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“How much longer are you going to make us wait, Piper?”
“As a matter of fact, I was going to tell you tonight that I was ready. But then this happened, and I’m thinking it would be better if we waited.”
“What?”
“When things quietened down, I thought maybe whoever targeted me had decided I was more trouble than I was worth or something. But I was wrong, and that means someone out there still wants me dead. If I die and we’re bonded—”
“You’re not holding back to protect me, Piper,” he told her, his face hard. “No way.”
“You could turn rogue.”
He gripped her chin. “You’re not gonna die. I’d never fucking allow it.”
“The strength of your will alone can’t keep me alive. People lose others all the time. We take for granted that we’ll live long lives. It doesn’t always work that way.”
“It doesn’t, no. But certain things can tip the balance in our favor. When you and I are bonded, you’ll be stronger. The power that drugged you tonight? You’d have fought through that if you were anchored to me.”
“I would rather we waited until the threat has passed.”
“And if it was the other way around, would you accept that shit from me?”
She hesitated. “Well no, but you’d argue that we needed to wait.”
“No, I wouldn’t. I’d never believe that refusing to bond with you would be some sort of safety precaution. No matter the situation, you’ll have a better chance of survival if we’re bonded.” He tightened his grip on her nape. “Don’t let this person have the power you’re giving them. Don’t let them act as a barrier between us and our bond.”
“I doubt that’s their intention.”
“Probably not. But you’re still allowing them that level of power over you. Over us.”
She sighed, a tired groan slipping out of her. “I just don’t want you to end up rogue.”
“Which means you’d fight harder to live if we were bonded. Am I wrong?”
She exhaled heavily. “No. No, you’re not wrong.”
“Then let’s do this. Let’s claim each other right here, right now.” A selfish part of him rose up in protest, not wanting this thing they had to end. His demon let out a low growl, pissed that Levi intended to live up to the agreement he’d made with her. The entity didn’t see why sex needed to be taken off the table.
“You’re sure you want to take the chance that—”
“Right here, right now,” he repeated, even though it made his chest ache.
Piper stared into his eyes for a long moment. “Okay,” she said, her voice soft.
He didn’t have a second to feel any triumph, because she instantly released her hold on her psyche, and it all but barreled into his.
Levi grunted as their psyches fused together, becoming two intersecting spheres. After the brief moment of disorientation passed, he said, “I feel you.” It was like she was inside him now. Her psychic presence was strong and intimate, virtually humming with her confidence, quiet strength, and unswerving loyalty. Her psychic taste was just as vivid—pumpkin pie and cinnamon spice. His demon loved it.
Mine. Levi snaked his hand around her throat and pressed his thumb against the hollow beneath her ear, branding her. When he removed his thumb, a small glistening infinity symbol proclaiming her anchored was stamped right there. Each person’s brand held a slight difference. For Piper’s, a scythe slashed through both loops.
“Your turn,” he told her, self-satisfaction pouring through him.
Using her thumb, she left her own mark on the hollow beneath his ear, and the slight sting quickly faded. She narrowed her eyes as she studied it. “You have a ‘P’ inside one loop, and a ‘W’ inside the lower one. What does my symbol look like?”
He described it, adding, “The bond is so much more steadying than I’d expected.” It centered his demon and bolstered their strength which, most importantly, meant it did the same for both her and her inner entity. He focused on that, on how this was best for her, wrestling back the conflicting emotions attempting to surge through him.
“It’s kind of weird how our minds keep brushing and bumping each other’s,” she said. “Though not in a bad way.”
Mindful of her injuries, he drew her close and kissed her forehead, letting himself have this last moment of closeness. Tomorrow, they’d sleep in separate beds from then on. Tonight … tonight, he needed to hold her. “You’ll get used to it.”
“Your psychic taste fits you well. Whiskey and almonds. Good whiskey.”
He felt his mouth curve. “Yours is cinnamon spice and pumpkin pie. Makes me hungry.” He splayed his hand on her back, the move a little too possessive.
“Is your demon done sulking now?”
“Oh, yeah. Totally done.” Which was a lie. The demon was incredibly pleased to have the bond, but it was infuriated with Levi for being prepared to let her go on a sexual level.
