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He barked a laugh. “Born that way.”

I glared harder at him.

“Doll, tonight is a performance on a tightrope. If you can’t even say her name out loud, I’ll be the one tumbling off.”

I grit my teeth. “Nothingis going to happen.”

“That depends more on you than it does on me.”

“This is Bunny’sthing.” Ace wouldn’t let nothing happen tonight.

“I hope you’re right.”

I narrowed my eyes at his lack of faith. “This is his bread ‘n butter.”

“Good. Now tell me again where we’re going.”

I took a breath, but her name came easier this time. Less frightening. Less… world-shattering. “Bella’s house.”

“Good.”

“Hopefully to kill her,” I muttered.

He snorted, but didn’t argue, and I looked back down at the blood oozing down his neck and felt better. Now, he’d better let me finish without ruining it again.

Once we were done, he headed straight for the bathroom mirror.

I watched, suddenly nervous, as he examined the mark. I couldn’t stop staring now it was there—the prettiest ‘N+T’ carved into his skin.

Me and him, immortalised forever.

There was a long, long silence as he stared at the mark, and it went on so long my heart started racing.

“Is it okay?” My whisper came out more nervous than I planned.

Did he… hate it?

Then he turned, lifted me onto the counter, plucking Bunny and the bloody knife from my hand, and drew me into a kiss that stole my breath. His fingers wound through my hair as histongue drove into my mouth. His ink and antique wood scent was possessive, and happier than I was used to.

I was dizzy by the time he drew back, a smile wobbling on my lips.

“It’s perfect,” he said.

My eyes drifted down to it again, and heat flooded my cheeks, eyes burning with tears. I loved him so much.

“You’re mine, Little Doll,” he told me. “Forever. And you’re going to do amazing tonight.”

As we drove to the party that evening, Knox was still, head resting against the window of the limo, not making eye contact with the others. I was tucked under his arm, and he softened when he looked down at me, but with the muzzle fixed to his face again, he was on edge.

“Remember what I said, Little Doll,” he whispered to me. “I’ll be watching for how much you keep those mates of yours in check.”

My cheeks heated, and I glanced at the others.

Oh boy, that would not be easy, Bunny.

Rogue had reached for the chain when we’d entered, humour dancing in his eyes, but Knox let out one of the most vicious growls I’d ever heard. Rogue backed off, but I got the impression by how unbothered he was, that he still thought it was more amusing than anything else.

The only downside was that Ace had said one chain only—he wanted emphasis on Knox’s fall from power. So I didn’t get a pretty golden chain to tug on if Ace wandered too far from me.