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Delun.
    Lucy had given Delun back the Dragon, and now he and Tiger sought to clean up the mess Xiaodan had made.
    Technically, the spirits’ loyalties fell beneath Tiger and Dragon. But Zhao, Snake’s previous host, had stepped out of line, claiming Chicken and Boar for himself. Since Lucy snatched Snake, though, those Zhao had collected were back up for grabs. If anyone could discover their locations, that was.
    The loyalties of the Chosen were currently divided between two factions, two Kongsi . The Hai San Kongsi , of which Sheng was the leader, and the Ghee Hin Kongsi , previously led by Zhao.
    Zhao, Snake’s former host, hadn’t been born with the spirit either. Years ago, Lucy’s dad had handed it to Zhao.
    After Lucy had stolen Snake back, Zhao took off with the Empress—the Ghee Hin’s female leader on the Council of Elders—and was hiding somewhere with Mei as his prisoner.
    Since Zhao’s defection, Delun had secured leadership of the Ghee Hin, but their members were shady, and it was impossible to tell who could be trusted, and who Zhao’s scumbag moles were.
    Kassian shifted Nat in his arms. Her body had gone limp, unconscious. “Fine, my ass. If anything happens to Nat because of the Snake, I’m holding you accountable.” Glaring at Sheng, he dismissed the sympathy in his friend’s frown. He turned his back on them and carried Nat the hell out of there.
    “Report back to Kek Lok Si. She must be trained.” The Matchmaker’s words echoed into the emptiness inside his chest.
    ***
    Nat pried open her eyes. Smooth, tanned skin spanned before her vision. She inhaled and a familiar, comforting woodsy scent greeted her. Kassian.
    Wait. What?
    She peeled off the steel arm wrapped around her waist and pushed to sit, processing her surroundings. Why the hell was she in bed with Kassian? Her body thrummed with energy, bursting with vigor, like a woman who’d spent the night getting—
    Oh, no. She glanced down. Still wearing his T-shirt…and no panties. Lovely.
    She jerked her chin around to assess his state of dress. Whew. He was sound asleep and wore pants. She cleared her throat, but Kassian didn’t stir. His bare, broad chest rose and fell in a gentle rhythm. A frown marred his handsome features as though, even in sleep, he was frustrated with her.
    The events of the night before crashed back into her memory. The Snake. She hosted the Snake.
    Awesome.
    She stretched out her right arm and flipped her wrist. Yesterday, she’d witnessed Kassian cloaking his spirit animal. How hard could it be? Pressing her lips together, she squinted and focused on her hand.
    Come out, Snake. Her arm trembled from the deep concentration. She bit harder on her lip and held her breath. Scales formed on the back of her hand, sharpening into glittering gold and red plates. Like armor. She tilted her wrist and her hand disappeared. Snakes didn’t have hands.
    “Holy shit.”
    She jolted. The scales vanished. She swiveled her head to face him. “Dammit, Kassian. I was trying to concentrate.”
    Blinking, he rested back on his elbows. “Yeah. I got that.” He grinned. Half-lidded eyes, disheveled hair, and a sleepy yawn. His morning look was freakin’ sexy.
    Self-consciousness gripped her. The way they’d left things… She shuffled to the edge of the bed.
    He grasped her arm. “I’m sorry, Nat. Please understand, I’m trying to protect you.”
    She froze at the genuine sincerity in his voice. “I do understand.” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “This is my destiny. The good and the bad.”
    His greenish-brown eyes darkened. The intensity in the air sucked her lungs dry. She wet her lips, her gaze dropping to his mouth. That strong, square jaw framing firm, smooth lips. She’d had a crush on Kassian ever since she’d discovered boys . But four years her senior, he’d discovered girls a hell of a lot sooner, and she’d never entertained the idea he’d take an interest in her.
    Until that night, when