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Bastian set down his paw and looked at Gavin. Again, the air shimmered around him, and in another blink, he shrank into the large, black tom cat I had adopted and named Sombra. I couldn’t help but smile a little at seeing him like that. Another shimmer,and he turned into a raven. Another and he was a huge black bear. With one final shimmer, the beautiful, copper-skinned man I had once deluded myself into believing was human stood before us, gloriously nude. He looked strong and powerful, fully revived by the meal.

I rubbed the back of my neck and averted my gaze to the floor when really I wanted to keep ogling, but Micah was there behind me, and I felt incredibly uncomfortable with everything that was going on.

“I have a dragon and kraken shape as well. Those could prove useful,” Bastian told Gavin.

“A dragon and a kraken,” Micah breathed, and I wasn’t far behind him in my disbelief.

Gavin looked past Bastian to the other two vampires. I followed his line of sight, noting that hints of appreciation softened their hard expressions. “Do either of you have any questions for the shifter?”

“How large is your dragon form?” Thane asked, his deep voice resonating pleasantly through my body.

“Large enough to carry Sophie, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Bastian told him.

Thane nodded, his dark eyes shifting to focus on me. The cool detachment with which he had viewed Bastian melted away as he looked at me.

Sensing Ash’s focus had turned to me as well, I looked at him. He pressed his closed fist to his heart and bowed his head. I had yet to hear him speak, but something about the way he gazed at me made me feel warm and tingly all over.

“Uh, Sophie?” Micah said, drawing my attention to him. “What exactly are the duties of a queen’s guards?”

I choked out a laugh. Motion on the other side of the room drew my eye. Bastian was getting dressed.

“We guard our queen and attendto her every need,” Gavin said, approaching.

“Oh,” Micah said. His eyes opened wider as realization dawned. “Oh. Okay, gross.” He glanced at me. “No offense.”

“None taken,” I said, my voice tight. “I would like to never talk about this again.”

“Agreed,” Micah said with a decisive nod.

“Sophie?” Gavin touched my elbow. “How are you feeling?”

I turned to face him. “Mortified,” I grumbled.

He sighed. “Are you dizzy or weak?”

“Oh, um . . ...” I frowned, taking a quick assessment of how I feltphysically. “I feel fine.” I scanned his face, imagining I could see the crescent sigil. “No change,” I added, letting him know I didn’t have access to my powers.

“Good,” Gavin nodded. “Now that we know the problem, we can find a solution.” He looked past me to Thane. “Is everything in place for the trip?”

I glanced over my shoulder as Thane nodded. “The portalist arrived fifteen minutes ago,” he said in that deep, rumbly voice of his. “She should be finished soon.”

“How are we looking outside?” Gavin asked.

“No sign of shifters,” Thane said. “The street should be clear.”

Gavin turned, looking at Bastian. “You’re certain the Sun Watch doesn’t know about this location?”

“Ididn’t know about it,” Bastian said, raising one shoulder. “So, I can only assume they don’t either.”

Gavin stared at him for a long moment, saying nothing. His gaze flicked toward me but quickly returned to Bastian. “Remember, you share a blood bond with Sophie now. If she dies, you die.” Gavin’s eyes narrowed. “But it doesn’t work the other way around. Shecansurvive losing you.”

I sucked in a breath, Gavin’s implied threat hanging in the air. Did my command to not hurt Bastian still stand when mypowers were suppressed, or did the suppression negate past expressions of mywill?

“Are you sure?” I asked, moving closer to Gavin. He watched me out of the corner of his eye but continued to stare down Bastian. “Are you absolutely certain I’ll survive losing him, too? You said losing more than one consort at once could kill a queen.”

Gavin clenched his jaw.

I raised one hand and pressed my fingers against his chiseled cheek, turning his face toward me. His eyes locked with mine, his stare challenging. “Please, stop taunting him,” I said, fear and anxiety making my voice tremulous.