Laughing under his breath, Shan let Leonie pull him into the night. As soon as they were out of sight, she released him, backing away.
“Catch me,” she whispered, and shifted.
He followed her into the air, filled with a joy so sharp it felt like hunger. He had to push every muscle to the limit to keep up. She wasn’t holding back her own strength now, not in the slightest. She led him through the ever-shifting mountain winds, her wings shining against the stars.
His Leonie. His griffin. His fierce, glorious mate.
He caught her at last, high above the clouds. Or possibly she caught him. It didn’t matter. She was there, golden eyes bright, wings stretched wide in welcome.
They fell together, claw-to-claw, whirling head-over-tail. Even when the world threatened to smash them out of the sky, neither of them let go. In perfect unison, they turned their plummet into a swoop, skimming back upward. Her wings supported him; his supported her.
Mine, he thought, and felt, like a whispered echo:Mine.
By the time they landed, he was almost out of his mindwith desire. He pushed her inside, pressing her against the wall as he stripped her bare. She was just as impatient. She bit at his neck, ripping his clothes off as if she had claws herself.
“Now.” She writhed against him, slick with need. “Now.”
He drove into her without hesitation. She cried out, fingers gripping the back of his neck, her legs locked around his waist. They moved together, spiraling higher, coming closer. Until nothing could ever separate them again.
Mine.
Mine.
They collapsed against each other, utterly spent. With the last of his strength, Shan just about managed to get them over to the bed. Leonie sprawled across him, face buried in his chest. After a moment, he felt her lips curve in a smile.
“What?” he asked.
“I can hear your qiongqi purring.” She kissed him, over his heart. “In here.”
He chuckled, listening to the matching contented rumble echoing down the mate bond. “So is your griffin.”
“Mmm. Not just my animal.” She stretched, peeling away from him at last. “I should shower before I fall asleep.”
His qiongqi growled at the idea of her washing off their scent. “I disagree.”
She propped her chin on her hand, no doubt in order to give him an exasperated look. The moment she met his eyes, her own widened.
“Shan!” She sat bolt upright, staring down at him. “Your eyes!”
He blinked at her. “What about them?”
“They’re ordinary.” She touched his face, her expression softening with wonder. “I mean, you look completely human.”
It had been so long, he couldn’t picture it. “What color are they?”
She bent, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of each one. “Brown.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, then reopened them. “And now?”
“Back to normal. Like your animal’s.” She gave him a puzzled look. “Why did you do that? I thought you would be happy.”
Smiling, he pulled her down again. “I don’t need to hide what I am.”
CHAPTER 39
“Well, this is it,” Spencer said, hitching up his backpack. All around the parking lot, campers were saying final farewells, hugging friends and counselors alike. “Bye, Shan. And thanks.”
“Here.” He handed the boy a folded slip of paper, where he’d written his work number along with a few other contacts. “Call me if you run into any difficulties. Or just if you want to talk.”
