Page 39 of The Madness Within

He just needed to exist.

And in that moment, he existed entirely for me.

And I knew I’d never be the same again.

His eyes locked on mine, and somethinginsideme jolted. Like I just looked at a wolf and saw it smile.

“Ember Carr,” he said, lips curling. “I’ve listened to your podcast. Bit dramatic, but I enjoy the voice.”

Snapping out of it, I lifted my phone. “Recording. So if you try anything—”

In a blur, he’sthere.

One hand around my wrist. The other plucked the phone gently from my fingers. “You don’t bring a podcast to a murder scene, sweetheart,” he murmured.

“Jesus!” I gasped.

“Took the night off.”

His voice was molten. Measured. Like he’s done this a hundred times. Like he’s already undressing my panic.

He studied me. His pupils blown wide, magic dancing just beneath his skin.

I felt it. Like a hand at my throat that didn’t touch. Like a spell wrapping around my ribs, pulling tighter with every breath.

He pocketed my phone. A sigh escaped him. “Now the question is… what do I do with you?”

I yanked my arm back, adrenaline battling lust, fury mixing with somethingdarker.“Let me go. Or I swear to God I’ll—”

He chuckled.

Slow. Low. Unforgivable.

“God again. You really think he’s tuned into this zip code?”

“You’re a psychopath.”

“And you’re trespassing,” he said, turning back to the corpse. “Technically, you’re interfering with a sentencing.”

I glanced at the body. My stomach flipped. “You killed a man.”

“No,” he said without turning. “I killed a monster in human skin. He murdered five boys. Wore their teeth in a pouch. The court gave him a second chance. I gave him a verdict.”

Silence swelled between us. It felt like it waswatching.

“You’re not going to kill me,” I whispered.

He looked over his shoulder, head tilted. “Bold assumption.”

“If you were, you’d have done it already.”

He stepped closer. Too close. “No,” he admitted softly. “I’m not going to kill you.” I exhaled, barely. “But Iamgoing to keep you.”

My heart stopped.

“Excuse me?”

“I can’t have you running your pretty mouth about me to your listeners,” he said, already turning again. “And clearly, I can’t trust you to mind your own business.”

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