We collapsed in a tangle of limbs, breathing hard, the blue markings on my skin glowing with such intensity they cast everything in ethereal light.
"Holy fuck," Milo gasped. "That was..."
"Yeah," I agreed, unable to form more coherent thoughts.
Fenric carefully withdrew, immediately tending to Milo with gentle hands. "Are you alright?"
"Better than alright," Milo's grin was blissful. "Can we do that again?"
I laughed, pulling them both close. "Maybe after we save reality. And sleep for a week."
Fenric settled beside me, his arm coming around my waist. "We should discuss the implications of what just happened."
"Later," I kissed his jaw. "For now, just stay."
His expression softened, and he nodded, pulling us both closer. As the three of us lay tangled together, the morning sun painting patterns across our skin, I felt the bonds between us strengthen, solidify into something unbreakable.
Chapter
Fifty-Three
Winter
We woke in stages, limbs untangling reluctantly as reality reasserted itself. Milo stretched like a cat, his back arching before he rolled off the bed with a theatrical groan. Fenric was already reaching for his discarded clothes, years of discipline making him revert to efficiency mode even after what we'd shared.
I sat up slowly, wincing as my knee reminded me it existed. The blue markings had settled back to their usual gentle glow, the Oracle's mark on my forehead quiet for now.
"Shower," I announced to no one in particular. "Before anything else weird happens."
"I'll make food," Milo bounced toward the door. "Actual food, not vending machine sadness."
Fenric paused in buttoning his shirt. "I should document?—"
"Later," I cut him off with a kiss that left him blinking in surprise. "Food first. Paperwork never."
By the time I emerged from the shower, dressed in clean clothes with my damp hair twisted into a messy bun, the apartment smelled like breakfast. Zane and Rook had apparently woken while I was occupied, they were looking suspiciously well-rested.
Everyone found spots on the floor around the coffee table Milo had insisted we use, settling cross-legged with plates of scrambled eggs and toast (except me with my bad knee). It felt oddly domestic.
Horrace perched beside me, tentacles reaching occasionally to steal bits of bacon. The six mysterious mini-skeletons had claimed one corner, chattering amongst themselves while Jeffrey supervised the other skeletons tea party setup.
I was halfway through my eggs when Milo's skeletons suddenly went rigid, their tiny jaws clacking in unison. Jeffrey stood up from his teacup arrangement, pointing urgently at something behind me.
"What is it?" I turned, following his bony finger.
Zane's and Rook's eyes locked on each other across the table. Neither moved. Neither spoke. But the air between them crackled with something that made my stomach flip.
Milo set down his fork, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Oh, this is interesting."
"Is Zane sore?" The words tumbled out before Milo could stop them, his eyes dancing with mischief.
My eyes widened. I gasped, then couldn't help the giggle that escaped. "Wait. You two?" I looked between them, delight bubbling up. "When did this happen?"
Zane's mouth curved into a lazy smile. "Someone had to keep the wolf company on night watch."
Rook's ears turned red, but he didn't deny it.
"This is wonderful!" I bounced slightly, making Horrace trill in alarm. "I mean, not the sore part, hopefully that's okay, but…"
