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“Yes and no,” Brooke said. “Magic is almost always done by intention. To create a circle of power or even merely a bound poly group, everyone would put their blood on each other, and then say the same thing, some kind of oath or vow, while they were all touching. In this case, the orgasm stood in for the vow, and the drinking of the blood stood in for painting it on each other. It’s called ceremony or ritual when done with intention.Perhapsaccidental ritualis closer than the wordspell, in this case.”

Brooke rubbed Genie’s arm again and then caressed her cheek. “How do you feel, little owl?”

“Unbalanced. Dizzy. The cool washcloth helps. I’d love to get a shower, but I’m not certain I can stand for it.”

“With your leave, Brooke,” Dev said from his position, stretched out across the bottom of the bed, “I’d like to have two sleeping cages brought into the room, so the boys can sleep in here with Genie and me.”

“I’ve already ordered them. I’m putting the four of you to sleep, and you’ll get sponge baths once you’re all out. Put your food orders in now, and breakfast will be brought to you once I rise and awaken you.”

Genie was thirsty, and she wanted something to drink before she went to sleep. She wasn’t at all happy about beingputto sleep, but she wasn’t in a position to protest, either. Everything was fuzzy.

“Bring the shapeshifter power-protein mixture for them all while they put their orders in,” Brooke told someone, and moments later Genie was handed a bottle.

It tasted decent enough, like a cold chocolate milk with other stuff in it. It quenched her thirst perfectly though, and lifted a little of the fog from her brain.

“Protein, carbs, and electrolytes,” Dev told her. “You seem better, did it help?”

“It did, but I still don’t feel like myself.”

“That will be dealt with when you awaken,” Brooke said. “Everyone has ordered their waking meal but you.”

“She wants four eggs, two steaks, a half-pound of bacon, and plenty of biscuits and gravy,” Dev told Brooke.

“Yeah,” Genie agreed. “That works. Maybe a banana and blueberry smoothie as well, or pretty much any fruit except strawberry or cantaloupe.”

“Done,” Brooke said, and it was as if the lights went out.

Chapter Seventeen

Dev awoke in his own bed, and five seconds later Brooke’s voice was in his head.Your three submissives are still out. I want you to be awake enough to manage them before I wake them.

He looked to his right and noted the boys in two cages on his side of the bed, their heads close to his, their feet pointing away from the bed. Each cage was long and narrow, and not tall enough for them to sit up.

Genie was curled against him, tucked between his left arm and body, her head on his shoulder, her left leg lying across his left thigh.

The clock told him Brooke had awakened early, even for her. She must’ve picked up some of the excess power when they all joined.

I’ve created huge scenes with blood play more times than I can count,he told Brooke.Why did we create a power circle? What was different?

It seems the four of you…he heard her mental sigh.Who knows whether it’s a result of her saving Elijah’s life, or some kind of past life relationship between the four of you that’s leaking into this one, or something else. The four of you already had a connection, and the power used it.

Can you wake Genie and give us some time together before you wake the twins, please?

I don’t believe that’s a good idea. The energy has stabilized a little while you’ve all slept, but Genie’s physical body is fighting the extra power. If we don’t get food into her fairly quickly,she’s probably going to be in trouble. I’m headed your way with the food cart now. I intended to wake the three of them all at once. I’ll see to the boys while you see to Genie. She’s never had to focus on the magic that rules her animal half the way you and the twins have. Her owl isn’t a danger to humans and never wants to come out and defend her, even in a crisis situation. She often carries a gun, and she’s learned basic self-defense, so she’s more lethal in her human form.

Dev immediately saw the problem.She’s not going to handle the energy flows well. She could feel as if she’s short-circuiting.

The door to his suite opened, and Brooke walked in with the food cart. She moved dishes from cart to table, serving plates first, and then the large bowl of gravy to the center of the table, along with the platter of biscuits. She put the drinks alongside the plates, and then took Genie’s smoothie to Dev.

Meanwhile, Dev had sat up and was cradling Genie.

“Countdown from five,” Brooke told him, and she opened the top of the two cages, so the twins would be able to sit and then stand.

Dev felt Genie and her owl awaken at the same time. She stiffened, scented her surroundings, looked around, and then relaxed in his arms.

Brooke climbed on the bed and held the thick smoothie straw up to Genie’s mouth. “Drink some of your smoothie. See if it helps.”

I’ve telepathed the boys to use the restroom, wash their hands, and then to have a seat and begin breakfast,Brooke told him.