Page 120 of Monster. Me.

Purple, violet, crimson, and ruby light swirl around us in a kaleidoscope of shifting hues. Millions of tiny sparks drift through the air, flashing and crackling like fragments of a shattered lightning storm.

I want to laugh, and I actually do. Pulling my teeth free from his neck, I watch Fenn do the same; a disbelieving chuckle escapes him.

"Oh my dear Fate, finally. Damn it, finally!"

I stare at the storm of lights in utter amazement.

"It happened, Fenn. Our souls connected. We're fated. No more doubts, no question about it!"

He grins just as broadly, those sharp teeth still protruding from his mouth, faintly stained pink with my blood.

"Damn. I didn't want to admit it, but part of me was disappointed when it didn't happen the first time. But you know what? This makes way more fucking sense. The Bond is complete now too!"

Instead of watching the lights dancing around us, Fenn turns his attention to me. The look in his eyes is pure awe.

"I can feel you even more clearly now. I understand you. I know you. Each emotion." His fingertips brush gently along my cheek and softly nudge at my fresh bite mark. "You're beautiful not only on the outside, Marlow."

He watches me with this radiant intensity as the sparks of electrical discharges continue to swirl around us, softly fading, silent proof of our souls becoming one. Time itself seems to stand still, stretching into something sweet, intimate. I want to hold on to this moment forever, our fates woven together like a braid, the promise of happiness vibrating through the air like the gentle chime of tiny bells.

Fenn’s fingers trace the contours of my face as he speaks, and his voice breaks a little.

"You picked me before you knew for sure we were fated. It means the world to me. Thank you, Marlow."

My heart nearly trembles with happiness. This belongs to us now. This moment.

He leans down and presses his forehead to mine.

I take his hand and lace our fingers together, then pull it to my chest and hold it flat over my heart.

"You were always here. Today, we just made it official."

◆◆◆

The morning is beautiful. A ray of sunlight filtering through the blinds into our new bedroom wakes me up.

Fenn is lying behind me, his arm wrapped around my waist. Domestic bliss? My heart softly flutters. Oh, I like it, I like it so much…

I gently slip out of his embrace and walk over to the window. It overlooks the most flower-filled part of the garden, beyond which the orchard begins. I spend a moment gazing at the trees lit by the sun and the multicolored carpet of blossoms. I still can't get over it. Mr. Davos's son had a great love for them and cultivated many different varieties here. I intend to keep everything exactly as it is. Perfect.

I leave the bedroom, letting Fenn sleep a little longer. His appointment with Renato Santoro isn't until another hour from now, so I step outside.

The morning sun bathes the entire driveway and the gravel garden paths in warm light.

I take a deep breath, feeling waves of happiness inside me. I raise my hands and brush them through the air, as if catching the wind.

So, is it this?

My life has finally emerged from the darkness it had been trapped in for the past year and sailed into open waters.

Shyly, I touch the mark on my neck. Feeling the imprint of his teeth beneath my fingertips sends a pleasant shiver through me.

Then, a quiet beep from my phone signals an incoming message.

I glance at the screen and see that it's Dr. Lee.

It was he, who sent me the text message earlier, asking if he could call me, but now he's trying again…

I hesitate over whether I should even react. I want to cut myself off from everything that happened at the facility. I don't need any contact with him, but out of simple courtesy, I decide to call.