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The power grew； wound tight and tighter； until it filled the air around us。
Claudia said； 〃What the hell are you doing？〃
〃Bonding；〃 Rafael said； and he drew the two wererats out of our circle。 The instant they were gone； the circle tightened； and it was like the pressure of a storm； my ears needed to pop； as if the pressure of the air had changed。
Micah moved to stand in front of me。 The others formed a circle around us as if someone had choreographed it。 We stared at each other and then reached a hand towards each other。 It was hard to move forward； as if the air had grown solid and we had to push our way through。 Our fingertips touched； and our hands slid together； quickly； easily； like a fish breaking through water into open air。 We spilled around each other； our arms； our bodies touching pletely； as if we could walk into the other's body like it was an open door。 His mouth hovered over mine； and the power was there； breathing； pulsing； hot against my lips。 I tried to be afraid。 Tried to draw back； but I didn't want to。 It was as if a part of me that I hadn't even known existed was in charge； and no amount of mon sense or doubts could stop it。
It wasn't a kiss； it was a melding。 The power poured in a scalding wave from his mouth to mine； from my mouth to his。 I could feel the others； like lines of heat running out like spokes of a wheel； and Micah and I were the hub of that wheel。 The power ran between us all； back and forth； liquid； burning； growing； growing； and melting。 Melting boundaries； borders that kept us separate as people。 It was as if Micah's body and mine were a door and we stepped into each other； closer than flesh could touch； closer than hearts could beat； and I felt his beast and mine roll through us； around us； as if the two great animals bound us together like a rope that ran through our flesh； our skin； our minds。 And the beasts flared outward； traveled down those lines of power and smashed into each of the others。 I felt it as a physical blow； felt them stagger as our twinned beasts traveled the circle and caressed their beasts in turn。 And our beasts came home in a rush of heat； like standing in the middle of a bonfire； but it was also a glorious rush； a joyousness like nothing I'd ever felt。 I caught； with that rush of power； glimpses into all the others。
I saw Gina tied to a bed and a man above her like a shadow； something evil that the power could not see clearly； Merle covered in wounds and blood； huddled against a wall； weeping； Caleb standing alone； covered in blood； his eyes haunted； Noah running down a hallway with screams chasing him； making him run faster； Cherry lying in a huge heap of warm bodies； beside Zane and Nathaniel and me； Zane's memory was of sitting at my kitchen table eating； laughing with Nathaniel； Vivian lying in Stephen's arms in their bed； Nathaniel's memory was of me marking his back； but the sense of peace I got from him with the memory was stronger than the sense of sex； as if some great burden had lifted from him； and I saw Gregory bound wrist…to…ankle behind his back； gagged； blindfolded； terrified。 He lay naked on a bed of bones。 I knew this was not a memory； this was what was happening to Gregory right this minute。 And I could see it； feel his terror； and I still didn't know where he was。
The power burst over us all in a wave of skin…rushing； nerve…caressing contentment； as if we'd all walked into a strange room and suddenly realized that everything in it was familiar； every corner of the room was a key to our hearts； and the word that washed over me； was home。
Micah drew back first； shaking。 I was crying； and didn't remember when it had started。 I heard other people crying in the dark； and I looked beyond us and found that it wasn't just our people。 Some of the wererats were crying； faces turned towards us with something like awe or fear in their eyes。
Something made me look past all of them to the wood's edge。 Richard stood shirtless； dressed in nothing but jeans and whatever shoes he was wearing。 The sight of him there painted with starlight and shadows made me catch my breath； not because he was beautiful； or because I wanted him that always went without saying with Richard but because he was suddenly； for the first time； wild。 It wasn't his anger that made the difference。 I saw him at the edge of the woods； the way you'd e unexpectedly upon a wild animal； like glimpsing deer in the twilight； or that flash as something large and furred raced in front of your headlights； and you knew it wasn't a dog and it was too big to be a fox。 Richard stood there； and when our eyes met； it sent a jolt through me from the top of my head to the soles of my feet； and into the ground beyond。 Whatever else Richard had been doing to screw up his pack's structure； one thing he'd done right； he'd embraced his beast。 You could see it on him like a coat that he'd finally grown into； something that fit him； tailor…made。
Marcus； the old Ulfric； had always insisted on dressing up； so at a glance you'd know he was king。 Richard stood there with no clothes to distinguish him； yet you knew he was king。 Power makes you a monarch； and all the fancy robes in the world won't do the job without it。
We stared at each other across the clearing。 Underneath that new veneer of fortable power； the look on his face made my chest so tight it hurt。 If I could have thought of anything to say that would have made things less painful； I'd have said it； but I couldn't think of any words that would help。
Jamil and Shang…Da came up on either side of him； and there was a look of anger on Shang…Da's face。 Anger at me； I think。 Jamil looked at Richard； as if he wished there was some way for him to guard Richard from this； as well as from bullets and claws。 But with some things； even a really good bodyguard can't take the hit for you。 This was one of those things。
Richard's voice came deep； loud； clear； untouched by the look on his face。 〃Wele rat king of the Dark Crown Clan。 Wele Nimir…Ra and Nimir…Raj of the Blooddrinkers Clan。 Wele to the lands of the Thronnos Rokke Clan。 The leopards have shown us this night what it truly means to be a clan； be they pard； lukoi； or rodere。 They show us what we all strive for a true melding of all our parts into a whole。〃 Bitterness crept in at the last； but on the whole； it was a lovely speech； and more heartfelt than pleasant。
〃Now join us at our lupanar； and we will see if you can win back your lost cat。〃 There was anger in his voice； and I wondered if Gregory was about to pay the price for Richard's anger with me。
Richard turned and melted into the trees with Shang…Da at his side。 Jamil spared a glance back at me； then followed。
Micah leaned close and whispered； 〃I owe you several apologies。 I'm sorry your Ulfric had to see us this way。〃
〃Me； too；〃 I said。
〃I said your cats were a mess； and I was wrong。 You have made a home for your cats； and mine have nowhere to hide。〃
〃What is wrong with all of you？〃 It wasn't perhaps the most diplomatic question； but it covered things。
〃That is a very long story。〃
Merle leaned over us。 He spoke so low that I almost couldn't hear him。 〃Be very careful for all our sakes。〃
They