All eyes turned to Casie and Nathaniel.
"Like the Blackwoods and Thornwoods," Casie concluded, pieces clicking into place. "That's why they've been targeting us specifically. They need someone with our bloodline to activate the Tear."
"And ideally, someone with a triad bond to amplify its power," Valeria added grimly. "Your heat cycle isn't just a vulnerability, it's what they've been waiting for."
Rick moved protectively closer to Casie, the motion so natural it barely registered through their bond. "So we find this diamond before they do. Where do we start?"
"The blood pattern might tell us more," Mendoza suggested, gesturing toward the concentric circles. "If the Magpie was extracting specific memori
All eyes turned to Casie and Nathaniel."Like the Blackwoods and Thornwoods," Casie concluded, pieces clicking into place. "That's why they've been targeting us specifically. They need someone with our bloodline to activate the Tear.""And ideally, someone with a triad bond to amplify its power," Valeria added grimly. "Your heat cycle isn't just a vulnerability, it's what they've been waiting for."Rick moved protectively closer to Casie, the motion so natural it barely registered through their bond. "So we find this diamond before they do. Where do we start?""The blood pattern might tell us more," Mendoza suggested, gesturing toward the concentric circles. "If the Magpie was extracting specific memori
"Like the kids from Safe Harbor," Rick added grimly."Precisely. Though I doubt he realized the danger he was putting them in by documenting their trades."Nathaniel looked up from his phone. "The background check just came through. Matthews had no supernatural lineage himself, but his grandmother was a hedge witch. He inherited her collection and apparently developed a fascination with magical objects.""Which made him valuable to collectors but ultimately disposable to the Order," Casie concluded as they pulled up to the crime scene.Flip Side Burgers occupied a renovated Victorian in what had once been a residential neighbourhood. The restaurant took up the ground floor, while Matthews' antique shop operated from the second story, which was where the s
Casie felt relief flow through their bond from both her mates, though it was tempered by the reality of what they were discussing. Three weeks to dismantle a centuries-old conspiracy while preparing for the most intimate and vulnerable experience of their lives."There's something else," Valeria said quietly. "The corruption ritual requires Seraphina's physical presence. If we can force her to attempt it...""We get our chance to end this," Casie realized. "Use ourselves as bait to draw her out.""Absolutely not," Rick and Nathaniel said simultaneously, their protective instincts flaring through the bond so strongly it made Casie's knees weak."It's the logical play," she argued, though part of her was
Casie felt unease ripple through both her mates. Ancient magic adapting to unprecedented circumstances was never a good sign."What exactly are they preparing for?" she asked, gesturing for Valeria to join them at the table.Valeria accepted the offered seat but declined Nathaniel's gesture toward the coffee pot. "A fundamental restructuring of supernatural society. The Convergence amplifies magical energies exponentially—enough power to rewrite the basic laws that govern our world.""Rewrite how?" Rick pressed, his detective instincts focused despite the early hour."Imagine if someone could eliminate the barriers between species," Valeria explained, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "Force vampires to age and die
Maya's smile was tentative but genuine. "Your family really won't mind us staying there?""Trust me," Casie replied, thinking of her parents' reaction to suddenly acquiring supernatural refugees, "they'll be delighted to have someone new in the pack and knowing mother she’ll probably want to adopt you both she always wanted more children.”Maya's eyes widened, a hint of hope replacing some of the anxiety. "Adopt? Like, for real?""My mother has a habit of collecting strays," Casie admitted, feeling a strange warmth at discussing her family after years of careful distance. "And my father never says no to her. You'll probably have pack membership papers before dinner."A laugh escaped the teenager, the sound startling both
Morning came to quickly for all involved but when Casie, Rick and Nathaniel woke they weren’t sleeping in the same way that they fell asleep Casie was still between her mates but her head resting on Nathaniel’s chest instead of a pillow. Rick had rolled over, spooning her from behind as both men’s arms were protectively holding Casie.Casie woke first, the unfamiliar warmth surrounding her momentarily disorienting before awareness filtered through her consciousness. She remained perfectly still, cataloguing sensations: Nathaniel's steady heartbeat beneath her ear, Rick's breath warming the back of her neck, the weight of their arms creating a protective cocoon around her body.Through their bonds, she felt their sleeping minds: Nathaniel's was orderly, even in rest, while Rick's was more chaotic but anchored to hers with surprisin