Maven just rewrote all the fucking rules.
“Snowdrop,” Everett breathes, shaking his head. “That’s…”
“A lot,” she agrees. “Arati didn’t like it at first, and it meant the gods had to make some changes. For example, they won’t be putting the Divide back up. Instead, they’re making a singular Gateway into the Nether. Since Amadeus won’t be corrupting and terrorizing the Nether anymore, far fewer shadow fiends will try to flee into the mortal realm. We’ll be in charge of the Nether, and we’ll guard the Gateway to keep anything from escaping.” Maven pauses, and her attention moves to Crypt before she smiles softly. “It also meant changing some things about Limbo. No more stewards.”
He swallows. I’ve never seen the Nightmare Prince so fucking shaken.
“Darling…”
“All incubi will share the burden of taking care of Limbo equally,” she explains, moving to kiss his cheek. She lifts her hand to trace his new markings, admiring them. “Syntyche said she would mark all incubi so they would understand the call, whatever that means.”
“Those were the other lights we saw raining down,” Silas realizes, blown away.
We’reallblown away.
Maven nods, looking at Crypt again. “Your markings are different, though. Yours are tied to the Gateway. You don’t have to take care of Limbo anymore, and you’re not cursed. You’re not—” Her voice breaks before she takes a deep breath, looking at him with that fierce determination that’s all her. “You’re not dying. I didn’t come this far to lose any of you, and now, all that’s left is a lifetime with the men I…love.”
I fucking melt.
All of this extreme change, all for the better. All because of my mate. I wonder if she even knows how much she just did for gods know how many legacies—and she did it with us in mind.
Silas is fighting a smile, too. “Gods above, I adore you. You may drive me mad until the end of our fate, but I’ll crave every moment of it just as acutely as I crave your precious blood.”
Maven smiles at the fae’s morbid confession of love before she fixes each of us with a serious look. “I’m chained to the Nether now, but it wasn’t fair of me to weave your existences into mine without asking. Sorry for bartering with your souls.”
I laugh. “No, you’re not.”
“You’re right. I’m not. I’d do it again because you’re all fuckingmine.”
We’re all grinning like idiots. I’m so fucking happy that I scoop our keeper away from Crypt’s side and stand with her in my arms to peck her on the lips.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure we’re all good with your sexy, eternally possessive side, Boo.”
“For the last time, that nickname is dead.”
“Nah,” I grin, kissing the tip of her nose.
Everett’s smile turns into thoughtfulness as he stands, running a hand through his white hair. “To clean and protect the Nether, we’ll need to fight shadow fiends, right?”
“I will. You four can do whatever you want. Including photography,” she adds, giving me a meaningful look.
Oh, my gods.
My mate read me like a fucking book, back when I mentioned my past passion to her in my room in the Decimus territory. My heart feels like it’s going to explode.
“I really fucking love you,” I manage.
“Not as much as I do,” Crypt grins at her. “And when our lifetime bettering the Nether ends, I’ll remain at your side until our corpses decompose hand in hand.”
Maven smiles like that creepy sentiment is the most romantic thought ever. She kisses me. I’m getting pretty damn wrapped up in her kiss until Everett nudges me toward the bed.
I get the hint.
Setting our keeper down on the bed, I continue kissing her as Crypt begins to remove her clothing gently. Silas is already stripping as Everett groans at the sight of her naked body. Maven is breathless when I pull back, her beautiful, dark gaze consuming my face with a loving possessiveness that feels like an oath. A promise. A blessing.
You’re all mine.
Hell yes, we are,I agree, kissing my keeper again.
