DARK TEMPTATION

(From Book 1: The Devil’s Bargain – Dark Temptations Series)

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The invitation arrived on a stormy evening, wrapped in crimson silk and sealed with black wax. A single emblem was pressed into the wax—a serpent coiled around a dagger. The sight of it sent a shiver through Seraphina’s spine, though she couldn’t explain why. It was elegant, mysterious, and reeked of temptation.

She stood in the dimly lit hallway of her tiny apartment, staring at the letter as if it might come alive. The rain lashed against the window behind her, a rhythmic tapping that filled the silence of the room. The envelope was heavy, the weight of something more than just fine paper resting in her hand.

Seraphina had never received an invitation quite like this before. She wasn't one to be drawn into high society affairs, nor did she have the kind of connections that would warrant such an elaborate delivery. Her world was one of late-night shifts at an upscale bar, barely making rent, and doing her best to avoid trouble.

And yet, trouble always had a way of finding her.

She turned the envelope over, hesitating before breaking the wax seal. A faint scent of something intoxicating—perhaps jasmine and a hint of something darker—rose from the parchment as she unfolded the thick card.

You are cordially invited to an evening of revelry and indulgence.

A night where secrets are currency and pleasure knows no bounds.

Come if you dare.

The location was scrawled in elegant script beneath the message, along with a single condition: Wear black.

There was no name, no signature, no indication of who had sent it. Just an address in the wealthiest district of the city, a place Seraphina had never set foot in. She frowned, turning the card in her fingers.

It had to be a mistake. She wasn’t someone who received exclusive invitations.

And yet…

Something in her gut told her that this was no accident. Someone had sent this invitation for her.

A gust of wind rattled the window, and she exhaled sharply, shaking her head. It was dangerous. It was foolish. But a part of her—apart she tried to bury beneath responsibility and caution—was intrigued.

She set the card down on her cluttered counter and rubbed her temples.

Don’t do it, Seraphina.

She had a shift at the bar tomorrow. She had bills to pay. She had no reason to throw herself into something that practically screamed trouble.

But then again, when had she ever been able to resist the call of the unknown?

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The mansion was unlike anything Seraphina had ever seen.

Hidden behind wrought-iron gates and towering hedges, the estate loomed like something out of a gothic fairytale. The long driveway was lined with flickering lanterns, casting eerie golden glows against the night. Luxury cars were parked in neat rows, their sleek surfaces reflecting the soft drizzle of rain still misting the air.

Seraphina hesitated at the entrance, adjusting the long black dress she had borrowed from her friend Maya. It clung to her curves in a way that felt almost sinful, the silky fabric whispering against her skin with every movement. A black mask dangled from her fingers, as per the unspoken rule of such gatherings.

A deep breath.

She stepped forward, heart pounding.

Two men dressed in tailored suits flanked the entrance. Their sharp eyes scanned her, but they said nothing. One simply inclined his head and gestured for her to enter.

Beyond the doors, the world shifted.

Music, low and sultry, curled through the air like smoke. The scent of expensive perfume and something richer—something primal—clung to the walls. The lighting was dim, chandeliers casting golden halos over the guests who moved like shadows, draped in silk and velvet.

Seraphina swallowed, gripping her mask a little tighter.

She didn’t belong here.

The people in this room were wealthy, powerful, and exuded a confidence she had never possessed. Every glance was calculated, every touch deliberate. It wasn’t just a party—it was a carefully curated spectacle of seduction and secrecy.

And she had walked straight into it.

A waiter approached, offering a tray of crystal glasses filled with dark red wine. She declined, her nerves still too raw to dull with alcohol. Instead, she took a cautious step further into the room, scanning the sea of masked faces.

Was she supposed to find someone?

Or would they find her?

She had barely completed the thought when she felt it—a presence at her back, dark and consuming. A slow-burning heat that slithered through her veins before she even turned around.

And when she did…

Her breath caught.

He stood just inches away, watching her with eyes as dark as midnight. The mask obscured most of his face, but there was no hiding the sharp jawline, the curve of his lips, the sheer magnetism that rolled off him in waves.

He was tall, dressed in black, his presence commanding. Every fiber of her being told her that this man was dangerous.

And yet… she couldn’t move.

“Welcome,” he said, his voice smooth as silk and laced with something unspoken. “I was hoping you’d accept the invitation.”

Seraphina’s pulse thundered.

“How do you know who I am?” she asked, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.

He smiled, slow and knowing.

“I know everything about you, Seraphina.”

Her fingers curled at her sides. Every instinct screamed at her to run.

But she didn’t.

Because despite the warning bells ringing in her head, something inside her whispered…

Stay.