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Done, Gideon drops down and turns to me, lowering his antlers in a mock challenge.

I arch one beastly brow.

Thinking better of it, he spins and darts away.

Jude, in wolf form, makes a low chuff that sounds much like a laugh. He sinks down beside me and settles as if waiting to watch the showdown.

Not that there will be a showdown on my part unless Eiden decides to make an appearance or gets unruly, which is possible.

We have plenty of time before us. Her season can last many days, maybe even a week—enough time for everyone to have their fill.

I definitely want to claim her in stag form, but for now, my battle stag will not relinquish his hold upon me.

Wolf doesn’t interfere as I prowl toward her, lust and need bearing down upon me.

Her tail wags as she spots me. She trots over and nudges my thigh with her snout.

I crouch, my heart thudding with all my love for this sweet woman and doe, the lust banked for now. She nuzzles against me. I stroke the glossy coat of her flanks and give her a little pat. Her body wiggles with excitement and joy, showing me that her doe is as thrilled to meet me as I am her.

I stroke her silky head and pet her ears. “Change to human, my little doe. My stag wishes to claim you while I am like this.”

She nuzzles me again—the air shimmies. And there is my beautiful goddess. My queen in waiting.

My Fawn.

Only not quite.

A smile spreads across my lips.

Jude yips.

“What?” she demands, looking all demure and pretty and oblivious to the undercurrents ripping through me.

My hands are enormous, clawed, and obscene as I cup her chin. I can smell Gideon’s seed on her, but underneath it is her unique scent.

“Hmm,” I rumble. “What do we have here?” I brush my fingertips over one silken doe ear peeking out between the locks of her hair.

She shivers. Her hand reaches up tentatively. She starts as she touches it. “Oh! What has happened?”

I snag her waist when she looks like she might dart away. “Some does, if their mates are very lucky, retain some of their features while human when in season. You, my sweet Fawn, are one such doe.”

Wide-eyed, she gazes up at me, utterly adorable in her confusion. I have never seen anything so beautiful in all my life.

“It is not only the ears,” I say.

She gulps, shakes her head, and suddenly jumps, twisting to peer over her shoulder. “Oh no! Oh, I have a tail!”

I don’t mean to chuckle, but her reaction, in true Fawn style, is over the top.

“I cannot have a tail! Oh, why did the book not warn me about this?!”

“What book?” I ask, frowning.

“Mounted and Bred by the Stag Patrol,” Nox drawls from the tree line. “She got it from Persa and has been reading it for days.”

At his side, Eiden stands, nostrils flared, eyes locked on her ass, and the cute little doe tail that I suspect is wagging. Both males are bruised and a little bloody from their tussling.

I sense the moment Eiden is about to launch himself at us and thrust Fawn behind my back. Nox doesn’t react fast enough. He could be forgiven for being distracted, as we all are by Fawn’s tail and ears.