Page 81 of Cursed

Titus’s brows knitted as he studied me with a careful gaze that lingered on my slightly parted lips. “What did you just say?”

“I want to learn from you.” The lie stung as the words rolled off my tongue—a necessary deception.

His tall figure eclipsed the dim light around us and cast an even deeper shadow over the ill-lit library. “Is that so, dear sister?” His voice was low, and dark like his eyes.

“Yes.”

“How are you going to prove that I can trust you?” he asked.

I blinked at him in surprise. “Trust you?” I choked out. “I’m the one who should be asking that question.”

“Youcame tome,” he shot back. “I need to know I can trust you, Avril. I need you toproveto me that I’m not wasting my time.”

“I— how…”

But from the glint in his eye, I knew what he wanted.

It was a good thing I was prepared for that exact demand.

But I had to pretend I wasn’t.

“Titus—”

He reached out to brush his fingertips along my jaw. My skin burned under his touch, and I knew he was using his magic on me, coercing me, reminding me of how it had felt to be under his control—and how much I’d liked it. How much I still craved it.

But I didn’t need the help.

His thumb rubbed across my lower lip. Slow and sensual.

“You know what I want,” he said.

My breath caught and I couldn’t drag my eyes away from his. “Do I?”

Had I pushed too far?

Maybe not.

I knew he wanted me to submit.

And I would. But only to get what I wanted.

Titus’ other hand pushed into my hair and gripped tight at the roots. He tugged gently, but hard enough to make me gasp.

“Get on your knees,” he growled.

That command echoed through the silence of the library, and my heart lurched.

I was walking along a razor’s edge—on the brink of my own undoing.

But I had no choice.

If I wanted his power, if I wanted any hope of distracting him long enough to utter the incantation, I was going to have to play along.

“I...” I hesitated, but only for a moment.

“Do it,” he ordered again, his voice firm.

“Is this how you teach me?” I asked as I looked up to meet his icy stare. I swallowed hard as I tried to suppress the tremor in my voice. “Is this how you teach me? By ordering me around like a servant?”

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