Page 21

“Ready?” Kole asks gruffly, tapping the book.

Mack glances at Snow. “He’s ready.”

I stand back and watch as the five of them hold hands and circle Snow.

They start to chant, and as their words bleed into one another’s, their tone shifts. Their voices become almost indistinguishable. Nova tilts her head back, exhales as if waves of pleasure are coursing through her, then turns her gaze on Snow.

The air seems to shimmer around the giant bear as the magick takes effect. He tries to back away, breaking through the group’s circle, but the shimmer follows him, enveloping him in a glowing green aura. He yawns loudly, almost a growl.

Then, before my eyes, the great white bear begins to shrink down, becoming more compact. His limbs shorten, his torso condenses, and he disappears behind the couch.

Finally, the glow fades.

Together, we step forward and peer over the back of the couch.

Sitting beside the coffee table, instead of a big white bear, there is now a small, fluffy, Samoyed sized creature. A miniature version of Snow.

He looks utterly ridiculous and seems to know it. He growls, clearly unhappy with his new undignified form. Nova glances at Tanner.

I bite the inside of my cheek.

We all try and fail to hold back laughter at the comical sight of the once-massive predator reduced to a mop of fluff. His lips peel back to reveal a mouth still full of very bear-like teeth. But it only makes us laugh harder.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get back to your normal imposing self once we’ve seen Professor Thornfield. I promise.” Nova ruffles the fur on Snow’s head.

In response, Snow nips at Nova hand with his sharp teeth, making his feelings on the situation clear. Nova just laughs and hugs him.

But as the others start talking about travel arrangements, I take a deep breath, readying myself for what I have to say next. Time to tell her about my conversation with Nico. “So, about the trip…”

12

NOVA

“I don’t want you to stay behind.” Anger simmers on my skin. Luther is in the shower, and I’m pacing back and forth by the sink. I want to join him, but I’m too pissed.

“Nova, I can’t leave Sam here alone. He’s still in training.”

“Surely, someone…”

The water stops running, and he steps out, butt naked, dark skin glistening with moisture.

Despite myself, my eyes go to his cock and the metal piercings that feel so fucking good in my mouth and in my pussy. Luther catches me watching and smirks.

“I think I know how to make you stop being mad at me,” he says, opening his palm and glancing at it so a ball of white hot fire appears in his grasp.

I inhale sharply.

Since the whole dying and coming back to life thing, my tolerance to heat has increased tenfold. Fire play with Luther is now one of my favorite kinks. And he knows it.

He steps closer to me, and the fire radiating from his body meets mine. I moisten my lips in anticipation and close my eyes. My wings appear without me having to even try.

I turn so I’m facing the mirror and watch as Luther slides one hand down my back, reaching through the flames the way no one else can, then resting his palm against my skin as if we’re already making love.

When I spin back around, he kisses me hard, his tongue exploring my mouth greedily. He picks me up with ease, and I wrap my legs around his waist as my wings caress his naked shoulders.

In a cocoon of fire, we stumble from the bathroom into the kitchen.

Luther heaves me onto the counter and stretches both arms out at his sides. His eyes flash and fire dances on his skin. I stroke it, coax it with my fingers, sigh as it caresses my skin.