“I don’t think you do.” She shakes her head. “Earlier today at the Armada Social, Damien and I had a conversation. The thing is, I love Damien. He was my first love, and I will always love him.” My heart sinks so far that I’m not even sure it’s still in my body. “But right now, his love isn’t the one I crave. It’s not the one that keeps me lying awake at night. It’s not the one that makes me feel alive in a way I never thought possible.” There’s a moment of hesitation as she reaches for my face. Her finger runs along my jaw as her eyes trace over the movement. “I don’t know what forever looks like. All I know is how I feel right now.” Her eyes lock on mine and the room aroundus fades away. “I love you, Ryder Cimmerian. Like the moon loves the sea.” Her thumb brushes along my lips, as if it’s her way of kissing me. The warmth of her touch seeps into me, leaving its mark. “It’s you.”
The world goes silent as her words echo in my mind. Nothing has ever felt so good. So right.
“There’s something I have to tell you, too. The Divinity Oracle came to me in my dreams last night.”
“How? Why?” Confusion turns into fear in a matter of seconds, and I lace my fingers through hers.
“I’m not sure how, but I knew it was important, so I went to the portal.” Panic runs across her face. “It worked,” I quickly reassure. “For whatever reason, the Oracle decided now was the time to tell me what had already been right in front of me this whole time.”
“And what was that?”
“You remember when the Oracle said immortality was a loophole for death?” She nods. “After you died, I thought the Oracle had been trying to hint that you were a phoenix, but that wasn’t it at all.” I release my right hand from hers and gently brush the stray hair from her forehead. “Reign, you’re my loophole. The one person the universe has decided to let me love fully without restrictions of the curse.”
“That can’t be true.” She shakes her head but there’s hope behind her eyes.
“I didn’t think so either until I saw it for myself. This moment to be exact. The dress. Us together in your room. I saw it just as the Oracle had.”
“Magic’s balance,” she whispers as realization begins to set in.
“Exactly.” I can see the scenarios playing out in her mind. “I know that it’s crazy to think and the risk of itis—”
Her soft lips crash into mine, claiming them as hers. Sparks fire off throughout my body and it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. She pulls away too soon and places her hand over my heart. The two of us stay like that, unmoving for what feels like forever. Both of us waiting for death to come collect her.
Seconds feel like hours as we stare at one another, holding our breath for the moment this dream turns into a nightmare. But it never comes. Her heart still beats. Her breaths become steady. And the warmth of her skin continues to thaw every part of me.
The relieved smile that spreads across her face is the last sign I need. The Oracle was right. Whatever price I must pay later will be worth it. To know I can love her fully, the way she deserves… it’s all I’ll ever need.
Our lips hover over one another for a moment as if to savor the reality that the space between them is no longer a deadly barrier keeping us apart. When our lips meet again, it’s as if everything has been set right. The love I spent my whole life convincing myself I didn’t deserve is now mine. Despite knowing the darkest parts of my soul, she chose me. She decided that the boy who grew up knowing nothing but cruelty and pain was worthy of her love.
She could have run from me. She could have stayed in a love she already knew. It would have been the easier choice. The safer choice. But she didn’t. She saw my darkness and chased it away with her own light.
She saved me from myself and I’m not even sure she knows it.
Her kisses deepen as if she can hear my thoughts. As if she needs to convince me that her love for me is just as strong as my love for her. My chest tightens with each passing second like it might just burst. Every wall I’ve kept up my whole life is nownowhere to be found. I’m left exposed and vulnerable and not one part of me cares. I’m too lost in her. Too distracted by the taste of her kiss. It’s addicting. Sweet and delicious and I need more of it.
More of her.
As if needing the same thing, she turns us around and guides me backwards to the bed without letting our lips part. I sit down on the edge, clinging to her as her legs break through the slits, allowing her to straddle me without restriction. Our tongues tease one another with circles and light touches that leave us both wanting more. She lets out a quiet moan when I grab her ass and press her into me. The sound of it makes my power demand freedom.
I let my shadows run loose and they wrap around her back, gripping her long, thick hair. It’s like I’m able to touch all of her at once.
Neither of us break away. We’re drowning in each other. Every arch of her back, every grind of her hips, every clutch of her hands in my hair makes me grow more wild and untamed.
A pair of my shadows find their way to her legs that are tightly hugging the sides of me. They slowly climb up the most sensitive part of her inner thigh, and she shivers at their touch. I can feel her satisfied smile as we kiss, deeper, more passionately.
She’s first to make the move, pulling away to redirect her attention to my neck. Her tongue traces infinity signs and my hands grip her hips, trying to find some sense of control. The free rein of my shadows isn’t enough anymore.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I vaporate across the room, leaving her alone on the bed confused and disoriented.
“I’m sorry.” My voice is low and I’m not sure she hears me at first.
I watch her from across the room as she slowly scans her eyes from her place on the edge of the levitating bed. When she makes sense of it all, she crawls to the middle and looks down at me. I expect her to be scared or annoyed but a sinister grin spreads across her flawless face.
“You wicked little thing,” I say with the shake of my head.
“Are you going to put me down or am I in timeout?”
Mother, she’s dangerously charming.
