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  I glanced down at the blood bag clutched in Ryker’s hand. It smelled so good—like life and wine and chocolate all rolled into one. I wanted to drown in it, bathe in it, revel in the taste and smell. I wanted to consume it for the rest of eternity.

  “Clara?” Ryker’s forehead creased with worry.

  My throat tightened and pain tore through me as my Reaper clawed for the surface. I wanted it so badly I could taste it. My hand darted out of its own accord, but Ryker was faster. He pulled the bag back before I could grab it, pushing to his feet in the same moment.

  Now he’d deny me it?

  The thought was mine, but it didn’t feel like me. It tore through me with such ferocity that I leapt to my feet with a snarl and lunged across the table to grab for the life nectar.

  Ryker slammed into the kitchen wall. I reached for the bag in his hand but he held it high over my head. I lunged for it, but with our height difference, I’d have to scale his muscled body to reach it.

  I ground my teeth as I desperately clawed at his arm, trying to gain a hold of him and pull it back down.

  “Clara, stop this,” Ryker snapped. “You can fight it. Get ahold of yourself.”

  I reached and leapt and grabbed, but I couldn’t quite make it. Frustration boiled over and I snapped my hand out to reach into the void where my scythe lay. If he’d deny me sustenance than I’d cut his arm off and take it.

  Before I could tear through reality and find my weapon, Ryker snapped up both of my wrists and spun me around, pushing me up against the wall. Instead of his back thrust up against the peeling wallpaper, it was mine, my hands suspended above me, and his hard body pressing against every inch of me.

  I inhaled sharply. Despite my frayed state, a heat of an entirely different kind washed over my senses and made me squirm.

  “Clara, come back,” he said. He searched my eyes, but I couldn’t hold his gaze. His irises looked too much like blood, and it sent my mind spiraling all over again.

  I writhed beneath him, twisting my wrists and bucking my hips to get him off of me, but no matter what I did, Ryker wouldn’t budge. He grunted every time I moved my hips, but his grip was steel and I might as well be water washing off of him. I was ineffective against his massive stature and sheer strength.

  “Release me,” I demanded, panting from the exertion.

  Ryker moved, though from my position I couldn’t tell what exactly he was doing. He reached for the blood bag and I licked my lips. I bucked hard, but then the smell of blood was cut off.

  My nostrils flared as I inhaled deeply, but the smell was so faint that I whined. The heat faded from my skin, and slowly I got my breath back. I was tired and dizzy by the time Demon Bitch relinquished her hold on me.

  I leaned my head back against the wall, and met Ryker’s gaze. “I failed.”

  Ryker sighed, his warm breath brushing my face. I stiffened, finally realizing the hold I was in. My cheeks burned and my eyes widened. Ryker’s face was inches from mine, and with the whole length of him pressed up against me, I had a pretty good idea of what Ryker looked like without clothes on. Were all vampires this ripped?

  “Um,” I mumbled. My legs were jelly all of a sudden, warmth and an unfamiliar desire to fill the space between my thighs spreading over me. “You can let me go now.”

  Stupid, Clara! Why would you say that?!

  Him letting me go was possibly the last thing in the world I wanted.

  Ryker smiled, a knowing look in his eyes. Shit, I’m caught. Slowly, he released my wrists. His hands traveled down my sides until they rested on my hips. He didn’t ask, but I saw the challenge in his eyes asking ‘Are you sure?’

  I bit my lip on a groan. No, I wasn’t sure, but there were still so many unanswered questions between us that I didn’t think I could do this right now.

  Ryker must have sensed my hesitation because he gently released me and gave me space. He returned the blood bag to his jacket pocket while I caught my breath. “You did well today,” he said. “All things considered.”

  So we’re pretending that didn’t just happen?

  “Yeah, not too bad until the end there,” I said. I wiped my sweaty palms on my shorts and went for a glass of water while Ryker slipped his jacket back on. “Leaving so soon?”

  “Unfortunately,” Ryker said, frowning. He really did look sorry to go. “I have business to take care of. I won’t be able to visit tomorrow, but if you need anything at all, call me.” He raised his eyebrows meaningfully as he always did. It had become another routine of ours. He really did mean it when he said he wanted to help me.

  “I’ll call if I need anything,” I assured him.

  “Good.” He stepped closer, stealing away the breath I’d just gotten back. “Be good.” His fingers brushed through my hair gently before he gave me a tender kiss on the forehead.

  Then, like the vampire he was, he vanished.

  I sighed as the air settled around me. “Fucking vampires.”

  Continue Clara’s journey today!

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  About the Author

  Katherine Bogle is the bestselling author QUEEN OF THIEVES and HER WOLF, as well as the international bestselling DOMINION RISING series.

  She first found success with her debut novel, Haven, which came second in the World’s Best Story contest 2015. Since then, she has gone on to release 17 books with one core theme: kick-butt heroines. Though her series may span genres—from fantasy, to steampunk to science fiction—she will always write about strong women overcoming the odds.

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  Also by Katherine Bogle

  SILVER SHIFTER

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  CLOCKWORK THIEF

  Queen of Thieves

  Daughter of Chaos

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  Empress of Annihilation

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  Goddess of Death

  CHRONICLES OF WARSHARD

  Haven

  Savages

  Ashen

  Fyre: A Short Story Collection

  The Blood Amulet: A Short Story

  DOMINION RISING

  The Aldar Dominion

  The Zahkx Alliance

  The Darri Commission

  The Stowaway Experiment: A FREE Short Story

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