The whole room looks at me suspiciously, but she ignores every single one of them.Can't believe she's putting me in this position.
"Right now?" I can feel the blush rising on my cheeks, the show of vulnerability she's asking for in front of her friends.I mean,I guessthey're mine too, except Fritz.
"Right now."
I come closer until I'm towering right above her, looking down at this beautiful, battered and bruised woman who changed everything, not just for me but for so many people. The strong-willed,deeplyloyal mortal that loves deeper than should even be possible, loving so thoroughly that she'll sacrifice everything, even her own morality, to protect strangers.
"I love you," I state, choking on the emotion those words bring me. Overwhelming warmth, an ache in my chest at the thought that I was so close to losing her, a blooming promise that no matter what comes next, she's my partner through it all.The good, the bad, the murderous,I'll be hers for as long as this planet exists.
"What? I couldn't quite hear you," she sleepily smiles.
Little shit.
"I love you, Isla. You are my everything." Reaching out, I smooth the hair off her forehead, adoring her more for finding humor and joy in this moment of vulnerability. Being openisn't something to fear with her, but a journey we'll be making together, even when it'sdifficult. "You are the most stubborn person I've ever met and I love you more than I ever thought possible. I love you so much that I have willingly spent the last four days in a hotel suite with Fritz."
"Hey!" the demon in question pipes up from behind me, making Islacrack up in laughter so hardshe starts to cough.
"Isla," I tell her,leaning in to kissher forehead. "Your laughter, your violence, your endless love for those around you, all of those pieces that add up to creating you, I will cherish and protect them forever. Your specific brand of kindness that sometimes feels like a slap across the face and sometimes a balm over a still-healing wound. Nothing will ever stop me from worshipping the ground you walk on."
Admitting what a softie I am in front of these people isn't my idea of a good time, but Isladeserves to be loved loudly, to have her praises shouted out for the whole world to see. I'll spend the rest of time loving her exactly how she deserves to be loved. Proudly.
"Now, my love," I continue, "I need you to start feeling better because I have something down stairs that needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later."
She looks at me suspiciously, "What is it?"
"Your hu—" Fritz starts before I glare at him, making his mouth shut before he can spout that terrible word again.
"Silas."
"I thought he got away," she says, her heart rate picking up in fear. "He's here?"
With a nod, I answer, "Kyle found him. What do you want to do with him?"
"Revenge could be fun!" Fritz pipes up, appearing at my shoulder. "You can come with me and I'll show you my favorite torture method."
Isla rubs her dry, cracking lips together in thought, looking at Fritz, then me. "Do you think keeping him prisoner will get you any useful information?"
I shrug, "Yeah, probably. He's on day four of cocaine withdrawals, I don't think torture will even be necessary. Just a promise of a bump and he'll squeal like a pig. But keeping him alive isn't worth it if it brings you terror just to think of him."
"But killing him accomplishes nothing."
"Making you feel safer isn'tnothing."If I werethinking rationally,I would have sent him off for questioning.But I've never been rational when it comes to Isla, and I don't plan to start now.
She smiles vacantly, "Give him to Kyle. My appetite for violence has been more than sated, I'd rather his suffering be put to good use than just to appease me. Just make sure you get rid of the marriage license."
"Oh, it went in the fire before we even left the cabin," I grimace at the rage I had felt at even having to look at the thing. "And the photos are being scrubbed from every device they're on, if that isn't already finished. There will be no proof of your sham wedding anywhere."
"What about my parents?" she asks.
"I'm sure they're mourning the loss of Silas as we speak."
"Mourning?" her brows furrow, "I thought you said he's alive."
Iblow out a breath, trying not to laugh, "As I said, I got rid of all the evidence of your nuptials, including his ring, but unfortunately, his entire finger came off with it. If they found it, they'll probably assume an animal of some kind tore him apart."
"That's so gross," she laughs, covering her mouth with the hand not nestled into Bel's.
"Soooo... we don't get to torture him?" Fritz pouts, causing laughter to spill out of everyone in the room aside from thedoctor, who seems increasingly disturbed by the people in his patient's room.
