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“I’d know your sexy face anywhere, Khol,” I rasp playfully. “Sorry. You know I process trauma through humor and shit.”

He grins, his expression so relieved it’s almost angelic. “That’s why you win, Sassy. You’re officially the baddest bitch in our family, and no one is ever taking that crown after what we just saw.”

Rev pushes his way into my line of sight, his eyes a little manic. “Sassypants,” he whispers. “Blink twice if the aliens have implanted a chip, three times if I need to mobilize an army.”

I try to blink, but both eyes go wonky, out of sync. He laughs, then tries to reach for my wrist, only to get zapped by a blue spark. He yelps, shaking out his hand. “Shit fire,” he says, and the pride in his voice is real. “You were a menace before you gained some sort of radioactive spider, X-Man shit. This is going to be a pain in my tightly rounded ass.”

Dezi is last to look me over, still muttering something in a language I assume is older than dirt. The burning in my skin settles as he chants, and the marks crawling over my arms and chest freeze in place.

For the first time since I fell, I can breathe deeply again. I look at myself because he’s staring like I’ve grown a tail and three more heads. My skin’s gone from pale to luminous, like someone buffed me with highlighter and moon dust. The Trial’s marks are everywhere, in bands and arcs and constellations—moons, stars, and script that looks like a curse or a map. It’s beautiful and unsettling and very much not temporary.

I was right about how little room there is left, too.

I glance up at Khol and catch my reflection in his eyes. I have pointed ears now—not huge, but definitely not human. My canines are longer and sharper. My eyes are still blue, but the pupils have been replaced with little spirals of light, alive and hungry.

I don’t know what to say, so I just stare.

Tier kisses my forehead, unbothered by the change. “You look beautiful,” he says. “Then and now, Knuckles.”

The rocker puts his hand on my ankle, not getting shocked this time to his delight. “You’re even hotter than before, Sassypants—trust me on that.”

Khol snorts. “She was always hot, but now she'll fry anyone who disagrees. That’s what is sexy as fuck, man. She’s a living weapon.”

A flicker of something dark flits through my vampire’s crimson eyes as he says, “You have no idea how powerful you are now,” he murmurs. “Or how many enemies you just made.”

I snort as I give him a newly fang-filled grin. “Tell them to fucking bring it.”

One minute he’s kneeling in front of us, and the next, he gives me this slow, hungry grin. “Witchling,” he says, voice so deep it feels like a caress, “I think it also unlocked the primal inside of you. That’s… an unexpected bonus.”

Before I can sass anything back, Dezi snatches me from Khol, throwing me over his shoulder in a half bridal, half caveman carry. The world tilts as he turns to the steps to the castle that have appeared since my communion with the Root.

“Hey!” Revelin protests. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“I do not answer to you, young prince,” Dezi says, not breaking stride. “And neither does she.”

I try to wriggle out, but his grip is iron, and he’s already shifting into vampire mode—speedy, focused, unstoppable. My ass is literally in the air as I hear the other three laughing in that male way that means they know what’s coming.

But they don’t try to stop him, and I can’t decide if I’m glad or mad.

Dezi bolts, and the world blurs. Silver grass, marble paths, endless moonlight—they’re all a smear behind us. We’re back at the castle in under a minute. He takes the stairs three steps at a time, doesn’t bother with doors, and in seconds, we’re in our room.

He tosses me onto the bed, then stands over me, eyes molten red.

I actually think I’m in more trouble than I was facing off with the Fae trial, but at least this time, it’ll end in pleasure, not pain.

I think.

Twenty-Seven

DEZI

Ihave lived so many centuries that I believed there was nothing left in this world to excite me.

Then I met the witchling, and my blood sang in response to hers.

Slinging her over my shoulder after I let loose in that ridiculous death trap trial was all I could do, once her true form appeared in front of me. I ran through the last bit of the garden and across the halls of Midnight, feeling more feral and hungry than I have in so long I barely remember it. Yes, I enjoy the others and instructing them all for our shared pleasure, but this is about the merging of our blood in a way we could not until the Fae inside of her came out. I’ve been waiting for whatever her core being is to poke out, patiently guiding her along with the prince since we both knew there was more lurking.

This moment, by ourselves, will be my reward for that control.