Page 29 of Magic of Sins

“Don’t ever lay a hand on my property again, Jared,” Caden threatens. “You won’t get off so easily next time.”

“Look, I didn’t know she was…” Jared protests weakly.

A growl similar to that of an animal predator rises from Caden’s throat, abruptly silencing Jared.

Caden is so angry, I don’t dare protest as he drags me toward the entrance of the strip club. My half-unzipped dress flaps around my waist. Humiliated, I lower my head, sobbing quietly and unable to stop. Everyone can see me like this, but hardly anyone looks. Is a sobbing, half-naked girl so common in a place like this that no one bothers with it? Or are they just as scared ofCaden as Jared and Amy are?

We leave the strip club behind us. Caden doesn’t stop until we’re standing in an alley so dark, I can barely see my hand in front of my face.

My mind goes blank. Suddenly, I’m completely at the mercy of my senses. I hear Caden’s breath close to my ear, feel it bursting in small puffs on my face. The wall of the building is rough and unyielding at my back as Caden presses me against it. His fingers still clutch my wrist. For a moment, I’m paralyzed.

“Damn it, Kaya! Have you lost your mind? You can’t just run off like that. And what the hell were you doing in that strip club anyway?”

Caden’s flattened palm slams against the wall next to my head. I flinch and my heart skips a beat before jolting back to life. Even in the darkness, I can see the storm raging in Caden’s gray-blue eyes. He seems so unrestrained that my stomach sinks with fear.

“You’re hurting me,” I choke out, trying to break free from him.

Caden immediately loosens his grip. The storm in his eyes subsides, and his voice becomes strangely gentle.

“You can’t just… This is the East End, Kaya. The fucking East End!”

As if I didn’t know that myself.

“I shouldn’t have brought you here. I shouldn’t have…”

Caden hesitates. A moment ago I wasn’t sure, but now I am—his voice is shaking. With anger? Or was he seriously worried about me?

Only now do realize I that I’m still standing in front of him in just my bra. I’m suddenly glad about the darkness that surrounds us. Not only because this way my bare skin and glowing cheeks are hidden from Caden, but also because this way he can’t see what his closeness is doing to me. It’s confusingme. It awakens a shimmering longing I didn’t know I could feel. Shocked, I shut my eyes tightly and force myself to breathe calmly.

“May I get dressed again?” I ask quietly.

Caden huffs. “Of course.”

He lets go of me and turns away, taking two steps farther into the alley. I pull my dress on but I struggle to close it, my hands are shaking so badly. When it’s halfway zipped, I just give up. I’m a picture of misery.

“Caden?” I ask timidly.

Caden turns back to me. “Yes?”

“What you said back there…”

She’s mine.

Don’t ever lay hands on my property again, Jared.

“It was the only way to convince that bastard to release you. A sin mage can stake a claim on his victims, then no one else has the right to mess with them.”

“Sounds lovely,” I reply, sniffling.

“Welcome to my world.”

He seems to have calmed down a little more.

“Did they do something to you?” he asks, worry lacing his voice.

They made me eat strawberries.

It sounds silly even to me, and I’m embarrassed to admit that I had so little self-control. Jared had no trouble manipulating me. If Caden hadn’t come…

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