. It’s absurdly revealing yet captivatingly beautiful.

When I stand in front of the mirror, I forget how to breathe.

I appear to have a small waist for the first time, and it shows the soft inner and outer curves of my breasts. Perhaps such dresses were made for girls with smaller chests because this outfit would leave me blushing.

In truth, I don’t recognize myself, yet I love how it fits me as though it were sewn perfectly just for me. I turn sideways, running my hands over my waist.