Page 229 of What We Become

Then Milo leans forward, eyes wide. “Oh my God. You manifested murder.”

“I manifested closure,” I correct.

“Tomato, tomahto,” he says.

Eli snorts. Micah’s mouth curves. Even Holden’s expression softens a little.

Knox looks at me. “That was a good wish, Fury.”

I smile. “I thought so.”

“Okay,” Micah says gently, before the quiet can turn into something heavier. “That settles it. Sage definitely gets another wish—might I suggest one involving less blood and injury? Just to give us all time to heal.”

“Speak for yourself,” Holden mutters. “Some of us don’t mind a little blood.”

I laugh, and it hurts. “I can agree to that.”

Holden flicks the lighter. The flame catches, small and steady. I used to think this kind of moment belonged to other people. People with normal birthdays and uncomplicated lives and boyfriends who didn’t discuss burial logistics like fantasy football.

I look at the candle and let myself have one crazy, selfish moment.

Please let this be my forever.

Then I blow it out.

Milo claps once. “Beautiful. Stunning. Chillingly codependent.”

“Cut the cake,” Eli says.

Micah reaches for the knife and holds it out to me. “Do you want to?”

“Yeah,” I say quietly. “I do.”

“Wait!” Milo puts a hand between me and the knife. “I have something for this.”

Holden closes his eyes—that’s never a reassuring sign.

Milo pulls a long box from the pile of presents and slides it toward me. “A promise is a promise, kitten.”

I tear the paper away and lift the lid.

A knife. A sheathed blade with a silicone dildo for a handle. In a very familiar shape.

My gaze snaps to Holden.

“The fucking knife,” I whisper.

“Two point oh,” Milo says proudly. “No homicidal trees.”

“Holden?” I look from the handle to him—well, his crotch. “Something you want to share?”

“Milo bought a kit.” The tips of Holden’s ears are pink.

“One of those make-your-own dildo kits,” Milo explains. “The original was an artistic interpretation. This time I went directly to the source and built the whole thing around the result.”

I look between them. “And you let him?”

“You said you liked the last one, wildcat.” Holden’s mouth twitches. “Plus, it was kind of fun.”