"Like Sadie said," Sean says. "Sticky."
"In... a manner of speaking, I suppose," Villeneuve says, looking mildly disturbed. He hands the vial to Regina. I have to stifle a growl when their fingers brush. "The dragon's blood will help stabilize the energy transfer, but it cannot fully rectify the chaotic nature of what you're attempting."
"You're starting to worry me," Regina says. Her voice is steady, though.
"Good," he replies bluntly. "This should worry you. It should worry all of you."
"Is that a warning or a threat?" My voice drops to a growl.
"Neither, Mr. Underwood. Merely a statement of fact." He gestures to the grimoire. "The incantation must begin precisely at the zenith. Ms. Cook, are you ready?"
She looks around at each of us. Her eyes linger on mine, and I try to shove every ounce of reassurance, strength, and devotion I have into my gaze. Probably just looks like I'm deadlifting half a ton of iron, but I'm trying.
"I'm ready," she says.
"Then disrobe," Villeneuve instructs, turning away to fiddle with the components. "All of you. As I said, skin-to-skin contact is essential."
Sean's already stripping. "Finally, the fun part." He's down to his boxer briefs in what has to be a world record. "FYI, I'm a grower AND a shower."
I roll my eyes but start pulling off my shirt. Beside me, Micah and Rowan do the same. Rowan actually folds his jeans like he's going to be graded on it.
"Do you have to make everything sexual?" Rowan asks Sean.
"Do you have to fold your clothes for a ritual that might turn us all into frogs?" Sean counters, already buck naked and looking way too pleased about it. "If I die, I don't want my last act on earth to be making perfect creases."
Regina hesitates just a second before pulling off the green dress, then the rest. Everything except the glamour. I find myself wishing she'd drop that, too, but if she wants it, that's her choice.
I've seen her naked before—multiple times,thoroughly—but this is different. Her standing proud in the center of our circle, vulnerable and strong at the same time.
Fuckingmagnificent.
My wolf howls inside me, desperate to claim her. And while shifters like us are used to casual nudity, the fact that Villeneuve is seeing my mate naked has my wolf ready to claw through my skin.
So far, he hasn't looked. Probably because he knows I'm watching him like a hawk.
That, and this room is basically a dick minefield. He's way more likely to catch a cock in his peripheral vision than anything he actually mightwantto see.
"Three minutes until zenith," Villeneuve announces. "Take your positions."
Regina stands at the center, grimoire in one hand, dragon's blood in the other. The four of us move closer, forming a tight circle around her.
I put my hands on Regina's shoulders from behind. Micah kneels in front of her, hands on her hips. Sean and Rowan take her sides, finding bare skin wherever they can. We're a tangle of arms and legs, and if anyone walked in right now, they'd think they'd stumbled onto a porno shoot.
"One minute," Villeneuve says.
"Are you sure about this?" I murmur against Regina's ear, giving her one last out. Even though it would gut me if she took it.
She turns her head, meeting my eyes over her shoulder. "I'm sure."
The certainty in her voice settles something in my wolf. This is right. She wants this.
"Thirty seconds," Villeneuve counts down. "Ready the dragon's blood."
Regina uncorks the vial of dragon's blood and the smell that floods the room is like nothing I've ever experienced. Ancient. Like fire and ice had a baby that grew up to be terrifying. My wolf recoils, recognizing something older and more primal than himself.
We both hate it. A growl wells up in my chest, but I manage not to lunge at Villeneuve, so I'm calling that personal growth.
"Begin," Villeneuve commands as his watch hits the mark.
