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Frowning, I softly close the door and wait.

There isn’t any sound on the other side, so I release a breath that had been caught in my chest before I turn and step through the forest.

I’m not sure how long I have. Whenever Godric does eventually come to his senses, he might hunt me down, but this is a reconnaissance mission more than anything. I should have enough time.

Unless I’m doing exactly what Godric wants.

I never can tell.

Where are you? I ask, testing out my theory on all the different powers the purple potion can produce.

It doesn’t take long for Ze’ev to respond.

Godric said you’d finally take the tonic. It seems he was right.

His voice inside my head makes me shiver. I scan the forest, but I don’t see any sign of him.

Typical.

I filter through the new abilities I’ve acquired. Each new gift that has manifested after intimacy with my potential sponsors has been an exercise in magical awakening that I’m not entirely inexperienced with. I’ve taken magic potions all my life, so magic and the gifts they carry isn’t foreign to me.

Although, this is the first time I’ve ever received gifts by beginning monster mate bonds.

A tingling rushes through my extremities as I evaluate my renewed strength, which is from the sip I’d taken of the tonic, but it’s also something that was already there.

Maybe that’s a gift from Godric. He did seem quite proud of himself a moment ago.

Wherever it comes from, I take advantage of the strength powering through my calves and pick up speed. The forest filters through my vision in higher detail than usual.

Sharpened eyesight might be a wolfish trait, but I suspect it’s even more amplified by vampiric influence.

So that’s from Arwan.

Or maybe Ze’ev.

Now I know both of them have vampiric backgrounds, making either one a potential donor of new gifts. While I haven’t done much with Arwan, I know that the intimacy of what he did with me and Godric had some sort of impact on my body. It would be impossible not to tighten the link already bound between us.

That’s how monster mate bonds work. Sex and arousal is a powerful magical tool, even emotional ones or ones built on close proximity. I’ve known that all my life. Growing up in the Elite City, I’ve seen many family unions bound on the foundation of monster blood marketed as a wedding gift.

If it’s as powerful as it seems between mortals, I can’t imagine what direct access to monster mate bonds might do to me.

My nostrils flare when I pick up a salty scent. Following it, I come to a clearing near a creek, where a cloth pouch, along with a waterskin, is waiting.

Frowning, I kneel and unfurl one of the edges, finding salted meat layered out in thick slabs.

You’re going to need extra iron for today’s training, Ze’ev informs me inside my head.

The forest doesn’t show any signs of him. Leaves rustle in the wind, whispering of his passing but not parting with any of his secrets.

Training? I ask as I strain to listen. All of my senses are heightened now.

I didn’t come here for training. I came for answers.

Yes, he confirms. Godric said that if I’m to be your sponsor, then I have to make sure you’re prepared. That means he’s not going to be babysitting today.

That explains why he isn’t here, but not the change of heart.

Godric okayed this? I press.