Tenn stood and gave Tegan his seat. Then he flicked his wrist and Braison slid across the floor to their side. Tenn grabbed his soulmate’s wrist. Braison looked nervous, though I didn’t blame him. He gently took Tegan’s wrist in his hands, then sank to his knees. He opened his mouth and pierced her skin with his fangs. Everyone else leaned in to watch.

Tegan smiled. “See? No biggie.”

As he drank from her wrist, a dark, bloodred-colored rune glowed above his head. I gasped and ran over. Tegan grinned and nodded so I reached up and touched the rune. A few runes appeared beneath it. Tegan gripped her necklace, rainbow magic flashing beneath her fingers. It was only as I was backing away that I realized there wasn’t a single ounce of passion between them. When I’d seen Braison feeding from her in Avolire, there’d been some intensity, not full-blown passion but definitely a little something. Yet nothing now. Putting on a show for people walking by. That was what she’d just said.

“Okay. okay. So, if I followed this all right, then Aunt Shi-Shi, since you were human, you need human blood for sure. I’m human. Let me feed you. Unless that’s not allowed because we’re family?”

“Only parents and their children cannot feed each other. The blood is too similar,” Saber answered.

“In the long run, however, I would say she needs to feed from other humans every once in a while.” Everest gestured toward Aunt Shi-Shi. “Go ahead.”

Tai walked over to stand behind his aunt and rested his wrist on the back of the couch. He smiled down at her. Her eyes watered. I watched the air above their heads as she pressed her mouth to her nephew’s wrist. Seconds later, a dark red rune appeared, but it wasn’t the same one I’d seen with Braison. I tapped on it, which brought down the list of ingredients. I didn’t miss that there wasn’t a single Heavenly ingredient listed for hers.

“I think you’re on to something, Franks,” Tegan said into my mind. “I think we’ve got new potions in your future, but I think these will take time to make and perfect.”

I nodded.

“What about Saber?” Willow asked softly, pulling my attention.

Saber pursed her lips. “Would it be really weird of me to say I wanna⁠—”

“Saber,” Everest growled in warning.

She sighed and threw her hands up dramatically. “I’m just curious what angel-boy tastes like, that’s all.”

Everyone gasped and sat up straight. Tenn’s eyebrows rose in surprise.

Saber leaned forward, her eyes narrowed on Tenn as her voice dipped into a conspirator tone. “I mean, I bet it’s like snorting cocaine. It’s gotta be.”

At that, everyone laughed and made jokes about him not being human.

Saber turned to Everest. “Aren’t you a little bit curious?”