Castor cuts off my air, and his smile fills my head as a daze builds in the suffocation. “You are mine,” he says. “You are truly, and utterly,mine.” A slow curse leaves him as he moves to kiss my lips, allowing me a breath once that breath is tainted with onlyhim. “I like this plan.” He kisses me again. “We shall tryit, for so long as it brings you pleasure. I…” His smile becomes wicked, and I grow drunk on the sight. “Oh, my beloved…” He adjusts his grasp, cupping my chin. “Ithank youfor it.”
Oh—
My—
My body evaporates as the sensation of Castor’s full soulrushingagainst me slams into my senses. Ecstasy hits, and my eyes roll back.
One way or another, I lose consciousness, but the last thing I recall before the world goes dark is my soulmate lifting me into his arms, kissing my bared throat, and laying his ear to my heart.
Chapter 25
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things were going so well…
Curses exit my mouth as I press my palms to my eyes and waitdesperatelyfor the medicine tojust work. Hot tears pour down my cheeks as another wave of cramps twists in my stomach.
Compounding everything, Castor’s panic thunders against my chest as he circles my hanging bed like a vulture.
“Where’s my phone?Where’s my phone?Where’s my phone?” He swears, angles himself toward me, and crumples. “Is there nothing else I can do for you, my darling, my heart?”
Weak, I shake my stupid head and wish witheverythingin me that I’d woken up this morning to something other than agony. After yesterday, Castor was going to start teaching me magic. He already spent many of the evening hours exhibiting the enchantment process and how we can build new spells from nothing but trial and error. Late at night, he finally figured out which delicate coils of magic and what fragile runes would pull signal through the trod in the garden and extend it all the way to our room.
After hours of work, he altered the rules of the world.
The moment it all clicked into place, my skin buzzed.
I wanted so badly to wake up, have my breakfast in bed, and continue learning abouteverything.
Instead, I woke up in a puddle of blood to sharp pains that sent Castor flying through the dark of the room to my side.
He cusses, then he lifts my phone. “Let’s try again. Maybe the new enchantment isn’t working. I can try in the human realm, if you’ll be okay for a moment alone.”
“It says there’s bars,” I whisper, scanning the screen and Pollux’s freshly-added contact.
“Maybe I recalled his number incorrectly, then.”
“Or possibly he just doesn’t recognize my number.”
Castor hisses, “If only the fool had seen fit to set up his voicemail.” Self-loathing streaks along our connection, and he mutters, “If onlyIremembered where I put myphone. I texted him yesterday. Maybe he replied. Maybe he has that number and would…” Wry laughter escapes him. “Would have already blocked me.”
“Stop that,” I whisper. “Please. That kind of negative talk doesn’t serve anything.” I reach, and he answers the request, immediately clasping my hand, tight.
“Forgive me, my love. You’re right. The pains of the past hardly matter in light of you.” His forehead rests against our hands. “Your pain in this present is what I should focus on. Would that I could leave your side to make my petition in person…would that I trusted good might come of it… I cannot bear the idea that I might abandon you for the sake of naught. If I just remembered where last I left my…” A light of realization hits him, and he startles. “The garden.”
“The garden?” I murmur.
“I left my phoneon the bench in the garden. Hold fast, my love. I will return swiftly.”
Releasing me, he leaves, so I do everything I can to dwell onhiminstead of the suffering. His emotions. His heart. His body as it moves. He reaches the pool exit and delves into the garden. He stops by the bench. He turns. He begins coming back to me.
I estimate the number of steps he takes.
I ask his racing heart to soothe me.
I count his breaths.
I do what I can to match them.
