Bayou Flood

The Shifters of Alligator Bend 3

Bayou Flood Sophie Deco is thrilled to be playing at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. She notices Virgil and Gabriel in the audience, and is shocked when they transform into alligators right in the middle of the club. As if things weren't strange enough, Sophie learns she's their mate. The Louisiana coastline is vanishing at an alarming rate. Even a regular thunderstorm has the potential to flood New Orleans. After doing some digging, they realize Ferdinand Villemont's construction company is behind it. As the shifters and Sophie begin to work out plans to stop the destruction, old wounds resurface, creating tensions all around. Sophie finally allows herself to fall in love with Gabriel and Virgil, but they've barely had the chance to celebrate when they discover the work they've done to protect the city has been sabotaged. They'll need to rely on each other to save New Orleans and heal old betrayals. Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among the men. Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Shape-shifter Length: 38,098 words

BAYOU FLOOD The Shifters of Alligator Bend 3

Charlotte Rose

MENAGE EVERLASTING

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

BAYOU FLOOD Copyright © 2012 by Charlotte Rose E-book ISBN: 1-61926-274-6 First E-book Publication 2012 Cover design by Les Byerley All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

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BAYOU FLOOD The Shifters of Alligator Bend 3 CHARLOTTE ROSE Copyright © 2011

Chapter One Virgil Marcon crossed his arms, wondering why he and Gabriel Dejan were in the tiny club. On one level, he had the answer. He’d been walking around enjoying Jazz Fest with Gabriel, as well as a few other gators from the congregation. Saturday was typically a major workday, but Jazz Fest was one of the few times the congregation leaders made an exception. It was one of the biggest local events of the year, and nobody wanted to miss out. He’d never heard of Sophie Deco before, but as they were walking down the street, Gabriel grabbed him by the shoulder and pointed to the sign in front of a club. “We need to go see her,” he said. As he gazed at the name on the sign, Virgil felt an odd pull in his body, as if some unseen force was trying to push him into the club doors. Still, he wasn’t sure he wanted to change their plans for a singer he knew nothing about. “I thought we were going to check out that jazz combo a few blocks up.” “Yeah, I know, I just have this strange feeling that we need to go see her. I can’t explain it.”

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Virgil sighed. “Yeah, I feel it, too. It’s so weird. I wish I knew what was going on.” The rest of their group stopped walking and turned around, as if they only just realized that they were leaving Virgil and Gabriel behind. “You two coming?” Adele Dupart-Galvez called out. Virgil glanced at Gabriel then shook his head. “Nah. You all go ahead if you want. We’re gonna check out this act.” The other six gators walked back to them. “Sophie Deco?” Xavier Dupart asked. “Who’s she?” Gabriel shrugged. “We’ve never heard of her before. But we walked past the sign, and I just had this weird feelin’ that we needed to go in.” Xavier exchanged a glance with Adele. “A feelin’, huh?” Virgil grew apprehensive by the sudden change in Xavier’s tone. “Yeah, a feelin’. Why? Somethin’ wrong with that?” “Maybe we should stick to the original plan,” Oscar Galvez said. “Why?” “Yeah, why?” Narcisse Vitrac-Rey asked. “Well—I—uh—it just don’t seem like a good idea, is all.” Virgil raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, not a good idea?” “Come on, Oscar,” Narcisse said. “Admit it, you have no good reason.” Oscar seemed to puff up with pride. “I do have good reasons.” Virgil rolled his eyes. “Whatever, man. You’re actin’ weird for some reason, but you clearly don’t wanna tell us why. What, did you sleep with her once or somethin’?” “I most certainly did not, and you know it.” “Not like that would be any reason we couldn’t go to the show,” Gabriel added. “You have a good point there. C’mon, let’s go in. We’ll meet up with y’all later,” Virgil said.

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“We’re goin’ with you,” Armand Vitrac said. “Who knows? Might be a good show.” Virgil glanced at Gabriel again, but his friend only shrugged. He didn’t have an explanation for their friends’ odd behavior, either. Still, as he stood in the crowd and felt his eyes adjust as the house lights dimmed, he wondered what, exactly, had driven him into the club. But when Sophie Deco walked onstage and started playing, his mind suddenly went completely blank. All questions and thoughts were completely gone. All he could focus on was the image of the gorgeous beauty playing the guitar with such speedy precision that he wouldn’t have been surprised if her fingers had started smoking. She seemed nervous at first, but as her set continued, she seemed to relax. As she loosened up and began to dance around the stage, Virgil’s attraction for her grew. His eyes were drawn to the way her breasts bounced as she jumped around, and before he knew it, his cock was pressing against the fabric of his jeans. He suddenly wasn’t sure if he’d be able to make it through the set. All he wanted to do was jump on the stage and rip her clothes off. He wasn’t surprised when his cock got even harder, to the point where it was becoming painful for him. What did shock him was that all of a sudden, his skin started to thicken and turn green. He could feel his nails turn to claws and his teeth grow long and sharp. He could feel his jawbones change shape, and all of a sudden, he was shrinking down to the floor. What the fuck? This hasn’t happened in over a year. I have to fight it. He took a deep breath and concentrated on what it felt like to be in human form in an attempt to change back. But the screams of the other concertgoers filled the air, breaking his concentration. Not that he blamed them. Not many people expected to find dangerous predators in the middle of a club. Still, their reactions were making it all but impossible for him to shift back.

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Come on. Just concentrate. Imagine what your skin is supposed to feel like. Imagine standing up on two legs. But suddenly, his energy changed again. He lost all ability to concentrate on resuming human form, and instead turned toward Gabriel. His mind was suddenly full of jealousy, all directed at his best friend. But Virgil only had a second to be confused before he opened his powerful jaws and let out a bellow. Gabriel didn’t seem to be in a good mood, either. The second Virgil finished his bellow, Gabriel slapped his head down on the ground. Virgil was shocked by the territorial gesture, but he couldn’t help but think his friend might have been experiencing the same inexplicable jealousy. Yet no matter how hard he tried to fight it, his body reacted. He opened his mouth again and bellowed even louder this time, snapping at Gabriel’s nose as he closed his jaws. The crowd, in their fear, dispersed quickly, and suddenly there was plenty of room for Virgil to lash out at his friend. But Gabriel wasn’t taking any of it. Every time Virgil attempted to bite or made a swipe with his tail, Gabriel was ready with a counterattack. They circled each other, attacking and retreating, until Virgil felt something grab his tail. Before he had a chance to attempt to attack, Oscar had seized the moment and clamped his hands around Virgil’s jaws. **** The guitar string snapped with so much recoil that it whipped across Sophie Deco’s cheek. With just five minutes left until showtime, she hurried to attach a fresh one. She didn’t realize she was bleeding until red spots stained the white finish of her custom Gibson. “Just what I need,” she muttered. The preshow jitters increased tenfold as she rubbed at the spots. “Calm down,” her friend Georgina Fucher said. She handed Sophie a damp paper towel. “Here, you wipe down the guitar, and I’ll take care of your cheek.”

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“Thanks, Georgina,” Sophie said as her friend applied pressure to the cut. “I don’t know how I managed all this stage fright before I met you.” Georgina laughed. “You were doing just fine for yourself, and you know it.” She stepped away and assessed Sophie’s face. “Okay, it’s a pretty shallow cut. I stopped the bleeding, but it’s still pretty red. I don’t think it would be a good idea to put makeup over it. Do you want me to get you a couple of Band-Aids or something?” Sophie shook her head. “It’ll just get all gross and slide out of place when I start sweating. Hey, at least this way I’ll look more like a badass. It wouldn’t hurt to toughen up my image a little bit.” Georgina giggled. “You don’t need to be tougher. Just go wow them with your skills.” “Two minutes!” a stagehand called. Sophie pressed Georgina into a quick hug. “Thanks for being here. Seriously. It really helps.” “Of course,” Georgina said. “Now go kick some ass out there. I’ll be cheering for you.” Sophie took one more deep breath and then hurried to the wings. She gave a quick nod to the stage manager to reassure them that she was there, and then she closed her eyes, trying to center herself. She could hear the murmurs of the crowd but resisted peeking around the curtain to check out the size of the audience. Knowing just how big— or small—the crowd was could throw the whole show off. She opened her eyes just as the house lights went down and the emcee went to the front of the stage. “Welcome to the show, everyone,” he called into the microphone. “Thank you all for coming out. How are you all enjoying Jazz Fest this year?” The crowd went wild, and Sophie resisted trying to guess the size of the crowd based on the sound of their shouts. “Come on, I think you can do better than that. Who’s enjoying Jazz Fest?”

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This time, the crowd started screaming, and Sophie felt butterflies in her stomach as she realized that this might have been her most well-attended show yet. She knew that playing for Jazz Fest would draw numbers, but she still viewed herself as a small-time local act. She didn’t imagine many people would have been at her lateafternoon set. “That’s more like it,” the emcee said. “And now, without further ado, it is my pleasure to introduce one of my favorite local acts. You’ve seen her around the French Quarter, and the Gambit named her the best local artist last year. Please join me in giving a proper Jazz Fest welcome to Sophie Deco!” Taking one last calming breath, Sophie gripped the neck of her guitar and jogged out onto the stage. “Hello!” she screamed. The crowd screamed back. “It’s so great to be playing my first Jazz Fest,” she said. “Thank you all for coming out to see the show.” Not wanting to carry on with the stage banter, she launched into her first song, one of her faster numbers, to get the crowed energized for the rest of her set. As her fingers and voice eased through the first verse, Sophie finally started to relax and enjoy the performance. By the end of the song, she could even make out a few people bouncing around in the front row. Once she played the last note, she immediately launched into her second number, another fast one, and as she lost all her stage fright, she began cavorting, her fingers never missing a note as she bounced around the floor and whipped her hair around. Even the pain in her cheek disappeared as the endorphins kicked in. For the third song, Sophie switched to a slow number, in part to shake things up and in part to give herself a chance to catch her breath. As her heart rate slowed and her fingers carried her through the smooth, bluesy tune, Sophie peered out into the darkness, trying to see if she could identify any faces and if any of them were regulars at her local gigs. It was too dark to make out any distinct features, so

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Sophie turned her attention back to the music. But she found her eye was suddenly drawn to the center of the crowd, where she could start to make out two faces, as though that spot held more illumination than anywhere else in the room. She couldn’t make them out distinctly, but she could identify strong jawlines and dark hair. Pulling her gaze away to transition to the next song, Sophie found that her eyes were drawn back to the men almost immediately, as though she had no control over what to look at. Then she realized that the men were staring at her as well. She could barely make out their eyes, but she could feel their gazes on her. She never would have believed that a gaze could have physical weight, and yet she had the unmistakable sense of their eyes pressing against her body, as though a firm hand was holding her steady as her heart began to race and her pussy began to throb. Sophie was at the point in the show where she would usually take a break for stage banter, but she didn’t trust herself to open her mouth. Not with the way she was feeling. She fumbled the transition into the next song but kept playing, certain that if she stopped she’d fall apart. She didn’t understand why she was suddenly engrossed in the two strangers she could barely see, or why her cunt was pulsing along to the beat of her music with such intensity. When one of the men seemed to change and then disappear into the crowd, Sophie began to think she was hallucinating. When the crowd began to part and started screaming, she realized she probably wasn’t. When the house lights came up and she saw an alligator on the floor where the man had been, she went back to thinking she was hallucinating. When she saw the other man’s skin change to a leathery green, when she saw his mouth and nose elongate into a snout with dangerous teeth, when she saw him drop to all fours and saw claws sprout where fingernails had been, she fainted.

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**** Gabriel wasn’t sure what confused him more—the strange desire he had to go see Sophie Deco’s performance or the way that the rest of the group had acted in response. He knew something was up, but he had no idea what it could possibly be. As he waited for the show to get going, he kept glancing over at his friends, trying to figure out what had most of them suddenly so skittish. Xavier, Oscar, Armand, and Nelson were all glancing at each other with skittish expressions, while Adele and Narcisse couldn’t seem to stop giggling and whispering to each other. Gabriel tried to ignore it, but when the four men started conversing in low tones as well, he jumped in. “Okay, what’s goin’ on here?” he asked, trying to control his temper. “Are Virgil and I the butt of some sort of private joke to you? Because it ain’t funny. I wanna know what has you all worked up, and I want to know now.” “Don’t worry,” Adele said with a slight smirk. “If we’re right, you’re gonna figure it out soon enough.” “Right about what?” “Adele, c’mon,” Oscar said with a slight groan. “This ain’t fair to anyone.” Gabriel was about to interrogate further, but then the house lights dimmed. “We’ll talk about this later,” he said, not bothering to hide his frustration. “Oh, I’m sure we will,” Narcisse said before bursting into another round of laughter. “It really ain’t funny,” Armand said. All of a sudden, Gabriel was captivated by the woman who stood up there, lit by a spotlight, looking more than a little terrified. Her long, dark hair was streaked with red, and her green eyes were illuminated by the glow above her. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and he didn’t want to take his eyes off of her for a

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single second. He knew he’d hate the moment the set ended, because she’d slip backstage, and he’d quite possibly never be able to gaze on her gorgeous face and body ever again. As she began to play her first number, he could see her nervousness begin to ebb away, and she became even more beautiful as her muscles relaxed and her lips formed into a smile. Before the first song ended, he was already coming up with a list of ways to make contact with her after the show. No matter how much effort it took, he was not going to let her get away. The more she played, the more entranced Gabriel became, especially once she relaxed enough to start dancing and jumping around the stage. His cock began to creep toward hardness, making his pants more and more uncomfortable with each passing second. He didn’t care, though. As badly as he wanted to touch her, just staring at her gorgeous body was good enough for now. Complete fulfillment could come later. At one point, a few songs in, he realized Sophie had noticed them. In fact, he was certain that if the light allowed it, she’d be looking him right in the eyes. But this realization didn’t last long before a familiar yet unexpected energy surged through his body. His skin began to harden, and a tail began to grow just above the waistband of his jeans. His nose and mouth elongated into a snout, and his hair began to recede into his body. Oh, God, no. Not here. Not now. Not after a year of having total control over my shift. This cannot be happening. This is not happening. I will not allow it. But no matter how hard he clenched his muscles, no matter how clearly he pictured himself in human form, Gabriel couldn’t deny that his gator self was overtaking his body. Before he knew it, he was on the floor, crawling out of his clothes, and everyone in the venue was screaming and panicking. Everyone, that is, except for his six friends, who were trying to keep everyone calm and protect him from getting stepped on.

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Turning his body around, he saw that Virgil was in the same shape. But before Gabriel could try to ask his friend what had happened, a jealous rage surged through his body. Virgil, it seemed, was experiencing the same thing, because all of a sudden, he opened his jaws and bellowed. Gabriel was equal parts confused and angry. But his body and mind weren’t completely his own. He didn’t have the chance to try to think things through or figure out what was going on. Instead, he slapped his head against the hard concrete of the club floor. It was a territorial move and one he felt his body had made for him without his having any real desire to do so. In response, Virgil bellowed again and then attacked with a whip of his tail. By that point, the venue was mostly clear. The security guards were yelling at his friends in an attempt to make them leave, but Adele was giving them some story about them being wildlife management experts specially trained to handle alligators. Another swipe of Virgil’s tail distracted Gabriel from the rest of the conversation, and he launched back into the attack with full force, snapping, biting, and bellowing, trying to drive his friend off. “Okay, enough’s enough,” he heard Armand say. Gabriel didn’t know what that meant, but as he attempted to retaliate against one of Virgil’s blows, he found himself suddenly bound by Armand’s and Nelson’s arms.

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Chapter Two Armand gripped his hands around Gabriel’s jaws. Still caught offguard by his sudden shift and completely freaked out, Gabriel didn’t stop thrashing. He kept trying to open his jaws to snap at Virgil, but Armand held fast. “Chill out, man,” Armand commanded. “Just calm down.” Gabriel, however, was not ready to settle down. He continued thrashing his tail and scratching his claws on the floor, desperate to get away. Virgil didn’t seem to be in much better shape, either. He could hear Xavier and Oscar trying to talk him down, as well as the scratching of claws on concrete. Suddenly, Gabriel felt a strong pair of hands grip his tail. “If you just relax, Armand and I can explain everything,” Nelson said. “There’s an answer to all of this, but there’s no point in trying to discuss it until we get you two back in human form and revive her. So if you want answers, you need to chill.” Gabriel finally quit struggling. “You sure you can be calm?” Armand asked. Gabriel blinked twice. “Okay, then. We’re lettin’ go of you now. But if you freak out again, we’re gonna take hold of you again. We need to be able to trust that you’re gonna stay in control of yourself.” Armand and Nelson stepped away, and Gabriel resisted the urge to start attacking again. “Good,” Nelson said with a nod. “Now, I know this change hit you unexpectedly, and it’s the first time in a long time you’ve had that problem. I know you’re tense as hell, and that’ll make it harder for

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you to shift back. But just close your eyes, relax, and let it happen. Same way you always do.” Gabriel wanted to demand answers right then and there, but lacking vocal cords, he had no choice but to obey his friend. He closed his eyes and willed his body to relax. Then he pictured his skin returning to its regular tanned smoothness and visualized his teeth shortening. Gradually, he felt his muscles and limbs begin to lengthen, felt himself grow to full height, felt his claws retract into fingernails. He opened his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief, then bent down and hurried to pull his clothes back on. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Virgil, fully human again, zipping up his jeans and then pulling on his T-shirt. “So what the hell just happened?” Gabriel asked, trying to keep his cool. He wanted answers, but he knew his friends didn’t deserve to be snapped at. Nelson chuckled. “Just be glad that we were here. Otherwise, things could’ve gotten complicated. You remember what happened to us last month?” Gabriel raised his eyebrows. “You sayin’ that we got hit by the matin’ instinct? That she’s our mate?” Xavier nodded. “The one and only.” “Is that why we felt the need to check out her set, even though we’d never heard of her before?” Virgil asked. “I imagine so. Congratulations, you’ve found your mate.” “What do we do now?” Now it was Oscar’s turn to laugh. “I imagine the first order of business is to wake her up.” **** The first thing Sophie felt as she regained consciousness was the sting of the guitar string wound on her cheek, as well as a dull ache forming behind her forehead. As she became more aware of her

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surroundings, her heart began to race as she observed a group of strangers crouched down and staring at her. She started shaking, trying to ignore the pain building in her head as she collected her thoughts. Two of the people in the circle were the gorgeous men she’d seen turn into alligators, but even that didn’t put her at ease. Sexy as they were, Sophie was too frightened and confused to feel aroused. She jumped up and tried to push through the tight circle they had formed around her, but she couldn’t break free. “Excuse me. I’m not well. I really need to pack up my gear and get out of here.” One of the women chuckled. “Are you sure that’s what you want? Or would you prefer to get some answers about what you just witnessed?” Sophie felt the blood drain from her face. “Answers? You mean I wasn’t hallucinating?” The other woman shook her head. “You definitely weren’t.” “And you’re sure I’m not hallucinating now?” “I promise.” Another strange man came through the door. “Virgil, Gabriel, you’re gonna have to shift again so we can sneak you two out without things looking even more suspicious.” The two men from the audience looked up at him and groaned. “Come on, man, really?” one of them said. “Look, it’s bad enough that two humans just transformed to gators in the middle of the club. That’s the most public shift that’s happened in decades, and it’s why I insisted we not come to the show in the first place.” “Then how would they have found their mate?” the first woman asked. “Could we have counted on her running into them boating around the bayou? Would she have gone on a swamp tour like Narcisse? It wouldn’t have been right for us to keep them from meeting each other.” Mate? Shift? What the hell is going on here?

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“Excuse me,” Sophie said, this time forcing her way through the people surrounding her. “I really do need to be off. Thanks for looking after me when I fainted. I really appreciate your help. But I should get home.” “Please don’t go,” the second woman said, grabbing her arm. “It’s really important that we have a chance to talk to you.” For a moment, Sophie felt creeped out, but then she looked at the two men she’d been staring at from the stage. Something in the back of her mind commanded her to stay. As much as the rest of her wanted to flee, she found she couldn’t resist. “Okay. So are we going to do this here or what?” “Definitely not,” one of the other men said. “It ain’t safe here. But the security guards think Virgil and Gabriel here are actual gators. Guess they didn’t see the shift, thank goodness. Hopefully not too many other people noticed, either. Anyway, we managed to get ’em to back off, but we gotta leave with them in gator form to keep the illusion up.” Virgil and Gabriel sighed and closed their eyes. Although she’d seen them change once before, Sophie was still shocked to see them transform from chiseled, dark, smooth-skinned men to rough, menacing alligators right before her very eyes. She began to feel woozy again, and spots started appearing in her vision. “Grab her!” she heard a voice call, and suddenly she was being supported by two well-muscled men. It felt good to have people to lean on, but as Sophie’s mind cleared, she realized she wished she was being held by the two who were currently reptiles. “I’m okay,” she said as her leg muscles started to feel strong again. When the men released her, she managed to stand steady on her feet. “Okay, here’s the plan,” the blond man said. “We’re not gonna walk out the front door, ’cause that’s gonna just incite more chaos and attention. Instead, we’re gonna go out the back. One of the guards is

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back there, so he’ll see us and know we’ve cleared the area. Nelson and I will take Gabriel. Xavier and Oscar will take Virgil.” Sophie could swear she saw the two gators roll their eyes. “I know, I know,” the blond man continued. “This ain’t an ideal situation. But we’re doin’ the best we can. Anyway, we’re gonna carry you out and then make like we’re headin’ toward the police station on Royal Street. Once they’re outta sight, we’re gonna duck around the corner, and the two of you are gonna shift back. Then we’re gonna head to Café du Monde, get ourselves some beignets, and have a nice little chat about what just happened here.” The four human men picked up the two gators and started hauling them toward the back door. The two women picked up the gators’ clothes, which had been abandoned on the floor, and crammed the Tshirts, jeans, and shoes into their tote bags. “Just be cool,” the first woman whispered into Sophie’s ear. “This will all make sense soon, I promise.” Sophie held her breath as they walked out the back door. The nervous-looking security guard nodded at them. “We sure do appreciate you getting these animals under control. I’ll be in touch next week about following up with a security report.” “Of course,” the first woman said. “We’ll be happy to assist with that in any way we can.” Sophie didn’t breathe again until they rounded the corner into an alley and the two gators were set down. After checking around the corner, the blond man turned to them. “Coast is clear. Go ahead and shift.” Realizing they’d be naked when they returned to human form, Sophie turned away out of a sense of propriety. As curious as she was to see what they looked like naked, she didn’t even know which man was Gabriel and which man was Virgil. She should at least have their identities figured out before she saw them naked. Yet she couldn’t resist sneaking a peek out of the corner of her eye as they assumed human form. She tried not to gasp as she caught

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glimpses of chiseled six-packs, toned biceps, strong legs, and amazing cocks. She could only imagine how glorious they’d look when fully hard. One of the men caught her staring at them and winked. Sophie quickly turned her face away, feeling a blush rise up on her cheeks. “Okay, let’s go,” the blond man said. After being caught staring, Sophie was too embarrassed to look at either of the two gator men. She kept her gaze straight ahead as they walked through the French Quarter. When they entered Café du Monde, Sophie began to relax a bit. The smell of beignets and coffee overwhelmed her senses, making her temporarily forget her confusion and anxiety. The group pushed three tables together in a quiet corner and pulled chairs around it, and one of the gator men ordered beignets and coffee for everyone. “Guess introductions are in order,” the blond man said. “We know you’re Sophie Deco, but you’re probably wonderin’ who the rest of us are. I’m Armand, and this is Narcisse, Nelson, Xavier, Adele, and Oscar. And these two guys who are the source of all our trouble are Gabriel and Virgil.” “Sorry we ruined your show,” Gabriel said. “I really don’t know what happened. I wish I could explain it.” “Fortunately, the rest of us can,” Adele said. “Sophie here is your mate.” “Um, what do you mean I’m their mate?” Virgil sighed. “In case you haven’t figured it out, we’re gator shifters.” Sophie cracked a small smile. “Yeah, I kind of noticed that. Not that I’m not entirely sure this whole afternoon isn’t a dream.” “Understandable,” Narcisse said. “Now, just so we’re sure you’re clear, you’re the only full human at this table. All of us are alligator shape-shifters.” Sophie wanted to let her jaw drop, but just then a waitress came to the table with a tray full of steaming beignets and café au lait. She

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maintained her composure while the waitress served everyone and then immediately put one of the warm pastries in her mouth, savoring the way the powdered sugar coated her lips. She glanced over at Gabriel and Virgil, whose mouths were also covered in white powder. She wanted to kiss the sugar right off of them, a realization that only made her confused about the sudden sense of attraction she felt. After taking a swallow of her coffee, Sophie tried to sort things out. “I’m sorry I’m just parroting back what you told me, but you’re alligator shape-shifters.” “That’s correct,” Virgil said. “Some of our ancestors got cursed ’bout a hundred years ago for improper use of voodoo magic. The voodoo queen who cursed us made it our lot in life to pass between human and gator form. As a result, we live out in the swamps. As you might have guessed, it ain’t good if we shift in public. Still, we do come into the city for special occasions.” “Okay. I mean, I guess that makes sense. That is, if I can accept that shape-shifters exist, which I’m still not sure I do, then it’s not implausible that it’s the result of a century-old curse. But I’m not sure what it means that I’m their mate?” “We’ve learned throughout generations that offspring are the strongest when they’re produced between a gator and a human,” Oscar said. “The children are even stronger when they’re the combination of two gators with one human.” Now, Sophie did let her jaw drop. “So what you’re saying is that fate has decided that I’m supposed to mate with two half-gators to help contribute to strengthening the shape-shifter population?” Everyone at the table nodded. Sophie gulped down the rest of her coffee to give herself a chance to think. “And how do you know I’m their mate?” she asked. She couldn’t really deny that shape-shifters existed, not when she’d seen it with her own eyes. But she wasn’t about to accept being anybody’s mate without proof. Nor was she going to let herself believe the sudden stirrings in her body constituted good evidence.

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“It’s easy,” Nelson said. “That’s why they turned into gators when they watched you play.” **** “Wait a second,” Virgil said, running his hand through his dark hair. “You’re tellin’ us that the first time you see your mate, you shift?” The other gators at the table nodded. “Well why the hell didn’t someone tell us that before?” “You know that we keep the mating ritual a secret,” Xavier said. “I also seem to remember that got Narcisse, Armand, and Nelson in a sticky situation,” Gabriel shot back, his gold-flecked eyes flashing with indignation. “You’d think maybe they’d start cluin’ us into things before somethin’ bad happens again.” “Don’t worry, nobody got accidentally mated this time,” Narcisse said. “Besides, if it looked as though things were heading in that direction, we wouldn’t have let it happen.” “Wait,” Virgil said. Things were starting to come together. “Is that why the six of you were all bein’ so weird outside the club this afternoon?” “Yes,” Oscar said with a sigh. “And this is why some of us didn’t want you two going in there in the first place. When you saw her name and had the compulsion to go in, we knew you’d happened upon your mate. Your soul knew even before you laid eyes on her. But we didn’t want you to go through the shift in the middle of a crowded club.” “Yeah, I would have preferred for that to not have happened,” Gabriel said. “So why did you let it? As you said, shiftin’ in public ain’t a good idea.” “Because you needed to see your mate,” Adele said. “Who knows when you would have you had that chance again? You needed to fulfill your fate.”

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“I still say we should’ve kept it from happenin’,” Xavier said. “We could’ve arranged for them to find her some other way.” “Maybe if you’d offered a realistic suggestion, we would have gone with it,” Narcisse said. “But you didn’t come up with a single useful plan. They had to go see her. That’s all there is to it.” Virgil stared at Sophie, who was looking more and more confused by the moment. He reached out and put his hand on hers. She jumped but didn’t pull away. “Is this okay?” he asked. She nodded. Virgil flashed a quick, encouraging smile at Gabriel, who then eased his own hand up to rest on Sophie’s shoulder. She tensed up for a second but quickly relaxed. Still, she didn’t make eye contact, keeping her focus on the other gators who were explaining everything. “So, are they going to shift every time I see them?” she finally asked in a small voice. Adele laughed. “No, definitely not. There’s no need to worry about that. The sudden shift only happens the first time men find their mates. It’s how you know you’ve found each other.” “Some warning would’ve been nice,” Virgil muttered. “Just sayin’. I’m glad that we found her, but some indication of what was gonna happen might’ve helped.” Narcisse shook her head. “We have to keep these things secret for a reason.” “And what reason would that be?” Virgil asked, trying not to let his frustration show. He didn’t want to intimidate Sophie. She’d been through enough already. “It’s to prevent false matin’,” Nelson said. “False matin’?” Armand nodded. “About fifty years ago, we ran into a problem. We had two members of our congregation, a pair of brothers, who weren’t exactly the most scrupulous folk. They found a human woman they were both attracted to, an’ even though they knew she

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wasn’t their true mate, they decided they wanted to claim her anyway.” “How’d they pull that off?” Gabriel asked. “Well, back then, when you came of age, you were told what was gonna happen when you figured out who your mate was. So these guys knew what to expect. They faked it.” “As in, they shifted and pretended it was spontaneous?” Virgil asked. “Yup,” Armand said. “They claimed her one night, but since she wasn’t their true mate…well…” “Well what?” Adele spoke up. “You don’t quite understand how intense the mating experience is going to be until it actually happens. It’s exhilarating and beautiful but also makes you think it might tear you apart.” “You can’t claim someone who ain’t your true mate and have ’em survive,” Nelson added in a suddenly somber tone. Virgil felt his stomach clench. “So then what happened?” “Well, they confessed to the whole thing. Serafine banished ’em for doin’ somethin’ so immoral. It was one of her first acts as our voodoo queen, too. It hurt her so much to have to do it.” “Anyway,” Armand said, “after that, Serafine decreed that we had to keep it a secret to prevent that from ever happenin’ again.” As much as Virgil reviled the two men who had falsely claimed a mate, he wasn’t pacified. “Still, I think you could’ve warned us, especially considerin’ the situation.” “Okay,” Xavier said. “We ain’t gettin’ anywhere debatin’ what should or should not have happened.” “What about what I want?” Sophie asked. “I mean, I don’t want to sound rude, but I didn’t exactly accommodate for this in my five-year plan. Is there an escape clause if I don’t really want to be mated to two gator shifters?”

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Her hand was shaking slightly, and Virgil gave it what he hoped would be a reassuring squeeze. Sophie looked up at him. “No offense to either of you. This is all just very sudden, and I feel like it’s something I should have some sort of control over. It’s my entire future, after all.” Nelson chuckled. “Don’ you worry. We ain’t gonna just steal you off to the swamp forever.” “Yeah, that didn’t go so well last time,” Narcisse said, giving him a wink. She turned back to Sophie. “As a matter of fact, you have a lot of choice in the matter. You’re not expected to take the mating ceremony lightly. You’re supposed to spend some time with Virgil and Gabriel and get to know them before you decide to be mated.” “Once you decide, it’s forever,” Oscar said. “You agree that Gabriel and Virgil will be your mates for life. There will be a ceremony, and as part of that, they’ll turn you into a shifter. Due to the nature of the curse, you have to live in the houseboats on the bayou. You can’t be away from the congregation for more than fortyeight hours at a time.” “So—so I have to give up my whole life?” She sounded as though she was on the verge of tears. “Of course not!” Adele said. “The congregation prefers if you get involved with the fishing business we run, but not everyone does. I’ve still kept my career. It means a little more commuting than I’d like, but it’s worth it. You can still be a musician. Your touring options will be pretty limited, I suppose, but you can still build up a career here. If that’s something you need in order to decide to be mated, then you can have it.” “And what—and what if I decide that I don’t want to be mated?” A flash of worry raced through Virgil’s heart. He didn’t know this woman yet, but now that he had found her, his entire body was consumed by the desire to make her his mate for life. He already couldn’t bear the possibility that she might refuse them.

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“Totally your choice,” Armand said. “Matin’ is serious business. You have to go into it wantin’ it. Nobody can pressure you. Nobody can beg you. You must enter the covenant out of your own volition.” Sophie gave a small nod. “Okay. Um, thank you all for your hospitality and taking the time to explain this to me. I think I should be going now, though. It’s been a hell of an afternoon, and I kind of have a lot to think about.” The gators nodded. “Take all the time you need,” Adele said. “Don’t rush. They can wait.” Virgil’s entire soul was screaming that he couldn’t wait, that he didn’t want to wait, that he would die if he had to wait. But he merely nodded at Sophie and smiled. “Can we have your number?” he asked her. “Gabriel and I would like to see you again.” “Sure,” she said, fumbling for her phone. She gave them her number, and then she plugged theirs into her device. Then she stood up from the table. “Thank you again. I guess”—she glanced from Gabriel to Virgil with a nervous expression—“I guess I’ll see the two of you later or, uh, something. Bye.” She turned and hurried out of the café. Virgil didn’t pull his eyes away from her direction until she was completely out of sight. **** As soon as she was out of earshot of the café, Sophie pulled out her phone. She had five missed calls and one frantic text message from Georgina. She speed-dialed her friend’s number, trying to get her thoughts in order. Sophie had no clue what she was going to say and honestly wasn’t sure she wanted to tell the whole story. She was certain Georgina wouldn’t believe her, and she didn’t feel like having someone else think she was crazy when she already doubted her own sanity.

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“Sophie! Oh my god! I’ve been so worried!” Georgina cried. “I’m fine, I promise.” “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there. I saw you faint, and I tried to get to you, but a security guard pulled me away and hauled me out of the building. I’ve been worried sick about you. Are you sure you’re okay?” “I promise there’s nothing to worry about.” “So really, what was that?” Georgina asked. “I mean, I thought I saw two guys turn into alligators, but come on. That had to be a trick of the light or something. Or maybe something was wrong with that beer I had before the show.” Sophie thought she heard a change in Georgina’s voice but decided to brush it off. “No, that’s what I saw, too. And, I mean, I didn’t have anything to drink, so, uh, maybe it was real?” Georgina gave a weak laugh. “Do you think that’s really plausible? I mean, humans just don’t turn into animals. They just don’t. It must have been, I don’t know. Maybe that club had some nasty mold growing backstage. Mold can cause hallucinations, right? That must be it. That club must have had some nasty-ass mold.” Sophie restrained a sigh. If Georgina wanted to grasp at straws to attempt to create a rational explanation, there was no point in describing the rest of the afternoon. “Yeah, you’re probably right. That makes way more sense.” “Do you want me to come over? Do you need anything?” “Thanks, but I think I just want to shower, watch a silly movie, and go to bed early. I’ve had a long day.” “Well, call me if you need anything.” “I will. Thanks, Georgina.” Sophie hung up the phone and sighed. She knew turning in early wasn’t really going to happen. She’d be up all night trying to figure out the concept of shifters and mates.

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Chapter Three Sophie’s phone buzzed, and her stomach knotted up when she read Georgina’s message. Need to work late tonight. So sorry. We can still meet up for drinks after the show, though. I’ll buy! Sophie had become accustomed to having Georgina backstage with her before every performance. Nobody else knew how to handle her stage fright. Taking a few deep breaths, Sophie tried to settle herself before packing up her gear. You haven’t known Georgina that long at all. You’ve spent your entire career going onstage without her there. You know how to do this. You’ll be fine. You don’t need someone taking care of you beforehand. You’re not a diva. Finally feeling confident, Sophie hurried through her apartment, grabbing everything she would need for the gig. Checking her look in the mirror, she threw on a little eyeliner and checked out the stillhealing cut on her cheek. It was clearing up quickly. The scab had already started to flake off, and there didn’t appear to be any scarring. Finally satisfied with her appearance, Sophie scurried out the door to make it to the Quarter in time. She arrived at the venue and did a quick sound check, and then she curled up on the couch in the tiny green room, trying to calm herself down. The nerves were starting to kick back up, and she was on her own. She shook her hands, hoping to work the shakes out, but the jitters only seemed to grow stronger. Finally, it was time for her to go on. She had no choice. If she didn’t play, she didn’t get paid, and

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she’d run the risk of losing one of her regular venue opportunities. Nerves didn’t matter. She still had to give a good show. Steeling up her courage, Sophie walked onstage and waved to the small crowd, putting a smile on her face and hoping it hid her anxiety. As she started to play, she closed her eyes and let the rhythm and notes seep into her body. By the time she was ready to open her eyes, the anxiety had all but dissipated, and she was starting to feel comfortable. Her smile became real rather than forced. Transitioning into her second song, Sophie peered out through the crowd. When she saw Virgil and Gabriel lurking in a dark corner, she almost forgot the words to the song. Fortunately, it was one of her older tunes, and it was in her body so completely that she didn’t even stumble. Still, she was hard-pressed to take her eyes off of them as they leaned back in their chairs and gave her sexy smiles. For her third song, she managed to direct her energy to the rest of the audience and began to put on her signature show, cavorting and careening around the stage as her fingers danced through the complex guitar rhythms. But it was as though they had a grip on her psyche, because she just couldn’t keep her gaze away. Virgil’s olive skin looked even sexier as the shadows of the bar fell across the planes of his face. Gabriel’s bulky, well-cut muscles showed through his Tshirt, and Sophie couldn’t help but picture his body as her instrument, her fingers playing his skin for all it was worth. Finally, she just gave in to what her heart and mind wanted. The rest of the show was secretly dedicated to Virgil and Gabriel. Even as she bounced around the stage, she was dancing for them. On the slow numbers, she kept her eyes locked on their table, and they stared right back at her. The longer she played, the higher her arousal grew. It was as though they could touch and stimulate her with just their eyes. Her cunt began to tingle and tighten, and the longer they stared at each other, the more intense the need became. After a while, she realized she’d stopped looking into their eyes. Her gaze was focused squarely

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on their crotches. The room was too dark for her to see whether or not their cocks were hard in their jeans, but as she played, she imagined what it would be like to touch them, to suck them, to feel them inside of her. By the time she finished her last number, her pussy was throbbing and desperate for attention. She ran offstage to catch her breath and tried to calm down. But nothing cooled the arousal that was coursing through her body. She wished she had time to release some of that pent-up energy, but she knew that Gabriel and Virgil were probably waiting for her, and she didn’t want them to be wondering where she was. She took a couple of slow breaths and then hurried to pack up the gear that the techs had brought backstage. The simple ritual of putting her guitar away, wrapping up her cords so they wouldn’t tangle, and putting her guitar, picks, amplifier, microphone, and various cables away in their various cases calmed her body down a bit. Her cunt was still pulsing with energy when she finally went out into the club, but she knew she’d be able to maintain her composure. Heading onto the main floor, Sophie accepted a number of compliments from her regulars before she finally made her way to Virgil and Gabriel’s table. As she approached, they were completely reserved and cool. They both wore their sexy grins but stayed eased back in their seats, their eyes working over her entire body. “So what did you think of the show?” she finally asked. Gabriel’s grin grew even bigger. “You were amazin’, baby.” Normally, Sophie would have bristled at being called “baby” by a near-stranger, but she couldn’t deny that it sounded completely sexy coming from Gabriel’s mouth. She decided to just enjoy it. “You put on a fantastic show,” Virgil said. “I’m just glad we were able to stay till the end this time.” Sophie giggled. “So am I. The two of you still owe me for interrupting my very first Jazz Fest performance.”

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“How about a drink, then?” Gabriel asked. “We can go to Lafitte’s. All the prestige of Bourbon Street but not nearly as crowded.” “Sounds like a great idea. I just need to load up my gear.” Virgil stood up from the table and took her guitar case. “We’ll take care of that. Just point us in the direction of your car. You don’t have to lift a finger.” Sophie couldn’t help but marvel as the two men picked up all of her gear with no evidence of effort and hauled it out of the bar. She was used to making several solo trips to get everything. As they were loading up her car, Sophie realized that she was supposed to meet Georgina for drinks soon. But she didn’t want to reject Virgil and Gabriel’s offer. Even though she was still uncertain as to how she felt about supposedly being their mate, she couldn’t deny that she wanted to spend more time with them. She couldn’t deny that her heart and head were demanding that she follow them to the bar. Sophie briefly considered inviting Georgina to join them, but her heart quickly silenced that idea. She loved her friend, but a fourth person there would risk complicating things. She didn’t want to run the risk of mating or shifting coming up in conversation while Georgina was there. She wouldn’t understand. Sophie realized she also had to admit that she just wanted time alone with these two mysterious men. Georgina would throw off the balance. As Gabriel and Virgil finished loading up the car, she hurried to type out a text. Not feeling well. Going to go straight home and pass out. Hope work went well. See you tomorrow. Virgil and Gabriel got Sophie’s guitar, amplifier, preamp, microphones, pickups, effects pedals, gig bag, and spare cables loaded into her car in under five minutes. When they were done, they turned to her with satisfied smiles.

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“Thank you,” she said, trying not to giggle. She wasn’t used to being taken care of. Part of her felt nervous, but part of her loved the attention. Virgil winked at her. “It’s a nice night out. Why don’t we walk to the bar?” Gabriel pulled some change out of his pocket and fed the meter. “There, you should be set for the rest of the night. If not, I’ll run back and take care of it.” “That’s sweet, but you don’t have to.” “I know I don’t,” he said, taking her hand. “But I want to.” Virgil took her other hand, and they walked through the French Quarter together. Sophie’s stomach fluttered a bit, and she wasn’t sure if it was general nervousness at being around them or because she was walking out in public holding two men’s hands. As she looked around the streets, though, she realized that none of the other pedestrians were paying them much attention. She managed to relax a little but still couldn’t help but feel somewhat edgy in their presence. Fortunately, it was a short walk, because Sophie couldn’t think of much to say. All she could focus on was the pounding in her heart and the throbbing in her pussy as their hands warmed hers in the cool evening. Once inside the bar, Sophie felt like she could relax. The darkness made her feel protected. If they said anything that made her blush, they wouldn’t be able to notice it. She’d have a much easier time pretending to be calm and cool. “What can I get you?” Gabriel asked. “A Turbodog would be great, thanks,” she said, settling herself down at a table. “You want a Jockamo?” he asked Virgil. “You know it.” “Cool, I’ll be right back.” Sophie could feel the heat rise in her face as Virgil sat next to her and put his arm around her.

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“You seem tense, baby. Everything okay?” “Oh, you know. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date of any kind. And I’ve never been on a date with two guys at once before. I can’t lie—I’m a little out of my element here.” “But you do admit it’s a date.” Virgil flashed her a smile. “I’m glad to hear that. I was worried you wouldn’t be interested in that.” “It’s not that I’m interested. It’s just that—you know…” “Know what?” Gabriel asked, placing the beers on the table. He pulled a chair around and sat on Sophie’s other side. “Sophie was just telling me that we’re on a date,” Virgil said. “But she’s hesitant about something.” “What’s to be hesitant about, baby? Worried people are gonna stare at you if you’re at this bar with two men? Come on, now. This is New Orleans. This ain’t even close to the strangest thing people have seen today.” “That’s not it,” Sophie said. “I mean, I’m out of my comfort zone and all, but that’s not really what I’m hesitant about.” “Then what is it?” Virgil asked. “Well, I mean, you have to admit, the shifter thing is kind of hard to work your mind around.” “Not when you are one,” Gabriel said with a chuckle. Sophie took a swig of her beer and hurried to collect her thoughts. Her pussy was still demanding release, which made it more difficult to think, but she pushed her body’s desires aside so that they could have a conversation. “I suppose that’s true. Still, I can’t be the only woman who has had difficulty figuring out the whole shifter thing.” “What’s to figure out?” Gabriel asked. “Don’t you believe what you’ve witnessed with your own eyes?” Virgil leaned in so close that she could feel his breath on her ear. “Don’t you believe what your body is feeling?” “How do you know what my body is feeling?” she asked, hoping he couldn’t hear the way her voice wavered.

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“If it’s anything close to what my body is feeling, I know it’s almost impossible to resist.” He dropped his eyes slightly, and Sophie followed his gaze. She saw his cock, completely hard and straining against the fabric of his jeans. She couldn’t help but reach out and brush her fingertips against it, briefly savoring the power it promised if set free. Sophie let out a small moan. She closed her eyes to regain her composure and then turned to look at Gabriel. “And what are you feeling?” Gabriel took her other hand and brought it to his own cock, which was just as hard as Virgil’s. Sophie couldn’t help but gasp as he began to rub her fingers up and down the denim-encased shaft. “Feels good, don’t it?” “Yes.” “I know something else that would feel good,” Virgil said. Without giving her time to respond, he pulled her face around and gave her a deep kiss, probing his tongue along her lips before delving deep into her mouth. Sophie’s cunt surged with even more desire than she ever would have thought possible. Her heart raced, and she refused to give up his lips, kissing him back deeper than he had, her mouth always reaching out for more. It was only when Gabriel reached around and put his hands on her breasts that she could bring herself to pull away from Virgil. But as she turned and accepted Gabriel’s kiss, she faced a most delicious reward. Her pussy pulsed even harder, and she realized that if she had to choose whose kiss she’d preferred, she’d never be able to give an answer. They were both perfect. Especially the way Gabriel pinched and pulled at her nipples through her thin tank top. As Gabriel devoured her lips, Virgil stroked her neck and tangled his fingers in her hair, pulling slightly, so she had to fight to cling to Gabriel’s mouth. Finally, she needed to come up for air. She hated pulling away from Gabriel, though her body was thrilled to know that the second she turned her head, Virgil would be waiting for her. She’d never

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experienced such intense desire. Her emotions mixed with her body’s arousal, making every touch and caress they gave her feel ten times stronger. Just as she was about to turn and kiss Virgil again, she saw Georgina walk into the bar. She startled and tried to pull away, but she didn’t move fast enough. Georgina turned and looked her straight in the eye, a look of anger quickly overtaking her face. “Shit,” Sophie mumbled, struggling free from the arms around her. “What’s wrong, baby?” Gabriel asked. “I was supposed to meet my friend, and I blew her off to meet with you guys. She just walked into this bar, and it doesn’t look like she’s too happy with me.” “What?” Virgil looked in the direction where Sophie’s gaze was trained. “Oh, shit.” “What’s she doing here?” Gabriel asked. “I don’t know,” Sophie whispered. Something in the tone of Gabriel’s voice seemed off to her, as though he knew her, but she pushed the thought from her mind and tried to think of a reasonable explanation for her friend. Georgina hesitated for a moment, and Sophie briefly thought she was going to turn and run off. As much as she knew they needed to clear the air, Sophie thought it would be best to do that one-on-one, rather than in a crowded, noisy bar. But Sophie’s hope was short lived. She saw Georgina’s look grow more frustrated, and she began her approach again. By the time Georgina reached their table, there were tears streaming down her face. “I–I can explain,” Sophie started to say, but Georgina held up a hand, cutting her off. “Never mind. I don’t have anything to say to you right now. Any of you.” She turned and fled toward the door. “Oh, no. Damn, I’ve really screwed up.” She stood up and turned to Gabriel and Virgil. “I’m really sorry. I was having a great time, and

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I’d like to see you both again. But I really need to go take care of this.” “Okay,” Gabriel said slowly. “Yeah, um, I get it.” “Can you come down to the bayou tomorrow?” Virgil asked. “Do you know how to pilot a boat?” “I’ve been doing it since I was sixteen.” Virgil pulled out a scrap of paper and wrote down some coordinates. “Your phone has GPS, right?” “Yeah.” “Head out toward Alligator Bend and plug these coordinates into your system. You’ll find us in about an hour.” “Okay.” “See you tomorrow,” Gabriel said, standing and planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Be safe,” Virgil said, kissing her as well. “Thanks. I’m sorry this night got interrupted.” Without giving them a chance to speak, she turned and hurried out of the bar after Georgina. **** “Shit,” Gabriel said before downing half of his beer in one gulp. “You got that right. What the hell is Georgina doing here?” “Where did you expect her to be?” Virgil shrugged. “I kinda just figured she’d disappear or something.” “That ain’t how the banishment ritual works, though. It just makes it so she can leave without anybody dying.” “I know, I know,” Virgil said. “I just sorta assumed that once she was banished, we’d never see her again.” “Same here. And yet she’s runnin’ around New Orleans.” “What worries me more is that she and Sophie clearly know each other.”

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“They don’t just know each other. They’re friends.” “I don’t suppose she’s told Sophie any of the truth about her past. I mean, she was pretty confused when we told her about the whole shifter thing. So it doesn’t seem like Georgina clued her in ahead of time.” Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “Would you?” “Nope.” “My worry is that now that she’s seen us, she’s gonna fill Sophie’s head with lies.” Virgil sighed. “Well, we’ll just have to deal with that if it happens.” “Think we should tell the rest of the congregation?” “Probably, yeah. Especially since we have to tell Sophie everything when she visits tomorrow. Everyone else will want to know what’s goin’ on.” “Shit. That’s not gonna have to be a fun conversation to have.” “Well, we should probably get back. Gonna be a hell of a long day tomorrow.” Virgil stood up and cleared away the empty bottles. “I want us to get all of our maintenance work finished before Sophie arrives tomorrow.” Gabriel groaned. “That’s gonna mean wakin’ up much earlier than I’d like.” Virgil grinned. “It also means that when Sophie arrives, we won’t have anything we need to do but entertain her.” “You have a point. Okay, let’s get out of here.” As they walked through the quarter and arrived at the docks, Gabriel was shocked to see how far up the land the waterline had encroached over the past few weeks. “The problem is gettin’ worse, man,” Gabriel said. “This ain’t some natural erosion. This is something manmade, and it’s really bad.” “I know.” Virgil shook his head. “Seems to be one thing after another lately. The fish problem would have been more than enough

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for one year. And now the coastline is suddenly shrinking so fast we can see it happening.” “I don’t get it, man. It’s like the river is trying to punish us.” “It ain’t the river’s fault. Hell, Villemont was responsible for the fish disappearin’. I’m pretty sure this is manmade, too.” “Think Villemont is behind it?” “He ain’t the only businessman in this city who don’t have no regard for the sanctity of the bayou. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he was involved.” “Not like we have any proof, though.” “Well, we’d better figure it out soon. Shit, it’s gotten so bad I don’t want to imagine the floodin’ when hurricane season starts.” Gabriel snorted. “Hurricane season? It’s so bad I think a regular old thunderstorm would be a catastrophe.” Virgil shuddered. “Damn. You’re probably right.” “We’ll talk to Adele and Narcisse about it tomorrow. Maybe they have some ideas.” “We can only hope, man. We can only hope.” “Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out. I ain’t lettin’ this city get destroyed again.” “And how do you suppose we go about stoppin’ the problem?” Virgil asked. “We always have voodoo.” “You know how weak Serafine’s powers are gettin’. Hell, man, fixin’ the entire bayou could kill her.” “You can’t do nothin’?” “You know I don’t have her power. Only one who’ll be that strong is the new queen, and I don’t know when she’s gonna show up.” Gabriel shook his head. “Then I don’t know what to do. But I’m gonna figure it out, because this city ain’t gonna get destroyed again.”

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Chapter Four “Georgina, wait, please! Just let me apologize!” “I need to be alone right now,” Georgina said. Sophie could hear the tears in her voice and felt even guiltier. She didn’t give up, though. She continued to chase her friend, pushing through the crowds that swamped the French Quarter streets. “I’m sorry I blew you off. I had no right to do that. I was just— I’m so into these guys, and I can’t figure out why. It was like my heart wouldn’t let me turn them down when they asked me for a drink after the show. It felt like I had no ability to tell them no.” Georgina suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. “You mean they forced you?” “No,” Sophie said, almost laughing. “Nothing like that at all. More like—more like I was possessed by some strange spirit, some supernatural force that invaded my brain and body and compelled me to say yes to their invitation. I’m sorry, hon. That strange feeling is still no excuse for ditching out on our plans. I’ll make it up to you. Just tell me how.” Georgina sighed and pointed to a quiet bar down the street. “Let’s go sit down. We need to talk.” Sophie’s stomach clenched as she followed Georgina into the dive bar. Based on the gravity in Georgina’s voice, she was certain she had offended her friend more than she could have imagined. They each ordered beers and then sat down at a booth back in a far corner. “I’m not upset that you blew me off,” Georgina said after taking a few sips of her beer. “Well, I mean, I am upset, but that’s not the real reason I flipped out back there.”

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Sophie raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” “I mean, it was seeing the two of them that really set me off.” “What, is one of them your ex or something?” Georgina shook her head. “No. They used to be my family.” Sophie choked on the beer she’d been swallowing. “Used to be your family?” she asked when she regained her composure. “Well, sort of. We’re not related biologically or anything.” She sighed and threw her head back. “Ugh, it’s so complicated. I don’t even know where to start.” Sophie shrugged. “Just begin at the beginning, I guess.” “Okay, here goes. So you knew I spent most of my life living in a houseboat in a commune on the bayou, right?” “Right.” “Yeah, but that’s only part of the story. Maybe I should have told you before, but…but it’s just so painful to think about. I hate bringing it up. It brings back all those terrible memories.” “Terrible memories?” Georgina nodded, a small tear rolling down her cheek. “Well, the commune, it wasn’t just full of regular people. I come from a group of people that can shift between human form and alligator form.” “So–so at the show last week, when Virgil and Gabriel spontaneously shifted into gators, you knew exactly what was going on.” “Yeah.” “So how come you acted like the guards pulled you away and you were terrified for my life? How come you played innocent, like you didn’t know what was going on? I mean, that whole thing was such a shock. I could really have used your input and advice.” “I’m so sorry,” Georgina said, her tears falling faster now. “I should have mentioned something, but I didn’t know how. It’s just— it’s just that it’s so hard to talk about. It doesn’t get the least bit easier. And I am afraid for your life. These—these aren’t the kind of people

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you want to get involved with, especially not for life. You can’t decide to mate with them. You’ll regret it.” “Why is that?” Sophie kept her voice low and calm, but she was starting to feel upset. She didn’t like being unsure of Georgina. “You’re my best friend. I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I’ve never been close to someone the way I’ve been with you. I really care about you, and I don’t want them to hurt you the way they hurt me. I don’t trust them to treat you the way you deserve to be treated.” “This has something to do with why you left the bayou and moved to New Orleans permanently, doesn’t it?” Georgina nodded and finally wiped the tears from her face. She took a deep breath and finally began to tell her story. “The members of the congregation never liked that I was so passionate about school and that I wasn’t interested in helping to run the fishing business. I mean, nobody ever leaves. You grow up there, you help with whatever aspect of the business is best suited to your talents, and you die there. There are some exceptions to that. One of the recent mates kept her career as a biologist at Tulane. She wouldn’t consent to being mated otherwise. Of course, part of the reason nobody ever leaves is that we can’t leave for more than forty-eight hours, or we die.” Sophie raised her eyebrows. “Then how are you still alive?” “I’m getting to that. Anyway, I was fine to live on the houseboats, especially since I didn’t have much choice in the matter. But I didn’t want to fish, and I didn’t want to be involved with the business side of things. I wanted to be a scientist. The congregation indulged me for a long time, but then they betrayed me when I had the chance to follow my dream.” “How?” “When I was offered full-time work at Villemont Industrial Labs, I jumped at the chance, even though it meant leaving school. The pay

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was higher than I’d ever be able to make in academia, anyway. But the rest of the congregation wouldn’t stand for it.” “Why not?” “They don’t like Villemont or his business practices. They hate pretty much anything associated with big business. They consider him an enemy of the bayou, and they wouldn’t allow me to work for him.” “You got around that somehow, I take it.” “Sort of.” Georgina started to cry again. “When I told them they couldn’t force me to refuse the offer, things just went crazy. They decided to banish me from the congregation. By choosing to follow my dreams, I had become their enemy. Our voodoo queen performed a ritual that spiritually severed me from the congregation, making it possible for me to leave without dying. Then they packed my things and sent me away. I’ve been on my own ever since. And it kills me every day. I mean, you have to understand that it physically hurts to be cut off. Much of the pain has subsided, but I still feel it. And I miss them. I miss my mom and dad and having a strong community. I also lost my powers. I can’t shift. I can’t heal from injuries quickly. I lost everything that made me special.” Sophie was torn between pity for her friend and the sense in her gut that told her something wasn’t quite right with Georgina’s story. “I’m so sorry,” Sophie said, taking her friend’s hand. “I had no idea. That must have been terrible for you. How long ago was this?” “Only about two months ago. The wounds are still so raw. That’s why I freaked out when I saw Virgil and Gabriel with you at the bar, and why I faked ignorance when you called me after the show last week. I’m so sorry. It’s just so much to deal with. I didn’t think I’d ever see any of them again, and when I did, it really threw me off.” “It’s okay.” Sophie stood up and circled the table to give Georgina a hug. Deep down, she wasn’t sure it was okay, but she also didn’t feel comfortable accusing Georgina of lying, especially when she didn’t know Virgil and Gabriel’s side of the story. “I wish I’d known.”

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“Don’t worry about it. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to go home now. It’s been a hell of a day.” “Of course.” “Just promise me you’ll stay away from them. Don’t agree to be their mate. These are not good people you’re dealing with.” Sophie wasn’t sure if she could promise Georgina that. For one thing, she had a feeling she wasn’t getting the full picture. For another thing, she had promised to visit the congregation and hear Virgil and Gabriel’s explanation, and she didn’t want to decide anything until she was certain she had the truth. Still, Georgina looked so distraught that Sophie couldn’t bring herself to hurt her. “I really appreciate you looking out for me. Thank you for filling me in.” “What are friends for?” Georgina asked as she stood up from the table and walked toward the door. Sophie didn’t respond. She simply followed her friend out into the warm New Orleans night. **** The boathouses were mostly dark by the time Virgil and Gabriel pulled up. They knew nobody was waiting up for them. They weren’t expected to have returned until daylight. Virgil did note that the kitchen light was on, though, and wondered if Serafine was waiting to interrogate them about how the evening had gone. Instead, he and Gabriel found Adele sitting at the counter, poring over notes. “What you workin’ on?” Virgil asked. “Finishin’ up some research?” Adele shook her head. “I’m just trying to figure out why the coastline is disappearing so quickly. I mean, erosion has been a problem for years, and it’s only getting worse, but it shouldn’t be falling apart this rapidly, you know?”

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“Oh, we know,” Virgil said. “I swear, it looked like it had receded a foot today alone.” “Well, even that seems over the top,” Adele said. “But I know what you mean. It’s way more noticeable than it should be.” “So what do you think it is?” Gabriel asked, sitting down and handing everyone a beer. “My best guess is that it’s a confluence of factors. I mean, there’s the existing erosion problem, for starters. I have a feeling that Pomet’s recent overfishing played a role in the situation we’re in now as well.” “So soon afterwards?” Virgil asked. Adele took a sip of her beer. “With the amount he took? Oh yeah, definitely. I mean, overfishing isn’t even a primary reason for erosion, but when compounded with an existing problem, there’s definitely reason to believe that it could be part of the reason the wetlands are in this situation.” “But not the primary reason.” “I just don’t know. I still have a lot of work to do to figure all of this stuff out.” “Who do you think’s causin’ it?” Gabriel asked. Adele shrugged. “It’s not necessarily a matter of who, or even what. More than likely it’s not just one thing. It’s probably a whole confluence of factors acting together to throw off the entire ecosystem.” “Think Villemont is involved?” Virgil asked. “I mean, look how he tried to help Pomet destroy the entire fishin’ supply out here. Ain’t like he has the bayou’s best interests in mind.” Adele shrugged. “Look, we’ve had run-ins with him in the recent past, but it’s not as though he’s going to be responsible for all of our troubles, you know? The erosion problem is bigger than him.” She pushed her papers back and rubbed her eyes. “Anyway, I’m not getting anywhere. You two are back early. Want to talk about it or shuffle off to your quarters and pretend I didn’t see a thing?” Gabriel sighed. “It’s a long story.”

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Adele smiled. “You can’t exactly expect her to just decide to mate with you because you went to see her show. Do you have an idea how hard Xavier and Oscar had to work to convince me that the three of us belonged together?” “Oh, it ain’t the matin’ that’s our concern right now,” Virgil said. “We were actually makin’ some pretty good progress with her. She let us kiss her. In public, no less.” “But then a friend of hers walked in on us,” Gabriel added. “And things went downhill from there.” “Why? Was she weirded out by seeing Sophie kissing two guys at the same time?” “No.” Virgil took a deep breath. He wished he didn’t have to utter the words, but he knew he couldn’t keep this information a secret from the rest of the congregation. Even if Georgina didn’t mean them any ill will, which he doubted, they still needed to know who their mate’s best friend was. Finally, he continued. “Her friend is Georgina Fucher. Georgina walked into the bar, saw us kissing her, and then ran out in tears. Sophie pulled away from us and chased after her.” Adele went pale. “I didn’t—I didn’t exactly think we’d encounter her again. I mean, she didn’t die or anything, but—” Virgil nodded. “Believe me, we know what you mean.” “So did Georgina say anything to you?” “Not much,” Gabriel said. He snorted. “Just that she didn’t have anythin’ to say to us. Then she turned and ran off.” “Well, presumably Sophie doesn’t know Georgina’s past, or she might have had a different reaction the first time the two of you shifted in front of her. We wouldn’t have had to explain the whole thing.” “Ain’t like it’s a very good story, anyway,” Virgil said. “Not the kind of thing you wanna confess to a friend.” Adele rubbed her temples. “And Sophie didn’t give you a chance to explain?”

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“I don’t think she even realized Georgina knew us. They both just took off runnin’.” “I can only imagine what Georgina is telling Sophie now, though. What if she fills her head full of lies? What if Sophie believes Georgina instead of us? She’s ain’t gonna trust us anymore.” Virgil sucked in his breath. “God, I hope it doesn’t come down to that. She’s special.” Gabriel nodded. “Well, she did promise to come pay us a visit tomorrow.” “You really think she will after whatever lies Georgina tells her?” “I do, man. I really do. She ain’t the kind of woman to break a promise. Besides, if she thinks we’re the ones who’ve been stringin’ her along all this time, she’s gonna wanna come out here to demand some answers.” Virgil couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right. Guess I should stop worryin’. We can figure this all out when she gets here tomorrow, right?” “Right.” Adele smiled. “And on that note, I think I’m really to quit for the night and go to bed. I’ve been up way too late for my own good. I’ll probably be worthless tomorrow.” “I hope not,” Virgil said. “We need your brain to be runnin’ to solve this problem.” “I’ll do my best, then. Good night.” Virgil and Gabriel sat in silence for a few minutes, finishing off their beers. Finally, Virgil stood up. “Adele’s right. It is way late. And we’re gettin’ an early start tomorrow mornin’. I’m gonna go get some shut-eye.” “Night,” Gabriel said, giving him a small wave. “Night.” Virgil left the main houseboat and made his way over to the smaller houseboat where his family lived. He stopped for a moment on the main deck and looked up at the brilliant stars illuminating the

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bayou sky. He’d loved them all his life, but he realized they weren’t as beautiful to him now. Nothing was as beautiful as the moment when he’d first kissed Sophie’s soft mouth. He only hoped he’d have another chance.

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Chapter Five Sophie spent most of the night tossing and turning, trying to decide whether she should even go see Virgil and Gabriel after all. Maybe I shouldn’t bother. Maybe it’s just going to be a waste of time. Maybe Georgina is right. Georgina also completely lied to me when I called her after the disaster at the club. Georgina also let me believe she thought we hallucinated because of mold. Was that really necessary? After several hours of fitful rest, Sophie got up and practiced her guitar for a bit, trying to clear her head. At the end of her session, she finally decided to go to the bayou, if for no other reason than to get Virgil and Gabriel’s side of the story. She at least owed them that much. Heading out to the river, she rented a boat, plugged the coordinates Virgil had given her into the GPS, and headed out toward Alligator Bend. The first forty-five minutes of the trip were easy. The sky was clear, and the water was smooth. As she sailed down the river, Sophie’s mind began to clear. She stopped being confused about Georgina, stopped trying to wrap her head around the idea of being mated. Sophie simply relaxed and allowed herself to enjoy the beauty of the bayou. Then her phone let out the unwelcome beep that signified a low battery. “Shit,” Sophie muttered. “This is what I get for staying up all night. I forget all the important things.” She stopped the boat and dug through her bag, but there was no charger in sight. She hoped the phone could power through until she arrived at the congregation, but she knew her distance from a reliable

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signal would put extra strain on the battery. She started the boat back up and started traveling faster, hoping she would get there on time. She knew she wasn’t very far away, and she tried to reassure herself that her phone could last and guide her the rest of the way. She’d only traveled three more miles when things got worse. Glancing at her phone to check the rest of the instructions, she realized she’d completely lost her signal. The screen was frozen on the last step and couldn’t load the next portion of the directions. The low-battery signal was coming more frequently, and Sophie realized she was in deep trouble. She was careening through the bayou with a limited sense of direction. Looking at the radio on board, she cursed, wishing she’d thought to get call numbers for one of the houseboats in case of emergency. Still, she knew it was her only possibility of rescue. She powered it up. “Pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan,” she said into the microphone. “All stations, all stations, all stations. I am in a Catamaran dinghy. I am unsure of my exact location. I am somewhere near Alligator Bend, Louisiana. As I said, my GPS has gone out, and I am unsure of my exact location. I am in need of assistance to guide me back to New Orleans.” But Sophie was only greeted with silence. No need to panic. No need to panic at all. Just because nobody is in range now doesn’t mean I’m going to be stranded forever. Someone will come along soon. I’ll try again in a little while. Fanning herself in a futile attempt to keep the heat at bay, Sophie leaned back and tried to relax. To kill time, she did some guitar exercises that had been trained so deeply into her muscles that she didn’t even need an instrument to work on them. Finally, though, the anxiety started creeping back, and she picked up the radio and put out her distress signal. Again, she was greeted by silence. Sophie felt her stomach knot.

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Shit. Okay. I still don’t need panic. Someone has to come along eventually. A crackle came through on the radio. “Sophie? That you I just heard over the radio?” “Yes! It is! Gabriel? Is that you?” “You know it, baby. And I have Virgil here with me. We were out workin’ on some of the boats when the radio went off. Don’t worry, baby. We’re gonna come find you. Just relax and sit tight. We’ll be there soon.” “Okay. Over and out.” Sophie settled down in the boat and tried to relax. Gabriel and Virgil would find her. They had been born and raised in these swamps. It would be simple for them to find her, even though they didn’t have her exact coordinates. Still, she couldn’t deny that the bayou had taken on a savage appearance in the previous five minutes. Half an hour ago, she had been reveling in the beauty of nature, but suddenly, the whole place seemed vicious. In an instant, she realized just how dangerous her beloved wetlands could be. The sun beat down, and though Sophie didn’t burn, she became aware of the fact that she could roast and dehydrate under its rays. The depths of the water concealed dangerous snakes, and even—Sophie hesitated to think it—alligators. The kind that wouldn’t transform into men and protect their mates. It was something she had always known, but she found it easy to forget on beautiful, calm days. Now, she was acutely aware of all of the horrible things that could happen while she was waiting. When she heard the roar of the motorboat, she wanted to jump for joy, if she wouldn’t have run the risk of tipping the boat. Instead, she held still, a smile on her face as her rescuers emerged on the water. ****

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Virgil steered Sophie’s boat, piloting it alongside Gabriel’s as they headed back toward the congregation. “You sure you’re okay?” he asked. She looked awfully pale. “I’m fine, really. I just had a bad scare out there. I really thought I was lost.” “Don’t worry,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Gabriel and I won’t let anything happen to you. We will always protect you.” Pulling up to the congregation houseboats, they secured their vessels and hopped onto the main boat, heading immediately for the kitchen. Lunch had ended a while ago, but there was still food warm on the stove for anyone who had been busy with work or chores during the normal lunch hours. Gabriel got Sophie settled at the table, and Virgil hurried to prepare her some food. “So,” Virgil said, placing a bowl of dirty rice in front of her. “You know Georgina Fucher?” Sophie nodded and swallowed a spoonful. “Wow, this is amazing,” she said. “Anyway, yes, I know her. We’ve been friends for a couple of months now. She happened to be in the audience at one of my shows, and we struck up a conversation at the bar afterwards. We really clicked, and we got very close very fast. She started accompanying me to my shows and chilling out with me beforehand. I get horrible stage fright, and Georgina is good at calming me down.” Gabriel sighed. “Well, that’s about as bad as I expected. Did you get the chance to talk to her?” “Yeah.” “What did she tell you?” “That she never felt like she belonged with the congregation and never wanted to be part of the fishing business. She said that she always had other dreams and that when she got the opportunity of a lifetime, the congregation banished her.”

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Virgil sucked in his breath. “It’s true that we banished her. I ain’t gonna lie about that one. But we don’t banish people unless they do somethin’ to seriously harm the congregation. We got rules.” Sophie raised an eyebrow. “Rules?” “Yeah. We’re not gonna throw family away. They have to do somethin’ horrible for us to cast ’em out. Like the two brothers who knowingly claimed a woman who wasn’t their mate.” “Georgina—no, Georgina would never kill anyone. Never.” Sophie was beginning to regret her decision to come out to the bayou, thinking that Georgina must have been right all along. There was no way her friend could do something so awful to deserve banishment. “You’re right, she wouldn’t,” Virgil said. “And we ain’t sayin’ she killed someone.” “But she did betray us.” “Tell me how, then. I need to know the truth.” “It’s kind of a long story,” Virgil said. “Armand, the guy you met when we rode in? Well, at one point, he and his mother, Rosaline, got captured when they were in gator form and put in the Aquarium of the Americas.” Gabriel jumped in. “Rosaline and Armand are albino gators, so they were a pretty famous display. ’Course, nobody knew they were shifters, and they weren’t about to just take human form. Keepin’ a low profile is in our best interest. We’d been tryin’ to get them back, but we were stuck. And then Ferdinand Villemont decided he wanted to buy ’em from the Aquarium for his private zoo.” “Well, that’s illegal, right?” Sophie asked. “You don’t get to keep dangerous predators as pets.” “People who have as much money as Villemont generally get to do whatever they want,” Virgil said, taking her hand. “He faced resistance, but he was doin’ his best. Our first big attempt to free ’em, Villemont just so happened to be at the Aquarium, and it fucked up the whole plan.”

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“Turns out he was in cahoots with Georgina the whole time,” Gabriel said, rubbing his eyes, as though the memory gave him a headache. “She’d let him know about our plans. He even pretended to capture her, made us worried sick, thinkin’ she was gonna die bein’ apart from us. But she was plannin’ with him the entire time.” Sophie gasped. “I just—she’s such a great friend. Well, I guess she hasn’t been so good to you. But she’s been so good to me since I’ve known her. It’s so difficult to imagine her doing something so conniving, you know?” Virgil nodded and squeezed her hand, hoping to comfort her. “I’m sorry to have to break it to you, baby. It’s tough learnin’ that someone you trusted ain’t the person you thought they were.” Sophie sighed. “So what happened then?” “We got word that Villemont had bribed a museum employee to sell him the gators under the table. Xavier and Oscar managed to pull off the rescue, and Georgina was right there with Villemont. Adele, their mate, was the one to first be suspicious of Georgina. We refused to believe Adele, but when Oscar and Xavier went in for the rescue, Georgina was right there. They managed to pull off the rescue, though it was a pretty sticky situation.” Sophie’s face lit up. “Wait. When the Aquarium reported that a couple of gators had disappeared…” Gabriel nodded. “But they didn’t disappear. They just got to go home.” “So, what? Villemont and Georgina ended up off the hook?” “Not right away,” Virgil said. “But like I said, he has more than enough money to get out of whatever trouble he’s in. He’s been causin’ trouble in the bayou ever since. Looks like he bailed Georgina out, too. We didn’t realize she was still workin’ for him. Guess he really took a likin’ to her.” Sophie sighed and rubbed her temples. “You okay, baby?” Gabriel asked. “You need an aspirin or somethin’?

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“Yeah, I’m fine. This is just so much to take in. And, I mean, no offense, but I’m a little confused right now. How am I supposed to reconcile two versions of what happened with Georgina’s banishment? How am I supposed to choose between my best friend and my so-called mates?” “You don’t have to explain to us, baby.” Virgil pulled her into a tight hug. “This can’t be easy for you at all. We know we have to earn your trust. We ain’t gonna judge you if you need to take time to figure things out.” Gabriel gave a small smile. “Look, why don’t we change the subject for a while? We’ve given you our side of the story, and that’s all we can do. Why don’t we show you around the ship instead? Take your mind off of things.” Sophie seemed to perk up at the suggestion. “That sounds awesome.” “Let’s go, then,” Gabriel said, helping her out of her chair. Virgil beamed with pride as he and Gabriel showed Sophie around their home. As they approached Gabriel’s quarters, though, he held his breath. He didn’t just want her to be impressed by the living space—he wanted her to stay there for a while. **** “And this is where I live,” Gabriel said, swinging the door open and letting Sophie in. Sophie admired the oak furnishings and the muted earth tones of the bedcovers and curtains. “Wow. This is a really nice space.” She turned to Virgil. “Do you live on this boat, too?” “Naw. There ain’t enough room for the entire congregation for one boat. I’m a couple of boats over. But once you agree to mate with us, we’ll all live in this space.” To Gabriel’s surprise, Sophie walked to the bed and sat down on the edge. She stretched her arms over her head, and he had trouble

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averting his eyes as her breasts rose along with the rest of her body. He felt faint stirrings in his cock and knew he was going to have to struggle to maintain control while she was in his room. Gabriel’s hands began to reach out to touch her, almost as though they were acting independently of his body. It took sheer force of will to pull them back. He didn’t want to push her into anything that made her uncomfortable, but the vision of her body perched on the edge of his mattress made Gabriel’s mind run wide with other possibilities. Running his hands up and down her smooth curves would be a very good start. Yet Sophie seemed to know exactly what she wanted and didn’t look like she wanted to wait around. Kicking off her shoes, she sprawled out on the covers. Gabriel felt his hands start to tremble as he worked to keep his lust at bay. Sophie smiled with a mischievous grin. “My trip over here was kind of exhausting, and I didn’t get much sleep last night. I think I’d like to rest awhile, if that’s okay with the two of you.” “Sure it is,” Gabriel said. He stopped pretending not to stare at her body. There was no way he could possibly have drawn his eyes away from such an incredibly display. She lifted her head from the mattress with a twinkle in her eye. “Would the two of you like to join me?” Gabriel smiled at Virgil, who had a grin of his own. They both kicked off their boots and settled down on either side of the bed. Gabriel felt his cock harden even more as he felt the heat of her body, as she pressed her smooth skin against him. Sophie, it seemed, had been paying attention, because she immediately began to stroke the rigid length pressing against the fabric of his pants. “Thought you wanted a nap,” Gabriel said, closing his eyes as the first rush of pleasure shot through him. “I do. But I can nap in a little bit. There are other things I’ve been wanting, too.” “Such as?” Virgil asked, rolling over to stroke her arm.

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Sophie rolled away from Gabriel’s body to stroke the erection that was forming in Virgil’s pants. “Well, it’s been a confusing week, but I can’t deny that I’ve had more than a few fantasies about the two of you. Especially after last night. Now that I know how well you kiss, I’m interested in seeing how you do other things.” Gabriel’s cock throbbed, desperate to be released. He reached out and placed kisses all along Sophie’s neck. She turned, offering him her lips, and as her mouth opened for him, he slid his tongue between her teeth, anxious to taste all of her that he could. She broke the kiss and rolled toward Virgil, but Gabriel wasn’t about to stop touching her. He ran his hands up and down her arms then slid his fingertips along her back, taking in all aspects of her body. When Sophie stopped kissing Virgil, she rolled over and wriggled out of her tank top. Instantly, Virgil’s hands were on her breasts, tracing the line of her bra, easing his fingertips beneath the fabric, lifting her up slightly so he could unhook the garment. When her breasts burst free, Gabriel stared for a moment, watching the perfect, soft globes settle after their release. Virgil went right for her nipples, and Sophie moaned as he eased the tip of his tongue around one while pinching the other. Gabriel was tempted to join in and claim one breast for himself, but he decided he’d rather devote his attention to her pussy. Sliding down, he unbuttoned her jeans and eased her panties down along with them, enjoying the feel of her smooth legs against the palms of his hands. She immediately parted her legs for a moment, and he paused to gaze at her slick cunt. Gabriel almost hated to make a move, thinking it just might be enough to gaze at her perfect body for eternity. But then he couldn’t resist and leaned forward to run his tongue up and down her slit. He gave her only the slightest pressure, intending to tease her for a while. When Sophie moaned, Gabriel was tempted to dive right in and make her come. He wanted to give her

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the most immediate pleasure possible. But he also knew it would be much sweeter if he made her wait. So he continued to just use the tip of his tongue, until her legs started to convulse with stimulation. Then, he allowed himself to delve into her soft folds, going straight for her swollen clit. She groaned when he finally gave it some attention, and his cock throbbed so hard at the sound of her voice that he considered pausing to take of his jeans and give it some space. But he didn’t want to stop. He couldn’t bring himself to pull away from her cunt. Ignoring the ache in his cock, Gabriel continued to work Sophie’s clit with his tongue and slid two fingers into her slick pussy. He immediately honed in on her G-spot and gave it a few light brushes. Her legs spasmed again, and he gave the spot a little more pressure, massaging in deep, slow circles. “Faster,” she gasped. “Please, go faster.” Gabriel had waited long enough. If she wanted him to move quicker, he would. Her wish was his command. Sending his fingers and tongue into a furious motion, he luxuriated in her sexy moans, in her taste, in the way her cunt squeezed around his fingers as he worked her body. Suddenly, her entire body seized up, and she let out an ecstatic cry. Her cunt tightened even further, and as he imagined how that would feel around his cock, his body begged for some release. When Sophie collapsed on the bed, Gabriel slid his fingers from her pussy and then raced up to kiss her. After he pulled away, Gabriel stood up and hurried out of his clothes. His cock sprang forward when finally released, and as he crept back onto the bed, Sophie immediately reached out and began sliding her fist up and down his shaft. He closed his eyes and groaned, and when he opened them again, he saw that Virgil, also naked, was receiving the same treatment and looking just as content. Sophie looked up at Gabriel. “You’ve tasted me. Now I want to taste you.”

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“What do you want from me?” Virgil asked, kissing down her neck. “I want you inside my cunt.” “I’m all too happy to oblige.” Gabriel straddled Sophie’s chest, his cock dangling just above her lips. She reached out just the tip of her tongue to lick up and down his shaft, teasing him in the way he had teased her. Virgil positioned himself at the front of her cunt, and the second he plunged inside of her, Sophie took as much of Gabriel’s cock in her mouth as would fit. He groaned, throwing his head back as the warmth of her mouth overwhelmed him. She waited until Virgil set the pace of the thrusts, and then she began to slide her mouth up and down Gabriel’s cock in time with Virgil’s rhythm. She went slowly at first, and though Gabriel enjoyed teasing, he also was desperate for release and didn’t know if he’d be able to stand being tortured. He wanted to turn around and beg Virgil to speed up but knew Sophie would enjoy the slow buildup more. Finally, Virgil started to work faster, and Sophie started speeding up her licks and sucks. As Virgil pounded into her, she moaned around Gabriel’s cock, and the vibrations of her voice pushed his pleasure higher. The orgasm started to build up in his body, but he refused to allow himself release until she’d come a second time. Drawing on all the control of his body he had honed from years of learning to control his physical transformations, he forced the orgasm back. It was almost impossible for him to look at her without coming, but he wouldn’t let himself release. Nor would he deny himself the pleasure of watching her beautiful lips surround his cock, or the glimmer in her eyes as she teased him with her tongue. Suddenly, he felt Virgil stop thrusting and heard his friend groan out Sophie’s name. As Virgil reached his climax, Sophie did, too, and her screams around Gabriel’s cock pushed him right up to the edge. He broke the rhythm, moving even faster than Virgil had, and then his body was shot through with a surge of pleasure.

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Catching his breath, Gabriel slipped his cock from Sophie’s mouth and eased himself down on the bed. His hand immediately sought out hers, eager for more connection. “Was that everything you dreamed about, baby?” he asked. “That was even better than I ever could have possibly imagined.” “I ain’t never felt like that before, neither,” Gabriel said, kissing her cheek. “So tell me more about how this works,” Sophie said, snuggling between them. “If I mate you, what happens?” “Well, you become a shifter like us, for one thing,” Gabriel said. “Which means that you can shift, and when you’re in gator form, your skin is bulletproof.” “Not to mention that even in human form, you’re able to heal faster from injuries.” “I couldn’t help but notice that everyone here has the same eyes,” Sophie said. “Is that a part of it?” Gabriel nodded. “That’s the only thing that identifies you as a shifter in human form.” “But what if we mated and it didn’t work out?” She felt both men tense up. “Did I say something wrong?” Virgil sighed. “When you become a shifter, you’re bound to the congregation for life. Meaning you can’t leave for more than fortyeight hours.” “What happens if I do?” “The three of us die.” Sophie couldn’t help but shiver. “So if it doesn’t work out between us?” “We’re fated to be mates, baby. The universe wants us to be together.” Gabriel jumped in. “Look, baby, if you’re worried, there is an out. You could be banished.” “Being banished hurts.”

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“Yeah, it does. That’s why it’s a worst-case solution only.” Virgil leaned in and kissed her. “That’s why we don’t want you to rush your decision about bein’ our mate. We’ll wait as long as we have to, because we want you to be sure. We don’t want any complications.” Sophie nodded. “Okay. That makes me feel better.” “You wanna stay the night?” Virgil asked, stroking her cheek. “It’ll be gettin’ dark soon. We’ll ride back with you to make sure you get home safe if you want, but you’d be welcome if you wanted to hang around until tomorrow.” “I don’t know,” Sophie said. “I mean, wouldn’t it be awkward, me staying the night here when we’re not even mated yet?” Gabriel laughed. “Baby, everyone here knows you’re fated to be our mate. They know what’s goin’ on. If anything, they’ll be thrilled to know you wanna stay. Means you’re thinkin’ about actually bein’ turned.” A slight blush formed on her cheeks. “Well, if you don’t think anybody would mind, I’d really like that.” “Great,” Gabriel said, giving her a kiss. He glanced at the clock. “They’re gonna be servin’ dinner in a few minutes. You wanna stay here and cuddle, or you wanna get somethin’ to eat?” “I’m actually starving,” Sophie said. “And I’d like to see the others I met last weekend. Just as long as we can cuddle after dinner.” “Baby, I’m hopin’ for a hell of a lot more than cuddlin’ after dinner.” **** Virgil woke the next morning to the sound of pounding on the door. He gave a quiet moan. His cock was already standing at attention, ready for action, but if the insistent pounding was any indication, he wasn’t going to have the chance to have his way with Sophie again.

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“Hey, Gabriel, open up!” Xavier’s voice called through the doorway. “What’s going on?” Gabriel groaned, his voice still thick with sleep. “Sounds like you’re needed,” Virgil said. “Why don’t you go answer your door so they quit buggin’ us?” “What’s all that noise?” Sophie asked, starting to sit up. Oscar’s voice came through the door this time. “Seriously, Gabriel, Virgil, we know you’re both in there. Wake up and let us in.” “Eeep!” Sophie dove back beneath the covers. “Don’t let them see me!” “They know you’re here,” Virgil said. “There’s only one reason why I’d be in here with Gabriel, and that’s because we’d have you between us.” “I don’t want anyone to know I’m here.” “Why?” Gabriel asked as he rolled out of bed and started fumbling for his pants. “You ashamed or somethin’?” “No, that’s not it. But—you know…” “Can’t say we do, darlin’.” Virgil gave her a quick kiss and then started looking around for his own clothes. “Besides, you stayed for dinner, didn’t you?” Gabriel asked. “Nobody took you home last night. Everyone knows perfectly well where you slept, and that means they know exactly what happened here after dinner.” “Well, maybe not exactly,” Virgil said with a laugh. “But I’m sure we gave their imaginations a workout.” Sophie started to blush. “I’ve just—I don’t know. I’m not used to running into the guy’s extended family first thing in the morning, when I’m still a total mess.” “Ain’t nothin’ to be ashamed about,” Virgil said, leaning over and stroking her hair. “You’re our mate. Just because we haven’t had the ceremony yet don’t make this wrong. We already told you, everyone will be happy to see you.”

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“Well, okay.” She threw off the covers, and Virgil gave a wistful look at her gorgeous, naked body before she threw on her clothes and opened the door just a crack, peeking her head through. “Good to see you, Sophie,” he heard Oscar say. “Virgil and Gabriel up yet?” “Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’re gettin’ dressed,” Gabriel called out. “Don’t rush us.” “What’s goin’ on?” Virgil asked, opening the door a bit wider as he and Gabriel finished getting themselves together. “Did one of the boats break? Need an emergency repair done? What’s so urgent that you just had to wake us up?” “We need the two of you to come have a look at something. You can come, too, Sophie, if you want.” Sophie looked from Virgil to Gabriel. Virgil gave her an encouraging nod. “Sure, I’ll definitely go.” “Okay, come on.” They hurried out to the main deck, and Xavier pointed out toward a nearby dock. Virgil felt his jaw drop when he realized that the wooden planks never reached dry land. The coastline was literally disappearing overnight, the water encroaching as they slept. “Fuck,” he said, rubbing his eyes. He was dismayed to find that it wasn’t a trick of the light. No matter how he attempted to clear his vision, the land was disappearing. “What do we do?” “Adele was up workin’ late again last night,” Oscar said. “Says she and Narcisse have had a breakthrough. Hope it’s true and that it ain’t just the sleep deprivation talkin’. C’mon, they said they’d tell us over breakfast, and I’m starvin’.” They filed into the kitchen, and Virgil started salivating as the smell of biscuits and gravy hit his nose. He loaded up a plate for Sophie and then made one for himself. They all gathered around the table where Adele and Narcisse sat, looking both exhausted and satisfied. “Rumor has it the two of you figured somethin’ out,” Gabriel said.

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Narcisse nodded. “It’s definitely a combination of things that aggravated an ongoing environmental problem. We’re certain Pomet’s overfishing had something to do with it, based on the way it disrupted the entire ecosystem. Hell, we’re still trying to get business back to where it was after the loss of so many fish. But we found something else, too.” “Well, Narcisse was the one that noticed it,” Adele said. “We each took a boat out yesterday to do some data collection, with the intention of comparing and contrasting in an attempt to piece the puzzle together.” Narcisse was practically bursting with pride at the desire to share her findings. She pulled up some photos she’d taken. “I saw some people dredging up a bunch of mud and water around the city. They were doing some sort of construction project, too. Of course, I wasn’t surprised to see the Villemont Construction Industries sign on it.” “Construction?” Sophie asked. “I thought that Villemont ran a research lab.” Virgil laughed. “He has a business in just about every possible field, honey. If he thinks he can make money off of it, he’s gonna try to use it.” “I radioed Adele to have a look, we shot some more pictures, and then she went to take measurements around the rest of the coastline while I came back here and did some digging. You are not going to believe what Villemont is planning.” “He’s tryin’ to drown the entire city so he can turn it into his personal water park?” Virgil couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “No, nothing that insidious. It’s ridiculous, though. He’s developing an overpriced housing development made of stilt houses, you know, the kind where—” “What?” Virgil spat out. He could feel his blood boiling. “He’s gonna build million-dollar palafitte’s?” “Looks like it. He’s dredging up part of the coastline to build there.”

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“Who the hell is gonna pay for those?” Gabriel asked. “Someone with a million dollars, who ain’t got no common sense,” Xavier said, rolling his eyes. “Hush now, let ’em tell you the rest.” “While Narcisse was doing that research, I was collecting data about the rest of the coastline. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the sediment is distributing itself anywhere else. Narcisse’s photos indicated that they were putting the sediment they dredged up on boats. Meaning it wasn’t settling and accumulating elsewhere.” “So where they puttin’ the stuff they put on boats?” Virgil asked. Adele shrugged. “I have no idea, but they don’t appear to be putting it back into the ecosystem. If they were, it would be building up in another location, and if we could stop the construction, we could work on bringing that stuff back and building the land back up. But I have no idea where they’re putting the sediment.” “Shit. So what do we do?” “Well, first I’m going to put together a report to show the damage that Villemont’s construction is causing and try to put a stop to it. And if that doesn’t work, I guess we’re going to have to use some magic.” Virgil shook his head. “I hope the report works first. I don’t like the thought of havin’ to use magic again.” “Yeah, it’s gonna require a big spell,” Gabriel added. “And Serafine is havin’ a harder an’ harder time recoverin’ after the big rituals. I’m afraid of what would happen if we had to use it this time.” Adele sighed. “I wish the new voodoo queen would grace us with an appearance. Then Serafine could retire and we wouldn’t have to worry about this sort of thing. Sophie looked confused. “Wait. Magic? Voodoo queen?” Gabriel laughed and put his arm around her. Virgil took her hand. “Baby, there is so much you need to learn about us.” Sophie didn’t look pleased at their laughter.

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“Okay, okay,” Virgil said. “You have to have noticed by now that we’re magical.” Sophie rolled her eyes. “It would be pretty hard not to have realized that.” “Well, Serafine’s our queen, and she’s the one with the most magic. She’s the one who leads all the rituals, casts all the spells. But she’s agin’, and her power drains a little more each time. I’m honestly afraid havin’ to do a big spell would kill her.” “Serafine has visions of a new queen comin’ soon to take her place,” Gabriel added. “But she hasn’t shown up yet, and we don’t know when it’s gonna happen. Serafine seems confident that it’s all gonna work out, but most of us can’t help but worry.” “Okay,” Adele said. “I want to get into the city to get some things done on this project. “Sophie, do you want to follow me back so you don’t get lost again?” “Sure, that would be great.” Virgil’s heart sank. He tried to shake the feeling off. This was the first time Sophie had visited the bayou. He couldn’t expect her to simply surrender her entire life and stay based on one wonderful time. But he wished she would have, anyway. He didn’t couldn’t help but be illogical when it came to her. Adele hurried off to change her clothes, and Virgil and Gabriel waited with her on the docks. “You sure you don’t wanna stay a little longer” Virgil asked, taking her hand. “I’m sure. Look, I had a really great time last night, but I definitely need to think some things over. I think I need a few days to myself so I can collect my thoughts and try to figure out where all of this is going.” “Of course,” Virgil said. He gave her a deep kiss, savoring her taste, not knowing when he’d have the chance again.

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“We’ll miss you,” Gabriel said before he devoured her lips. When he pulled away, he kept his forehead pressed against hers. “We’ll see you sometime next week?” “Definitely.” Adele walked out, and Sophie broke away to join her. They each climbed into their boats, and before Virgil knew it, his mate was just a speck on the horizon.

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Chapter Six Sophie sighed as the green button on her phone flashed off and on, indicating yet another message. She knew Georgina was texting her to see if she was doing a show that night, but she still wasn’t ready to face her friend with the story that Virgil and Gabriel had given her. She felt guilty about the fact that she’d spent a week giving Georgina the cold shoulder, but she was completely overwhelmed by both the stories and emotions swirling around in her head. The only thing she knew how to do was retreat. Checking the venue address one more time, she cringed. She wasn’t thrilled about having to drive all the way out to Metairie to do a gig. On the plus side, performing out in the suburbs meant that the venue was likely to have an actual parking lot, and she wouldn’t have to worry about how low the meter would get during her set. Plus, she was doing a favor for an acquaintance. Toni had just started Café Bella a month before and was trying to drum up business with a Friday-night concert series. Tonight was the inaugural event, and the opening act had backed out the night before. Toni called Sophie, asking her to step in to warm the crowd up for one of the more prominent local jazz artists. Although Sophie was getting sick of being a perpetual opening act and wasn’t especially excited about playing in Metairie, the extra cash would come in handy, and she did want Toni to have a good first night. And any gig was better than no gig. Finally, Sophie decided she couldn’t just keep Georgina in limbo. Picking up her phone, she texted back. Wasn’t planning on it, but something came up last-minute. Nothing major, just doing a favor for

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a friend. Won’t need more than my guitar and my mic. Have a good night. Text me tomorrow? After she sent the message, Sophie wrote a quick message about the gig and posted it to her website. She hoped someone would see it and she’d get at least a few fans out to support her. “Thank you so much,” Toni said as Sophie rushed into the coffee shop and began setting up her equipment. “I owe you big time. I’ll give you double the usual cut for opening acts to make up for it.” “No problem,” Sophie said. Maybe this night won’t be such a letdown after all. It’s nice to be playing at a venue where the owner appreciates my presence. When Virgil and Gabriel walked in the door and settled at a small table near the back, Sophie knew the night was definitely not going to be a disappointment. The second they turned their gazes in her direction, her cunt started to pulse with desire. She knew she was going to struggle to get through the show when she was uncontrollably horny after being in their presence for a mere thirty seconds. Sophie glanced at the clock and wished she had time to run across the room and talk to them, but it was time to start the show. The flirtation would have to wait until after she’d done her job. She was shocked to realize that this was the first time that she’d rather be doing something other than playing music. What stunned her even more was that she wasn’t remotely nervous. This was the first show in her life where she didn’t have to take deep, calming breaths or shake out her hands to try and settle down enough to play. With Gabriel and Virgil there watching her, she felt centered, safe, and peaceful. Checking her tuning one last time, Sophie stood in front of the mic and began to play one of her favorite songs. Although she typically began with fast numbers, this time she sang a slow one, a love song. She kept her eyes focused on them the entire time she played, and as she did, she realized that while the words were sensual

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and romantic, they didn’t quite encapsulate what she felt about them. She knew she’d have to write them their own song soon. Sophie launched into her second song and soon lost herself in the music. Before she knew it, she was coming up on the end of the hour. She’d never been so deep in her own performance that she’d lost track of time. She couldn’t believe the effect that Gabriel and Virgil had on her. “Thank you very much!” she called, waving into the audience. “You’ve been a great crowd. Now please give it up for the great Fozzy Davenport!” This time, Sophie rushed through her gear-packing process. While she usually enjoyed the time as a way to decompress from a performance, she found she didn’t need any time to relax. If anything, having to pack up her stuff was just distracting her from what she really wanted to do. Once she was done, she rushed to the back of the coffee shop. Virgil and Gabriel grinned and stood up as she approached. “You were fantastic, baby,” Gabriel said, giving her a tight hug. “Yeah, you were amazing. You shouldn’t be the opening act. You should be the star.” Sophie blushed. “It’ll happen someday. Thank you two so much for showing up. I didn’t expect to see you all the way out here. It’s kind of a hike, isn’t it? Especially for a last-minute gig.” Virgil gave her a soft kiss. “It’s a bit of a distance from the shore, yeah, but we haven’t seen you all week, and we love to see you perform.” “Wasn’t no trouble to rent a car for the night,” Gabriel said. “It wasn’t a bad drive.” “I don’t know ’bout you, but we’re starvin’,” Gabriel said. “How ’bout headin’ back to the Quarter for dinner?” Sophie’s stomach rumbled at the very mention of food. “That sounds perfect. What did you have in mind?”

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Virgil grinned. “Galatoire’s. We even rented ourselves a convertible so we could travel there in style. We’ll load up your gear and then come pick your car back up after we eat. Sound good?” “Do you think we could even get a table there on a Friday night?” “Oh, sure we can,” Virgil said. “Besides, I won’t mind havin’ to wait in line a little bit if I get to wait with you.” “I don’t suppose you have a dress for me waiting in the back seat of your car. I’m not exactly dressed for Galatoire’s.” Virgil laughed. “And here we were trying to surprise you. Come on, let’s go.” Without waiting to be asked, Virgil and Gabriel picked up her gear and hauled it out to the parking lot. “Hey, Toni, I’m going to leave my car here for a few hours. Is that cool?” Sophie asked. Toni nodded from behind the counter. “No problem. It’ll be safe here. Keep it overnight if you need to. I want you to be safe.” “Thanks, Toni. See you later.” “Of course. And thanks for filling in at the last minute. Let’s talk later about you headlining next month.” Sophie was so excited by the offer that she practically skipped out of the coffee shop. By the time she arrived, Virgil and Gabriel were almost done loading her things into the trunk. Once it was packed up, they guided her across the pavement to where they’d left their vehicle. Popping the trunk open, Gabriel reached in and pulled out a luscious silk dress, green with silver piping around the hem. It was short, with a strapless, heart-shaped bodice and a flared skirt. He also handed her a shoebox. Opening it, Sophie discovered a pair of silver stilettos. “Oh my goodness. This is far too much. You shouldn’t have.” Gabriel shrugged. “Why shouldn’t we do nice things for our woman?” Sophie blushed. She wasn’t sure how to respond. On the one hand, she wasn’t sure how she felt about them describing her so

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possessively when she hadn’t even decided whether or not she wanted to be mated yet. On the other hand, she liked the attention. No, she loved the attention. And she couldn’t help but wonder if she was developing similar feelings for the men. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to go change.” She hurried back into the coffee shop, locked herself in the bathroom, and shimmied into her new dress and shoes. Taking a quick turn in the mirror, she couldn’t help but gasp. Not only was it beautiful, but it fit perfectly. She couldn’t believe they’d managed to guess her size so well. Walking as quickly as she could in the stilettos, she rejoined Gabriel and Virgil in the parking lot. Gabriel held the passenger side door open. Once she was settled in the car, he slid into the backseat. Virgil revved the engine and put the top down. As he sped toward the Quarter, Sophie leaned back and gazed up at the gorgeous stars, enjoying the feeling of the wind in her hair. Bourbon Street was already closed down for pedestrian traffic, but Virgil found a side street not far away. After a quick walk down the crowded sidewalk, they took their places at the end of a sizeable line. Sophie’s stomach growled, but she tried to ignore it. This was part of the Galatoire’s experience. Everyone waited. Even celebrities. At least, that’s what she thought when the maître d’ stepped out and saw them. “Virgil! Gabriel! Good to see you again,” he said, shaking their hands. “How’s the rest of the family?” “Doin’ great,” Gabriel said. “We’ll give ’em your regards.” “Wonderful. And business is good?” “You should know,” Virgil said with a laugh. “You’re servin’ it tonight.” The maître d’ laughed and then turned to Sophie. “Forgive me for not greeting you properly.” He took her hand and gave it a soft kiss. “This is Sophie Deco,” Virgil said. “She’s a musician.”

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“Lovely to meet you, Ms. Deco. I hope you enjoy your evening here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I really do need to get back to my duties.” He hurried off back into the restaurant. **** “He—he doesn’t know the truth about you, does he?” “Nope,” Gabriel said. “Nice job keepin’ cool.” They looked out into the neon-lit night of Bourbon Street, watching the people out and about, carousing and enjoying the beginning of the weekend. “So how did you get started in music?” Gabriel asked after a few moments of silence. “My parents were both musicians. Not professionals but enthusiastic amateurs. My dad gave me a ukulele when my hands were still too small to hold a guitar. As soon as I was old enough, I was taking music lessons. It’s always been my life. I wrote my first song when I was ten. I did my first open mic when I was fourteen, and I’ve been working at my career ever since.” “When did you decide you want to do music?” “There was never a conscious decision. It’s just been what I’ve always done. I can’t imagine being happy doing anything else.” Sophie was excited to share her experiences, the highs and lows she’d experienced in her career so far. Before she knew it, nearly an hour had passed and the maître d’ was coming out to guide them to their table. She opened her menu and instantly began salivating at the wealth of options. She hadn’t been to Galatoire’s since before her parents had died—her musician’s income didn’t allow for it—and she kept wondering if she wasn’t dreaming. Gabriel ordered a plate of oysters Rockefeller and a round of champagne for everyone. Sophie busied herself with obsessively

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studying the menu. Finally, when the waiter arrived, she decided on the crabmeat Sardou. “A toast to us,” Virgil said, lifting his champagne flute into the air. They clinked their glasses, and Sophie savored the expensive liquid bubbling around in her delicate glass. “Wow,” she gasped. “This is amazing.” “Nothin’ but the best for you, baby.” “In fact”—a grin broke out on Virgil’s face—”I just have to say, I’m really damn happy that you’re here with us, Sophie. I know some of this has been stressful for you, but we’re glad you’re willin’ to trust us and spend time with us.” Sophie blushed. “Thank you. I’m really happy, too. I was so excited when I saw you two at the show tonight.” “In fact, I’m so happy that I want to share some of that with everyone else here.” Sophie felt herself blush even harder. “What exactly do you mean?” “You’ll see,” Virgil said as the waiter brought out their food. When the table was set, he pulled the waiter down and whispered something. Their server walked away chuckling. Sophie dug into her food, savoring each decadent bite. She found herself so lost in the delicious food and lush atmosphere that she almost forgot that Virgil had been plotting something. At least, she forgot until she saw an entire cadre of servers walking around with bottles of champagne in their hands. Their own waiter walked up and handed Virgil a microphone. “Ladies ’n gentlemen,” he began as the servers started pouring glass after glass of the bubbly liquid. “I’ve been comin’ to Galatoire’s ever since I was a kid. New Orleans is my home, and this is my favorite part of the city.” The room broke into light applause, and then he continued. “I’m here tonight with my best friend and an absolutely beautiful, wonderful woman. I realized, sittin’ beside her, that there’s no way

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my life could possibly be better. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. And I’ve decided that you should all be able to share that. So I’ve bought a glass of champagne for everyone in the house. I hope you enjoy.” The entire room burst into loud claps, with a fair number of whoops and whistles as well. Virgil gave a slight bow and sat down. Gabriel immediately reached across the table and gave him a highfive. Sophie was sure her face had never been redder, but more than anything else, she was amazed by his generosity and the way he used his joy to make the people around him happy. “I think you’ve just made everyone’s night,” she said, giving him a kiss. “Yeah, but what I really want is to make your night, if you know what I mean.” Sophie weighed her desire to sample the delicacies of the dessert menu with her desire to get both men into her bed as soon as possible. “I’m sure the coffee here is fantastic, but we could just have some at my place. You know, after we’re done making my night.” “I like the sound of that,” Gabriel said, motioning for the check. “Where do you live?” Virgil asked. “Should I get the car?” Sophie shook her head. “We can walk there, actually, if you want. It would probably be nicer than trying to navigate the car through the crowds on a night like tonight. It’s not far at all. I have a little place on Wilkinson.” Gabriel raised his eyebrows as he paid the bill. “If you don’t mind my askin’, how do you afford to live in the Quarter on a musician’s salary?” Sophie laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not offended. My parents actually owned the property. It passed on to me when they died.” Virgil raised his eyebrows. “Died. You’re too young to have lost your parents.” Sophie shrugged. “That’s the way it goes sometimes. My dad had a heart attack when I was nineteen, and my mother died of cancer about two years later. It was tragic, but that’s just how life is.”

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“So you ain’t got no family?” “Nobody I’m close to. All of my extended relatives live in other states, and we don’t talk much.” “Sorry to hear that.” “Don’t be. I’m happy in New Orleans. The city is my family. And who knows? Maybe I’ll have a new family in the future.” She tried not to giggle as she saw the hopeful look that Gabriel shot Virgil as they stood up and left the restaurant. As they walked out onto Bourbon Street, Virgil and Gabriel each took one of her hands and shielded her from the debaucherous crowd. Once they’d made it through the worst of the partiers, they gave her a little more space but still kept their hands around hers. Her pussy was already tingling as their palms pressed against her and as she imagined everything they were going to do to her once they were inside. They were on her the second the door locked behind them. Gabriel started unzipping her dress and sliding it down her body while Virgil kissed every inch of accessible skin, working downward as Gabriel undressed her and revealed more. Once her dress was pooled at her feet, Gabriel unhooked her bra and slid her panties down and then lifted her up. “Where’s the bedroom?” “Straight down the hall.” Despite the speed with which Gabriel raced through her apartment, Sophie felt completely safe in his strong arms. She leaned against his chest, savoring the strength of his muscles through his shirt. Gabriel set Sophie down on the bed and finally took her shoes off, tossing them aside. Then, he and Virgil began to undress themselves, going slowly so that she could savor every moment of it. Their jackets dropped to the floor, they stepped out of their shoes, and then they took forever easing off their ties. They finally tossed the colorful slips of fabric onto the bed and began the process of unbuttoning their shirts. Again, they made Sophie wait for what she wanted. Each

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button came down painfully slow. Then, when he was halfway done, Virgil decided to button his shirt back up again. Sophie couldn’t stand it. She pounced across the bed and began to undo the buttons for him, desperate to get him naked. Her cunt was pounding with desire, and she didn’t want to wait any longer for her men to satisfy her. “Uh-uh,” Virgil said, pulling her hands away and gripping her wrists. Sophie struggled to get free, but she found that she was stuck. She also found that she enjoyed it. “I think she needs to be taught a lesson about patience,” Gabriel said, picking up his tie. Virgil grinned. “I agree.” “Wait, what? What do you mean, teach me a lesson?” Virgil moved his hands down her arms but didn’t let go. Gabriel walked up and wove the soft fabric around her wrists and then tied it together. “I suggest you lie back down and just enjoy watchin’,” he said, easing her back down onto the bed. She had no choice but to comply with their requests. They resumed their slow unbuttoning, and Sophie wasn’t sure how she’d survive her body’s pounding need. She tried to reach down to give some attention to her needy pussy, but Gabriel had bound her hands in such a way that she couldn’t quite reach her clit. He laughed when he saw her trying. “No release for you, baby. Not until we give it to you.” “But I need you. I need both of you.” Virgil leaned over. “Soon,” he whispered. His lips brushed against her earlobe, sending tremors down her spine. Stepping away, he unbuttoned his pants then slid the zipper down a centimeter at a time before suddenly zipping it back up again. Gabriel did the same thing, grinning as he tortured her. Sophie could see the rigid outlines of their cocks straining their pants and wondered how they weren’t as desperate as she was.

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Finally, Virgil slid out of his pants and quickly slid his boxers off. Settling himself on the bed, he proceeded to stroke his fingertips around her breasts as Gabriel completed undressing. Once he was done, he gave his attention to her legs, massaging her muscles and gently stroking her inner thighs, his fingertips coming close to her pussy but never quite reaching it, no matter how far she opened her legs. “Please, more,” she gasped. Gabriel looked up at Virgil. “What do you think? She had enough?” “Hmm.” Virgil’s face had turned mischievous again. “I think she’s had enough teasin’. But at the same time, I like seein’ her tied up like that.” “Who says we can’t have it both ways?” Gabriel straddled her, the head of his cock teasing the entrance to her cunt. “You ready for me, baby?” “Yes.” “I don’t know,” he said, running his cock along her pussy lips. “Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe we haven’t tortured you quite enough yet.” “Please!” she cried out. “Please, take me now!” Gabriel grinned. “It’s so hot when you beg, baby.” With that, he plunged into her cunt, and he groaned as her muscles locked around him. Virgil’s mouth was instantly on her breasts. He focused on using his teeth, his bites placing her just on the edge of pain, sending waves of intensity down her body that enhanced the pleasure building up in her cunt. Suddenly, Gabriel completely stopped moving. “I thought you were done teasing me,” Sophie said, gasping for breath. The last thing she wanted was for him to stop. She was so close to coming and was more desperate for release than she’d ever been in her life.

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“I thought I was, too, but the desperation on your face is so damn sexy.” Virgil didn’t stop biting her breasts. The need was growing more and more furious by the second, but without Gabriel’s cock, she wasn’t going to be able to come. “Please. Please, I need your cock.” “You need me?” he asked, sliding out halfway. “I need you.” “Just the words I wanted to hear.” He started slamming into her even harder than he had before. She couldn’t believe a man could move with such speed and fury. Reaching forward, he pressed his index finger against her clit and began to move it in quick, hard circles. That was just the stimulation she needed to send her over the edge. Her pussy muscles clamped around his cock, and she began screaming his name as the pleasure rocketed through her body. Seconds later, Gabriel froze again, though this time, it wasn’t to tease her. She felt his cock give one more huge throb as it emptied into her. He threw back his head and moaned with release. Gabriel briefly collapsed on top of Sophie as he caught his breath, and she relished the feeling of his weight on top of hers, pressing her into the bed. As soon as he rolled off, Virgil was on top of her, desperate for his turn. The aftershocks of her first orgasm were still sending sparks through her pussy as Virgil plunged into her. “Damn, you feel amazing,” he groaned. Sophie felt frustrated again when he didn’t start moving right away. Gabriel hadn’t sated her. He’d only left her hungry for more. “Are you going to tease me more, too?” “Just wanted to make sure I didn’t finish too soon,” he whispered before beginning his long, slow thrusts. “You feel amazing.” “So do you.” She groaned before closing her eyes and allowing the pleasure to start filling her body again.

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Gabriel picked up Virgil’s tie and dangled the thin end just above her body. He trailed it up and down her arms, along her torso, and around her breasts, which were still pulsing and throbbing from Virgil’s earlier attention. Sophie was shocked at just how erotic a single piece of fabric could be, amazed at the way it enhanced what Virgil was doing to her. Virgil seemed to slow his pace for a moment, and she whipped her eyes back open. “Don’t slow down. Please, don’t slow down. I couldn’t take it if you did.” He winked at her. “Should I go the same pace, then?” “You know I want you faster.” She shuddered at the thought of how powerful he could be. “I want you as fast as you possibly can go.” “Your wish is my command, baby.” She couldn’t believe Virgil’s power. It matched Gabriel’s, but it stunned her that she had two men who had equal amounts of strength. She didn’t have much time to dwell on it, though, before the orgasm surged through her cunt all the way up and out of her body. She screamed again, her hands jerking against the tie that held them together, desperate to get free. Virgil came at the same time she did, uttering low, guttural groans as his cock gave the final pulses. “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he said as he finished, giving her a passionate kiss. “That was amazing.” “Yeah, it was.” Both men curled around her, and Sophie realized she’d never felt so safe or happy before. There was much in her life lately that scared and confused her, but things seemed clear when she was in their arms. She felt the emotional bonds forming and strengthening as she lay there with them. For a moment, she felt nervous again. It was one thing to find Virgil and Gabriel attractive. It was another to have serious feelings for them, to actually consider the possibility of being mated, of becoming a gator. But if it’s always like this, maybe I actually would enjoy it.

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Chapter Seven Sophie woke up to the sound of her phone ringing. Georgina’s name popped up on the display, and Sophie immediately silenced the ringer. “Who was that, baby?” Gabriel asked, his voice thick with sleep. “Nobody. Go back to sleep. I’m not ready to wake up yet.” She’d barely finished the sentence when she heard a pounding on her door. “What the hell?” she muttered as she crawled out from between her lovers. The air outside the bed was a sharp contrast to the heat their bodies generated, and she was grateful for her thick, heavy robe as she made her way to the door. Looking out the peep hole, she saw Georgina on the other side. “Shit,” she muttered. Part of her didn’t want to open the door, but she knew Georgina wouldn’t leave until they talked. Taking a deep breath, Sophie opened the door a crack. “Hey, sorry. I was still asleep.” “Where the hell have you been all week? You’re always busy, and now you’re not even returning my calls or texts. What’s going on? And are you going to let me in, or do I have to stand out in the hall to get my answers?” Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Virgil and Gabriel stirring in the bedroom. She ushered Georgina inside and shut the door. “One second,” she whispered and rushed into the bedroom. “Hey, what’s that noise?” Virgil asked. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it. Go back to sleep.”

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Gabriel lifted his head from the pillow and blinked his eyes. “Ain’t you gonna join us?” “In a minute, I promise.” She blew them each a kiss and hurried back to the living room, softly shutting the bedroom door behind her. “Thanks so much for the hospitality,” Georgina said. Sophie cringed at the sarcasm. “Look, I’m really sorry. Things have just been really weird lately, and I’ve needed some time alone to work things out.” “So you ditch your best friend? You haven’t even told me when your shows are so I can come see you. I don’t understand. What did I do to you?” Georgina’s voice rose higher and higher with each statement, and by the time she finished her rant, she was crying. “I’m so sorry,” Sophie said. “I was wrong to blow you off like that, and I feel terrible about it. I’ve just been so confused, and I needed to have some alone time to think.” Georgina wiped her tears away. “Confused? What’s to be confused about?” “Hey, baby, what’s goin’ on?” Sophie looked up to see Gabriel walking into the living room, completely naked. He was in profile, and his cock was already semi hard. Georgina’s eyes widened. “I know that voice.” “Shit!” Gabriel did a one-eighty and immediately bolted back to the bedroom before Georgina turned around. Tears started flowing down Georgina’s face again. “I can’t believe you. The congregation betrayed me, and now you have one of them in bed with you?” Sophie felt her face grow red as Gabriel walked back into the room, this time wearing jeans, with Virgil right behind him. Georgina turned around then snapped her face back to glare at Sophie. “You have got to be kidding me. You slept with both of them?”

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“Georgina, what on earth are you doin’ here?” Virgil asked, the annoyance already creeping up in his voice. She snapped around to face him. “I’m here trying to talk to my friend about why she’s been blowing me off. Though now I have my answer. It’s because she’s been fooling around with the two of you and didn’t want me to know. She betrayed me.” Gabriel raised his eyebrows. “She betrayed you?” “Yeah, maybe you remember that time when you betrayed us.” Georgina sucked in her breath, and her face turned red. Sophie began to shake. She couldn’t deny the truth any longer. Georgina had lied, and her mates had been honest. “I take it by your sudden silence that their story is the real one. That you tried to sell out members of your own congregation.” “You’d seriously believe them over me? I’m your best friend!” “You’re not denying the accusation.” “I seriously can’t believe you’d take the side of two guys you barely know over me!” “It’s not like I know you much more than I know them.” Georgina’s jaw dropped. “What?” “As far as I can tell, our whole friendship has been based on lies. This is the first day that I’ve actually known anything about you. You’ve misrepresented yourself from day one. Virgil and Gabriel have always been open and honest with me, even when they weren’t sure I’d believe them. So I’d say yes, I probably do know them better than I know you.” Georgina whirled around and glared at Gabriel and Virgil. “I can’t believe the two of you would do this to me! What the hell?” Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “What? You thought we’d be completely okay with you lyin’ to our mate? Spreadin’ stories about us?” Georgina sputtered, but Sophie had had enough. “That’s enough,” she said, putting her hand on Georgina’s shoulder. “You’ve proven to me that I can’t trust you anymore. Hell, I never should have trusted

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you to begin with. When my gut said something was iffy about your story about being banished, I should have listened. You’re not welcome here anymore, Georgina. Please get out of my apartment and don’t come back.” “Fine,” Georgina snapped. “I don’t need them, and I don’t need you, either. Just abandon me. Go ahead. Be like everybody else. I’ll be fine on my own. I always am.” She spun around and stomped out the door, slamming it so hard that it rattled the dishes in the kitchen. Sophie sank down on the couch, on the verge of tears. “I can’t believe she would lie to me. I really can’t.” “I know,” Virgil said. He sat down and put his arm around her, pulling her close. Gabriel sat down on her other side and held her hand. “It ain’t easy to believe that your best friend is betrayin’ you.” “I don’t know. I’ve accepted a lot more implausible things recently. Like the idea that people can turn into alligators. Or that I’m destined to be mated to two men at the same time.” “Yeah, but you saw us change with your own eyes,” Virgil said. “And you feel the connection to us in your soul. It’s harder to believe what you can’t see.” “I’m sorry I doubted the two of you. I really should have taken you more seriously.” “You can stop apologizin’ now,” Gabriel said, giving her a quick kiss. “You didn’t do nothin’ wrong.” “I think maybe you need a little distraction to take your mind off all this,” Virgil said. “Somethin’ to make you stop feelin’ so damn guilty.” “Oh?” Sophie raised her eyebrows. “What did you have in mind?” In one swift motion, Virgil stood up and lifted Sophie off the couch. He strode off toward the bedroom, with Gabriel close behind. He set her gently on the bed and then began stripping off his clothes. Sophie propped her head up to concentrate on him peeling off his Tshirt to reveal sculpted abs.

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“Like what you see?” he asked, giving her a grin. “You know I do.” Gabriel came up from behind him and pulled his own shirt off. “Now that’s a perfect image,” Sophie said with a giggle. “Two half-naked men in my doorway.” “I think you might like it more if we were completely naked,” Gabriel said. He unzipped his pants, let them fall to the floor, and stepped out of the pile of fabric, clad only in his boxers. “Would you like to do the honors?” Sophie crawled across the bed and slid his boxers down, and then she eased the tip of her tongue around the head of his rigid cock. “Fuck, that feels good,” he said with a groan. “It’s going to feel even better soon.” Virgil slid out of his own pants and stood next to Gabriel. Sophie reached out and slid his boxers down, this time taking his entire cock in her mouth before pulling her lips away. “I want both of you at the same time,” she said. “Can you give that to me?” Gabriel and Virgil looked at each other and grinned. “We thought you’d never ask,” Gabriel said. “I–I’ve never done anything like that before.” “Let us take care of you, baby,” Virgil said. “Let us do all the work.” Gabriel eased her onto the bed and began to tease her cunt, easing his fingers up and down her slit before pressing against her clit. Sophie thrashed her head against the pillow, reveling in his touch. Virgil crawled up to the headboard and put her head in his lap. She tried to reach for his cock to lick his shaft, but he put her hands at her sides. “You just relax, baby. We’re gonna make you feel more amazing than you ever have in your life. Don’t do a thing. Just let us pleasure you.”

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As Gabriel moved his fingers from her clit to inside her pussy, Virgil started to massage her scalp, tangling his fingers in her hair. Sophie closed her eyes as the dueling sensations of relaxation and arousal battled for control of her body. Arousal gained an advantage when Gabriel began to swirl his tongue around her clit. Virgil’s hands moved down to her shoulders and arms, and Gabriel’s tongue and fingers began to work faster and faster. Sophie closed her eyes again and began to thrash, her legs jerking uncontrollably with the stimulation she was receiving. Finally, Virgil reached down to give attention to her breasts, and the moment he pinched her nipples, the orgasm surged through her, overtaking every synapse running through her body. As she came back down to earth, Gabriel immediately flipped her over. Sliding his fingers into her cunt one more time, he massaged her juices around her ass, preparing her tight hole for him. “Just relax, baby,” he said as he eased one finger in. Sophie gasped. The feeling was more intense than she had predicted, but she loved the near-pain sensation accentuating the pleasure she had been feeling. “You like that?” Virgil asked, tangling his fingers in her hair again. “Yes,” she gasped out. She wished she could say more, but there were no words for the exquisite sensation she was feeling. Her mind was blank, holding attention only to the stimulation overtaking her body. Gradually, Gabriel eased in another finger into her tight hole. “How’s that? Still good?” Sophie groaned. “That feels amazing. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.” Virgil leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “It’s gonna get even better, baby.” Gabriel eased his fingers out, and Sophie gasped at the sudden emptiness. Virgil eased her into a sitting position and then took her

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place on the bed. His cock was so hard it stood straight out from his body. “Climb on me, baby, and then Gabriel will take your hot ass.” Sophie obeyed, trembling as she eased herself onto Virgil’s rigid shaft. After the way it had felt just to have Gabriel’s fingers penetrate her tight hole, she could only imagine how it would feel to be taken by two men at once. Gabriel eased Sophie slightly forward, giving himself room to move. He eased his cock in an inch at a time. At first, Sophie didn’t think she was going to be able to handle it. The pleasure was far too intense for her. But once Gabriel was all the way in, he stilled, allowing her time to adjust. The pleasure in her body raged on but settled enough that Sophie knew she could handle the tight, full feeling. “I’m ready,” she moaned. Gabriel started to move, going slowly at first. The sensation already bordered on overwhelming, and he wasn’t anywhere close to full speed yet. Gradually, Virgil joined in, matching Gabriel’s pace stroke for stroke. Sophie realized she was already on the verge of orgasm, even with them moving slowly. When Gabriel picked up speed and Virgil followed, the climax reached its peak, and Sophie threw her head back and screamed toward the ceiling as the pleasure overtook her. Virgil and Gabriel weren’t done, however. Sophie didn’t even have a chance to finish coming down from her release before they sped up even faster, working in and out of her at a furious pace. Just when she thought they couldn’t go any faster, they upped the pace even more, faster than they’d ever gone with her before. Sophie felt her cunt clench down around Virgil’s cock as another orgasm raced through her body. This time, she felt Virgil’s cock give one final throb in response. He ceased all motion and emptied into her, groaning out her name. Gabriel wasn’t far behind. His pace suddenly

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increased even faster as he slammed into her, saying her name in sharp, short bursts as he came. Sophie collapsed against Virgil, and Gabriel collapsed against Sophie. She could hear Virgil’s heart pounding in her ear and could feel Gabriel’s pounding against her back. Never before had she felt so connected and secure. When Gabriel caught his breath and gently eased away from her body, she couldn’t help but want him to come back. But he then eased her off Virgil, and they both curled up around her, making her feel part of them again. Sophie luxuriated in the afterglow as Virgil and Gabriel began to doze. Yet soon, her mind turned back to Georgina and the encounter. She couldn’t help but worry about what Georgina planned to do now. She was certain that if her so-called best friend had been so devious with her, she had a lot more tricks up her sleeve.

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Chapter Eight One week later “What’s wrong?” Gabriel asked, giving Sophie a gentle kiss. Even after some delicious lovemaking, she still seemed wound-up and restless. “I’m still worried about Georgina. She betrayed you once, and she’s clearly still tight with Villemont. Who’s to say she won’t try something again?” “Tell you what,” Virgil said. “The three of us head out to the congregation now, discuss things over with Serafine and the rest. Maybe they can ease your mind.” “We should be headin’ back anyway,” Gabriel said. “They probably expected us home a few hours ago. We got work to do.” After returning the rental car, they headed over to the docks, got in the boat, and sped out toward the congregation. Virgil did most of the piloting. Gabriel sat in the back and held Sophie. Once they were out on the water, he felt her relax, and he relished how he felt when she eased her body up against his. He realized she finally trusted him. As they stared up at the blue sky and took in their surroundings, Gabriel began to hope that she’d make up her mind about mating soon. He’d wanted it ever since he found her, but now, the feeling was getting stronger. Sophie was becoming a part of him. It was as though she’d started to transform him somehow, as though she was leaving a mark on his soul. His body gave a small shudder at the thought that she might not ever want to mate with them, that she

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might change her mind completely and leave them for good, rather than fulfilling her destiny. He quickly pushed those thoughts out of his mind. Now was not the time to let himself feel even remotely vulnerable. Of course she would become their mate. He couldn’t allow himself to think that she wouldn’t. When they tied up the boat, Sophie practically bounced off, racing to greet the other members of the congregation. “Hey, you have a second?” Gabriel asked, hanging back. “What’s up?” Virgil asked. “Do you—I mean, have your feelins started to change for her at all?” Virgil gave him a sharp glance. “You not interested or somethin’?” Gabriel shook his head. “God, no. I think—I think I feel something deeper.” “You mean love?” Gabriel nodded. “It ain’t an easy word to say, though.” “I said it just fine.” “But do you feel it for her?” “I really do.” “How long have you known?” “Since she came out to the bayou last week. All I wanted in the world was for her to decide to stay. I want her to be with us forever. It ain’t just the matin’ instinct in my body. My heart needs her, man.” Gabriel nodded. “Mine does, too.” “Well, in that case, you’d better start workin’ on your words. She’s gonna want to hear them sooner or later.” Walking into the kitchen, they found Sophie sitting at the table with a number of people from the congregation gathered around her. Serafine was holding her hand. “Now don’t you fret. You didn’t do nothin’ wrong.” “But what if she tries to take revenge?”

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“I don’t think she’s really capable of that,” Nelson said. “Besides, there ain’t much she can do to us now that she’s been banished and her powers are gone.” “That don’t change the fact that she works for Villemont,” Armand replied. “And we know he ain’t at all concerned with the good of the bayou. He does what he wants to make money, and he don’t care what gets destroyed in the process. Between the two of them, they could do some real damage. I bet if she asked, he’d be willin’ to do somethin’ that affects us directly. He knows who we are, after all. He’s even seen some of us shift.” “I just don’t understand why he don’t put a more direct attack on us now,” Gabriel said. “He sure ain’t our biggest fan. And he’s probably even madder since we foiled Pomet’s business. Why ain’t he really tryin’ to bring us down?” “He’s biding his time,” Narcisse said. Gabriel shuddered at the ominous tone in his voice. “All of the stuff he does puts the bayou in peril, like this construction project, but it doesn’t hit us directly. I have a feeling that whatever he’s planning requires a lot of patience and work.” Adele nodded. “And Villemont knows how to bide his time if he has to. He prefers to solve his problems using money, but he can wait if money can’t take care of things quickly.” Gabriel’s stomach sank. “You really think he’s got somethin’ planned for us specifically?” She nodded. “And it’s gonna be bad?” She nodded again. “So what do we do?” Sophie interjected, her voice sounding panicked. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to bring this all upon you. I didn’t know.” “Hush now,” Serafine said, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “You didn’t turn Villemont into an evil man, and you certainly didn’t lead Georgina to us. She knows perfectly well how to find the

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congregation if she and Villemont want revenge. Besides, we got a way around this.” Sophie blinked her eyes. “How?” Serafine grinned. “Magic.” **** Virgil couldn’t help but chuckle as he saw Sophie’s eyes widen. Even though she’d clearly come to accept the fact that shifters existed, the idea of voodoo seemed beyond belief. He rolled his eyes a bit. It always shocked him when natives, who had been raised in a city known for its voodoo practitioners, shrugged the practice off as though it was a way to fool tourists. His ancestors had used it as such, and look where that had gotten him. “Magic?” Sophie asked. Serafine nodded. “Of course. Magic has always done right by us. Come on out to the deck. We’re gonna do a protection ritual. You ever seen voodoo done before?” Sophie shook her head. “Well, there’s a first time for everything. I think you’ll enjoy your first one. And even though you’re not a full member of the congregation yet, we’d love to have you participate.” Sophie gave a small smile. “Okay. I’d like that very much. Thank you.” Serafine disappeared to her quarters while the rest of the gators went out and got ready. Some went out to round up members of the congregation who were busy with chores or resting on their own boats. Within a few minutes, everyone on the congregation was assembling on the lower and upper decks of the boat. “Is it safe for everyone to be clustered here?” Sophie asked, looking nervous. “Of course it is,” Virgil said, giving her a kiss. “Just because we don’t have room for every gator to live here don’t mean we’re lackin’

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standin’ room on the boat. If it wasn’t safe, Serafine would have said somethin’ and done a different spell that didn’t require every gator to be here.” Serafine emerged carrying a large bundle. First, she pulled out seven purple candles and held them toward Sophie. “Will you put these around the lower deck for me, please? Make ’em spaced evenly.” “Yes, of course.” She hurried off to accomplish the task. Virgil grinned as Sophie immediately busied herself helping out. Even though she hadn’t been turned yet, it felt like she was one of them. She belonged there, and he hoped it wouldn’t be long before she saw it that way as well. Serafine handed Virgil seven purple candles to place around the upper deck, and when he came back, he found the rest of the ritual was complete. One black taper and one white taper sat side-by-side on an oak wood altar. Incense sticks stood in front of each candle, and a brown, withered root sat in front. Two bowls of powders and a small bottle of oil sat nearby. “Who here has a photo of Georgina?” Serafine called to the congregation. One of her fathers, Eugene, stepped forward. With tears in his eyes, he handed over a slightly rumpled picture. Virgil’s heart broke for the man and for the rest of her family. He could only imagine how difficult the last few months had been. He couldn’t picture what it would feel like to know his child had betrayed him and then been cast out of the congregation. “Okay. Let’s begin,” Serafine said. “Everybody, please gather together and hold hands.” Virgil reached out and grabbed Sophie’s hand. With his other hand, he reached out for Eugene. The man looked at him with sorrow. “I’m sorry this happened to you,” Virgil said. “So am I. But she made her own choices and decided to betray her family. We do what needs to be done.”

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Virgil averted his glance quickly. He couldn’t stand staring into so much pain. Instead, he closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh bayou air and then opened them again so he could concentrate on the ritual. Lighting the white candle, Serafine said, “Spirits and saints of the world, protect us from Georgina Fucher and the evils that live in her mind.” Serafine drizzled the oil in a circle around the candle, and then drizzled the root with oil as well, and moved it to sit directly in front of the white candle. Then, she picked up the white powder and sprinkled it in a circle around the entire altar. “Who will help me light the candles?” she called out. “I will,” Sophie said. She broke free of the chain and rushed to meet Serafine. Virgil reached out for Gabriel’s hands, to keep the circle from breaking, and focused on his mate. She walked around and lit each candle, and Serafine drizzled a ring of the oil and a sprinkling of white powder around each one. Then, they climbed up to the upper deck. Virgil lifted his head so that he could see the tiny flames begin to light up. “She’s one of us. I hope this makes her see that,” Gabriel whispered. “I think it will.” Sophie and Serafine returned, and Sophie resumed her place between Virgil and Gabriel. Serafine returned to the altar and lit the black candle. “Georgina Fucher, keep away from our congregation,” she said as the flame blazed. She slid Georgina’s picture beneath the candleholder. She placed the bowl of brown powder next to the candle. Finally, she lit the incense, and the fragrant smell of jasmine floated into the warm summer air. Picking up the black taper, Seraphine put Georgina’s photo in the bowl with the brown powder then touched the photograph and set the photograph on fire. Virgil felt Eugene flinch as her image began to

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burn, but he remained resolute as the image started to crinkle and melt. “Sprits of the land, the water, and the air, protect us from the souls who wish to do us harm!” Serafine shouted. When the entire picture was burned, she stubbed the black taper into the brown powder. “Spirits of the land, the water, and the air, protect us from the souls who wish to do us harm!” Out of the corner of his eye, Virgil saw a tear slide down Eugene’s cheek. His heart went out to the man, and he wished he could think of some way to comfort him. Serafine took some more of the white powder and sprinkled it on top of the root. She took a piece of foil from one of the pockets of her robes and wrapped it around the root. She then pulled out a bottle of oil and drizzled it on the cloth. “I will now place this in the control room, the heart of this ship. As long as it is there, everyone in this congregation will be protected from Georgina’s mischief. She cannot hurt us.” As soon as Serafine accomplished the task, the circle broke. Armand and Nelson rushed to support Serafine, who had gone pale. “I’m gonna be fine, boys. If you could be so kind as to help an old woman get to her bed, I’d be much obliged, but I’ll be better in the mornin’.” As Nelson and Armand carefully helped Serafine over to her boat, other gators busied themselves with cleaning up after the ritual. Virgil rushed up to Sophie and gave her a deep kiss. “That’s voodoo,” he said. “Is Seraphine really going to be okay?” “I think so. She wouldn’t hide it if somethin’ was really wrong. That ain’t how she is.” “I’m sorry that we have to be so hostile to Georgina. In spite of everything, my heart hasn’t quite accepted that she’s not my friend. But it was still an amazing experience. I felt so powerful. I’m honored that Serafine let me join in.”

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Virgil smiled but realized there was still fear in her eyes. “Somethin’ is still botherin’ you. Talk to me.” “I noticed the ritual only protects us from Georgina. It doesn’t protect us from Villemont. But he’s still out to get us.” Serafine came up behind them and set a hand on Sophie’s shoulder. “Magic can’t solve all our problems all the time. Sometimes, we can’t be dependent on the spirits. We can protect ourselves from Villemont, but even if we’re shielded, he’s still gonna continue tryin’ to tear down the bayou. I’ve had a premonition that his end is near. If we’re gonna bring about that end, we need to let ourselves be vulnerable.” “But isn’t that dangerous?” Sophie asked, her eyes growing wide. Serafine shrugged. “Bein’ vulnerable is dangerous, yes. But we have to accept a little danger if we’re gonna put an end to evil that big. Now come on. Let’s go get ready for some lunch. I don’t know ’bout you, but a good ritual always leaves me feelin’ hungry.” The jambalaya had been put on to simmer well before the ritual began, so it was perfect to eat as everyone lined up in the main kitchen for food. Scooping up bowls for Sophie, Gabriel, and himself, he saw Adele and Narcisse whisper to each other and then disappear. But Sophie cajoling him to hurry up and sit next to her distracted him, and seconds later, the confusion was gone from his mind. He joined his mate and his friend and relaxed. Half an hour later, however, Adele and Narcisse emerged again, this time with grave expressions on their faces. “What’s goin’ on?” Virgil asked. “We have some bad news,” Narcisse said. Serafine raised her eyebrows. “That much is obvious, yes. Do you mind tellin’ us what this bad news is all about?” Adele sighed. “The five-day weather forecast is showing storms rolling in sometime in the next three days. But after the measurements

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I’ve taken of the disappearing coastline, I have every reason to believe that the city will suffer from devastating floods.” “Wait, wait, wait. You mean a hurricane is set to come through?” Gabriel asked. “We’re not even in hurricane season yet.” Narcisse nodded. “We know. But the forecast isn’t predicting a hurricane. It’s predicting a regular, run-of-the-mill thunderstorm.” “Villemont has eroded so much of the coastline that even a standard storm could spell catastrophe for the city. It’s that serious.” Virgil banged his hand on the table. “Goddamn it. Who gave that man a buildin’ permit? How could they have been so stupid about it?” “I’m sure the city council was thinking less about stupidity and more about how nice Villemont’s bribe would look sitting in their bank accounts. Not that he bribed them, of course. But that does seem to be how he gets away with everything.” “So what happens now?” Gabriel asked. “The damage is already done,” Adele said. “Even if Villemont stopped construction today, so much damage has been done that we’re still looking at massive flooding.” “What if we reinforced the city?” Virgil asked. “Add reinforcements around the levees and build up blockades around the unprotected river shore?” “That’s pretty much our only option,” Narcisse said. “We were just on the phone with the National Guard and the governor.” “You have no idea how many strings I had to pull to get phone calls with them,” Adele said. “There might have been some voodoo involved, you know, to make them more willing to take a call from a lowly biology professor.” “They have the military out working on reinforcements right now, but they’re calling on civilian volunteers to contribute as well.” “That settles it,” Manuel said. “Every gator who is able to help is gonna sail to New Orleans. We’re leavin’ right now. Hurry and get together any tools you need. Get food ready, too, because we’re

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gonna have a lot of hard work ahead of us. Get movin’ and meet down by the boats, ready to sail, in fifteen minutes.” “What about me?” Sophie asked, grasping Virgil’s hand and looking up at him. “Can I go, too?” “Of course you can,” Virgil said. “We want you along,” Gabriel said, kissing her. “Just make sure you’re careful, okay, baby? We couldn’t live with ourselves if somethin’ happened to you.” **** Sophie felt nervous as they sailed toward New Orleans. She knew the basics of guitar repair, and her fingers were nimble from years of practice, but she had no experience with major construction projects. As much as she wanted to go help, she was afraid she didn’t have the skills to adequately protect her city. “What if I screw up?” she asked as she and Gabriel boated out with the rest of the congregation. “What if I do something wrong, and the reinforcements fail, and it’s all my fault?” Gabriel patted her hand. “Don’t you worry, baby. Virgil here is an expert engineer, and I ain’t half bad, either. We’ll help you out.” “The entire project is being supervised by a team of trained engineers and builders,” Virgil called over his shoulder as he steered the boat. “You’ll be given adequate instructions and won’t be asked to do anything beyond your skill level.” Sophie nodded and curled up around Gabriel. She allowed herself to relax and enjoy the bayou as Virgil piloted their small vessel. Before she knew it, they were in New Orleans, hopping onto the docks and heading toward the stations the military had set up for volunteers. Sophie made sure to stay close to Gabriel and Virgil. She wanted to ensure that she’d be with people who knew what they were doing, and she wanted to spend as much time with them as possible.

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She paused, realizing for the first time that she’d rather be with her men than with anyone else. Not that these feelings were entirely novel. She’d had inklings about them for nearly a week. Now, though, they were hitting full force. But Sophie wasn’t willing to stop and think about them or take action. She was on a mission. They all were. Now was not the time to have an important talk about relationships. Once New Orleans was secure against rain, they could think about these things. Virgil and Gabriel got an assignment from one of the project leaders and quickly went to work. They allowed Sophie to use their tools, and she found that none of the work was really all that difficult. Plans had already been drawn up. Virgil and Gabriel deciphered the blueprints, and Sophie found the hammering and screwing were so within her abilities that she wanted to laugh at herself for being so nervous in the first place. She laughed and joked all afternoon, and Sophie realized she was proud to be working alongside her mates. Her mates. She’d finally come to accept her destiny. Night had fallen by the time the work was complete. Sophie was sad that the coastline was blocked by barricades, but the elation she felt at having helped save their city eclipsed that. “How you holdin’ up, baby?” Gabriel asked, massaging her shoulders. “I feel great, actually.” “Wonderful,” Virgil said. “The rest of the gators are packin’ up. Suppose we should be on the way, too.” “Wait,” Sophie said. “I have something I need to say.” When she saw the glances that Virgil and Gabriel shot each other, her stomach sank. “No, it’s not like that!” she said. “It’s—it’s good, actually.” “Oh?” Gabriel asked, raising an eyebrow. “Today—today has been a long day, but it’s also shown me a lot. The most important thing being that I’m ready.”

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“Ready for what, baby?” Virgil took her hand, and if she didn’t know better, Sophie would have thought he sounded nervous. “I love you, Virgil. And I love you, too, Gabriel. I’m ready to be turned. I’m ready to be claimed. I’m ready to be your mate.” Both men let out whoops of joy and gripped her in a tight hug. “I love you, Sophie,” Virgil said. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive.” “I love you, too,” Gabriel said. “I’m thrilled. Completely thrilled.” “Will the rest of the congregation miss us if we don’t come back right away?” Sophie asked as they released her from the embrace. “Don’t think so. Why?” Virgil asked. “Because I think we need to celebrate, just the three of us. Maybe starting with a drink in the club where I first met the two of you.” Gabriel laughed. “That sounds like a perfect idea, baby. Come on, let’s go.” **** Georgina touched her glass to Ferdinand’s and downed her champagne quickly. She saw several people attempt to peer into the tinted windows of his limousine and was grateful that nobody would be able identify her there. The last of the congregation was pulling away into the water. The city was dark, but there was still plenty of foot traffic. The French Quarter never quite settled down. “You know exactly what you’re supposed to do, correct?” Ferdinand asked. Georgina nodded. “Compromise the structural integrity of all the reinforcements. I’m not to tear them down. They’re to remain standing until the water comes through and destroys them. If anyone questions me, I’m supposed to present these credentials and tell them I’m an army engineer sent to inspect and do any spot repairs on the structure. If that doesn’t work and I get taken in, I call Rick, and he’ll have everything worked out by morning.”

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Ferdinand nodded and gave her a half smile. “Very good. I can see I trained you well. You’re going to make a brilliant successor to me someday.” His hand brushed against her cheek. “I suppose if I’d ever had a daughter I would have wanted her to turn out like you.” “Thank you, sir. But if I may ask, what’s the point in all this? If the city floods, certainly you’re going to suffer massive losses, too.” Ferdinand gave a soft chuckle. “Only one of my businesses is headquartered in the city anymore. It was much cheaper to move the rest elsewhere in the state. So I’m not going to face much immediate impact from the floods. All of my industries will survive. And I predict that my construction company is going to do quite well when all is said and done. If I have my way, I’ll be the only contractor working. After all, none of my equipment will have suffered storm damage. Of course, I’ll have to charge extra to bring it in from Baton Rouge, but the city will ultimately have no choice but to pay.” Georgina nodded. “Of course, sir. That makes perfect sense. I hope that one day I develop business sense as good as yours.” He took her champagne glass. “Time for you to go. Don’t forget to send me a message when you’ve completed your work. And also remember to coordinate with the people working to compromise the levees.” “Of course, sir.” “Good girl.” He gave a curt laugh. “On your way, now. We’ll rendezvous tomorrow and discuss our next step. If all goes well, you’re looking at a nice promotion. I’ll have you out of the lab and in your own executive suite.” “Thank you, sir,” she said as she got out of the limousine and headed toward the river. Georgina walked up the bank about a quarter mile, where she could work with less foot traffic and run less risk of discovery. She stood under the structure and began to riffle through her backpack for some of the tools that might help.

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Just as she selected her instruments, she paused. What’s the point of this, really? He already has more money than he’ll ever need. Why destroy the city again, just for profit? For a moment, she pondered putting all of her tools away, packing up, and leaving New Orleans entirely. She wasn’t sure how Villemont would react, but she was sure she could travel someplace hard to reach. But then she shook her head. She’d already lost her first family and then lost her only friend to them. She couldn’t bear the possibility of starting over again. At least Villemont liked her. At least he provided her with a luxurious job and the possibility of stability. She couldn’t deal with another new beginning. This would have to do. Georgina worked late into the night, loosening screws and bolts and making hairline fractures in wooden supports. Before she knew it, the sun was beginning to creep up on the horizon. She sent a text to Villemont with the code he’d given her. I handled the international account. She hailed a cab and rode out to her apartment. Villemont texted her back just as the car pulled into her apartment complex. Your tireless service is appreciated. Our discussion can wait until tomorrow. Take the day to rest. Georgina went to take a shower, but as she was brushing her teeth, she found she couldn’t quite look herself in the eye. She decided she was too exhausted to stand up for one second longer than she had to and that a shower could wait until she’d gotten some sleep. Walking into her bedroom, Georgina collapsed on top of her comforter without even taking the time to remove her clothes and quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.

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Chapter Nine The congregation houseboats were completely quiet. Sophie couldn’t believe how little sound there was. Usually, the cluster of houseboats was filled with the sound of people talking, laughing, working, cooking, and playing. There was always something happening, always some noise filling her ears. But as was custom, those who were not participating in the mating ritual had been sent to New Orleans for the night. This was in part due to the secret nature of the ceremony and part also to ensure that the newly-mated triad had as much privacy as possible for their first night joined together. Although the silence felt unsettling at the moment, Sophie was certain that she’d appreciate it later. Sophie stared into the mirror, looking at her green eyes. Soon, she’d be mated and turned, and they’d be streaked with gold, signifying her transformation. It would be the only evidence that she was a shifter while she was in human form. She was surprised to find that she didn’t actually mind that she was losing one of the markers of her human self. In, fact she looked forward to the change. She wanted people to see that she was different. “All set?” Serafine asked. “Any worries?” “Actually, no. I’m surprised I’m not freaking out. But I want this so much.” Serafine grinned. “I know you do.” She brushed out the wrinkles in Sophie’s purple silk dress and adjusted her peacock-feather crown. Then she pulled an emerald-and-gold necklace out of her robes and draped it over Sophie’s neck. “Okay, you’re ready. Let’s go.”

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Serafine took Sophie by the hand and led her to the deck, where Virgil and Gabriel were already waiting. Sophie sucked in a breath as she saw her beautiful mates, looking simultaneously thrilled and nervous. Out on the water, their families floated in gator form. This was part of the ritual. Witnesses served their duty in their shifted bodies. Suddenly, Sophie did begin to feel anxious. There would be no turning back from this. “Clear your mind,” Serafine said, squeezing her hand. “Just relax and be in the moment.” Sophie took a deep breath and walked forward to join her mates at the helm of the deck. As she did, one of the gators opened its powerful mouth and let out a deep bellow—the gator mating call. A second gator joined in, and then a third, until all of those who were serving as witnesses were bellowing into the twilight. The sound left Sophie weak in the knees. It was so charged with emotion and power that her heart surged with love for her mates, and she felt overwhelmed by the connection she felt to the bayou and to the congregation. Serafine took her place at the front of the ship, with her back to the water. Taking a small velvet bag out of one of her many pockets, she gathered a handful of herbs and walked in a circle around the triad, sprinkling them onto the wooden planks. After making two complete rotations and dropping all of the herbs, Serafine resumed her place at the front of the ship and began to speak. “We are gathered here this evening, some of us in human form, some of us in gator form, to celebrate the union of these three people and to celebrate the union of human and animal. Gabriel and Virgil’s decision to claim a mate is not to be taken lightly. Even more serious is Sophie’s decision to be mated, to become one of us, to take a place in our world. Before we begin, I need to make sure you’re all ready.” Serafine first focused her attention on Gabriel. “Gabriel, are you here of your own free will? Do you claim your mate willingly, aware of all that implies and entails?”

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Gabriel nodded, a grin spreading across his face as he spoke. “I am, and I do.” Serafine then turned toward Virgil. “Virgil, are you here of your own free will? Do you claim your mate willingly, aware of all that implies and entails?” Virgil also nodded has he spoke. “I am, and I do.” “Sophie, are you here of your own free will? Do you agree to bein’ mated and, by extension, bein’ turned? Are you making this decision with all of your heart and all of your soul, understandin’ all that it requires?” Sophie took a deep breath and checked her heart one last time, just in case she had any lingering doubts. But her heart was only full of love. “I am, and I do.” Serafine smiled and reached into her dress again, pulling out another bag of herbs. These she tossed into the air. They settled on the deck, on their clothes, and on their hair. Then, Serafine reached out and plucked a hair from Sophie’s head. Sophie couldn’t help but flinch, but she didn’t cry out, knowing that this was a crucial part of the ceremony. Virgil and Gabriel remained stoic as Serafine plucked hairs from them as well. Once Serafine was done with the collection, she pulled a small, silk black bag out of her pocket and dropped the hairs in. Bending down, she scooped up some of the scattered herbs and dropped those into the bag as well. Then she handed the bag to Sophie and placed Gabriel’s and Virgil’s hands on top. Stepping back, she began another incantation. We come here to be gathered, to be bound And in this binding are made whole We are joined by heart and hand We are joined by mind and soul We are part of water and land

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Caught up in life’s turning wheel Earth and sky keep turning round Life a never-ending reel Now beneath the sky we stand To forge heart bonds stronger than steel When she was done, Serafine nodded for the triad to unclasp her hands. “This gris-gris bag has been consecrated and will bring strength, luck, and prosperity to your union. Now, stand in a circle and join hands.” Serafine put the charmed bag into the pocket of her own dress and then reached for Sophie’s mates. Walking to the corner of the helm, Serafine picked up three snakes that had been sleeping in a pile. Sophie’s heart began to race when she saw the reptiles, but she took a deep breath and forced herself not to panic. This is a ritual that has been done for generations. Serafine knows what she’s doing. She won’t let anything bad happen to me. Neither will Virgil and Gabriel. Serafine coiled the snakes one by one around their arms. As the creatures slithered and massaged her arms, Sophie found herself relaxing. Their movements were actually quite soothing to her body. As soon as Sophie managed to calm down, Serafine spoke again. “May your union be filled with warmth and light. May your lives be filled with luck, joy, and prosperity.” With a snap of her fingers, the snakes dropped to the deck of the ship and then slithered off. Serafine clasped her hands together and grinned. “Now your union has been blessed. The time has come. Virgil and Gabriel, claim your mate.” Sophie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and waited for the final stage of the process. Part of her couldn’t believe what was about to happen. The other part of her couldn’t wait for the change. A

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moment later, Gabriel’s teeth sank into her neck. Almost immediately after that, Virgil bit down into her flesh as well. For a moment, Sophie’s body filled with raging pain, but it vanished almost as quickly as it arrived. Then, it was replaced by intense pleasure, stronger and more fulfilling than any orgasm she’d ever had. Her entire body locked up, and it felt as though light was radiating out of her hands and feet as her knees buckled and she began sinking toward the deck. Gabriel and Virgil both supported her, and the feeling of their hands on her sent her cunt into an even-more frenzied pulse of desire for her two mates. Sophie thought the exquisite bliss might last forever, but then the feeling changed again. Suddenly, she felt her bones begin to shorten and her fingernails turn into claws. Her teeth became thicker and pointier. She began to panic and thrash when she realized what was going on. “Oh, god,” Virgil said. “She’s shifting. Is she supposed to be shifting?” “It’s pretty natural to shift the moment you’re first mated and turned. You can bring her back to human form, though.” “How?” Gabriel asked. “The way you’d bring back anyone else who was shiftin’ unexpectedly. Go on. You can do it. You’ve helped other people with their shifts before. You know what to do.” Virgil leaned over and whispered in Sophie’s ear. “Don’t change right now, baby. We’ll teach you how to use your power later, but don’t change right now, okay?” Gabriel took the hand that was quickly becoming a clawed foot. “Just breathe. Stay in the moment. Imagine yourself in your human form. Imagine your body going back to that form. You can do it. We’re here for you.” Sophie closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on what it felt like to be in her human body rather than the gator body that was struggling to emerge. Taking a few deep breaths, her hardening skin returned to

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its usual softness, her claws turned back into regular fingernails, and her teeth took on their regular form. When Sophie opened her eyes, Virgil, Gabriel, and Serafine were all smiling at her. She blushed, feeling embarrassed that she was naked in Serafine’s presence, and hurried to lift her dress up around her body. “Good work,” Serafine said. “I don’t think it’ll take you long to learn how to control your shifts once you’ve had a few lessons. Now, you know what comes next, right?” Sophie nodded, relieved that they were finally at that part of the ceremony. She wasn’t sure she could handle another minute of being so horny. “You’re on your own, then.” Serafine immediately shifted into gator form, crawled out of her clothes, and slid into the bayou. She led the witnesses toward one of the other houseboats. They had the run of the main boat that night, to celebrate their love in total privacy. Just as Sophie turned to face her lovers, the sky began to turn dark, and the low sound of thunder rumbled in the distance. The grinding of the air mimicked the pulses and tremors racing through her body as she anticipated completing the mating ritual. Gabriel glanced up at the ever-darkening sky. “You mind if we get a little wet?” Sophie grinned at him. “I’m looking forward to it.” “In that case—”he started but never finished his sentence. Instead, he pulled her into a passionate kiss. Virgil placed tiny nips up and down the sensitive flesh of her neck until Gabriel released her, and then she turned and gave a deep kiss to her other mate. Gabriel reached around and played with her breasts through the thin material of her dress, sending small sparks shooting through her body and settling in her cunt, increasing the buildup of pleasure that was guaranteed to give her an incredible release.

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As soon as Virgil broke the kiss, both men began undressing her, pulling off her dress and her crown as fast as they possibly could. The only article left on her body was the necklace Serafine had given her. As she shivered in the cool breeze, she watched her mates rip their clothes off, and then they wrapped their warm arms around her, keeping the sudden chill from affecting her too much. They began to kiss and massage every part of her body, starting with her hairline and working their way down. They paid special attention to her breasts, each man taking one hard nipple into his mouth, biting and sucking. The pleasure they gave her was so intense that it bordered on pain, and Sophie was so aroused that the stimulation sent a small orgasm shooting through her body. As she moaned, her knees began to buckle, and she had to rely on her men for support. “Easy there, baby,” Gabriel said with a chuckle. “I don’t want you to lose your balance before I do this.” With that, he crouched to the ground so his face was positioned right at her pelvis. Regaining control of her body, Sophie spread her legs for him. He reached his tongue to inch slowly along her slit. Sophie groaned, desperate for more, but it was clear he only planned on teasing her for the moment. Virgil came up behind Sophie so she could brace herself against his strong, well-muscled body as Gabriel teased and tortured her. But Virgil wasn’t content to simply hold her up. He brought his attention back to her breasts, this time using his hands. The fingers that Sophie loved so much pulled and pinched, building heat and tension everywhere in her body, especially in her needy pussy. Virgil also used his mouth, placing kisses and nips along her neck and shoulders. Finally, Gabriel decided to stop torturing her, and he slid his tongue between her slit, attacking her clit full-force. Sophie’s knees began to shake again, and she was grateful that she had Virgil to lean on as the pleasure threatened to topple her over.

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Once Gabriel struck a steady pace with the swirls and flicks of his tongue, he slid a finger inside of her, seeking out her G-spot. Once he reached it, he eased another finger inside of her, giving her a taste of the complete fullness her cunt craved. As his tongue continued to slide around her clit, he worked his fingers at a furious pace, giving her G-spot as much pressure as it could handle. Suddenly, the pleasure overwhelmed her, and she clenched her thighs as the orgasm surged up through her cunt and raced through every nerve in her body. She screamed, and the sound of her voice rivaled the thunder that was coming closer, building up louder and louder, followed by incredible flashes of lightning. When she finished her release, Gabriel stood up and kissed her. Sophie reveled in the taste of her own juices and hated when he pulled away, even though she knew something even better was about to happen. “What do you think?” Gabriel asked. “Should we tease her a little more, or do you think she’s ready to take us?” “I’m ready,” Sophie gasped. “I’ve never been so ready for anything in my life.” “I don’t know,” Virgil said, stroking his hand up and down the curve of her hip. “You might need a little more teasin’.” “Feel how wet I am,” she begged. The two orgasms she’d already experienced hadn’t done a single thing to sate her. She was desperate for more. She was desperate to feel both men inside of her at once. “Hmmm,” Virgil said, sliding his fingers into her slick folds. “You might be right. Are you absolutely sure you’re ready for us? Absolutely sure you’re ready to complete the ritual?” “Yes, yes, yes.” Sliding his hand away from her cunt, Virgil trailed his hand up her ass and started to massage some of her juices around her tight hole. “You sure you want this?” he asked, sliding one finger into her ass. “Oh!” Sophie cried out. “I need more. I need both of you, and I need both of you now.”

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Virgil carefully pulled his finger out of her tight hole and walked to the railing at the helm of the ship. Gabriel followed and steadied himself against the metal rods. He gestured to Sophie, and when she approached, he hoisted her up and slid her onto his rock-hard cock. Sophie braced her feet on the lower rung of the railing and waited for Virgil. He came up behind her and placed a few kisses on her neck before positioning his cock against her tight hole. “You sure you’re ready?” “Please stop asking,” she gasped. “Can’t you see how much I need you?” With that, Virgil slid in, going slow so as not to hurt her. The second his cock slid all the way in, the storm broke, rain pouring down everywhere. Virgil remained still for a moment, allowing Sophie to accommodate his wide cock. She reveled in how tight and full she felt and how exhilarating it was to have the rain pouring down on all of them. Finally, though, he started to move, and once he did, Gabriel began to thrust in and out of her as well. Sophie gripped Gabriel’s shoulders and leaned back against Virgil for support as they both moved in and out of here. She leaned her head against Virgil’s shoulder, presenting her collarbone for Gabriel’s attention. He started by placing kisses across it and then used his teeth, giving her exquisite pain, marking her. As his teeth sunk into her flesh, another orgasm ripped through her. Her whole body went stiff, but her men kept moving her, not content to slow down or diminish her pleasure one bit. As the orgasm raced through her muscles and bones, they kept rocking in and out of her, extending the waves that coursed through her body. When it finally abated, they only increased the pace. They seemed completely overpowered by the magic of the ritual and their lovemaking, as though it wasn’t possible for them to stop. The storm rolled right along with them, thunder crashing in time with their thrusts, lightning illuminating their bodies. Suddenly, a bolt

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came down and struck the water about a hundred feet away, illuminating everything. At that moment, both men surged inside of her, their cocks giving huge throbs before their bodies went rigid. As they emptied into her body, Sophie’s orgasm emerged again, crashing through her, spending her completely. When it was done, she collapsed against Gabriel, gasping for breath. Virgil kissed her neck one more time and then slipped out of her. Gripping her hips, he eased her off of Gabriel’s cock. She steadied herself on her feet, gripping both men for support. “Let’s go inside and get in some dry clothes,” Gabriel whispered. “I love it out here, but it’s gettin’ cold. Let’s go where it’s warm.” Sophie reached out and held both of their hands. As they went inside, she realized she’d never felt more complete. She smiled as she passed a mirror in the hallway and saw her new eyes. **** Inside their new quarters, they toweled off and then climbed into the warm bed. Gabriel rubbed Sophie’s hands to help warm her up, and Virgil rubbed her back and hips. She smiled and snuggled between them, occasionally uttering contented sighs. Gabriel loved that their mating happened during a thunderstorm. He couldn’t have imagined a more powerful experience than being doused by rain as thunder and lightning crashed around them. The water had grown choppy as the wind had picked up, but it didn’t bother him. He leaned back in the bed and enjoyed the rocking of the boat and the sound of the rain hitting the roof and deck. Completely content, he began to doze off. He woke up in about an hour, feeling both horny and hungry. He looked down at Sophie’s calm expression as she slept and tried to decide if he wanted to have her or dinner first. Glancing up at Virgil, he could tell his friend was wondering the same thing. Gabriel’s cock began to stir, and he had a feeling he’d have to put his stomach’s

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demands on hold to satisfy the lust that was already cloying at his body. A knock at the door interrupted their comfort. Virgil raised an eyebrow. They weren’t supposed to be disturbed until morning. “Who is it?” Gabriel called. “Open the door!” Serafine yelled. “We got a problem. It’s an emergency.” “What’s going on?” Sophie asked, her eyes still closed, her words slurred with sleep. Virgil smoothed her hair. “Just stay in bed, baby. We’ll be right back.” Gabriel and Virgil hurried out of bed, throwing on robes. Gabriel opened the door to find Serafine and their parents standing outside. “What’s wrong?” “We’re getting’ reports on the radio that the city is floodin’.” “What?” Gabriel tried to keep his voice low so as not to wake Sophie, but it was a struggle to conceal his shock. “Yeah, what do you mean, floodin’?” Virgil asked. “We spent all that time creatin’ extra barriers around the city specifically so this wouldn’t happen. What gives?” “They didn’t hold.” Serafine shrugged. “That don’t make no sense. There ain’t no way we could have done shoddy work.” “Maybe I screwed up,” Sophie said. “It’s not like I’m a master carpenter or anything. Maybe I screwed up somewhere and—” “C’mon, baby, you know that ain’t true.” Virgil pulled her close. “There has to be somethin’ else goin’ on,” Gabriel said. “There just has to. Someone tried to sabotage us.” “We don’t have proof, but I wouldn’t be surprised.” “Shit,” Gabriel said. “We gotta get out there and help. Give us two minutes, and we’ll be ready.” He closed the door, and he and Virgil hurried to get dressed.

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“What’s going on?” Sophie asked, sitting up in bed and rubbing her eyes. “Don’t you worry, baby. You just sleep.” “I will not just sleep. Something is very, very wrong. Serafine wouldn’t have interrupted our mating night if it wasn’t a total emergency. I want to know what’s going on.” “New Orleans is flooding,” Gabriel said, pulling on his jeans and lacing up his boots. “Our extra reinforcements didn’t hold.” Sophie gasped. “What happened?” “Don’t know,” Virgil said. “But that ain’t important now. All we need to focus on is gettin’ out there and savin’ the city.” “I’m going with you,” Sophie said, throwing the covers back. “No, you stay. It’s too dangerous.” “You cannot expect me to stay here all alone. New Orleans is my home. I’ve grown up here. This place is my whole world, and I will be damned if I stay here all night and let anything bad happen to it.” “We’re just worried ’bout your safety,” Virgil said. “And I’m worried about my city’s safety. Besides, I’m a gator now. I can swim through the high waters better than I ever could have as a human. I heal quickly. I’m bulletproof in shifted form. I’m just as protected as the two of you.” “But you don’t know how to shift yet, baby.” “I just did.” “And you didn’t have any control over it, now, did you? You gotta get some trainin’, work with Serafine so you can master the change.” “Fine. I won’t shift.” “It could happen unexpectedly. That sometimes happens if you’re stressed out or scared.” “Then that’s a risk I’m just going to have to take. New Orleans is my home. I was born and raised here. And if you leave me behind, I will swim all the way back to the city to help, if that’s what it takes.”

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Gabriel sighed. They were wasting time arguing with her, and he had to admit that she had a point. It wasn’t fair to make her stay behind while her city drowned. Besides, she was already half dressed before he’d even managed to come up with a retort. “Okay, just be careful, baby. We don’t want anything to happen to you.” “And I don’t want anything to happen to the two of you. Got it?” Gabriel nodded and smiled at her. “I promise, nothin’ will happen. Now let’s go rescue our city.” Wrapping raincoats and ponchos around their bodies, they joined the group standing outside their bedroom and hurried outside. They threw the protective covers off the boats, climbed in, and sped off toward New Orleans.

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Chapter Ten Virgil struggled to keep his hand steady as he piloted the boat toward New Orleans. He had no idea what condition the city would be in when he arrived, and part of him was afraid to find out. He looked over at Gabriel, whose expression appeared just as apprehensive. He could tell by the look in her eyes that Sophie was terrified, but he admired how well she was doing at keeping an otherwise-stoic expression. He was worried that she might get hurt as they worked to help the city, but he was glad she insisted on coming along with them. His stomach sank as they came upon the city. The barricades weren’t completely submerged, but most of them had crashed down. Water was pouring in from every gap, crack, and hole, and there were more holes than standing structures. There wasn’t even anywhere for them to dock the boat. They had no choice but to keep sailing. “How did this happen?” he asked. “We worked so hard.” “I know we did,” Gabriel said. “This has to have been sabotage.” Manuel’s voice came on over the radio. “People are drownin’.” “Copy that,” Virgil said. “How many?” “Not sure. There were a lot of people out and about when the storm hit. Not many people were takin’ the warnin’ seriously.” “Gotten through to anyone yet?” “Most everyone is doin’ okay. The ones with kids need some extra help, but they’re all stickin’ together. We got a good team in place.” “Any chance in gettin’ the barriers back up?” Virgil asked.

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“We’re tryin’ to make contact to find out, but I ain’t optimistic. Look how much damage has been done. Look at all that water comin’ in.” “You’re suggestin’ we might need Serafine’s skills for this one?” “If it comes to that. Think about how much it’ll take out of her.” Virgil nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I think we need to keep people from drownin’.” “Gabriel and I are on it. Over and out.” He turned to Sophie. “You ain’t gonna like this, but you’re gonna need to stay on the boat.” “I want to help you save people.” “Honey, just because you won’t be out there in the water don’t mean you ain’t gonna be helpin’. Look, this is gonna require us to shift, and you’re not in control of that yet. Plus, we need someone to keep the boat safe and monitor the radio for updates. We need you to stay here and keep watch on things. Keep lookin’ around for a place to dock, okay?” Sophie nodded. “Okay.” “We’ll be safe, we promise. See you soon, baby.” He and Gabriel stripped out of their clothes and closed their eyes. Virgil suddenly felt his teeth and claws come in, felt his skin toughen up. When he opened his eyes, he was staring up at his beloved. He gave her one last look before slipping out into the water and swimming into the city. We’re gonna scare people. You realize that, right? Gabriel asked over their ESP connection. We can’t dock in the city, and it’s gonna get too shallow for the boats eventually. This is the most efficient way. Keep a lookout for dry land. And people. It wasn’t long before they heard screams from people in boats. “Gator alert! Gator alert!” Virgil and Gabriel ignored them and kept swimming. Soon, they found a lone body struggling in the water. Virgil surfaced and swam toward a young woman. She started to thrash and struggle harder

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when she saw Virgil approach but seemed too tired to really escape. Virgil slipped below the surface and swam until she straddled his back. Then, he took off. The young woman struggled for a moment but seemed to realize that Virgil wasn’t going to hurt her. He tuned his ESP back to Gabriel. You find dry land yet? No, but I rescued a kid. Didn’t seem that afraid. Shock, maybe. We’ll swim back toward that cluster of boats we saw. They’ll take ’em in. They doubled back around, moving as quickly as they could. They soon came upon the people whom they had previously frightened, and sped toward what appeared to be the leading boat. Virgil eased himself up parallel and looked up at the pilot, who stared down, dumbfounded. “Lady, are you crazy?” he asked the woman on top of Virgil’s back. “I don’t know! It just came up and carried me off. He—he saved my life. I think I’m hallucinating.” “In that case, we both are. Here, take my hand. We’ll get you to safety.” As soon as the woman was in the boat, Virgil took off toward the flood, with Gabriel close behind. They found two more children struggling in the water, both of whom were instantly terrified but neither of which were strong enough to fight the current. Virgil took both and headed back toward the boats they’d passed, while Gabriel kept swimming in search of people in need of rescue. When he reached the boaters again, a woman instantly started shrieking. “My babies! That gator has my babies!” Virgil kept calm. He reminded himself that these people had no reason to trust him and that he probably looked just like any other alligator—they might not realize he was the same one who had brought the woman back. Keeping calm, he swam up to the side of the boat and allowed the woman to rescue her children. She seemed

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shocked to find them unharmed, and she stared at Virgil with an unsettled expression but didn’t speak. He and Gabriel worked for another hour, finding survivors and taking them back to the strangers before swimming away. Suddenly, they saw Manuel, still in gator form, swimming toward them. Ain’t nothin’ to be done to repair the barricades, not with that much damage and this much rain. That means we got a ritual to do. Swim a quarter-mile east. Sophie okay? Virgil asked. Holdin’ up like she was born to do this. Come on, let’s go. Virgil and Gabriel began to follow Manuel, but as they neared the destination, he saw another swimmer struggling in the water. Gotta go take care of one more, he said to them. Won’t be long. But as he approached, he saw that the thrashing figure in the water was none other than Georgina Fucher. He looked her square in the eye. He couldn’t communicate with her when she was in human form, but she would know who he was. She continued to thrash and gasp in the water, and he knew that no matter what she’d done to harm the congregation, he had to rescue her. So he swam up and settled her on top of him. “Thank you,” she said. “I was—I was just trying to help. I didn’t realize the water would get so deep so fast. But I felt so guilty after what I’d done. I just couldn’t let it go on.” Virgil immediately stopped swimming. Boys, turns out I rescued one Georgina Fucher, and she feels guilty about somethin’. Would you please send someone over here who is clothed? I can’t really talk to her while I’m naked. Manuel’s voice flashed. Gabriel already shifted. He and Sophie are on their way. Swim toward ’em. Virgil turned and followed Manuel’s instructions. “Why did you stop? Why did you change direction? Where are we going?” Georgina’s voice was getting higher and higher by the second. She knew something was wrong. “Goddamn it. Do I have to

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shift so you can answer me? I still can, you know. I can become a gator, and I can share my thoughts with you. Is that what it will take to get some answers?” Virgil remained silent and swam on. It wasn’t long before Sophie and Gabriel appeared in their boat. “Oh, no. Oh, no.” Georgina kicked at his sides, but he kept on swimming until he was parallel with the boat. “So, Georgina,” Gabriel called. “We hear you feel guilty ’bout somethin’.” “I most certainly do not!” “Then why did you risk your life trying to help when the flooding started?” Sophie asked. Georgina sighed and climbed onto the boat. She turned away so Virgil could shift, climb back in, and dress. “Villemont had me sabotage the structures after you built them. He promised me a nice promotion in exchange. I have a very cushy office now. But then, the rain hit, and I couldn’t live with myself anymore. So I came out here. I don’t know what I was thinking. I didn’t have a plan and didn’t have any clue as to how to remedy the situation. But I had to try. And then I ended up drowning.” Sophie’s voice was shaking. “You sabotaged all of our hard work?” Georgina nodded, and tears began to roll down her face. “Villemont wanted the city to flood so his new construction company could get rich rebuilding it at a premium.” Virgil clenched his fists together. “I see.” He walked over to the radio. “Come in, come in. I’m looking for the nearest Coast Guard or Port of New Orleans police-department vessel. I have a passenger who admits to sabotaging the barriers we put up to protect against the rain.” “This is Coast Guard 58911,” said a voice over the scratchy radio. “Can you give us your location?”

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Virgil looked around. It pained him to realize he could give street names. “We’re at John Lafitte Parkway in the Lower Ninth Ward.” “We’re five minutes away. We’re on the way.” “You’re not going to turn me in, are you?” Georgina started to shake. “You’re really going to turn me in. I can’t believe it. I came out here, I risked my life, all because I felt guilty for what I’d done! And now you’re going to turn me in?” “You bet I am,” Virgil said with a growl. “You cannot hurt my city and get away with it.” Moments later, police lights flashed, and a Coast Guard boat pulled up next to them. “You the boat that called us?” Virgil nodded. “This is the woman.” “Do we have the right to board your vessel?” “Please do.” The officer hopped into their boat and immediately clasped handcuffs around Georgina’s wrists. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?” “Yes,” Georgina said. Virgil could hear her holding back tears. Part of him wanted to pity her, but then he remembered that the destruction surrounding them had been her fault, and rage flared up again. He reached out and squeezed Sophie’s hand to remind himself that there was still good in the world. **** Once the Coast Guard took off, Gabriel piloted the ship back where the rest of the congregation had gathered. He was relieved that everyone had managed to get out of the city quickly. Everyone was

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wet, but they were safe, and once the ritual was completed, they could all go home. He pulled up beside Serafine’s boat and nodded at her. “Okay, everyone,” she called over the splatter of the rain and the moans of the wind. “Join hands with everyone in your boat.” She took out a lantern and placed a candle in it. Before lighting the candle, she pulled a bottle of oil from her robe and drizzled some in. Shielding the opening of the lantern against the wind, she set the candle aflame. She pulled a pouch out of her robes and, taking care not to get the contents wet, dropped some into the lantern, making the flame shoot up into the watery sky. Then she quickly closed the lid so it would not be snuffed out by the weather. Gabriel closed his eyes as she began to speak. City of New Orleans, may you be blessed. May the harm that has befallen you cease, May only good things come to you tonight. May your skies be light, May your people be safe, May your land be dry, May your heart stay strong, May the people here tonight sustain you. May you be blessed in every way. As Gabriel opened his eyes, Serafine reached into the lantern and pulled out the still-burning candle. He couldn’t help but wince. He was certain he saw her hand directly touch the flame, but she never flinched. Instead, she held the candle up and allowed it to be extinguished by the rain. As soon as the flame went out, the rain slowed and then finally ceased. Gabriel took a deep breath and laughed. He’d been raised around voodoo, but it never lacked the capacity to surprise him. He scooped Sophie into a hug, thinking his heart was about to burst for joy. There would be a long road ahead getting the city repaired, but it was safe

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again. He gazed into Sophie’s eyes and smiled. His city was still standing, and he had his mate. He didn’t need anything else in the world. His joy, though, was short-lived when he looked back and saw Serafine collapse to the ground. Everyone rushed to crowd around, but Adele held them at bay. “Give her air,” she called out. “Don’t matter,” Jules Leland said. “What do you mean it don’t matter?” Gabriel asked. “I mean she’s dead.” Gabriel’s heart lurched. “She can’t be dead. No. Jules, you’re a healer. You’re her second-in-command. You gotta do something. You gotta bring her back.” Jules shook his head. “I’m a healer, but there ain’t nothin’ left to heal. Her body gave out. Her soul is gone.” Gabriel sucked in a breath and steadied himself. Several members of the congregation had already burst out crying. To keep his composure, Gabriel reached out and gripped Sophie’s hand. Jules took control, though it was obvious he was shaken as well. “Okay, we can’t just hang around here. Gabriel and Virgil, you two get Serafine’s body. We’re gonna take her back to the congregation and give her a proper funeral there. C’mon, everyone, let’s move out.” “What about the new voodoo queen?” Sophie asked as Gabriel and Virgil settled Serafine’s body into the back of their boat. “When is she going to show up?” “Don’t know,” Gabriel said. “Soon, I hope.” “What will we do until she does?” “We’ll get through somehow,” Virgil replied. “Jules can take over some things for a while. Won’t be the same as havin’ a real voodoo queen around, but Serafine said she was gonna come. We’re just gonna have to be patient.” “Don’t worry, baby. We’re gonna get through it.” As he spoke the words, Gabriel hoped he was right.

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Epilogue “How you holdin’ up, baby?” Sophie looked up and saw Virgil and Gabriel coming in. “Okay, I guess, given the circumstances. Jules performed a lovely ceremony. Do you think he’s going to be okay?” “Yeah, of course he is. It’ll be rough for him, copin’ until the new voodoo queen shows up, but if anyone’s equipped to handle it, it’s him.” Sophie nodded, wiping away a tear. Although she hadn’t known Serafine very long, the voodoo queen had always made her feel a part of the congregation and had been vital to their community. Sophie had no clue how they would survive without her. Trying to take her mind off the trauma of losing Serafine, she decided to try changing the subject. “Are we still planning to head into the city tomorrow to work on cleaning up the flood wreckage?” “You know it,” Virgil said. “The city has another long road ahead of it, but we’re gonna do our part to make sure it bounces back.” Gabriel walked over to the bed and curled up around Sophie. “You sure you’re gonna be up for it, baby? We know this has been a rough couple of days for you. Do you wanna talk or anything?” Sophie shook her head. “I do want to go help with the cleanup. This is my city, too, and I’m not going to sit around and let others do all the hard work. But right now, I just want the two of you to hold me.” “Our pleasure,” Virgil said, joining them on the bed. Sophie tried to relax, but still, her head was swimming with questions and tension.

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“I can hear you thinkin’ over there,” Gabriel said, followed by a chuckle. “Sure you don’t have anythin’ to get off your chest?” “What—what’s going to happen to Georgina and Villemont now? Are we safe? And is Georgina—I mean, I know she betrayed us, but she really was sorry at the end, and—” Virgil sighed. “With all his money, Villemont’s gonna be just fine. He’s already got himself out on bail. I heard it on the news while I was doin’ some repair work this afternoon. There’s gonna be an investigation, and his business is gonna suffer for sure, but he’s rich enough to land on his feet.” “I’m worried about Georgina, though. I can’t help it. Even though she hurt us—” “I know, baby, I know,” Gabriel said. “Looks like she’s gonna be in some trouble with the investigation, too. But she’s got herself an attorney, and whatever happens, she’s tough.” “Do you—do you think if she atoned, she’d be allowed back into the congregation one day?” “If she could prove herself trustworthy? Sure. Why? You know somethin’ we don’t?” Sophie shrugged. “No. I just prefer knowing that she might be able to find her way back to us.” They lapsed into silence for a while, and Sophie let their hard, warm bodies comfort her. Then, much to her embarrassment, her pussy began to tingle. She tried to force the feelings away, knowing that they were completely inappropriate given the tragic circumstances of recent days. Virgil casually stroked a finger up and down Sophie’s arm, and her skin began to heat up even with such a gentle touch. “I love you, Sophie,” Virgil whispered in her ear. “No matter what happens, no matter what troubles we encounter, I’m always gonna love you.” “I love you, too,” she said. She turned to Gabriel. “I love both of you.”

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Glancing down, she noticed Gabriel’s cock was hard against the fabric of his jeans. “And here I was feeling guilty for getting aroused at a time like this.” “Ain’t no shame in listenin’ to your body, baby,” Gabriel said. “Besides, I think this is the right time to make love,” Virgil said. “In the face of death and destruction and tragedy, you gotta celebrate life.” Gabriel nibbled on her neck, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her body. “I like the sound of that,” Sophie said. “It’s a beautiful philosophy.” Gabriel eased her tank top off, rubbing his thumbs against her nipples. Virgil pulled off her pajama pants and eased her legs apart, easing his tongue between her slit. “Yes,” she moaned. “We’ve been needing you,” Gabriel said before taking his teeth to her breast, igniting the fine line between pleasure and pain. Sophie’s entire body spasmed with pleasure as Virgil carefully took his teeth to her clit. She came alive with the sensations running through her. Gabriel began to pinch harder, pulling on her tender flesh as his teeth sunk into her neck. She was sure she’d have marks in the morning, but she didn’t care. In fact, she looked forward to showing off what her mates could do to her body. When Virgil slid two fingers into her cunt, the orgasm started to build inside her body, a slow burn that was stoked by every nibble, lick, and thrust. When he added a third finger to her already-tender Gspot, the orgasm surged up into her, traveling through her legs, her arms, and her neck. Virgil, attuned to her body, bit her neck just as she reached the apex, and the sudden influx of pain heightened everything she was experiencing. As Sophie’s head began to clear, she was certain the entire congregation had heard her scream, but she realized she wasn’t embarrassed. She loved her mates, and they loved her. There was nothing more perfect than their union.

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Virgil eased some of her juices around her tight hole, preparing her for his entrance. Sliding in one finger, Sophie felt her body tighten around him then relax a bit as it accepted him inside. She loved the feeling of her body accommodating itself to her mates, to the men she loved so much. “Ready for a second one?” Virgil asked. “You know I am,” she gasped, allowing the pleasure to fill her body. She closed her eyes and rolled her head back and forth as sparks of pleasure flickered through her muscles and nerves. Virgil continued to massage her tight hole, and the more he worked, the more desperate she became to feel them both inside of her at the same time. “I’m ready,” she moaned. “You sure?” “I’m always sure. Please, both of you, take me.” Virgil gently pulled away from her body, and Gabriel crossed the room to sit in a chair. “Come over here, baby, and let me have your sexy pussy.” Sophie grinned and hurried to join him. She straddled Gabriel and lowered himself down onto his rigid cock, nibbling his neck and collarbone as she eased herself to the end of his shaft. “Perfect,” Virgil said, coming up behind them. He grabbed Sophie’s hips and positioned the head of his cock at the entrance to her tight hole. “You sure you’re ready for me?” “Please don’t make me wait any longer. I need both of you right now.” Without another word, Virgil eased his cock into her ass, pausing every few inches to allow her body to adjust and accommodate him. When he was finally in all the way, he began his thrusts, going painfully slow at first. Sophie wanted more, wanted them running at full speed right away, but also knew that her men wouldn’t give in to her requests. They liked to drag things out, liked to make her wait for

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her pleasure. They believed in delayed gratification, and she couldn’t deny that it always led to wonderful experiences. Gabriel followed Virgil’s slow thrusts and reached up to tease her breasts, lightly brushing her nipples, never quite giving them the full stimulation she wanted but always tantalizing her. Both men placed kisses and bites along her neck and shoulders, and she loved the way her skin yielded to their teeth, the way her body took everything they gave her. Gradually, they increased their pace, and soon, Sophie had the exact speed she wanted. She knew she was close, but she didn’t say anything for fear that they would back off. She didn’t want to wait any longer. All she wanted was to come, to reach her gorgeous climax, sandwiched between both of her mates. When Virgil reached around to play with her clit, Sophie’s body surged with power, her pussy and ass tightening more and more with each thrust. Gabriel and Virgil were completely in tune with her body, and as she seized up with the strength of her orgasm, they both stopped moving as well, moaning out her name as their cocks gave their final ecstatic pulses. She could feel Virgil trembling behind her as he attempted to catch his breath, his entire body completely spent. His knees buckled, but he quickly composed himself and eased away from her body and then helped her off Gabriel. He helped her over to the bed, and they collapsed together, Gabriel joining soon after. They wrapped their arms around her, and Sophie quickly began to drift off, feeling completely safe and loved. She’d never been a morning person, but all of a sudden, she was looking forward to the sunrise, to waking up between her two mates, surrounded by their warm skin and warm hearts. Daybreak couldn’t come soon enough.

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THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Charlotte Rose grew up in the Midwest, but relocated to the South when she was twenty-four in search of warmer winters. She now divides her time between Austin, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Charlotte is inspired by the romance and mystery of both of her homes. She loves the way both the hill country and the bayou create compelling landscapes for her sexy shapeshifters to run wild. Although Charlotte keeps very busy with her writing, she loves getting out into nature whenever possible. She enjoys camping, sailing, hiking, and any other activity that lets her get close to wild creatures. Charlotte finds inspiration in mountain lions, foxes, bears, snakes, and other fierce animals. Her primary muse is her pet alligator, named Priscilla.

Also by Charlotte Rose Ménage Everlasting: The Shifters of Alligator Bend 1: Bayou Rescue Ménage Everlasting: The Shifters of Alligator Bend 2: Bayou Famine

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com