“No,” she moaned. “Please, no.”

The despair in her voice pierced his Neanderthal brain. What was he doing? Blinking, he tried to bring himself around. Was he… yes, he was biting her. He released her with a hiss of panic, but the glands were pumping, and horror filled him as he felt the hot sting of a drop of bond fluid drip into the bite he’d left. Oh, shit! Maybe it wasn’t enough. She hadn’t gotten a full dose—

“Get off me!”

He scrambled off her, his mind spinning, his body cramping and whacking out with the need for her blood. He’d tasted it, but he needed more. At the same time, shame ripped him apart. It was not okay to bond with someone without their permission. He’d be as bad as all the scumbags who had owned Sin over the years.

She rolled away, grabbed at her clothes, and eyed him like he was a monster. “What did you do to me?”

Gods, he couldn’t even look at her. “Sin…”

“What did you do?” she screamed, shoving to her feet.

“I tried to bond you to me… I stopped before it went too far, I think—”

“You bastard,” she whispered. “You fucking bastard.” She jammed her legs into her pants. “You want to own me, just like everyone else. I’d be just another possession, wouldn’t I? And what will you do when you get tired of me?”

He didn’t think that was possible, but right now, she wouldn’t believe his denial, and he couldn’t blame her at all. “I’m sorry, Sin.” He stood, zipped up, hated himself for how his hand shook.

“Sorry?” She snorted. “You’re such a hypocrite, Con… You accused me of having a wall around my heart, but do you even realize that you do the same thing? You take risks with your body because you won’t with your heart. You can’t get attached to anything, so you’re always changing up cars, jobs, friends.” She snorted again. “Friends. What a joke, huh? That’s why they’re human, isn’t it? You don’t have to keep them for long if you’re always having to dump them before they get suspicious.”

Shock rippled through him. She was right. Holy shit, she was right on the money. He lurched backward, slapped by the stark truth she’d hit him with. He wasn’t easily bored… he was just too damned afraid to get attached to anything. Gods, what a selfish piece of shit he was. He’d forced Sin to confront her fears, her feelings, and all the while he’d had the same issues. The same wall.

For far worse reasons. He’d gotten himself addicted to a female’s blood, and then, after she’d been killed and he’d been banished from the clan, he’d spent his life blaming everyone but himself for all of it. He’d thought he was carefree, happy, experiencing life just to prove that he didn’t need anyone or anything.

You are a spoiled wretch who should have been brought to heel centuries ago. Bran had been right. Just like Sin.

But now, more than ever, he couldn’t weaken. Not when it came to her. He wanted her so badly it hurt, as if his heart had been wrapped in razor wire. She didn’t deserve a spoiled, selfish wretch like him, and he couldn’t bond with her even if she wanted him to. He couldn’t tie her down like that.

And he couldn’t be with her without being bonded to her.

“You’re right, Sin.” Gods, his chest ached. He rubbed it, and it felt caved in. Hollow. “So there’s nothing left to say. You should go.”

He was pretty sure she’d take him up on that, but sure as Sheoul smelled like brimstone, she was Sin, so she did the exact opposite. She finished dressing and planted her feet.

“I don’t think so. You accused me of running from things, and now you’re doing the same thing? You need to feel, Con,” she said, hurling his words back in his face. “You don’t get to throw me away because I refuse to be a possession. Owning a person is a way to have them without admitting you feel something. So no. You don’t get to do that. You can have me, but only because you want me and I want you. I get the addiction thing, but you know what? Somehow we’ll handle it. Maybe Eidolon can help. Or a sorcerer. I know a few good ones.”

Jesus. She was serious. Even after what he’d just done, she still wanted to be with him. It was tempting, so fucking tempting, and he’d always been a gambler. But he would not gamble with Sin’s life.

“The clan will kill you, Sin. They don’t allow addiction. And even if I manage to get cured, I can’t be near you or it’ll start up again.”

“I’m not afraid of your damned clan.”

No, she wouldn’t be, would she. His stomach turned over at the realization that there was only one thing he could do now. He had to throw rocks. And this time, he had to aim well. Better to see her hurt than dead. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Man up, asshole. Yeah, because it was so manly to kick a female while she was down.

“You don’t get it, little demon.” He deliberately made his voice toneless, but it took effort, and he prayed his voice wouldn’t break. “You were right. You’d be a possession to me. I do care for you. Now. But in a few months, maybe a couple of years, you won’t appeal to me anymore. I’ll want something shiny and new. Probably taller. Blonder.” Yeah, that rock had sharp edges.

A flush spread from her forehead to the swells of her breasts, and she stepped back with uncharacteristic awkwardness. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I shouldn’t have let Luc talk me into that bet. I never should have fucked you even though that’s all any succubus is good for.” A soft gasp escaped her, and shame made the ground shift beneath him. Instinct made him want to fold her into his arms and fix her hurt, but instead, he steeled himself to finish it. “What? Why do you look so surprised? You area sex demon. Did you think we could ride off into the sunset, set up a house and fuck up a bunch of kids? The only thing I’ve ever wanted from you is sex and blood. Fucking and feeding go together for me, and since I can’t feed from you anymore…” He gestured to the door. “Get out, and don’t ever come near me again.”

Before his eyes, Sin changed. Left the building. The female who had finally found a bit of softness, kindness, and acceptance disappeared behind a cold, remote mask. Only the very slight tremor in her fingers as she jammed them into her pocket gave away any sign of emotion. He thought she was going for a weapon—he certainly deserved it.

Instead, she drew out a neatly folded square of bills. She peeled off two fives and dropped them on the floor. “The ten bucks I owe you.”

She walked out of the flat and out of his life. When the door closed, so softly he barely heard it, he retched. Barely made it to the toilet.

He’d done it. He’d finally thrown the rock that hurt her. That drove her away for good.

Sin didn’t cry. She couldn’t afford to. Not yet. She had to talk to her brothers.

Her brothers.

It struck her that not only did she feel the need to go to them, but for the first time, she truly acknowledged what they were. Yes, she’d known they were siblings, but at some point, they’d actually become family to her. And crazily enough, her first instinct was to go to them.

And didn’t it just figure that the first one she ran into at UG would be Wraith.

“Smurfette!” He grinned as she stepped out of the Harrowgate. “Where’s Con? Some warg was just here and he said Con left the sanctuary with you.” When she didn’t reply because her throat had closed up, Wraith’s smile faltered, and his voice gentled. “Lore’s here. I think he’s in E’s office.”

She started down the hall, and Wraith fell into step beside her, his silence both surprising and oddly comforting. When she got to E’s office, though, Shade was there instead of Lore.

Shade pushed himself off the wall he’d been leaning against. “Where’s Con?”

Why was everyone so freaking curious about him?She wanted to scream at them to shut up, but the moment she let loose, the waterworks would start and all those emotions Con had wanted her to feelwould lay her flat. “Not important,” she said crisply. “What’s up with the vaccine?”