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I leap off the couch and rush between them. I grab Kian’s face and drag it down, until his eyes bore into mine.

“I’m okay,” I say. “I promise.”

“He tried to manipulate you.”

Yeah, his voice isn’t all here either.

“I’m fine, wolf,” I whisper.

“Might I remind you, Winter Wolf, that shifting here would be considered an act of war. Besides, your stench was all over her,” Beau says in a dry voice. “Makes her a bit unappealing, in my taste. Still. A wolf and a witch together? Nothing could catch my attention faster.”

I frown. An act of war? Vampires are crazier than I would’ve thought.

“That’s not helpful,” I say over my shoulder.

Kian growls.

“Keep it together.” I press my hand to his chest. “We’re all good. Just had a little chat.”

“A chat with a vampire,” he spits. “Over my dead body.”

“That can be arranged.” Beau straightens his cuffs.

He looks indifferent, but I’d imagine he’s anything but.

“What the hell is wrong with both of you?”

“For one, we’re mortal enemies…” He goes to a bar cart in the corner and pours a drink. He holds a glass out to us.

Not a bad idea.

I leave Kian and take it from him, keeping eye contact as I swallow the dark liquid.

Its smokey scent fills my mouth and nose, and it burns a path down my throat. I choke on it. “That’s disgusting.”

Beau grins.

Kian growls again, lower. “Astra, step away from him.”

“He had me alone for at least five minutes. He could’ve killed me then,” I point out. Not that I’m not in danger, but… you know. I guess I’m a gambler at heart. Oh, yeah. “Where are my chips?”

Beau laughs. “I like your fire, witch. You know, we could use more allied witches such as yourself to join our ranks.”

I bristle, even if I have no idea what that means. “No, thanks.”

“We offer protection against the dogs.” He shrugs. “Many powerful covens have come to us in the past.”

Kian frowns, absorbing his words.

Another thing to contemplate later?

“Let’s, um, move on.” I pluck Beau’s glass from his hand and bring it to the still-shaking wolf shifter. Adding liquor to the mix will either improve our situation or drastically worsen it.

Time will tell.

“My chips?” I ask again. I go to the couch.

I’m about to sit when Kian beats me to it. He drops down beside me and grabs my hips, towing me onto his lap. I wriggle until I’m comfortable, although the more I shift, the more his fingers dig into my thighs.