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“Hardly. They don’t give someone like me an office.”

She knew so little about who he was. About what he had done. About what he might be capable of doing. Perhaps she was getting lost in his charm and charisma, things he seemed able to don when needed.

“What exactly does the council have you do?” she asked.

He turned to her with wickedness in his eyes. “Go on, ask what you really want to know.”

“Only so you can refuse to answer me?”

He closed the distance between them and towered over her. It was remarkable how quickly he could switch to the more menacing version of himself.

“Make you a deal, Winters.” His words danced over her dangerously. “I’ll answer your question in exchange for a kiss.”

She froze. A what? Had she heard him correctly? He must be joking, but he gave no indication that he was. “You can’t be serious.”

“Quite so, I’m afraid.”

A kiss in exchange for information about him? Ridiculous. Out of the question…except she was burning with curiosity about him. “What is this? Some power play where you show me how a Dawson can always get his way?”

He chuckled and stepped even closer. Tilting his head to the side, his hand reached out. When his fingers grazed her jaw and his eyes moved to her lips, she forgot how to breathe. “Is it so hard to believe I’m simply curious?”

His thumb brushed against her lips, and her blood hummed in her veins.

“Curious about what?”

Dawson leaned in, his lips hovering over hers like an empty promise. “How you taste.”

She could feel his cold spearmint breath dance over her, and she wanted to lean in. Give in. Her heartbeat hammered in her ears. What was his angle? She tried to understand what game he was playing while warring with herself not to pull him closer, to seal her lips on his.

“It’s just a kiss, Winters.”

Nothing was ever just anything with him. He always had a larger scheme at play. But his offer was simple: information about him he wouldn’t otherwise give in exchange for a kiss. It didn’t mean anything.

“And you’ll answer truthfully?”

“I’m many things,” he drawled. “A liar is not one of them.”

It took a moment for her to ask the question. “Are you killing Wielders for the council?”

He stilled against her, his silver eyes turning dark. She held her breath, waiting for a response. Perhaps he would not answer and forgo the kiss. His hand went slowly to the side of her neck, his thumb balanced against her pulse point, but he remained otherwise motionless. The gesture was sensual, but his eyes had turned cold as stone. His fingers on her neck tightened just a smidge before he answered: “Yes.” It was a breath against her lips and then he kissed her. Hard. His lips slanted against hers, demanding everything.

She shouldn’t like the feeling of his lips on hers.

She should despise it.

His left hand went to her lower back, pulling her closer until their bodies touched. His tongue moved with determination, and she opened her mouth for him. When his tongue brushed against hers, her brain went blank. It was as if he claimed her with every kiss, every touch. But as her hands went to the lapels of his jacket, to anchor herself in this whirlwind of endorphins, she thought back to his answer. Yes. He was in effect an assassin for the council.

Against her body’s will, she stopped.

“A kiss. That’s all you said.”

He smirked. “Guess I should have asked for more.”

Their bodies were still pressed together, and she looked at him breathlessly. “What about the war?”

All the playfulness from a moment ago vanished in an instant. His face looked tight, and his eyes seemed to have lost all humanity. “What about it?” Even his voice had cooled.

Was it wise to keep pushing him? Perhaps not, but she was finally getting some answers. “What exactly happened to you during the war?”