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Not to be left out, Babette snuggled into Carter’s side, curling up against his fur.

“This would be better in bed,” Gio said, but made no move to get up.

They fell silent, enjoying the moment. Mila let all the things she’d learned tonight swirl around in her head. So much had changed, and yet nothing had changed. Yes, she was with a vampire and wolf shifter, but she still loved them.

“Do flocks or packs get married?” she asked.

“Flocks do, but not packs,” Gio explained, his voice soft and hopeful. “Think of packs as extended families. Vampire flocks are small, often only one or two people. Their relationship is more intimate.”

“Am I your flock?” Mila asked. “Is there some kind of ceremony? Or is it as simple as saying we’re together?”

“It’s not like a human marriage,” Gio said. “We’d have to share souls. I would take a small piece of yours and give you a smallpiece of mine. That binds us together for life. Sharing souls creates a link where we can sense each other. It will also tie your life to mine so you won’t age or die.”

Mila sucked in a breath. “Will I have to give up food and only drink blood?”

Gio pulled his arm out from under his head and rubbed her back soothingly. “No,bellezza. You’ll still be human, only with some extras. You’ll still be able to go out during the day, eat, and do all the normal things. But you’ll be stronger and more resilient.”

“What if you decide you don’t love me anymore?” Mila asked. It was hard to voice the question, but she had to know.

“It would never happen,” Gio said with a confidence Mila didn’t share.

“But it could,” she insisted. “Can you take your piece of soul back?”

“No,” Gio said. “You can’t undo the sharing of souls. It’s an unbreakable bond.”

That knowledge both thrilled and scared Mila. “Would it hurt?”

Suddenly, the wolf was gone, and human Carter was laying half across Gio’s chest.

“It doesn’t hurt. It only feels a little weird," he whispered. “After it’s done, you’ll feel like a piece of you that was always missing is finally in place.”

“Do I have to decide now?” Mila asked.

“No,” Gio and Carter said at the same time.

“You need to be sure,” Gio continued. “I will never coerce or force you. It has to be what you want with all your heart, or the bond could slowly poison all of us.”

“Great,” Mila muttered. “Another thing to think about.”

“You’re not going to poison us,” Carter said, sitting up and casting Gio an annoyed look. “My wolf knows that you’re ourmate. If you’re meant to be my mate, then by default, you’re meant to be part of Gio’s flock. The magic would never make it otherwise.”

“There’s never been a mistake?” Mila pressed.

Carter shrugged, obviously unconcerned. “Maybe, but no one has ever heard of it.”

Gio kept his hand on her back, rubbing soothingly. “We can wait for as long as you need,bellezza. We won’t get impatient or angry.”

Carter pointed at Gio with a nod. “What he said, but also I promise that it’s worth it.” He moved so he was behind her, curling into her back. “I’ve never regretted my choice.”

Babette had slid off Carter when he’d shifted. As if sensing they were talking about something important, she’d moved to snuggle at Mila’s head without raising a fuss.

Mila felt surrounded by love. She absolutely wanted it but wasn’t sure she deserved it.

Chapter 24

Mila

“You’re making French Napoleons," Carter observed, taking his usual seat at the island. “Is that an extra you’re throwing in? I don’t remember seeing it on the order from Jesse.”