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"It's done," Arkan said gently, resting one hand on X's shoulder and one on mine.
I collapsed on the gory grass, X kneeling with me, panting hard.
"Thank fuck," Taj groaned, slumping to the ground beside us and flopping onto his back.
"You're laid in someone's spleen," X informed him, a huge breath of relief punching from his lungs.
"Yeah, well, one man's spleen is another man's pillow," Taj muttered, shutting his eyes.
A twisted, hysterical laugh clawed up my throat. "You're a psycho."
"Takes one to know one, pretty killer."
Joseph knelt beside Eidolon, thrust his hand through the open mess of his ribcage—I could thank the wyvern for that—and wrenched something black and insubstantial from his body. I waited for Joseph to slurp it up like a milkshake, but instead he clenched his hand into a fist and crushed the soul from existence.
"I can breathe," X murmured, relief bleeding through him into me. I knew the feeling.
I shook my head, staring at the blackened mess that had been my father and torturer. It was over. Really, truly over.
I slumped into X, flapping my hands weakly at my devil. "Take your magic back; it's overstayed its welcome."
When Dev didn't reply, I turned my throbbing head and groaned at the look on his face—hesitant denial.
"What?" I muttered.
"The magic gave itself to you," he replied, brushing a lock of dirty hair from my face. "There was an exchange. No, a bargain."
Oh, great. "That wasn't supposed to be binding," I complained. "I don't wannarulepeople,that seems like so much work."
"I'll do all the paperwork, babygirl," Dev promised, bending to kiss the space between my eyes. I decided it was a unique, stylised choice of placement, and not because everything else was flaking apart.
I bit my lip—and regretted it when my skin bled and crumbled.
"Be honest," I breathed to Dev, and then looked at the rest of my mates. "Am I still sexy?"
"Always, babygirl," Dev replied instantly.
"The hottest woman I've ever seen," Joseph swore, and I'd have thought it was a fire pun if his brown hazel eyes hadn't been full of sincerity. He lifted my wrecked hand and kissed my knuckles.
"You are so beautiful," X murmured, hugging me to his side. "And so kind, and wonderful, and bloodthirsty, and brave, and—"
"Alright," Taj cut in, smirking. "Don't you think that's overkill? You'll inflate her ego."
"Good," X replied firmly, and continued his adoring tirade, words falling on my ears and making my face warm with a blush.
I blinked my stinging eyes and looked at Arkan, my breath catching when I saw the love in his blue stare, unhidden and laid bare, no ice shielding him for this moment.
"I've never seen anyone more perfect than you are right now," he breathed, warm and adoring.
I nodded, my throat swollen. "Big pressure," I choked out to Taj. "You've got a lot to live up to."
He laughed, but the mirth was heavy with weariness. He cut a glance at the others—uncomfortable expressing affection with witnesses.
I thought he’d bottle it, but then he blew out a breath, caught my stare, and said, "You're the only woman in the world I want to look at."
"Even crispy?"
"Even crispy," he confirmed, not even laughing a little. "You're fuckingitfor me. No one comes close. And this shit—" He stabbed a red, clawed finger at Eidolon's smoking corpse. "I'm proud as hell of you for it. Even though, when you're healed, I'm going to punish you so badly and painfully you'll scream for mercy."
