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“I was utterly fucking obsessed with you,” I grunted, losing myself to the pleasure. “That will never change.”

“Don’t stop,” she panted, writhing under me. “Fuck, it feels so good.”

“We have all night. And now that you’re a Shadow, you have the stamina to handle everything I want to do to you.” I paused for a moment. “You know that I can feel when I’m ready to mate. I don’t feel that right now.”

Her lust-filled eyes darted to mine. Since she was transitioning, she shouldn’t be able to get pregnant. But her mother was different. She had Kali and Keeva when black blood ran through her veins. Their bloodline was different. As much as I wanted to be buried inside her when I came, I wasn’t doing it unless she chose it.

“I trust you.” Her answer was instant and clear as her legs tightened around my waist.

I grinned, lowering my head to kiss her again. All our troubles were far away right now. I wasn’t thinking about anything that was happening outside this room. I had every intention of spending as much time as we had in this bed with her until we had to face the world again.

Chapter 25

Kali

Istared at Zan as he sparred against a Shadow, a peace settling in my chest unlike anything I’d ever felt before. We werebonded. Just like Pax suspected. But it was nothing like I imagined a bond would be. My feelings for him hadn’t changed. But there was no doubt. Every fiber of my soul knew I belonged to him, just as he belonged to me. That my choice in wanting him was my true path.

I loved him, which was something I knew before. I wanted to spend every day—every fucking moment with him. Our souls were connected, never to be divided again.

“How long do you think they’ll be gone?” Rya asked, pulling my attention away from Zan. Both of us were sitting on top of one of the tables, watching the Shadows train.

Pax and Viggo had left three nights ago, along with five Shadows and Warner. Zan was more than a little uneasy that his brothers were willingly putting themselves in danger to talk to the Clovers. But the Clovers didn’t travel in large groups, and I was confident they’d be fine. And we needed to do this. If we could make allies with the Clovers, then we might have a chanceto defeat PARA. I’d wanted to go, but Zanandhis brothers were vehemently against it.

“Warner said their camp was pretty far,” I answered. “I think they’ll be gone at least a week.”

“And we just stay here in this underground prison,” she grumbled. “I thought we’d be free after leaving the Pen.”

Guilt clawed in my chest. “It’s only temporary, Rya. We can’t let Amaros find us. Once they get back, we’ll make a plan to leave.”

“I know.” She wrapped her arms around her knees. “I’m just ready to spend a day in the sun.”

“We will,” I promised. “I want all of you to have the lives you want. That’s why we’re doing this.”

She nodded, looking back at the fight. Zan was prowling in a circle, sweat coating his bare chest. My stomach heated, and I bit my tongue. Zan and I had spent the better part of two days in bed. While all I wanted to do was lock myself away with him and forget about the world, we didn’t have that luxury now. It was my responsibility to make sure the Shadows were taken care of. That included making sure they could protect themselves.

I’d been training with Keeva privately, and even though she wasn’t raised like I was, she caught on fast, and with her strength, she would be a force to be reckoned with in a short time. She was smart and quick. But she was more standoffish than I was. Getting her to talk was nearly impossible. I thought it wouldn’t have taken long for us to get close, but that wasn’t the case. Maybe she didn’t like me. Or maybe she was resentful that I was the twin who got away from PARA as a baby.

“What do you think of Keeva?” I asked Rya under my breath. My twin was on the other side of the compound, getting a blood bag, making me confident she couldn’t overhear me.

Her eyes cut to me. “I’ve barely spoken to her.”

“I know. But you knew I was important when you first met me. Was it like that for her?”

She hesitated. “Yes. She pulls us to her just like you do. But it’s different.”

“Different how?”

“I’m not sure how to explain it. We trust you, Kali. We want you to lead us because we feel like you want the best life for us.” She paused as if choosing her next words carefully. “With your twin, there is a tug—something telling me to follow her too. But it’s different. Maybe it’s because I don’t know her like I do you.”

I took in her answer, having only more questions. I’d already talked to Gia, but she didn’t have any information about my mother’s note that she’d written to me when I was born.The dark, the light, I had no idea what it meant. Amaros had uttered the same words the night my blood turned black.

“We’re done for today. We’ll pick it up in the morning.”

Zan’s voice boomed across the large room as he shoved the Shadow away from him. Most of them threw him venomous glances, still hating that a Kane was here. But they were allowing it for my benefit.

Zan picked his shirt up off the floor before striding toward me. I grinned when he leaned down, pressing his lips against mine.

“Let’s go to bed,” he ordered, hauling me into his arms, and carrying me away.