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We open the dungeon door to find a woman with marmalade hair and pointy, upturned nose, blocking our way.

"R-Renee! What are you doing here—"

She peers behind me, spies Fox and the lack of chains around her wrists. "I could ask you the same. You mentioned being busy today and havingsomany responsibilities to tend to. I thought you might need some help, so I followed you here."

She's lying. I should've known the night we were all drinking that none of my lies had placated her suspicions. Nothing can get past her. At least not when it comes to me and her brother, the two people she knows best in this world.

"My turn for a question.” Arms folding, she stares me down. “What are you doing withher?"

The words congeal in my throat like curdled blood.

"Here, you appear to be struggling with that answer. Let me help you. You've come to release your aunt, and presumably the children she bore, as well. Does that sound about right to you?"

There's no point in arguing now. Not with her, and not when the truth is so glaringly obvious.

"You don't understand, Renee—"

Her hand shoots up to block anything else I might've said. "Oh, no. I do. You've always been a softy, Malachi. And despite what your father might have you believe, it's not a weakness. It's one of your strengths. One of the things that makes you so much better than any of us."

I must not be hearing her correctly.

"So…you're not going to try to stop us?"

A look of incredulity wrinkles her expression."Thatwouldbe a nice thing for me to do for you, but unfortunately, I'm not as soft as you. There are things I want."

"For fuck's sake, Renee. I don't exactly have the time to be playing your games right now. What is it that you want?"

"You know what I want."

Of course,I do. She’s been practically screaming it at me for years. I just didn't think it would come to this. Not here. And certainly not now.

"You...you wantme? That's what this is about?"

She huffs her impatience. "Have I been anything but obvious with my intentions all these years? Consistent in my pursuit of you? Of course that's what I'm demanding as my price—and don't you dare try to tell me it's unfair. What you're doing, is so far beyond treason, your father could have us both killed if he deemed it a suitable punishment."

He wouldn't though. Not with me being his only heir.

But that’s a protection only I possess. Now that Renee knows what I'm doing, she's at risk of the most severe of punishments. It's why I didn't want any of them knowing.

"I've tried patiently winning your heart fair and square, but you're too stubborn to know what's good for you. And—" she inches closer. I'm still too shocked by her arrival and stunned by how swiftly events have devolved into blackmail, that I can’t even bring myself to blink, let alone move. I just stand here, stiff as the metal door cracked open beside us, as she presses herself against me. She looks up through her long lashes. Blinks them slowly. "If this is how I secure our union, so be it. You'll grow to forgive me in time. I think you'll even—"

"Ourunion?"

I shove her away and stagger a step back myself. I bump into my aunt behind me but it’s almost worth it, just to put some distance between me and the succubus of a woman before me.

There have been times in our lives when I've referred to her as a sister. That was a long time ago, when we were much younger, butstill.

I've never quite been able to make myself see her in the romantic light she wants me to. Not even for a single, drunken night of passion, let alone for the remainder of our lives in matrimony.

"I thought you meant a kiss! Or—or perhaps a romp in one of the more luxurious bedchambers once we finished the Hunt! But marriage? Marriage? You're blackmailing me for a betrothal?"

"You thought I’d settle for a kiss?" A haughty laugh escapes her. "You think too small, Malachi. This is what I’m talking about. Youneedme."

My jaw creaks like an unhinged door as I'm left utterly stunned. But it's more than that. Stunned is looking up at the clouds and swearing that your mother's face is among them. Stunned is watching a young doe enjoy a peaceful graze and not noticing the cougar as it bursts from the trees, killing the creature with one clean chomp to the neck.

I'm more than stunned by Renee's proposition.

I'm scandalized.