A Dangerous Obsession

Threerejections.Threeshattereddreams.ThatwasLayla’sreality,allbecauseshewasdifferent—ahalf-shifterinaworldobsessedwithpurity.Ostracized,shunned,andfinallysoldofflikeapawntothemostfearedruleralive—theLycanKing.Hewasruthless,akingwithagraveyardofbrides,eachoneaghostlyreminderofafateworsethandeath.Laylaloathedhim.Hatedthewayhisgazecoldandfathomless,heldnowarmthforher.Hatedhowhistouch,boththrillingandterrifying,sentanuninvitedchilldownherspine.---“Ihateyou!”Iscreamed,handsclenchedsotightmyknucklesached.Hesighed,asmirkcurlingattheedgeofhislips,histonemockingasheclosedhisbookwithadeliberatesnap.“Stressed,arewe?”heasked,strollingtowardme,eachstepremindingmeexactlywhoheldthepowerhere.“Luckyforyou,”hedrawled,rollinguphissleevesashestoppedjustinchesaway,“Iknowexactly70waystoeasethosenerves.”Hisfingersbrushedmycheek,atouchthatseemedtoburnintomyskin.“Thefirst…ahug.”Hisvoicedroppedtoaroughwhisperasheleanedin,breathhotagainstmyear.“Andtherest...well,that's69?whatdoyousayaboutthat?”Iswallowedhard,myheartthuddingwildlyashetiltedhishead,waitingformetoreact,thatinsufferablesmirkstillinplace.“What’sthematter,darling?”hemurmured,atauntlingeringinhisgaze.---ADangerousObsessionCansheresistthepull,orwillshedanceintotheflamesofherowndestruction?Adarkdiveintoobsession,rawneed,andtherazor’sedgebetweendesireanddevastation.---LYCANKINGCASSIANIwilltearherapartpiecebypiece,feedingthewildfirethatgripsherwitheachshudderedbreath.Likeairtoflame,I’llclaimeveryinch,drawingheatfromherskinuntilitsinksintoherbones.Herpulsewillraceundermyhands,herbreathsshallow,pleading.Hereyesmayscream,butherlipswillstillmurmurmyname.Thatfirsttasteoffearwillonlyfeedsomethingdeeper—aneedthatburnsthroughherveins,moltenandfierce.Andjustwhenshe’stoofargonetoturnback,I’lltwisttheknife,givingherthepainshe’slearnedtocrave.She’llbethemothtomyflame,helplessagainsttheverythingthatwillconsumeher.