s, feeling groggy and warm. The dream had been so intense

been dreamin

same mental space. His hands tangled in my hair, my back against cool silk

itual, now a thin pink line almost healed. I traced it gently, remembering

im slipping from my apartment as the first hint of daylight appeared, his t

bond with a vampire prince wasn't covered in the standard grimoi

stand with a text from an un

stantly who it was from, though

, then type

nsely. We need to talk about the bo

closed today. Co

t to think of me too intently. Th

implication. Could he sense

ed, then set t

g, anything to keep my mind occupied and away from burg

very of herbs when I noticed a tall figure leaning against the bu

and a leather jacket. But something was off. He was too still, his movements too c

Not Lucie

him. When the delivery man left, I stared directly

er, I noted a scar running from his right temple to his jaw,

rumble with the barest hint of an accent

xactly did Lucien send

ensure your safety during daylight hour

aid. "Especially not during daylight ho

strongest, true, but I assure you I'm more than capable. The ritual you per

ind of

d toward my shop. "May we cont

he door and demanded, "

y scanning the shelves. "Any disturbance sets off a magical ripple, like d

actly are th

re about to do something no one's dared befor

cornered me. "Like whoever s

up a protection amulet.

e in protection a

wn. "The prince asked me to stay nearby while you'r

ays do what

erved the prince for two hundred and twelve years. I've

pproval or

simply. "My personal op

ou hav

"Everyone has opin

a," I c

ion, not judgment. Though I'd advise caution with the b

me, not my own feelings, but echoes filtering through the bon

ve," Rafe said. "

tronger when one of us is... th

tches are rare for good reason. They

d, not sure if I was trying

le about not just herbs but their magical properties. Occasionally, I would feel pulses o

fe glanced toward the do

o you

as soon as he wakes. It's in th

r presence brushed against my consciousness, L

mented. "You'll always know when d

ing those are

witch." He moved toward the back door

. For the

u, Isadora Thorne. Whether that's fo

to turn to know it was Lucien. The bond flared between us,

ity that made my pulse quicken. He looked different someh

I said with

onfirmed. "An unex

. You didn't warn me

between vampires and witches are rare. The

ems to know somet

cted when I mentioned Rafe's p

am was..

al. I felt everything you felt. Saw every

m versions of ourselves tangled together in wa

n some professional distance. "Dreams are

the intensity, nor how specific it was." Lucien p

to intensify r

mentio

ok my

on before the curse. They were one way v

ter the

ires could no longer maintain the balance the bond requires. Many witch

ying the bond is dangerous because

ally broken. I can feel enough to feed the bond, b

rough our connection. I gasped at the sudden rus

ous. What I feel affects you. What you feel affect

ost control, it was the bond en

n without restraints." He was close enough now that I could feel

, my hands tracing the planes of his chest. The memories flooded through the bon

makes this s

e out how to control it. If the bond is getting

rs," I suggested. "It in

anageable. What a

t those, but we could try s

"You suggest I adopt

nce. No shared dreams, and no need to

nforcer. He's been my clos

rough the bond before I could frame it i

dencies in both parties that

an addi

tself, rather than the blood. A

felt might not be entirely real, but rather a

are created by the bond rather th

the loss can be devastating, especially for the vam

forts might create a temporary reprieve followed

sted with this curse for seven centuries. I

we'd share dreams? That you'd feel things you haven't

consequences. There always are

admiration for the courage it took to ri

tely," I said with conviction. "Not just fo

ring through our bond. "Your grandmother would

hing about our family history. Or a

e others who do... others who

careful. Starting wit

"No physical contact. Emotional discipline

. There must be texts somewhere ab

earch the archives.

the consequences of what we've done whil

leave, mirroring my own. We needed distance to manage

the threshold. "Despite the com

ew he meant the ritual, the

admitted. "Though

a long breath. The bond hummed at a lower frequency with distance, b

But despite the warnings, despite the risks, the part of me that had always craved forbidden knowledge insisted that

'd make it thro