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Severin nodded. “Yes. Thank you for sharing all of this with us.”

“Of course,” she said, rising and nearly fleeing the room.

As we left, Nika leaned toward Severin. “I have some more information about the supernatural for you.”

Dammit. He’d given her the task of researching ghosts.

Nika was like a dog with a bone, and she’d never let go once she sank her teeth in. She’d uncover the secrets of my form for sure.

It was only a matter of time.

Chapter Twenty-One

Xeniya Morozova

Age 35

Iushered Neeve out of the Russian compound and into an unmarked car, where she began to—understandably—hyperventilate.

My phone buzzed again. With an annoyed huff, I pulled it from my purse and stared at the screen.

(212) 555-2666:

It was very naughty of you to mess with my programs, Xeniya.

My heart hammered against my ribs like a war drum. Damon had my number. But of course he did. He was nearly as talented a hacker as I was… maybe even more so.

Bile rose in my throat.

Three dots appeared on the screen. He was typing.

It was Damon. I knew it in my bones. It had to be him after the stunt he’d just pulled.

I glanced at Neeve, who was still freaking the fuck out. She wrapped her arms around her knees, barely catching her breath.

Fuck.

I couldn’t deal with his messages and her breakdown at the same time.

Damon:

Mess with me, my love, and I will mess with you.

Love?

Damon:

And I don’t want to mess with you. Not like this. I want you, but not like this, my Little Rabbit.

Liar.

My fingers tightened around the phone. He fucking loved messing with me like this, playing puppet master and pulling all our strings.

My throat constricted, and for a moment, I could almost feel his hands around it again, just like during the Gauntlet. Even his words felt like they were strangling me.

A low howl tore from Neeve, pulling my attention away from the screen. Damon and my feelings could wait.

Neeve couldn’t.