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Realizing what I’m doing, she does the same, and soon the three of us are surrounded by steam. Like we’re bathing in a hot spring, we splash soothing water onto our arms and chests, and let it wash away the remnants of our activities in the cave.

“Did you like being at our mercy?” I ask, slipping my hands around her naked waist, enjoying how smooth her skin is when it’s being kissed by lake water.

“I did, actually,” she says, eyebrow raised as she tilts her head back and kisses me. She strokes the side of my face and smiles. “A few months ago, the thought of being that vulnerable would have terrified me. But I trust you.” She turns and pulls Tanner toward her, kissing him too. “All of you.”

For a moment, Tanner sinks into her kiss, but then he pulls away and glances up at the cliffs. I know what he’s thinking; he’s thinking of Kole.

Nova understands, too, because she shakes her head, sending beads of moisture flying from the end of her bedraggled tresses.

“It’s eating him up, you know,” Tanner says softly, still looking in the direction of Kole’s outpost at the top of the falls.

“I know.” Nova sighs heavily and brushes her palm across her tattooed chest.

“He would have told you if he could,” I mutter, tightening my grip on her waist so she knows I’m serious.

“I know,” she says again before sinking into silence.

For a few long, delicious minutes, Tanner and I float in the warm water, kissing Nova’s lips and shoulders, enjoying the feel of holding her between us. Then Tanner surprises me by stealing a kiss from my mouth instead of hers. He grips the back of my head while his hot tongue hungrily explores.

Nova hums gently, and strokes each of our faces. “That’s so fucking delicious,” she breathes. “Do it again.”

But as Tanner’s lips meet mine, a sharp wind blows across the surface of the lake and the warmth instantly disappears from the water.

Nova yelps and starts to shiver. “Luther, what happened?”

I look at my hands, willing the heat to return, but it doesn’t.

Then… a voice fills the air, zipping past us on the breeze, curling around our bodies. The werewolf. Find the werewolf. Fated to five. Find the werewolf. Fated to five. Find the werewolf.

Nova spins around, splashing the surface of the lake with her outstretched arms. Her eyes wide, she looks from me to Tanner. “Did you hear that? Did you hear it?”

Tanner nods slowly. I swallow hard and rub my palm over my head. The others have talked about a ‘voice’ telling them what to do, but I thought it was all wrapped up in the fact Kole is a seer, Tanner is an empath, and Nova’s whatever she is.

Now that I’ve heard it for myself, my head is spinning.

Nova wriggles free from us, finds her footing, and strides through the water to the lake’s edge. She doesn’t look back but breaks into a run and heads for the caves.

Tanner and I exchange a worried glance, then follow her. By the time we reach the cave, she’s pulling on her clothes and speaking quick-fire at Mack.

“I’m not waiting until morning. The voice told us to find Sam. Fated to five is what it said. That means we need him. Whatever’s about to happen, we need him.” She spins to face us as we pick up our pants and shirts and hurriedly get dressed.

“She’s right,” I tell Mack. “I heard it too.”

“And it told you to find Sam?”

“Find the werewolf,” Tanner says, combing his wet floppy hair with his fingers. “Fated to five, find the werewolf.”

Gingerly, Mack stands up, using the cave wall to steady himself. “Alright,” he says. “Then we better get Kole. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it together.” He fixes his gaze on Tanner. “If it goes wrong, it’ll take all four of us to bring you back.”

Tanner nods in agreement, even though he must be thinking the same thing I am; if this goes wrong, we might not be able to bring him back from where he ends up.

* * *

When I go to fetch Kole, he looks up from his post as if he’s expecting me.

“You heard it too?” I ask.

He nods solemnly, rubbing his long dark beard. “I did.”