. Leather furniture that probably cost more than her yearly rent. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined with actual books, not the decorative k

ns. So ma

s cases. What might have been a battle axe hanging ove

Rachel asked, eyeing a particu

of the lock made her far too aware that they we

ord. That one slayed a demon. The axe is j

randfather's. He used it to defend th

could see parts of the valley Marcus had shown her. Smoke rising from chimneys. People going about their lives. "So. The ritual. You goin

n't b

rally doing

eather-bound journal that looked older than Rachel's great-grandmother probably was. The

der than this pack. Older than most supernatural societies. It's

l drink it or something, curse breaks

f it, yes. But the curse isn't just physical. It's magical. Spiritual. It's wrapped around our wolves, chok

ch dropped. "D

eates a temporary bond between you and the pack. You'll channel your hybrid nature through me, and I'll distr

's mouth was dry. "Me

ck rituals. Whatever power flows through, it comes through me first. Which means y

cted are w

d times. You'll feel everything I feel. I'll feel everything yo

ering. "And the intimat

moved around the desk, closing the distance between them slowly. Like he was approaching a skittish animal.

You're saying I have to sleep

ou." He stopped a few feet away. Close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. "

be easier if w

es

d that even as her brain was short-circui

on Moon with that dangerous grace. Imagined what it would be like to have those gold eyes focused on her

e bonds and magical rituals and the weight of two

if I try and the power doesn't transfer right, o

she leaned into it without thinking. His thumb traced her

sholes and impossible shifts and a life that tried to break you at every turn. You survived when you

ity college because I co

ver pride. That's str

with a bathroom so small I hav

tances that would have destroyed most people." His other hand came up, cradlin

mber in his gold eyes. Could count the faint scars on his jaw.

razy," she

plet

ely kn

ou're left-handed but serve drinks with your right because some customer once complained. That you hum while you work, usually off-key, usually songs from the eighties

l managed, but her voi

eyes. "But I don't care. I've waited two years to touch you like this. To have yo

through the connection. Desire. Possessiveness. And underneath it all, genui

sked. "When d

ay, and Rachel immediately missed the warmth. "You have a few hours. Vera will help you

ed her arms around herself. "You we

no. I meant what I told Marcus. You have all the power here. If

. You said yourself, y

weeks. I won

esperate, dying, watching his pack crumble, and still giving her th

ew hours to freak out privately before I commit to magica

quick and genuin

about to say next. Vera entered without waiting

plete." Her gold eyes flicked to Rachel.

l," Rowan said, an

without inflection. "Co

ng her with that same intense focus, like he was try

tonight,"

t," he

wer, older, with stone walls instead of fancy wallpaper. They descended a spir

we going?"

." Vera's voice echoed off the stone. "You'll be cleanse

d sounds

s a

t stupid. "That'

re carved stone, covered in symbols she didn't recognize but felt she should. Candles burned in alcoves, casti

e, carrying the scent of h

already moving to

use

s. No jewelry. Nothing between your skin and the

y have sex with a werewolf in front of his entire pack for magical p

setting them aside. The air was warm despite being und

id, gesturing

ing. The water was perfect. Not too hot, not too cool. It seemed to cradle her, suppor

nt and patient. It soaked into her skin, her

he pool. She held a clay bowl filled with what looked like crushed flowers. "It r

he water. The flowers dissolved immediatel

rough an untrained body. It will feel like burning from the inside out. Like every nerve is on fire. You

w to give a pep tal

irst time, Rachel saw something other than coldness there. Worry, maybe. Or respect. "The Alpha

do my

t better

lk robe from a cabinet Rachel hadn't noticed. "Stay i

ea

She paused. "Rowan deserves someone who challenges him. Who doesn't bow an

mber with water that hummed with ancient magic and the growi

er. Letting the power seep in. And tried ve

n's hands

bond connecting

people depending o

sibility that she might

she whispered t

And somewhere far above, she heard the fir

was happen

es and tried to reme