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Hunter Team connections: Intentional, non-permanent connections between team members. Allow real-time communication and geo-location to maximize strategic advantage.

Romantic connections: Can occur spontaneously without conscious intent by the partners involved, particularly ifthey touch each other skin-to-skin. Once the connection reaches a certain strength, it’s permanent.

Bonds: Permanent connection between partner(s). See the entries forBonding, Parts One through Four

CHAPTER 16

ELLIS

I admired our connections,all golden and sparkly even without my glasses, but Rory’s face scrunched up. “Uh, Ellis? His stomach? I’m not sure what you want me to say.”

Shane smiled at him and grabbed his hand where it rested on my belly. I still had hold of their wrists, so we were solidly joined.

“How old are you?”

Rory looked even more confused. “Twenty-five. Why?”

“Some magical abilities manifest early, like your being able to see ghosts. But other abilities come later in life. What Ellis and I can do, that you’ll be able to do one day yourself, is see connections.”

Rory stared at my stomach for an uncomfortably long time. My dick considered being interested, but ultimately decided it needed more sleep before anything fun would happen.

I felt Shane squeeze Rory’s hand. I loved Rory’s long fingers. I had so much to teach him if he was willing to learn. Shane’s fingers I loved for other reasons. Reasons I couldn’t take advantage of right now.

“You’re saying you see connections? Between me and Ellis? And you?” Rory raised his eyebrows at Shane.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

Shane smiled too. “Between the three of us. Strong connections. Really strong.” He focused his gaze on where his hands joined with Rory’s. I let go of their wrists and put my hands over theirs. Shane smiled. He glanced almost shyly at me, then at Rory. “If Ellis and I bond again in the future, it looks like you’ll be bonding with us too.”

A smile bloomed over Rory’s face, and through the connection I felt his happiness. Tension eased from his body.

I cleared my throat. “One of us hasn’t been kissed yet tonight. Just pointing that out.”

Rory’s smile turned naughty. He leaned toward me, but before he got close enough for our lips to touch, he turned his head toward Shane. “Well? Get in here. We can’t have him complaining later how he didn’t get the full experience.”

Shane’s eyes almost bugged out of his head. Then I felt a rush of lust through our connection. It was strange, feeling him at a distance like this after being bonded. But at the same time it felt right. Because the connection to Rory balanced out the connection to Shane. And when we bonded—because that was absolutely happening—it would be beautiful.

Shane bent down, and his and Rory’s heads approached mine. I didn’t know where to look, so I closed my eyes and waited.

The kiss was glorious. A little awkward, but it was worth it to feel both sets of lips, both tongues, touching mine. I moaned, letting go of their hands to lift mine to rest on their necks.

Rory was the first to break away.

“Nooo!” I gripped his neck harder to keep him in place. Shane gave me one last peck on the side of my mouth, then he sat up as well.

Rory chuckled. “You’re in no shape to do anything more.”