“Cthulhu, go ahead.” I let my bandage fall back over my eyes.
I didn’t care if I wasn’t supposed to use my power. I had to make sure without a doubt that fucker wasn’t lying. I wasn’t risking the entire mission for an academy policy.
He screamed as soon as Cthulhu’s fangs sank into his flesh.
The reaction was almost immediate, and it made me wonder if using anti-venom after a bite would even work for his venom. The human’s back arched against the chair, his tendons straining from his neck. Roots swelled under the skin around the bite, pushing the flesh from beneath. The bark-like tendrils tore through in an instant, bursting from the wound. Then, from his ears, nostrils, tear ducts, up his throat, and forcing his jaw open in a shriek.
He thrashed for a few seconds before going still as the transformation overtook him. His skin darkened into wood, veins becoming fine grooves as his hair merged into the bark.
Cthulhu chirped, delighted, and crawled up his chin, disappearing into his open mouth to nest.
Rune’s eyes were fascinated. “You know, maybe you shouldn’t hold Cthulhu anymore. That looks painful.”
I groaned and dragged a hand down my face. “Better yet,youshouldn’t have let him bite you on a whim.”
“I didn’tlethim.” She laughed softly. “I just didn’t stop him.”
I reached for her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against me. She melted into me easily, her hand sliding up to the back of my neck, fingers threading into my hair just above the bandage.
Tipping her chin up with my free hand, I kissed her.
The tension from the fight with the humans, the interrogation, and the weight of the last few months all bled out of me the second her mouth met mine. She tasted like sweet and spicy venom. Her lips parted, and I deepened the kiss, angling her head so I could kiss her properly.
She rose on her toes, pressing closer, her body fitting against mine. Her hand tightened hard in my hair, sending a ripple of pleasure down my spine.
I slid my palm up her back, beneath the cardigan and camisole, fingertips brushing her bare skin, feeling the tremble of her laugh against my chest.
Our bond thrummed, feeding me her amusement, her arousal, and her bone-deep affection. I let it soak into my soul, calming me after the adrenaline spike of everything that had just happened.
I broke the kiss slowly, resting my forehead against hers, our noses brushing and breaths mingling in the cool dungeon air.
“Pretty little poison.” My thumb traced the edge of her jaw. “You’re going to be the death of me one day.”
“You’re going to be just fine.” She smiled, eyes half-lidded. “You’re stuck with me.”
“I always want to be,” I told her.
Reluctantly, we pulled apart enough for her to step over to the tree-like corpse.
“Cthulhu,” she called softly.
The spider emerged from the hollow mouth again, scuttling down the bark face onto her hand with obvious contentment. She deposited him back into his habitat and closed the enchanted lid with a soft snap.
“Come on, toxin.” She slipped her hand back into mine. “Let’s go tell my mom that we have the location of those horrible fucking humans.”
I glanced once more at the rooted husk in the chair as I rolled up my kit and placed it in my bag.
Victor had been a great torture buddy, but Cthulhu seemed to ease into his position a lot better than I had expected.
I squeezed her hand and followed her out of the dungeon, my new spider secured, my mate at my side, and the lingering knowledge burning in my mind that the humans were still coming for her, and now, they were getting bolder.
jesper
. . .
I stoodin my mom’s and Aunt Maelis’s house surrounded by soft lamplight, floral doilies, knitted throws, and the faint smell of lavender oil that Aunt Maelis had been dabbing into every corner since I’d brought home her new reason for living. The familiar warmth of it all settled in my chest as I looked toward the small living-room armchair where the orphaned baby dragon I’d rescued sat happily in Aunt Maelis’s lap.
Mason.
