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He leaned closer. I felt his exhale. And then Kalcedon’s mouth was on mine, his lips soft and searching as a flood of power poured through me. I parted to him and kissed him back, measure for measure. He bent his forehead against mine and drew a trembling breath.

I reached up and traced the sharp line of his jaw. His mouth softened into a smile.

“For life?” he whispered.

“For life,” I promised. “Come on. Let’s not keep your grandmother waiting.”

His smile turned into a grin. Kalcedon’s hands knotted and twisted as he stepped back from me. Then he leapt off the ground, shifting into an osprey’s form.

I was only a step behind.

But it is fact, not vanity, that I cast the spell far cleaner.