Chapter 0233

"That was incredible."

Theron gives me a firm pat on the shoulder. "Good thing I trained with you when I did. You'd wipe the floor with me now."

"What do you mean?" I frown, not following his train of thought.

He studies me with raised brows. "You didn't notice? The energy surge when you marked her?"

"I felt something. Thought it was just the mating bond settling. Didn't realize it was Guardian magic."

Both Theron and Alistair shake their heads. "That's pure Guardian energy," Theron explains. "Her power flowed into you during the marking. Now you share her abilities—diminished versions, but still potent."

Well, damn. I knew Theron had gained strength after mating Evelyn, but inheriting Seraphina's Guardian gifts? That changes everything. My mind races with possibilities.

Before I can voice my thoughts, the door opens.

My entire world narrows to her presence. My feet move before my brain catches up. I know I'm grinning like an idiot, but I haven't seen my mate in hours. Her scent hits me first—vanilla and thunderstorms—and suddenly everything clicks into place.

I crush her against me, inhaling deeply at the curve of her neck. "Missed you," I murmur into her skin.

Her arms tighten around my waist. "Missed you more."

Pulling back just enough to see her face, I keep her locked against me. "Did you eat? You must be starving."

"Ravenous," she admits with a laugh.

I jerk my chin toward the buffet. "Grab whatever you want. Formal dinner's later if you're staying."

The group migrates toward the food. I keep Seraphina tucked against my side as we join them. Balancing two plates proves tricky—I refuse to let her go completely. She snags bottled waters while I pile our plates high.

We settle at the conference table's end. Ignoring her raised eyebrow, I pull her onto my lap and press a kiss to her nose. She huffs but starts eating without protest.

Once everyone's seated, I call the meeting to order.

"We know why we're here. Vampires have a bounty on Seraphina's head because she's a Guardian. They kept her captive for seven years as a blood source. Now that they've found her, more will come. And when they do..." I let the implication hang. "They'll discover we have three Guardians, putting both our packs at risk."

"Agreed," Theron says. "What intel do we have on vampires?" His gaze sweeps the room.

Alistair clears his throat. "Historical records show minimal interaction. They dislike our taste, we can't stand their stench. Mutual avoidance worked for centuries."

A heavy silence follows.

"They're faster than wolves," Seraphina murmurs.

"True," I confirm. "Couldn't see them coming during the attack."

Theron's head snaps up. "You couldn't track their movements?"

"No. You could?" He nods.

"Did you two complete the bond before or after the attack?"

"After. Why?"

Theron looks between us. "Seraphina, could you see them?"

"Clearly. But I knew Sebastian couldn't."

Theron smirks at me. "Bet you'll see them just fine now. Perks of mating a Guardian."