Page 247 of Vasmora

A weak smile pulled at my lips, the weight of exhaustion softening my bones. “Hi,” I said in a raspy voice.

His eyes shone with tears. “Hi.” He lifted his mask away, setting it somewhere beside him, and held me against him so tight, I could scarcely draw in a breath. “I thought I lost you. Gods be damned, I thought she took you from me.”

“I’m here. I chose you.”

He loosened his grip just enough to press his lips to mine in a kiss that threatened to pull me under again. Air tugged at my lungs, and I shoved against his chest for breath. When he broke away, he kissed my cheek, my temples, my neck, as if he couldn’t stand the thought of not kissing me. He dragged his nose across my skin, inhaling deeply. “You smell … alive.”

It was when he buried his face in my hair and stilled himself that I felt the tremble of his muscles.

As he held me close, I managed a glimpse of a blade on the ground beside him.

Seeming to catch onto my distraction, he glanced toward it and back. “There’s no tether without you. I’d have followed you to the depths of hell just now.”

“I’m glad you waited.”

“I’ll not lie, I was growing impatient.”

I cupped his cheek and kissed him again. “My apologies. It takes a bit of time to come back from death.”

“Speaking of which, I don’t ever want to see her again.”

Clearing my throat, I sat up from him. “Well, about that. See, in order to come back, I had to make a choice.”

His brows pulled tight.

“Nothing too alarming. I just … well, it turns out my father is Deimos.” I waved my hand in the air. “Surprise!”

The crease in his brow deepened, if such a thing were possible.

“And, um … it seems I’m now the collector of souls.” I tapped my finger against his bicep. “More surprise!”

“A goddess.”

Frowning, I shrugged. “It sounds ridiculous when you say it aloud.”

“You remain in this body?”

I nodded. “Until I die … or become immortal. Assuming you’ll make me immortal.” In the pause that followed, I traced my finger over the hard leather that covered his chest. “You should know, the alternative is that I strengthen my blood and sow my oats, so to speak,” I teased.

The tightening of his jaw brought a smile to my face. “The only oats you’ll be sowing are the ones you eat for breakfast. We’ll Bond tonight.”

“Tonight?” I certainly hadn’t expected that response.

“The sooner I make you mine, the longer I make you mine.”

“Was it my threat of being with another man that inspired your sudden interest?”

“Any man who touched you would be food for the flame.” Sorrow flickered in his eyes as he stroked his hand down my face and cupped my cheek. “It’s having lost you once. I won’t survive that twice.”

“Then, we shouldn’t waste another moment.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “So, tell me, what does bonding entail?”

A firm grip of my jaw tilted my head back as he seized my mouth. “First, I’m going to strip you out of these clothes, then you’re going to scream my name as you endure every second of my relief for the shitstorm I felt just now.”

“And then?”

“And then you’re going to run a blade through my heart.”

CHAPTER SIXTY