The witch light flickers, then goes out, plunging the bathroom into darkness—except for the glow of her runes.
Celine bites my shoulder, and I groan. It’s symbolic; she’s not a shifter and her teeth aren’t made for this, but it’s exactly what I want and need.
Pulling my fangs loose from her neck, I cradle Celine against my chest and pepper her face with kisses. “You okay?”
She nods and nuzzles my neck. The golden runes fade slowly from her skin, then we’re alone in the dark. “I can feel you, Luca.”
There’s wonder in her voice. I blink, then gasp as I sense what she’s talking about. Next to my basilisk, in the deepest part of me, there’s a ribbon of pure light. It’s throbbing faintly, and it takes me a second to realize the throbs are synced with her heartbeat.
Celine. Part of me forever.
It’s what I’ve always wanted.
My basilisk examines the light, then entwines himself with it, basking in her glow until the ribbon forms a second skin around him. “I feel you too,” I say. My voice cracks, and a tear squeezes loose from the corner of my eye. “You’re wrapped around my heart.”
We don’t move for a long time.
Only after our sweat has cooled do I stand, carry Celine to the shower, and wash us both. My bite mark on her neck has stopped bleeding, but it’s deep. Even with her fast healing, there’s a chance it will scar.
I frown. “Do you want me to get Ali? If he licks it now, it might not scar.”
Celine covers the mark and scowls at me. The ribbon of light inside me throbs faster, heating up as she gets annoyed. “Why would you do that?” she demands. “I want your mark.”
I kiss her shoulder and grin against her wet skin. “It was only a suggestion, baby.”
She huffs. “Do you want Ali to comeseal yours?”
“Fuck no,” I snap. She barely broke the skin, but my basilisk rattles with fury at the thought of losing her claim, coiling around the ribbon like he’s going to war for it.
Celine tugs me against her. “Then shut up about it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I kiss her until the water runs cold, fresh determination growing inside me.
We’ll escape this realm. Together. Then we’ll never come back.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Monster Realm Survival Tip #11:
The past and the future matter far less than what’s in front of you.
MALACH
I hear them. Pledging forever to each other. Making promises bathed in heat and dripping with sincerity. The words are different, but the intent is the same as the vows Celine and I once made.
Their bonding brings us closer to escape.
Yet I feel as though there’s a giant clock above my head, the pendulum swinging like an executioner’s axe. I’ve escaped its blade more times than I can count, but my time is running out.
I sense it with every throb of my head and every painful beat of my heart.
We’ve accomplished so much, yet it won’t be enough. With no way to explain, I’m falling apart. Self-destructing in the most painful way imaginable.
If I could levy the same judgment against myself that I useagainst others, I know what I would see. A riot of colors, twisted and partially calcified into a writhing, painful mess.
I once thought I could untangle it before it was too late.
I tried my best.
