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215 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2024
“We aren’t investigating that bloody death circus,” he said, grinding his teeth. “I was clear on that!”
“Well, you’re not the boss of us!” I said, voice rising.
“You could have died!” Rorick roared.
Anita shot webbing at me. The sticky silk struck me gently in the cheek. It was like being slapped by a slightly chewed marshmallow.
Death gave me wings.
"There isn't anything I won't do to be with you. You know that, don't you?"
She hooked her long legs around my waist, tugging me closer. "I know that."
Her words rang with sincerity, but I sensed that this kind woman whom so many mistook for being difficult and contrite deeply underestimated exactly how far I'd go to make sure nothing - and no one - kept me from her. There was no limit. No line I wouldn't cross, no matter whom such transgressions might upset.
Even the gods.
Even her.
"We could have confronted him, you know."
"After that alchemy exchange, I'm still not feeling quite up to snuff."
"I am," she said, fisting her wand like it was a broadsword. "All you had to say was 'ichor, get him' and I'd have seen to it!"
"If you cursed him into a bee, we wouldn't be able to question him."
"It may be hard for you to believe this," she said sternly, "but I don't go around cursing everyone into an insect. Goose taught me a curse that makes a person's bowels go loose and they heave all over. I haven't had a cause to use it yet. That could have been my moment. I imagine after a person is made empty like that, their tongue wags easier."
Laughter rumbled out of me. "And no doubt you would have performed the curse spectacularly, but we have more pressing matters to attend to, and it would look to anyone else who happened to see like you'd just cursed an innocent man. Didn't you recently tell me there's too much for us to juggle to be dealing with criminal charges?"
Her sigh was resigned. "You make a valid point."
"This letting you call the shots thing is tiring."
"Don't worry, love," I teased. "I won't get used to being in charge. I like it too much when you boss me about." Hovering over her, I propped myself up on my arm. With her in a hunched position, I towered. "You're handling all this very well. So well in fact, I think you deserve a reward."
The corner of her mouth curled up. She tugged on the lapel of my coat affectionately, drawing me in closer. "A reward, eh? Tell me more about this reward."
I lowered my head, inhaling her scent of earthy herbs, wildflowers, and citrus, until my lips grazed the shell of her ear.
"You've been such a good witch," I whispered, delighting in the way she shivered. "I'm going to reward you with... math," I said, drawing out the term like it was the most debauched word I'd ever spoken.
Her eyes popped wide, and her lips parted. "Oh," she cooed, "I do so like math." The giggle that escaped her was too sweet to not kiss her. I wanted to inhale the sound of her mirth. In the chill, her heat engulfed me. Her laughter tickled my lips and filled my mouth. The gift of her blood beat through my body, firing my veins.
She tasted like life. Like resilience and passion and competence. I could kiss her all night until the sun rose and the slumber took me. I'd collapse there on the walkway, unconscious and happy.
« I could feel that strong beat I craved thumping steadily against my chest like it was my own. Like it belonged to me. In every way that mattered, it did belong to me. Just as my dead heart belonged to her. For all eternity and in every lifetime, we belonged to each other. »