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“Calla Reyes,” he says, “from the moment I laid eyes on you I knew we were cosmically intertwined. We’re written in the stars and I knew that no god or mortal could keep you from me. If you’ll have me, I’ll spend eternity worshipping every divine inch of you. Will you spend forever with me?”

I press a hand over my mouth.

“Not as my worshipper,” he continues.

His voice softens.

“Not as my servant. Not because of a curse or a bond or some ancient divine decree.”

He smiles.

“But because you choose me.”

I can barely breathe.

“Will you be my wife?”

I laugh.

Then cry.

Then laugh again.

“Yes!”

His eyes widen.

“Yes?”

“Yes, you ridiculous man!”

He rises so quickly that I squeal.

Then he lifts me into his arms and spins me around.

I wrap my arms around his neck.

“Put me down!”

“Never!”

“Morpheus!”

“My wife!”

I laugh.

“Your fiancée!”

“My future wife!”

He kisses me.

The balcony lights flicker.

The garden erupts in a shower of silver butterflies.

Somewhere down the street, a car alarm begins blaring.