Before my eyes, the book''s form fades. In its place, Grimoire materializes, perched on the edge of the table. Flames lick at his skin, but do nothing to the wood of the table. His expression is distinctly sour as he glowers at Lucas.


    "It isn''t right to wedge yourself between my bond with Ava."


    I feel Lucas tense behind me, his hand tightening around mine.@@@@


    "I''m not wedging myself anywhere. She''s my mate."


    Grimoire''s eyes narrow. "And I am her magical counterpart. Our bond is just as important. Perhaps even more so."


    The way my mate tenses behind me has me scrambling to defuse the situation. "Enough, Grimoire."


    Know your place, Selene adds, her mental growl making my eardrums vibrate.


    Lucas''s thumb traces circles on the back of my hand, and when I glance back, he looks... pleased.


    His lips curl up, his face relaxed. In fact, I think I''d categorize him as distinctly smug.


    Grimoire, on the other hand, has shrunk from the size of a man to the size of a child. He even looks younger, the planes of his face round and soft, and his voice a higher pitch than before. "He still has to respect our bond," Grimoire insists, crossing his arms in a sulky demeanor that makes him seem about five years old.


    He''s...


    Adorable.


    Even though I know he''s thousands upon thousands of years old, my heart pitters and patters, squeezing out maternal affection at his appearance.


    Really? Selene''s exasperation snaps me out of it. He''s a book, Ava. Not your kid.


    Frowning at Grimoire, I focus on the bond between us. There''s an odd sort of fuzziness there that brings up all those maternal feelings again when I touch it.


    My eyes narrow. "Are you manipulating my emotions, Grimoire?"


    His eyes go wide. Wider than should be possible. He looks like a woebegone child, and my heart trembles—until I slam closed the magical connection between us. The childish figure of Grimoire pops out of existence, leaving behind only his book form.


    Our bond tugs and yanks incessantly.


    "Not until you act right. No manipulating me, Grimoire. I mean it." It doesn''t feel good to know he was able to force emotions into me I didn''t want to feel.


    "What more should I—"


    "That''s enough." Interrupting the two is necessary for my sanity. "Why were you trying to get my attention, Grimoire?"


    "Ah." Grimoire brightens. Somehow, this childish look of his suits his personality. "I thought of something."


    "Oh?"


    "Your wolf was once mated to his, wasn''t she?"


    Selene''s growl inside my head intensifies. You have no right to speak of such things.


    He scowls. "How can I help it? I''m bonded to your mistress, too."


    Then close your ears to what doesn''t concern you, she snaps.


    "Your wolf is as illogical as you are," Grimoire mutters.


    I narrow my eyes, but he just looks away, clearing his throat. "Either way, this means the mate connection between them is strong. For it to persist through several lifetimes is quite rare. It is a blessing from the Goddess."


    The sheer rage that explodes out of Selene''s side of our bond would have me falling to my knees, if Lucas wasn''t holding me up.


    "What''s wrong?" he asks, his arms tight as he bears my weight.


    "She''s angry."


    You know not of which you speak, Selene snarls. Get your filthy soul out of this bond.


    "Your mate might not have appreciated the blessing, but that doesn''t change the truth, wolf."


    Enough, book.


    "Guys..." Even though Selene''s not here, I hold my hand up as if flagging their attention. "Can we get back to the problem at hand?"


    It''s clear my new bond has upset the delicate balance inside my head. They hate each other. And my mate isn''t fond of him, either.


    "Selene," Grimoire says, pointing at Lucas over my shoulder, "can control his wolf. Use the bomb."