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But Ze’ev…

I’m acutely aware of his hand on me. His movements pause when I whimper, then I bite my lip.

“You should leave,” I tell him without opening my eyes. “Godric will⁠—”

Shock jolts through me when his tender lips press against mine as if he knows what I need right now.

Ze’ev is… kissing me?

I already knew that Ze’ev was one of my sponsors. Although, I’m not sure if that’s even legal, given that he doesn’t belong to a pack or to the court.

I don’t know King Njord’s rules.

But my body doesn’t care. The moment I’d stepped onto this isle, my soul had recognized his.

I’d called him to me.

That’s what Godric explained. Monster Isle is full of secrets and magic that I don’t fully understand. The monsters here have complex compatibility needs, and Ze’ev is no exception.

They need humans, yes, but it’s not like the Elite City where humans are altered, tested, and medically adapted to become compatible for monster mates.

On Monster Isle, that compatibility can’t be fabricated. Either it’s there or it’s not. If it is, then it must be awakened.

Based on the way his tongue shapes against mine, we are very compatible.

Kissing him is entirely unlike kissing Godric. I melt into the gentleness that is all Ze’ev.

My jaw had just been broken, but the sweetness of the healing tonic has done its work to allow me to enjoy Ze’ev’s mouth on mine.

Still, he’s careful. He slides his hand underneath my head and gently tilts me to take the kiss deeper. Then he does something different. He sucks on my lower lip and his fangs prick against my skin, but he’s careful not to harm me.

The kiss is over far too soon.

He doesn’t push me further. Instead, he’s the first to pull away, and then he watches me as if looking for a sign.

My lips are swollen from his attention, and my chest heaves for breath as he scratches out a hurried message on the pad.

I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks.

I shake my head and let my hand fall to the side of the bed. The note drifts to the floor. “Godric is going to kill you.”

Or maybe he won’t. Godric seems to have a certain respect for the Outcast that I don’t fully understand.

I might be mad at Ze’ev, but now I’m mad at Godric, too. He not only left me unprotected, but he’s also not here.

Which leaves me in a predicament when his stupid shifter effects are making me go mad. It feels like I’m dying.

According to Godric, leaving this unresolved could actually be dangerous. I need to satisfy the urge before I burn up with a fever and melt all my human organs from the inside. They’re already iffy as it is.

Sweat breaks out on my brow, and I wipe it away. The growing throb between my legs demands that I do something about it, and sooner rather than later, before I get to find out just how high the temperature of my body can go.

He hands me a new note and seems to study me as I read it.

He can kill me, then. You need my help. So I will help. What usually happens next?

I’m tempted to give Ze’ev step-by-step instructions at this point.

We’re playing with fire. I don’t honestly know if Godric can be upset with me for entertaining another sponsor, especially when he has already told me that he won’t take on a mate.