Yes, Cullen had moved on as well. Their relationship was done and over with and he wouldn’t trade what he’d gained now for the world but…Walker had no way of knowing if he’d been dead. Or worse. With a demon lord having kidnapped him, having made it very obvious to them all what he wanted Cullen for…
“It can’t be.” He breathed, shaking his head. “He wouldn’t do that…”
Slowly, Leviathan stepped away from him. “What does it matter?”
His jaw clenched. “It-it doesn’t…” He let the thought trail off, knowing it was a lie. “It’s not…” He drew in a slow breath. “I mean, it doesn’tmatter. But I…I don’t understand how he could date when he has no idea what I might be going through…” And their breakup had been so terrible. So heart wrenching and sudden after three whole years together…and he’d moved on just like that?
Rage flooded him. He turned away from Leviathan to hide it, striding towards the balcony doors of his bedroom. After a long moment, Leviathan followed him, remaining silent as they gazed out at the dead land below.
Cullen could feel his mind working, could feel it trying toprocess what it all meant even as he glared out at the rocky landscape, his eyes burning with tears.
Leviathan broke the silence first.
“Do you still love him?”
His jaw twitched. But he looked up at him, meeting his gaze evenly as he murmured, “No. I don’t.”
Leviathan watched him and Cullen waited for the prying again, for the little tendrils of his mind to wind through his own. But they didn’t come. Leviathan only studied him for a long moment before giving a small nod of acceptance, his eyes moving back to the landscape.
“I mean it!” Cullen hissed, grabbing his wrist to spin him back around. Leviathan blinked down at him, his face carefully blank. “I don’t love him!” He snapped out, ignoring the calmness. “I love–” He broke off, letting go of him and stumbling backwards as if he’d been pushed.
Leviathan’s eyes were wide, his lips parted in shock. Cullen pressed his lips into a tight line, his face heating as he looked away from him.
Whatever this was between them, whatever admittance of feelings there was…love was a whole other word. And demons could not feel love, so there would be no point in saying it. Even if it really, really felt like it.
“I don’t.” He repeated quietly. “But I don’t understand how he could do that to me. If he loved me…he should be worried about me. If he loved me…he would look for me. He would try to save me.” Slowly, he raised his gaze again. “Leviathan.” He whispered, keeping his voice quiet to stop the catch in it. “Did he ever actually love me?”
Slowly, Leviathan’s face pinched even tighter, his gaze darting off to the side. Cullen exhaled shakily, turning away from him and crossing his arms, his throat working hard.
It didn’t matter anymore. Itdidn’t. But for him to lie to his face for all those years…
Too long passed before Leviathan finally grabbed him by the arm, spinning him back around. Cullen glared at his collarbone as his hand slid down to his wrist.
“I think…” He said slowly, his hand tightening almost to the point of pain. “That you should talk to him.”
Cullen jolted, his gaze shooting to his face. “What?”
Leviathan was frowning. “I said I would make you forget that you were human. But…” He paused. “I think you need closure for that last night of your human life for that to work. I think you…need to talk to him.”
“I–no!” He snapped. “I don’t…” Leviathan drew him closer, his hand coming up to touch his face. Cullen swallowed hard, his hand fluttering to his wrist. “I don’t need to.” He repeated quietly. “It’s done with.”
“I think it’s important.” Leviathan insisted. And then a slow, almost wobbly smile spread across his face. “Did you know our oath ended tonight?”
He gave a few rapid blinks. “What?”
“Our vow. As of tonight, you’re free to go.”
His hand tightened on his wrist when he moved to pull away. “Do you want me to leave?”
The pain in his voice had Leviathan's eyes widening in alarm. Slowly, he brought his hands up to cup his face, his lips coming down on his in a feather light brush. “I think I’d rather you tear out my heart and eat it.” He breathed against his lips. “I’d rather cease to exist at all. I’d rather throw myself at the foot of the creator and beg forgiveness for my long life of darkness than lose a single moment with you, Cullen.”
He exhaled shakily, leaning up to brush their lipstogether again. “Good. Cause I think I’d rather chuck myself off the balcony and stay here as a corpse than be separated from you.”
Leviathan gave a little huff of a laugh against his lips. “I want to give you something.” When Cullen started to grin, Leviathan rolled his eyes. “Not that. Pervert.” He drew away then. “Come on.”
51
Leviathan kept his hand tight around Cullen’s as they made their way up to his bedroom. Cullen remained quiet, his face pinched unhappily while he lost himself in his thoughts. Leviathan stayed well out of his mind, letting him work through it, unsure if he wanted to see the truth of whatever he was working through.
