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"You’re a little ill-mannered you know that" He pushed her now and she stumbled back into the wall in surprise, unable to believe that this jerk was actually accosting her He pressed up against her before she couldher stomach

"What is your probleainst hion to a Bitar client under your father’s roof?"

She saw a flicker of so a hand down onto her hip, his other hand stroking her cheek Ari turned and bit at hih "You’re not just any client, Ari You’re so else An Important Why? What makes you so special? My parents won’t tellto kick your ass"

"Try an to coalesce within her and Ari tried to glance around to see if anyone was about but the hallas deathly quiet She couldn’t even feel the huy Crap, just when she needed the damn Ifrit to sain but he just pressed harder against her, his nose now trailing along her neck Ari shivered, terrified He wouldn’t try to do anything, right? Not here?

"You know," David whispered in her ear "There are ru around that Jai has an unhealthy interest in you"

There are? Her heart leapt at the thought

"I think Ihe clearly wants for himself" His hand disappeared under Ari’s shorts and her blood instantly ran cold as she stilled

The sticky, thick blackness spread across her lungs liness ripped itself apart fro out of her body as if she werewas difficult It was happening again The voice that ru than she could ever be "I coo of her and stepped back, his eyes wide and afraid

Ari grinned evilly at hiain," she commanded "Nor any other woain, nor any other woman without her permission," he repeated, du he was still in control of his own body

Task done, the anger that had unleashed the darkness began to ease and Ari fought to snap back in control of herself Her frantic breaths filled the hallway and furious tears glistened in her eyes She’d just used the power of the Seal against a nobody Oh god, oh god, oh god

Think, Ari, think!

Shuddering, Ari wrapped her arlared at the piece of scu she was ashamed of "I command you to never tell anyone I commanded you at all I command you to keep this encounter with me to yourself" Her voice was her own but it shook with the demand

David nodded, his jaw clenched in fury now too "I understand"

And just for good measure… "I command you to never question anyone about whom and what I am"

If it was possible his face turned purple with frustration and anger "Understood"

Warily, Ari stepped around hi cold for the first ti roo under her feet when she reached the doorway to the rooht of them forced Ari to calm down She had to pretend that she hadn’t just coh he had been trying to ainst her will) And no o crazy if he found out David had just tried to inti the three of them, Ari realized that despite their faults they all had so been brought up in a suy she had ed words with had just tried to ry at herself for not having reacted faster before the ugly power of the Seal had taken over for her She drew in another shuddering breath She had to act cool or the guys would know so was up She was supposed to be upset with Jai anyway after last night, right? And she and Charlie were still on unstable ground That left Trey, who didn’t know her well enough to knohen souys all turned at the sound of her approach and she gave theue, uncomfortable nod "Did you start withoutconsidering what had went down between theulped when his eyes narrowed Damn He saw too much "You OK?"

"I’m fine," she brushed hiht "Can I spar with Trey today?"

Trey grinned at her "Of course you can, sweetheart" He winked at her flirtatiously and it a could be harain, and this time Trey frowned "Sure you’re OK?"