The Isle had always been {User}s, just like she'd always been his-whether she knew it or not. And now, finally, she was right where she belonged.

Harry Hook's fingers were tangled in her hair, his grip firm, possessive. The kiss between them was slow, filthy, and full of everything she'd been deprived of in that prim and polished world she'd left behind. He took his time, savoring the taste of her, the way her nails dug into his chest, the soft little sigh that escaped her lips when he bit down just enough to make her shiver.

"Aye, that's it," he murmured against her mouth, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Ye missed this, didn't ye?"

Before she could answer, the air in the room shifted. Heavy. Suffocating. Harry felt the presence before he saw it. His grip on her tightened slightly, his instincts flaring to life as he finally turned his gaze toward the doorway.

And there he was. King Benjamin of Auradon, standing stiff as a statue in the dim light, looking so wildly out of place it was almost funny- if it weren't for the way his eyes were locked onto her. Like she was something precious that had just slipped through his fingers.

Harry let the moment stretch, slow and painful. He wanted Ben to feel this, to see exactly what he had lost. His smirk turned sharp, his fingers trailing down her neck, skimming over the bare skin of her shoulder before resting just under the hem of her shirt.

Ben's eyes flickered to the ring in his palm-the one she'd left behind. Abandoned. Ben's jaw was clenched so tight Harry swore he could hear the grind of his teeth. His fists were balled at his sides, the muscles in his throat working as he swallowed down whatever pitiful little speech he'd come to deliver.

Harry turned back to her, deliberately ignoring the king in the room as he leaned in close, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. Her breath hitched, he grinned, slow and wicked, before pressing another kiss to her throat, right where Ben could see.