Page 68 of Vervain

“Enough.” I pinch his ear, and my other hand tucks along his jaw, luring his head to look at me, until I’m a breath away from him. “You saw my memories and how weak I was in them. For me to face those demons, I need to get stronger. I do not want you fighting my battles. I want you to watch me with confidence and know I can do this without you.”

Serun’s mouth grazes mine, turning into a crooked smile. “Then I suppose you need to train more. Maeve might help as well. She has been around vegodians before. Perhaps she can break those walls.”

“Can we train a little more when we get to the manor? Also, can you call Reyes for an update? This is the longest I’ve ever been away from Cole.”

His gaze turns to my wrist. “Of course. I want you to learn to pull yourself out without biting yourself. It bothers me.”

“Why? Because you want to bite me?”

“Yes.”

I didn’t expect him to admit it so plainly.

“I wouldn’t be opposed…”

Serun’s claws swipe along my flesh, inching between my thighs. “The night you want to share my deathbed will be the night I indulge in you.”

I squirm, my cheeks heating and burning down my neck at the idea of someone hearing our conversation. “Do you think my glamour will hold once I have it up again?”

“Likely—but I’d prefer it if you didn’t use it all the time.” He raises the lantern, illuminating my pale skin. “You are perfect, and that glamour does nothing but reinforce your fears.”

Tightening my arms around him, I lean closer and brush my lips against his hairline. “If this is all a trick again, Serun, I doubt my heart would heal this time.”

“I want you far beyond limerence.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

PHYTOMEDICINE

Saya Claymore

Reyes and his wife have reached Mire. They haven’t entered, but Serun informed me he would need to stop communicating with them while they are so close to the slayers, to avoid distracting them.

I don’t like it, but I also don’t want to be the reason for failure, especially so close to Cole. Yeah, I definitely don’t want to do that.

Even after training tirelessly, the block in my mind still felt like a tightening elastic band, so Serun suggested we visit Maeve. Hopefully, she can help me understand more of my vegodian side.

The entrance doors open as we approach, the perfume of the garden outside rising to meet us, dense with the earthy and botanical tones I’ve so missed. Blooming flowers breathe as I make my way down the stairs, their splendour painted with thick brushstrokes, dancing with colours long forgotten.

“Beautiful,” I murmur. The vervain flowers tilt towards me as we pass, always reminding me I am not entirely a nightwalker. “I’ve seen these flowers everywhere in the Undercity. Why?”

“Maeve might answer that better than I can. You can ask her when we arrive.”

“My mum would know. Vervain was all over Cherry Bloom,” I say.

“They bloom beautifully,” Serun admits, focusing on the flowers that lean towards me. “They adore you.”

I nudge my head at the vervain stems bending in Serun’s direction. “And you, too.”

“Because you are here with me.”

Clasping my hands together, I say, “I hope to learn more from Maeve—something to go back to my mum with in case she stubbornly doesn’t want to tell me about my vegodian side.”

Serun’s smile tightens around the edges before those very shadows slip over his meat-suit. Even in his own domain, he trusts very little.

I should be excited that I am one of the few who know what he looks like, but a weight plummets in my stomach, inking black at the thought of how lonely it must be.

No one knows the real Serun.