The sight that greeted us when we entered the hotel suite was confusing at best. Cole was on his hands and knees peering under the couch and speaking in a low and soothing tone while Caleb sat on the kitchen counter with his knees pulled up to his chest.

Austin leaned casually against the counter, watching Cole with an amused look on his face, while Wesley was ignoring them all and tapping away on his laptop at the table.

“Hey,” I greeted them as we stood there for a second, frowning in confusion. “Uh, Cal, can we talk? Privately?”

Whatever weirdness was going on with the guys could probably wait. I owed Caleb an apology for my rash overreaction, and if I didn’t do it now, then I was either going to chicken out or the anxiety was going to give me a stomach ulcer.

Could I even get stomach ulcers? It sure felt like I could...

“Uh...” Caleb looked at me with an uncertain expression, darting his eyes back to whatever the hell Cole was doing and then giving me a cautious nod. “Yeah, of course. Let’s go... um... outside?”

He did an awkward sort of shuffle along the countertop, pushing Austin out of his way while he went and ignoring his twin’s snort of laughter. Once Caleb was right to the end of the counter, he slid off and quickly dashed the distance between kitchen and balcony.

“Coming?” he asked me, standing just outside and holding the sliding door partly closed as if scared something might chase him out there. Weird behavior.

“Yeah, I’m coming, you-you oddball,” I replied, trying not to laugh at how strange he was being. Austin, meanwhile, seemed to be fighting laughter of his own, and Cole flicked an annoyed glance at the Ink Mage.

“What’s going on?” I frowned, joining Caleb on the balcony and watching as he closed the sliding door firmly and took a seat as far from the door as possible.

He hesitated, then shook his head. “Tell you later. What did you want to talk about? You were pretty mad when you left...”

“Ah yeah.” I blushed with embarrassment and took the seat beside him. “That’s what I wanted to talk about. Actually, where’s Vic?” I twisted in my seat, looking inside again in case I’d missed him lurking somewhere. Wes hadn’t moved, Austin seemed to be offering Cole advice on whatever he was doing, and I could see River and Vali speaking near the door. No Vic, though.

“He left,” Caleb informed me. “Or... got thrown out. Same difference, right? No doubt he will be back, though. He said he’s been working on breaking the geas that... er.... Bridget put on him.”

As he said my mother’s name, he cringed. Whether it was because he didn’t want me to fly off the handle at him again or because he was anticipating pain from the secrecy spell, I wasn’t sure. But it solidified how harsh I’d been with him earlier.

“Okay, so, Bridget.” I heaved a deep breath and smiled at him tentatively. “I owe you an apology. I totally overreacted earlier, and that wasn’t fair to you.”

Caleb started to say something, so I held my hand up to silence him.

“Just... let me explain. Or rather, not explain because it’s pretty cut and dry. You didn’t do anything that deserved that sort of reaction from me. It was just... a lot. All at once. First the pain from the bonding, then Vic showing up and dropping that truth bomb... I let my anger and fear drive my actions, and for that I apologize.”

“Kitty Kat,” he groaned, scrubbing a hand over his face and through his hair. “You have nothing to apologize for. You really didn’t react that badly, unless you count storming out into Los Angeles in the middle of the night when you know bad guys want to string you up and drain your blood. Other than that, it was kind of understandable.”

“Uh, so I’m also apologizing for all the things I thought but didn’t say. So... sorry!” I gave him an awkward sort of smile, and he chuckled.

“I’m sorry too, babe. I never ever should have accepted that stupid spell in the first place. If I’d have been in my right mind, I would have known it couldn’t end well.” He leaned forward in his seat and took my hand in his, tracing a pattern across my skin. “It’s been eating me up inside this whole time, not being able to tell you and knowing how mad you were going to be.”

“You won’t believe this”—I laughed a humorless laugh—“or maybe you will, seeing as you know her better than I do, but Bridget found me tonight. After I left here, I went to a random bar, and she showed up with Mr. Gregoric.”

“What?” Caleb exclaimed. “What did she want? I was always so careful not to give her any info on you, Kitty, I swear.”

“No, I know. I do trust you.” I linked my fingers with his and gave him a squeeze of reassurance. “A lot of what she said smacked of bullshit, but she did make it pretty clear you weren’t to be blamed for the whole situation. Did you know she was drugging your tea to make you keep going back there?”

Caleb’s jaw dropped slightly, and his brows shot up. “What the fuck?”

“Ah yeah, so... I really can’t blame you for seeing her behind my back. You didn’t actually have any free will to refuse.” I shrugged and gave him an apologetic smile. “But on the upside to all of this, the amulet she gave you really does seem to be working.”

“Yeah?” He ran his fingers over the gold chain and then gave me a half smile. “I’m glad. I didn’t have any reason to think she was lying about this, but then I also didn’t think she was magically drugging my tea.”

I snorted a laugh. “I know, my mother seems like a real piece of work.”

“You really scared me earlier, Kitty Kat,” Caleb murmured in a serious voice. “The way you reacted after our bond... I thought I’d broken you or something. All I could think was that I hadn’t been ready after all. That my magic was going to cause you even more shit, all because I was so desperate to break the NDA and tell you about Bridget before Vic could get here.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered back, cupping his cheek in my hand. “The bonds were already getting worse each time, but I still want them all. It’s only temporary, the pain I mean, and I have no doubt it’ll be worth it in the end. Maybe it was just because you’re my fourth and three was supposed to be the limit?”

He nodded, looking thoughtful. “That’s true. So it could have happened with one of the others too?”

“Exactly,” I confirmed. “I should have said this earlier instead of throwing a tantrum. Thank you for everything you’ve done to control your magic. I know you never wanted this life and I sort of forced it on you. But I am really happy to be bonded to you now.”

He gave me a slow smile. “Me too, Kitty Kat. You know I’ve been head over heels for you ever since that night with the thunderstorm?”

“That long?” I gaped at him. “Damn, Cal, I was still in the he’s pretty hot and kind of growing on me stage then.”

He laughed. “Yep, that night when I held you and you told me why you’re scared of thunder, I thought to myself... I am totally in love with this girl already. How can I keep her forever?”

A broad grin spread over my face, and I gazed into his emerald-green eyes. My walls were still locked hard in place against the guys’ emotions, so I knew without a doubt that the warm, fuzzy feeling of love rushing through me like bubbles through champagne was all mine.

“I’m in love with you too, Caleb,” I whispered, and he kissed me gently but with so much raw emotion that I worried my eyes might start leaking.

“Now.” I cleared my throat as we separated. “What in the hell is going on inside?”

Caleb cringed and sat back in his seat, shooting an angry, almost fearful, glance inside.

“Uh, so in all the confusion after we bonded, with your magic trying to tear you to pieces and then Vic showing up, we sort of didn’t notice my familiar had shown up.”

“What?” I exclaimed. “You got your familiar? How the hell did we miss that? And why is it under the couch?” I assumed that was what Cole was trying to coax out with his soft words. “And why is Cole trying to get it out and not you?”

A light blush stained Caleb’s cheeks as he met my eyes. “Because it’s a snake... and I am so sure I already told you, but snakes scare the shit out of me.”

Biting the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing, I stared back at him for a long moment, not totally sure what to say. Clearly any jokes were not going to be received well and we had just kissed and made up, so I should probably refrain from being a dick so soon.

“You think I’m being a pussy, don’t you?” he deadpanned, and I had to fight even harder not to laugh.

“No, hon, not at all.” I glanced inside, then back to Caleb. “I think Austin is a pussy, but that’s a whole other thing. You know, because... tiger...” I grinned, and he just glared back at me. “Okay, not the time. Uh, well, I still don’t understand why your viper—if I assume correctly—is under the couch.”

Caleb huffed a sigh. “Well, there was all the noise and people and everything when he first showed up, and it turns out that because I’m scared of him... well, he’s scared of me too. Or all humans.”

This time I really couldn’t bite my cheek any harder, and a few little chuckles bubbled out before I could rein them in. “Ah, how do you know that?”

He looked seriously unimpressed as he replied to that question. “Because we can communicate telepathically. When anyone gets close, he’s all curses and threats about biting. He’s a real fucking asshole, Kitty Kat; I have to be honest.”

Oh, God. This keeps getting better.

“So, um,” I chuckled, not trying to stop myself anymore. “Why is Cole trying? He’s not the friendliest human we have.”

Caleb rolled his eyes like the answer should have been obvious. “No, but he’s a reptile. Surely they can, like, recognize their own kind or something?”

“Of course,” I snickered. “How silly of me. Do you want me to try? I actually like snakes. They’re cool creatures.”

Caleb looked aghast. “Kitty Kat... they have no ears!”

“Well, it’s a good thing you can talk telepathically then, isn’t it?” I grinned, standing and sliding the door open to head back inside. “Come on; let’s get your familiar out so he can meet everyone. You two still need to sort out his home, don’t you?”

My big bad Blood Mage cringed but nodded. He knew as well as I did, or better, that a familiar was a huge honor for a Mage to receive, and its sole purpose was to increase his magic. He needed to work through his fear of snakes and make it work; there were no other options on the table.

An hour of unsuccessful coaxing later, I pushed up from the floor and glared at Caleb, who had made progress in that he was now in a chair rather than on top of the kitchen counter, but still had his feet up off the floor.

“Cal,” I snapped. “You need to do this. He’s not going to come out for any of us. Cole even tried making his hand all scaly, and it didn’t work.”

Caleb huffed and scowled. “What am I supposed to do? He’s legitimately threatening to bite me if I stick my hand in there to grab him.”

“Do not even look at me,” Austin grinned. “Snakes and cats are definitely not friends. On that note, Wes is probably out too, right bro?” Wesley glanced up from his computer and nodded. That one I could understand; didn’t snakes eat crows?

“Have you tried talking to him?” I suggested to Caleb. “Like... using your telepathic thing? Seeing as he doesn’t have ears?” This last part was a joke, seeing as the damn thing could clearly hear us speaking if the curses Caleb had been translating were any indication.

“And ask him what? Why he’s being such a fucking ass?” Caleb grumbled, then rolled his eyes. “Fine, I will try.”

“Try starting with his name, if he has one,” Cole suggested. “He seems pretty sentient, so calling him snakey probably isn’t helping his mood. Failing that, I say we just lift the couch and trap him with a box.”

I glared at the big man. “Not the point, Cutie. But good suggestion to ask his name. If he doesn’t have one, you should really give him one, Cal.”

Caleb closed his eyes briefly, then snorted and sighed. “He’s trying to tell me his name is Rumplesnakeskin.”

Frowning, I glanced back under the sofa at the enormous diamond-backed viper, and he flicked his tongue at me in an almost amused sort of way. Wow, he really was a weird-ass snake.

“Maybe that is his name?” I suggested, but Caleb shook his head.

“No, because he laughed and is now telling me it’s Monty.” He paused, and I failed to see what was funny about Monty. “Monty the Python. Which it’s clearly not because you’re not a python, you dick!”

This last bit, Caleb leaned down to yell at the magical creature under the couch, and his familiar hissed back at him.

“Ahhh hilarious, you turd. It’s not William Snakespeare either, thank you. If you don’t give me a serious answer, I’m just going to name you myself,” Caleb snapped in response to what must have been another name suggestion from his familiar.

If I was being honest, the snake was kind of hilarious.

“Um, is he just fucking with you because he doesn’t have a name or because he just wants to fuck with you?” Wesley piped up and asked a very valid question.

Caleb wrinkled his nose and considered this. “Fair point. Listen, you slimy psycho, if you don’t give me a serious name, then I am going to call you... Cuddles. Or Fluffy.”

Still lying on the floor as I was, I could see his familiar’s less-than-excited reaction to those names, as he hissed and snapped his powerful jaws in Caleb’s vague direction.

“I don’t think he was into those suggestions, Cal,” I muttered, and Caleb huffed as he listened to the snake again.

“Seriously?” he finally asked, reluctantly getting off his chair and kneeling on the floor to peer at his familiar. “You’re not messing with me this time? That’s really your name?”

Curiosity was burning at me, and I poked him in the shoulder. “What is it?”

“Sam,” Caleb replied with a frown. “Except he says it like Sssssssssam, and I’m not totally sure if that’s just because he’s a snake—” He cut off and rolled his eyes. “Nope, he says that is the correct pronunciation. Sssssssssam.”

There was a long pause as he met my eyes with an expression that screamed why me, and I fought back laughter.

“Here’s the deal, scales. I’m not calling you Sssssssssam, and I can promise you that neither will the dragons. God forbid you try getting Alpha to call you Sssssssssam, either. So it’s Sam or Cuddles. Your choice.” He paused again. “Excellent choice. Now are you coming out from under there to meet our bonded Ban Dia, or are you going to be a little bitch? Sorry, I meant mouse.”

At this insult, Sam the snake darted forward and struck Caleb in the hand with his fangs before curling his way up Caleb’s arm to rest across his shoulders and eye me up suspiciously.

“What the fuck?” Caleb roared, holding his bleeding hand up to his mouth and then rolling his eyes for what seemed like the twentieth time since starting this chat with Sam. “Oh, there was no venom in that bite? Oh well, that makes it all okay then, you psycho.” His voice was heavy with sarcasm as he sucked the wound, and his familiar flicked out his tongue in what seemed to be a laugh.

“Here.” I held my hand out to take his and heal the wound, but he shook his head.

“It’s fine; it was only a scratch. See?” He held his hand up to show the bite had already stopped bleeding. “Apparently once Sam and I get to know each other better, we can choose what types of poison he will carry in his venom, which is kind of cool... I guess.”

“That’s actually really cool,” I murmured, eyeing up his familiar now that he was out in the light. Caleb was coiled tighter than, well, than an angry snake. But he hadn’t thrown Sam off him in revulsion, so that surely must be progress for them? “Hi, Sam. I’m Kit.”

Sam flickered his tongue at me, and Caleb translated. “He said, ‘No shit, Sherlock.’” He grimaced and gave me a pained look. “Sorry, my familiar is kind of a dick.”

“Fitting,” Austin snickered from across the room, and Caleb flipped him off.

“Okay, I think that’s just about enough for one night,” I announced before the twins could start bickering. “I’m fucking wrecked, and Caleb should spend some time with Sam. River?” I looked over to my sexy British lover, who was watching the whole snake interaction with fascination. “Can we just quickly run through our next steps? I need sleep, but don’t think I can until my mind finds some order.”

“Of course, love.” He snapped his fingers in front of Wesley’s screen to break his concentration, then glanced around to ensure everyone was listening.

“All right, so we were unable to confirm those agents who shot at you were Omega; however, given the coincidental timing with our meeting Director Pierre, it does seem like the obvious answer. For now. Wesley has been gathering more information about the doctor who has been conducting experiments using your blood and has suggested we may need to keep closer tabs on him as a precaution. That’s not an urgent matter though. Now, as far as I am concerned, our top priorities need to be helping you stabilize your bonds, which I believe you have some help with already?” River arched a brow at me, and I nodded, holding up the wrist with my fox amulet.

“Good,” he continued. “Then the next thing is helping Wesley with his magic. We’ve been doing some extensive research and think we have located someone who might be able to help. He’s located in a town called Glenganen in Ireland.”

My brows shot up, and I looked to Wesley, who really did look like shit. He had huge dark shadows under his eyes, and his cheeks were sunken. The lack of sleep was surely going to kill him soon. It seemed like for every night he was permitted a decent sleep, there were two or three that his mentor would torment him.

“Amazing,” I enthused. “When do we leave?”

“Well, that was the next thing. This gentleman has agreed to meet with Wesley and one other only. We can’t all go with him.” River’s eyes tightened, and I could tell he was as pleased with this as I was.

“That’s...” I shook my head. “That’s fucking stupid, but if that’s what it takes to get this creepy dream-stalker out of Wes’s head, then so be it. I’ve never been to Ireland before.” I gave Wesley an encouraging smile, and his face flooded with relief.

River’s controlled expression cracked for a second, and he looked at me with surprise. “You’d go without us, love?”

This gave me pause. When he’d said Wesley could only take one person, I’d just assumed it would be me. But then that meant leaving my other five guardians behind to keep dealing with the shitstorm that was my adopted father and mad scientists trying to replicate my magic and my unhinged mother who looked like my twin.

Could I really do that? Leave my dianoch behind and travel halfway around the world while every man and his dog were still out to get me?

When I met Wesley’s eyes, the answer was clear.

“Yeah, I think I have to. Wesley needs to figure out what he is, what I made him, and if there is anything I can do to help him with that... then that’s what I need to do.” I glanced at River, catching his golden eyes, which were swirling with so much raw emotion I couldn’t catch what was what. But I was firm in this decision. “I’d do the same for you, if you’d let me.”

River held my gaze a long, tense moment before giving a terse nod. Protests rose from all four of my other guardians, and River held his hand up to silence them.

“This is Kit’s choice,” he snapped at them in a voice like steel. “Wesley isn’t due to leave for another week yet, so perhaps she might change her mind. But it will always be Kit’s choice. She is our Ban Dia; we must support her in every decision.” Under his breath, quiet enough that I only heard it by how close I stood, he added, “Even if those decisions suck.”

Reaching for his waist, I tugged him close and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

“Thank you, sir,” I whispered the words in his ear. “I meant it. I will do the same for you.”

He didn’t reply, simply gave my waist a quick squeeze, then headed to the door and grabbed his jacket. “I’m heading out to sort some things. You know how to reach me.” He gave me one final, heated look before leaving, and I knew he was not happy. He was, however, understanding.

The other guys grumbled various complaints, but all started filtering out as well—even Caleb, carrying Sam like he was a scarf made of acid. Poor thing.

“All right, I’m going to get Caleb’s familiar tattoo sorted,” Austin told me as he made to follow his twin. “Gives him a chance to rest Sam before they literally murder each other.” He paused as he was about to leave the room, and turned to look back at me. “I think it’s a fucking dumb move to separate right now. So don’t think we won’t try to change your mind in the next week. Both of you.”

With that ominous warning, I found myself alone with Wesley.

“Well, what the hell do you think that meant?” I asked him, pulling out a chair at the table opposite him and propping my head on my hands.

“Uh, pretty sure it means a totally different thing for me than it does for you, sweetheart.” He smirked, then took off his glasses to rub at his bloodshot eyes. “But for me... unless they can find a bona fide dreamweaver here in the states, I don’t have another choice. Even waiting a week to meet this guy is going to be hard enough.”

“I know,” I said softly, reaching across the table to take his hand in mine. “Would it help if I slept with you tonight?”

He gave me a watery smile. “It won’t save me while I sleep, but it’ll make me feel a whole hell of a lot better about going to sleep.”

My lips curved into a grin, and I held his gaze. “So, we’re going to Ireland.”

“We are going to Ireland,” he agreed.

A nauseous feeling pooled in my stomach, but I pushed it aside. Wesley needed me, and I’d stop at nothing to be there for him in any way I could.