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I give a slack-jawed Serpahine one last cursory glance. “See you… never, I pray.”

I summon the vision of Gideon’s home in my mind’s eye as I attempt tofoldhome.

And nothing happens.

Fuck.

Me.

Heaving a sigh, I rub my brow with my uninjured hand and steel myself for what I know I have to do, and just pray to fuckingAkashthat it works.

My stomach churns at the idea of having to consume their vile blood, but desperate times, desperate measures.

Feigning an apologetic smile, I bat innocent eyes at Seraphine and Louis, entirely unsure of just how much mortal blood I need to consume to replenish my power to fold.

“I think I’ll be taking that blood sacrifice after all.”

WINNOW

Turns out I had to drink blood frombothof them in order to replenish my magic enough to get back to Gideon’s, and fold directly into his bathroom where I could immediately wash my mouth clean of them. Even now, I’m still gagging as I spit, scrub, and rinse.

Gideon calls out from the bed. “You okay, angel?”

Exhaling a relieved, shaky breath, I reply, “Never been better,ferion.”

“Good. Then get your butt back over here.”

A grin lights my face as I look at myself in the mirror. I look beautiful—even with all my daemon traits.

Especially with my daemon traits.

And I’m fucking proud of myself.

I flex my punching hand to make sure the bruising is gone. I think I actually broke my hand on Louis’s face, but you know what…

Fucking worth it.

WINNOW | A FEW DAYS LATER

“How would you feel about goin’ on a little adventure today?” I peek up at Gideon from where my cheek rests in the muscly pillow of Gideon’s bicep and pectorals. Legs twined together with his arms curled around me as we lay facing one another on our sides, I’ve never felt more at peace. Or in love.

Gideon’s eyes dip to meet mine, and there’s so much reverence and adoration there as a corner of his mouth tips up in a small smile. His thumb strokes my jaw, patiently waiting for my answer.

“But, don’t we have to work today?”

Gideon’s grin widens. “Ihave work every day.Youcan do whatever you want, angel, but I think our crew will get on just fine without us. I can’t tell you the last time I took a day off. I think they’ll be happy about it, honestly.”

“Oh, yeah? Are you a real task troll?”

Gideon gives me a strange look, chuckling. “Nah. Don’t need to be. We all pull our own weight. Although Beau likes to refer to me as a ‘helicopter mom’.”

I have no idea what that is, but it sounds funny enough that it still makes me laugh.

“Well, in that case, I’d love to go on a little adventure with you.”

For no reason at all, I give one of his nipples a cruel pinch, to which he has zero reaction. I think this man’s pain threshold must be terrifyingly high. Instead, his smile creeps wider, and a blink later, I’m pinned beneath him and he’s burying his face in the curve of my neck and growling.

“You know how much I fucking love you, angel?”