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Ronald fought to speak, and I expected some sort of swear word because that was what everyone said with their last breath.
"Fuck...you."
"Could have been more creative than that," Neo stated with disappointment, his eyes scanning his masterpiece before him. I was sure with his heightened magic he could see with perfect vision, but once Ronald's life force faded, so would Neo's vision once more.
"Sweet Mate," Neo called to Willow. She was sitting up and looking curiously at Neo as he finally pulled his eyes from the filled canvas. "Wanna do the honors?"
"I wanna watch, actually," she admitted. "On your lap."
I arched an eyebrow at her statement, looking back at Neo, who was literally smiling from ear to ear. The last time I'd seen him with such a genuine look of happiness on his face was when he'd won his global award, and even then, he had his blindfold on for that occasion.
Here, he truly looked like a happy man in love with a woman who lit up his entire world. That could have been exactly what Willow did. She gave him the ability to see past his limitations, and watching it like an unfolding movie made me crave the same.
Made me crave the light at the burning end of the tunnel.
Willow slid off the table, her heels clicking against the cement surface as she reached where Neo sat and didn't hesitate to sit on his lap. Neo had his arm around her waist in an instant, his lips brushing hers in greeting before she took a moment to admire the piece up close.
I could feel the pride leaking off her, which was mesmerizing to feel. After watching an hour of Neo's antics, she wasn't in the slightest bit afraid of him.
She was fucking proud of his work. Impressed by his creativity and workmanship.
To simply put it, she accepted him.
"You have a better idea, Sweet Mate?"
"Hmm," she began. "Why don't we give Milo the chance to end it? He did let us have some fun."
She did have a point.
I looked at Milo, just like they did, and he didn't seem opposed by the idea.
"Would that be allowed?" Milo inquired. "He's your kill. I shouldn't be given the opportunity when I didn't struggle for it."
Whoever trained -or tortured- him probably instilled those bullshit olden ways of thinking upon him. It was the typical “catch your prey, reap the rewards” movement.
It was stupid because the saying was flawed in the shifter world because no matter who caught the prey, it would end up in the hands of your Alpha and they would determine whether you joined their meal, like it was the Last Supper, or starved.
"You did struggle for it," Willow reasoned. "You fought against the strings of fate for survival, don't you think? It would be smart to take this given opportunity to enjoy the rewards of your struggle, right?"
There was something about Willow's voice that just got through to you and pointed out the obvious picture. It clearly worked on Milo, because he nodded, but surprisingly looked at me.
"What do you think?" he quietly asked.
I wondered why he was asking for my opinion, but I earnestly answered, "Don't be a fool and regret not taking this opportunity."
He stared into my eyes as if he were seeking some level of validation from my words, so I added, "Who sat upon a throne of power while you were beaten down like a slave? Who stood and allowed the walls you built for years to come crumbling down? Who hoped for you to follow them till the end so you could leave everything that held value to you behind? Who deserves to face the ultimate punishment of death? Look at that man and tell me if he deserves your sympathy."
He took a steady inhale and turned to look at Ronald. The way his eyes narrowed and sparked with orange and gold made his red orbs look like they were made of fire. The rage he kept hidden within himself could burn cities down to the ground.
An intense rage that I was far too familiar with.
He walked over to him as Willow slipped out of Neo's lap so they could stand up. They moved to the side as if to give him space and I decided to join the front row spot out of my own curiosity.
Milo stood before Ronald, his eyes glaring at the man who’d surely fucked over his life. Whatever plans he’d had were ruined by this man hanging on a thin thread between life and death.
Ronald began to chuckle, the weak sound going in and out. It sounded much closer to a struggling wheeze.
"Ha...ppy now...black monkey? You'll...never...fit...into...this world...made for power."
