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Silence stretched between them. Then—

“Wait,” he said. “The marks on your wrists are really from Slang?”

“Yes, you stupid fuck. What did you think they were?”

Despite himself, he grinned. “Honestly, I never really thought about it.”

Wisteria bit her lip, her expression turning cautious. “I’ll tell you my incredibly unhinged theory about the marks… but just know that I know it’s insane.”

“I love unhinged theories.”

“All right, so,” She took a steadying breath. “I think that those of us with the marks could eventually procreate without the whole soul-stealing shit we have to do now. We could create demonkind naturally, like other magical creatures. Female demons could actually carry their children.”

“That is unhinged. But,” He shrugged. “Maybe also the truth?”

“Right? And, um, one more thing.” She hesitated. “I never actually Ascended.”

“What! How?”

“Well,” She gave an embarrassed shrug. “Slang came to me before the Ascension ceremony and told me I didn’t need to. So, right before everyone went to that weird platform, I slipped away. Came back at the end and pretended to feel faint with no one the wiser.”

Her voice grew quieter. “My soul has always been whole, apparently.” She hesitated. “I wonder if the same applies to Peri. I don’t know, of course.” She shrugged. “There were… other things, too. Strange things. Things I probably should have mentioned before. I…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “I couldn’t.”

Silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Oleander searched her face. “Are you happy, Wisteria?”

A small, melancholic smile curved her lips. “Yeah. Or, at least, I will be.”

She glanced around at the trees, their branches whispering softly in the wind. “I’ll miss my old life, sure. But there are… a lot of very lovely tree nymphs here.”

Oleander coughed out a laugh. “They have no idea who they’ve let into their midst.”

A smirk still tugged at her lips, yet unshed tears shone in her eyes. She turned away, blinking fast.

“You’re about to kick me out, aren’t you.”

“Well, you can’t mope around here forever.” She still refused to look at him.

Oleander forced a grin. “At least let me give you a hug first, you prissy bogwitch.”

Wisteria rolled her eyes but scooted closer. He pulled her fiercely into his arms, and she clung to him just as tightly.

Before she faded completely, he signed her name to her one last time.

>Beautiful-Wisteria.Vomit-Oleander.<

Laughter bubbled from his chest, and their last moment together was filled with joy.

Then—

Water engulfed him.

The sudden shift sent his body rocketing upward, and before he knew it, he burst through the surface, sputtering curses. His ears popped from the pressure change as he gasped for breath, dragging himself onto the shore.