Every ounce of me wanted to trust her.To open up more than just my wings to her.
Death was not as terrifying as the idea of exposure.
Of letting her in to see my darkness, tearing open my chest to show her the hole where I lacked a soul, despite the lost one in my arms.
Maybe then she’d understand the true fear ofwantingsomething you can’t have.
“Endor...”she sighed, her voice singing my name like a prayer.
I wanted to tell her the truth.
That Roche wanted me to poison her, but I couldn’t.
That my future was riding on Mercy’s decision, but I didn’t want to condemn her, either.
That even though it made no fucking sense, I wanted to keepthemall to myself, like some dragon with a horde of treasure.
I wanted to keep Mercy and Valory in this bubble of warmth and comfort.I wanted to protect them.I wanted to be their shield.I wanted to give them so much, but I hadnothingto give.Not even a soul.
“You are the one who is afraid,” I spat.I masked my sudden fear with the only thing I knew.
Venom.It spilled out of me far too easily as I gripped Mercy tight.
Let any willing monster try to pry her from me.
My fury grew with the thought of threats.
“I am not afraid of you, Endor,” she said, her gaze softening.
“You should be,” I bit.
She should have gotten the hell away from me right then.Because I feared if she didn’t, I might do something that I would regret.
I knew I would.
I wasn’t made for this sort of thing.Love.
No one can love ademon.No one can loveme.
Valory was right.I was terrified.
I was terrified that nothing would ever fill this hole inside of me because I lacked the very thing that made Mercy and Valory the perfect creatures they were.
A soul.
Valory ran her fingers through Mercy’s silky hair, and in her slumber, Mercy shifted herself, pushing away from me slightly.
Instinctively, I wanted to grab her, but when she settled against Valory’s chest, I eased.
Valory glanced down at Mercy, the corners of her mouth pulled up in the corner into the faintest smile.
She looked at Mercy with so muchlove, it was impossible not to notice.
And the sight only made my damn heart flutter like a fucking hummingbird.
“I am tired of being afraid,” she said softly, her voice slightly melancholic.“I lived my life fearing God; every decision I ever made was not my decision to make, it was His.”Valory’s shoulders loosened as she traced her finger down Mercy’s cheek.
“That’s a crock of shit,” I said.“You just wanted someone to blame for your mistakes.”
