“Yeah.” She squeezed his hand. “Yeah, I’m okay. It’s just… a lot.”
“Too much?” His antennae drooped slightly. “I can speak with Katan. Perhaps there is a way to—”
“No.” She stepped closer, pressing into his warmth. “No, it’s not too much. It’s just… real. You know? Like, really real.”
He wrapped his arms around her, wary of her freshly healed chest. “You can change your mind. If you wish to return—”
“I don’t.” The words came out firm. Certain. She tilted her head back to look at him. “I chose this, Maelic. I chose you. I’m just… adjusting.”
Something in his expression softened. “You are remarkably brave, little human.”
She snorted. “Or remarkably stupid.”
“Those are not mutually exclusive.”
The laugh surprised her. God, she loved him. When had that happened? Somewhere between the Christmas lights and right now, she’d fallen completely.
“Come.” He kissed her forehead. “Let me show you where we will be staying for now.”
He carried her to his private resting chamber, despite her protests.Bedroomwould be a good word for it, but new world, new words, she supposed.
She was a little shell-shocked, but Maelic was already enveloping her on the bed, pulling her close.
“You will never know that type of danger again, myastara,” he murmured, his voice slightly muffled through the mask.
“I better fucking not.”
She reached up, fingers finding the edge of the black material covering his face. He stiffened.
"Del—"
"Can I?" She asked softly.
He hesitated, then nodded.
She pulled the mask free. That scent hit her immediately—thick, floral, and intoxicating. The azalea sweetness that made her head swim.
His hand caught hers. "I can put it back on. I should. I will not let my biology pressure you—"
"I'm okay. You're okay. It's fine now. We made it out." She cupped his face, enjoying the soft felted texture of his skin against her palm.
He relaxed. Just slightly.
She wanted to tie herself to him. Make sure nothing could pull them apart. She wanted the security of knowing they were bound, that his biology wouldn't fight him anymore. And now that she had truly decided to let go, she wanted to do so completely. As crazy as it was.
“Maelic.” She paused, her eyes locking on his. “Do you want to make this thing official?”
His brow creased.
“I mean, do you want to mark me?”
His body went rigid. His breath hitched.
“Are you sure?”
She considered that. After almost losing each other? She was. Delaney was the type to die on a hill once she chose to plant her ass on it.
This hill just happened to be a mothman-shaped one.
