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I’d prefer Alena’s.

“So…” I say, pulling away from the blonde’s neck. “What’s the protocol on drinking from your bonded while she’s turning?”

“Don’t.” Asher rolls his eyes at me. “You don’t want to fuck up what’s happening during the process.”

“I know, I know,” I grumble. “But the waiting is going to fucking kill me.”

“Chloe took two days,” Asher says. “There’s no timetable for it.”

“That’s because those who have found their soulmarked hide their secrets,” Andrei spits out. “If they would share their knowledge, we could study the process and understand so much more about our nature.”

“Broadcast our findings when we’re finished with this city,” Asher says to Andrei. “Share what we’ve learned. See if you can start the process of open communication.”

“We’ll only have two cases. And I have a feeling mine will not be the norm,” I say, looking at Andrei. “That fucker feeding Alena blood is going to throw things off.”

Ambrose dances into the room and bends to sniff at the blonde kneeling before me. Wrenching his head back, he makes a disgusted face.

Spinning away from me, Ambrose stops in front of Chloe.

Bowing deeply, he asks, “Mother, would you care for a dance?”

Watching Ambrose, I’m reminded of a child in a way. He’s so oblivious to the world around him at times.

“Of course, dear,” Chloe says, and rises from her chair.

“We were spending time with each other, Ambrose,” Asher growls at the two.

Vanishing into thin air, Chloe reappears in front of Ambrose and laughs with delight.

“Show me how to do the Baroque, Ambrose,” she says.

I chuckle at their antics before saying, “Father, we need to speak about what else I saw while inside Alena.”

Asher turns his gaze away from the happily dancing pair. Tilting his head to the left, he stares at my face for a long moment.

“Your eyes have a golden hue to them,” he remarks.

I frown confusion. “What?”

My eyes have never had a golden hue. They become red when my beast is closer to the surface, but never golden.

Andrei comes around to peer into my eyes. “They’re gold, Raph.”

“It’s his change,” Ambrose says in a lilting voice.

All of us turn to Ambrose, waiting for him to continue.

Not elaborating any further, Ambrose starts to instruct Chloe in the placement of her feet.

I don’t doubt them, and think on it for a moment. “I have an idea why. It was Fred.”

Fred’s eyes were golden when he was protecting Alena inside of me.

Leaning down to the blonde still kneeling beside me, I take a long drink from her neck.

When she’s close to death, I stop. Sitting back up, I open the vein on my wrist and force her to drink enough to keep her heart moving.

Making her hazy eyes look at me, I say, “Go outside and stand watch over the house.”