She truly cared about Ss and his mother. If it hadn''t been for Eamon Baker shielding him, Ss would have been long gone.


    And Oliver, God, what a shameless jerk. Back then, he''d done everything to wipe Ss out, but now that he sees some use in him, he''s crawling back like nothing happened.


    What a joke. He''s dreaming if he thinks he can waltz in and get what he wants. If he dares to show his face, she''s ready to deal with him.


    She wasn''t about to let the man she cared about get hurt. Not a chance!


    "You know, Callie, you''re wonderful. If Ss''s mom were still around, she''d have loved you."


    "She always wanted a daughter," Ss said, his eyes dark and unreadable as he looked at Calliope.


    Calliope nodded, "I saw pictures of her. I liked her too. She was a real knockout."


    ...


    Next room over.


    Oliver was practically doubled over from the pain between his legs. That split he''d been forced into damn near tore every muscle he had. He was losing his mind. He red at the bodyguards who''d just been dancing with him.


    “A bunch of idiots! Did I tell you to dance? I''m in agony here, probably cursed, and you''re all out there shaking your butts like it''s prom night?"


    "Morons! Absolute morons!"


    He kept cursing, but it didn''t make him feel any better, especially with his legs throbbing like hell.


    He was furious. He wanted to tear Calliope apart.


    And then he remembered what she''d said: if he didn''t take the antidote, he''d just keep on dancing.


    He didn''t know if she was bluffing or not, but with how out of control his body felt, it scared him.


    He nced at his bodyguards. They''d clearly heard what Calliope said, too.


    One of them hesitantly spoke up, "Um, Ms. White mentioned there might be some chocte-covered raisins in her room. Should I go ask for some?"


    Oliver''s face turned pale.


    When he didn''t answer, the bodyguard shrugged and went to get the "chocte raisins."


    Blythe eyed the bodyguard suspiciously as he came in. "Why are you looking for chocte raisins here?"


    She could hardly believe it. She was


    ng her mind over those


    and now someone was actually asking for them.


    "They''re useful," the bodyguard said bluntly.


    Blythe rolled her eyes. "Help There''s a ton in there.


    yourself


    rabbit?


    so


    Never seen an animalet


    much in my life..."


    She was genuinely impressed-if that''s the word.


    The bodyguard scooped up a handful of "chocte raisins."


    "Just take them away, seriously," Blythe said, looking disgusted.


    gidde


    Meanwhile, Portia and Mavis, who were in on the whole chocte raisin thing, snuck over with Calliope to Oliver''s door, practically with curiosity.


    The three of them hovered outside, wondering if Oliver would actually eat the rabbit''s droppings.


    Calliope had another reason for being there, though.


    If Oliver really ate them, she nned to tell him the truth: they didn''t work at all. He''d eaten them for nothing.


    She was going to make sure he never forgot it.


    They watched as the bodyguard handed over the "chocte raisins" to Oliver.


    Oliver stared down at the handful of rabbit poop, his expression torn. "Do I really have to eat this?"


    He looked like he might be sick.


    "You have to, sir," the bodyguard said seriously. "It''s for your own good. What if you lose control again?"


    That did make a kind of twisted sense.


    But still, it was rabbit poop!


    He thought of Calliope''s smug face and felt a surge of rage. He wanted to wring


    her neck.