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There was something other mixed inside the two—and I almost sagged with relief. My ability to absorb others’ magic had not disappeared. If anything, it strengthened. As Donn healed me, I drank down his silver power, greedily shoving it into my veins.

I lifted my face and took in Donn’s beautiful visage. At first, I saw only self-satisfaction at what he’d done.

The god—because that’s what he had to be—had done me a great service and asked for nothing in return, something unheard of among his kind. He truly was an idealist.

But I wasn’t. I was a greedy, greedy bitch who’d do anything to win.

The first hint of something wrong was a slight flicker in Donn’s eyes. Then the tiniest tightening at the edges of his eyes.

I rose to my feet, my limbs long and graceful, and smiled at him.

“Thank you.” Gods, even my voice sounded better. I held my hands before me, marveling at the slender, pale limbs, almost luminescent now.

Donn took a step back, eyes widening as he began to put the pieces together, realizing what a huge mistake he’d just made.

I could sense how things fit together now, how I could mold and shape my power. Marveling at how easy my magic was to call now, I took a step toward him.

My mother looked between us, an odd furrow between her brows as she realized something had gone terribly wrong. Instead of interfering, Mom did what she did best.

She decided to save herself.

A blur of black and silver shot from the brush, Soren launching himself at her.

Good choice, wolf, I thought, as I returned my attention to Donn.

“What are you?” Donn whispered.

“No idea,” I said pleasantly, “but I’m going to enjoy finding out.”

He shook his head. “You tricked me.” A surprised, masculine laugh came from deep within his chest. “How joyous it is to know someone can still do that.”

Donn exhaled a deep breath and smiled. “The power loss is temporary for me, you know.”

“Mmm. And just so you know, it isn’t for me.”

“Ah.” He slowly nodded. “A battery of some sort, you are.” Donn frowned. “No. A magnet. That’s what you are. A trick of magic and genetics. There will never be another one like you.” The awe in his voice made me uncomfortable.

I wanted to kill him, but I was having trouble bringing myself to do it. Donn, for all his initial creepiness, was likable. I wasn’t even sure I could kill him, even with all this power brimming in my veins. He was still a god and I was not.

Donn had done me a massive solid. By untangling the knot in my power that my mother had inadvertently caused when she meddled in my childhood transformation, he had freed me.

Unwittingly, yes, but I felt better than I ever had. I felt like a new woman.

I felt…remade.

Reborn.

“Come with me,” he said suddenly. “Allow me to show you what you can be, Moira.” He took a step forward. “You are incredible.”

Donn shook his head in disbelief. “I thought you were interesting before. Quick and clever and beautiful, but now that you are free, you are magnificent.”

No one had ever spoken to me like this. Men had flattered me before. I’d been called beautiful, though I always thought I was too thin and too pale to be deserving, but with the way he looked at me, the way his eyes shone, I believed him.

How could I not? Donn stared at me like the sun had risen and given me a benediction.

“You’re working with my mother.”

Donn snorted. “Kill her. Right here. Right now. I will help you.”