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A wicked grin spread across Cyn’s face. “I’m up. Now what?”

With Cyn’s instability, and the obvious challenge Raelynn presented to him, it wouldn’t take much to set him off.

As much as I wanted to intervene, I trusted Ezra. If he didn’t think I should interfere, then I wouldn’t. He outranked us but never ordered us around without just cause. If he wanted to stop me, I trusted he had reason—even if I didn’t like the rising tension in the air.

Raelynn’s eyes closed, and she took a slow, deliberate breath. When she opened them again, she lifted her hand and pointed to the side. “This is my home.” She jabbed Cyn in the chest with her finger. “You will respect me in my home.” Another jab. “You will follow the rules we’ll figure out together, or you will leave. Without them.” She pointed in our direction. “You will not force me to punish them because you’re an insufferable ass.” She jabbed him one final time. “You’re not an heir to anything here.”

I chuckled, biting the pad of my thumb. I hadn’t expected her to stand up to Cyn that way, and Zeke’s gaping mouth said he hadn’t either.

Cyn stepped forward, forcing Raelynn back as his body pressed against hers. He continued moving until her back met the wall.

Ezra’s eyes met mine, and he shook his head.

At this point, I was curious how Raelynn would handle Cyn acting out, so I leaned back against the sofa and crossed my arms to enjoy the show.

Still, if he stepped out of line, I’d move. Ezra knew that as well as I did.

13

RULES

RAE

Maybe I miscalculated when I decided to put my foot down.

I’ve always refused to be a victim of bullying and would fight back when needed, but standing my ground against a demon who didn’t care about consequences felt suicidal now that I’d followed through.

“Cyn, don’t hurt her,” Zeke said.

“You said it yourself,” Cyn started, his grin returning. “I won’t hurt her unless she wants me to.” He wrapped a hand around the front of my throat.

“Cyn,” Ash warned.

Cyn angled his head. “Do you want me to hurt you?”

I glared at him, and his amber eyes brightened in amusement at my spite. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of hearing the trepidation in my voice when he could feel my racing pulse beneath his fingers.

“Is that a yes?” He leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “I could make it so good for you.” His whisper weakened my knees and fogged my mind.

I didn’t like the effect he had on me, or how my mind pivoted between fear and desire—the kind born of adrenaline and proximity, not anything real.

His nose brushed my hair, and he inhaled, groaning. His voice lowered. “Why do you smell like this? It’s not normal.”

“Fuck you,” I hissed through gritted teeth.

The seductive quality of his raspy whisper vanished when he said, “If you stay away from Zeke, sure.”

I blinked; my racing thoughts stopped cold.

Zeke?

My gaze slid over Cyn’s shoulder to where the others sat watching us. Zeke looked nervous, his eyes darting from Cyn to me, hands clenched on the table as if he wanted to jump up and do something. I looked at Cyn again.

“What do you mean?”

“Simple. He wants you.”

I scoffed. “No, he doesn’t.”