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Only I wanted an entirely different kind of hunt, one where I chased my little sexy dancer, requiring her full submission when I caught her.

And I would hunt, capture, and keep her.

Forever…

Seconds turned into minutes, my needs increasing, the deep cravings drifting into a dangerous level. Even my breathing had become entirely too ragged, my heart racing. I could easily devour the girl.

I only hoped this wasn’t the only dance I would be gifted with seeing. If so, I would require one more in private. She was perfect in every way, exactly what a savage like me needed in his life. Yes, my brother was right. I needed a companion, something or someone who could temper the ugliness furrowing inside.

And maybe, just maybe I’d found my perfect specimen, the woman who could provide what little salvation was offered to a monster like me.

CHAPTER 5

Bella

Perfection.

That’s what every dancer strived for, the moment when they could finally be at peace, the music no longer haunting. The choreography and the music itself had been my suggestion, the concerto something I’d heard once, and it had remained with me for almost two years. I don’t know how I’d convinced Gregor, but it was the single time he’d smiled at me, calling me a good girl.

The comment had seemed odd but now it was as if for those few seconds he’d recognized my genius.

“Amazing!” someone cheered.

“What a night,” another voice bellowed.

There were howls and catcalls, whistles and high fives all around. I was bursting with happiness, giddier than I’d ever been after performing, but I also had a strange sense of knowing, feelings that had been entirely different than I’d been used to.

As if I’d been dancing for a single person, no one else in the audience. I’d felt his eyes burning into me, his longing to touch and taste me fracturing a part of my mind. I’d been so into the music, nothing could have pulled me from the darkness that I’d needed to find in order to dance the way the music and the choreography had been intended.

Death.

Love.

Need.

All three twisted into a powerful embrace, a yearning like no other.

The audience had felt every nuance, every emotion as required.

And he’d been watching, waiting, a powerful creature lurking in the shadows like a hungry predator.

Planning what he would do and how he would use my body.

The thought was both delicious and ridiculous, but I’d felt his eyes burning as he studied me from the audience the moment I’d taken the stage. I’d been caught in a freezeframe for ten seconds until Jonas had pinched my arm. Only then had the spell been broken but knowing a mystery man was there had altered my dancing. I’d become lost in a dark fantasy.

I wasn’t certain if I was a bit nuts or just a lonely girl longing to find a special man in her life. My single boyfriend had turned out to be worse than a frog, leaving a horrible taste in my mouth and a lack of desire to go through it again. Whatever the case, I’d thoroughly enjoyed pretending I was dancing for someone incredible who planned on showering me with praise, calling me his good girl. Was I having a daddy figure kind of moment? A giggle erupted from my throat, the elation and adrenaline rush unlike anything I’d felt before.

Still, I couldn’t erase the knowing from my mind even as I sat on the tiny, padded chair in front of a small yet brightly lit mirror. In my mind, I could see his face.

The stranger.

The gloriously gorgeous man. I’d realized I’d fantasized about a nonexistent creature, dancing for him.

And tiny voice inside the back of my mind told me he was coming for me.

I shook off the feelings as Grace smiled from behind me.

“You were fabulous, darling,” she said.