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Cael goes first and is already at the edge when the shift takes him. His legs fuse together under a rush of iridescent scales that erupt up his calves and thighs to cover everything below his waist. His pants rip apart as his thick, muscular tail grows in. The fin at the end fans out in layers of translucent membrane that shimmer blue and silver. Webbing stretches between his fingers. His gill slits flare wide along his sides. He launches off the rock and hits the water clean with hardly a splash. I grew up watching dragons tear out of their skin, but none of them are this smooth about it.

Nereus follows as fast, his scales a deep green where his brother’s run blue and silver. At the top of his arc, his tail snaps under him. It’s all muscle from waist to fin. Now I see what a Mer body is built for. He knifes in and disappears under the surface.

Aya digs her nails into my arm. Her mouth hangs open at the ripples spreading across the lake. She can draw blood if she wants.

Sirena drops her hand from her heart and watches us with her head level this time. “I shall return at the next sunrise. With my father.” She turns to me. “We are grateful, Stormscale.”

She backs toward the edge and leaps. Her legs seal into a tail in the air as her dress tears away. She slips into the lake without a sound.

Aya squeezes my arm and shakes it. “They are so freaking cool.”

I laugh at how lit up my mate is. I could breathe her in all day. My dragon stays on alert for any sign of the Mer.

Angie comes up beside us and waits for the last ripple to smooth out before she says a word. “Old,” she huffs. “I’ll show that fish old. My Samara is kind because she’s young. She’ll learn.” She’s way too satisfied with herself when she raises the vial. “Next time Miss Gills sinks her teeth into anyone, I’m splashing her with this and sealing that mouth shut for the rest of her stay.”

Aya doubles over and loses it. I’m about to join her when Angie swings the vial my way. I shut my mouth fast.

Josiah nods at me. “Good work, young alpha.” He pulls a notepad from inside his jacket and reads aloud. “From my upcoming edition: The bridge between worlds is never built by those who stay on familiar ground, but by those brave enough to stand at the water’s edge and wait.” He snaps it shut. “Chapter nine.”

Angie glares at him with her whole body while Aya and I keep our faces straight. The quote is actually decent, but we aren’t stupid enough to say so in front of her.

She sniffs at me. “Yes, good work.” She aims the rest at Aya. “We’ll see you both tomorrow. Aya, you’ll show Sirena and the pod around the Academy. We can’t keep it closed for too long—classes resume in the morning, and they’ll need to learn how to adjust to our blended community.”

I know my baby. She’s already got the tour planned. “And what am I supposed to be doing?” I ask.

Angie frowns. “Do what you do best,” she says. “Fucking hover.”

Josiah chuckles as she heads off toward the university building. He lingers long enough to smile at us and jogs after her.

Aya leans her weight into my arm and watches the water where the Mer went under. Tomorrow she’ll be leading a pod of sharp-toothed strangers around her Academy. Smoke seeps out of my nostrils when I picture any of them within biting distance of my mate. Instead of stopping her, I’ll be hovering at the entrance like the rest of the men. Angie’s right about me, and I don’t even mind.

28

AYA

Ezra’s wings beat a steady rhythm as we soar over the university. The wind roars past my ears, but his arms are locked around me. I press my cheek to his chest and listen to the heavy thump of his heart.

The planetarium construction site appears below us. Even unfinished, it knocks every thought out of my head. The concrete foundation makes a wide circle on the bare earth with steel beams rising out of it. Bear shifters haul materials across the dirt and climb the framework while lions direct traffic below them. Between the hammers on metal and the saws chewing through wood, the clearing sounds like one big drum line.

Ezra descends with his wings cupped against the air and touches down nice and quiet. They sink back into his skin as soon as he sets me down. The muscles under his shirt bunch and shift as his body takes them in. My wolf perks up at the show, and honestly, so do I.

Amari stands at the edge of the site, working a digital projection that hovers in front of him. Lines of code scroll faster than I can follow. There’s dust on everything out here, and his suit doesn’t have a wrinkle or a speck on it.

He straightens as we walk up and spots the marks on our necks. I fight a grin.

Amari lights up and sticks his hand out to Ezra. “Congratulations.”

I furrow my brow at the handshake. That’s such a human thing to do. Most shifters greet with a fist to the chest, but Ezra takes his hand.

Amari turns and bows to me. I don’t have much experience with vampires outside of Kade, Damon, and Uncle Jo. I can’t decide if my wolf wants to sniff him or back away.

“Hi.” I try not to stare at his fangs.

“You have quite the catch,” Amari tells Ezra. “Female wolf shifters are known for their resilience. A necessary trait when mated to a dragon.”

Ezra pulls me against his side and traces circles on my hip with his thumb. “She’s stubborn.”

I frown up at him until he adds, “But worth every bit of stress.” His scent warms on the words, and I forget what I was about to argue.