Odette charges toward the couch and kneels before Claudia and Cassius. Her eyes are wet and pleading as she reaches for Claudia’s hand. “I thought it would be me. I truly believed with everything in my being that he would take me.”
A hot, angry breath slices through Claudia’s teeth. “You were wrong. At every turn, you were wrong.”
Head resting in Claudia’s lap, Cassius awakens with a gasp. He springs upward and takes Claudia’s face in his hands. “What happened?”
Hearing his voice softens her heart. She kisses him gently, savoring the fact that he’s here.
And for now, she’s with him.
She’ll be with him until the sun dips low.
She pulls back, and her eyes swing to Odette, who remains on her knees. “Youtell him,” Claudia demands. “Tell him everything you’ve done. Tell him what will happen next.”
Alistair is the hero of the evening. He cooks a massive meal for the entire group while Angel sets the table with an expert’s eye. The dining room walls are red damask, and the table is thick oak covered with a white lace tablecloth. White flowers and candles decorate the room. Bishop gets his own seat at the table with a feast of dead bugs. Platters of steaming vegetables and juicy meats line the center. Though, after the day they’ve had, everyone is more grateful for the wine than the food. They all drink whole glasses in single gulps. They go through entire bottles at a staggering pace.
Six bottles in, the world starts to feel a bit better. Lighter.
They’re all here. They’re all together. They’re all alive.
Maybe that’s enough. Maybe that’s all they ever could’ve hoped for.
Cassius stands from his seat and raises a silver chalice. “To us.”
Claudia stands beside him. “To dreams.”
“To tragedies,” Odette says weakly.
Alistair raises his glass next. “To life.”
Angel follows with, “To love.”
Marcherie raises her glass, but she can’t speak.
Alistair isn’t sure if she ever will again. Her voice might very well be gone forever.
But still, she looks at Odette and smiles. She looks happier than ever.
Cassius and Claudia spend the next hour in his room, in his bed, pretending that the sun will never set. Pretending they have more time than they do.
Pretending Claudia won’t have to leave the moment the world grows dark.
“It’s worth it,” she says, her head resting on his naked chest. “You’re worth it. You’re everything.”
“You shouldn’t have to make such a sacrifice.” His heart quickens against her cheek. “You shouldn’t be tethered to that horrible beast, nor should you be forced into that world of darkness.”
“It doesn’t scare me.” She sits up, looking into his eyes. “Nothing will ever scare me as much as the thought of losing you. Seeing you there… all the blood…” Her breathing speeds up. She squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head. “It almost killed me. It’s the worst feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life. I don’t even know how to describe it, Cas.” Her breathing quickens even more. “It was like my heart died inside me.”
“Hey,” he whispers, pulling her close. “Shh, shh, shh. I’m here. I’m alive. We both are.”
She calms down as he strokes her hair. “I know. And that’s all I care about. So, don’t worry about me. I can handle any nightmares so long as I wake up from them next to you.”
He threads his fingers in her hair and brings his lips to hers. Their kiss is soft and slow. Intentional and focused, as if they’re both trying to commit this moment to memory before it’s ripped away. Her love for him doubles, triples, becomes all-consuming. She kisses him as hard as she can. Pressing her body to his, she craves an impossible closeness. Bone to bone would not be close enough.
“I love you, Claudia,” he whispers into her mouth. “I’m going to find a way to free you from his bargain. I promise.”
“I don’t need to be free.” She deepens their kiss and slides her tongue over his before pulling back. “I just need to be yours.”
“You are mine. Forever. No matter where you go.” He clenches his jaw. “I just don’t want you to go there.”
