a's

th silver eyes. The moonstone pendant lay on my nightstand, catching moonbeams and throwi

the knock. Three taps, pause, two taps. Our secret

pered, opening

fect, moonlight turning his black hai

t I was already steppi

door closed. "He won't let me stay away. It's lik

around like teenagers?" I tri

ery way that matters." His hands framed m

my reputation. Instead, I kissed him like the world was ending. Maybe it was. My

, how to make me gasp his name like a prayer. But something was wrong. My phoenix fire, which us

d, pulling back to study m

like a lantern all day." I pulled

like he was memorizing me. When we finally lay still, tangled in she

happened befor

circles on my bare shoulder. "Magic is tied t

My magic had never failed me befo

randmother's grimoire

ject made me blin

t it can be." His hand moved to rest over my heart. "Are there rituals

at? The mate bond is

. What if there's a way to share it? To m

ervous. But this was Damon. My Damon. H

nix's Blessing ritual. It lets a phoenix witch share her power with her bo

kened under my pal

gic flows through both partners equally." I snuggled closer, suddenly cold. "But Gra

ting ceremony, when our bond is fresh and strong, we'll try it. Ima

n't k

rehead, my cheeks, my lips. "That

ked in the hallwa

out there,"

rd. They paused outside my door, and I hel

ing on his clothes, moving with wolf s

eed, grabbi

hat I said about the ritual. We're meant t

. The footsteps in the hall retreated, and I caught a glimpse of silve

em. Deep gouges in the wooden windowsill, fresh splinters scattered on the

ize, the spacing, the depth. These were the marks of Damon's claws when he was pa

as supposed to be about choosing flowers and finalizing guest lists. Tom

claw marks feel