Oh my god. Was he just trying to give me air…and then I kissed him!? And he just…went with it because if he told me he didn’t want to kiss me then I’d like…die!?Anton laughs, standing up. “I’ll be out in the living room with the others, okay?” he says. “Come out soon. If you don’t I’m coming back i
I watch Orion’s face as it shifts from shock to anger. “How dare you, Juniper,” he snarls.“Oh, come on, this isn’t even most daring thing I’ve said today,” I mutter, lifting my soup to my lips and taking another long sip.“That is my lineage you’re talking about!”“Oh, what the fuck even is a linea
“God damn it, Juniper,” Orion growls, slumping back in his chair and lifting is hands to his eyes, pressing the heels of his palms against them in frustration. “What are you even talking about? And you’re – you’re forgetting! About the prophecy, the pact! That if I don’t find my mate and ascend the
Laila and Orion come in a little bit later, but we don’t begin our argument again. Instead, Laila takes charge, bustling us all into the kitchen and starting to make a big pot of fish stew by hand, insisting that the process of cooking is sometimes necessary.“Honestly you all rely on magic far too
But even if we do feel that pull, my wolf turns anyway, towards Anton. Always towards Anton, who I have to admit is first in my heart.Even if he is annoying me right now.“I don’t know what I’m proposing,” I say, my own voice casting low, deliberately cagey. “It doesn’t have to be a marriage. It ca
The rest of the evening goes much easier than the start. The four of us spend hours in the kitchen as Laila continues to make what is apparently a very elaborate and time-consuming soup. Orion does most of the talking, answering question after question as I seek to know more about this world and the
My eyes flutter shut as my cheek pillows against his arm, shocked at…god, at how damn good it feels. Do – do people who design pillows know about this? Like honestly, the contours of Tony’s arm should be studied for their ergonomic qualities –Mid-thought, all of my ridiculous musings are wiped imme
“God no,” Anton murmurs, steeping even closer even as he pulls his hand back, slipping it into his pocket. “Beatrice is not my mate - it’s impossible, June, she’s the most boring person I’ve ever met –“I scoff, angry again. “Lots of people don’t like their mates when they meet them, Anton,” I snap.
“No!” she sputters out, stumbling a few steps towards me, shaking her head so hard her pretty blue-green hair flutters out all around her. “No, Junie, don’t make me go! I want…I want to stay here! And help! I mean…” she bites her lip. “It will be nice to be able to visit home. But I want to stay wit
“I’m sending you home too,” I say quietly, doing my best to look each in the eyes. “I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed that you didn’t get the wish.” They murmur a variety of responses back to me, most of them relieved. One by one they step forward and I take their ha
“Does…” I whisper, my eyes still fastened to Orion as my eyes move over him, feeling the powers that radiate from him now. “Does that mean you have all of the powers of Darkness too? From…from the wish?” “No,” Orion murmurs, looking down at his hands and flexing them, experimenting with the feel o
Beatrice is the last to go, staring at me in shock, realizing finally that she bet everything on the wrong horse. I bare my teeth at her, fangs extended, and Beatrice’s eyes go wider as she trembles and finally submits, going to her knees and bowing her head. “Good,” I say, my voice returning to n
Laila’s knife sinks deep between Death’s shoulder blades and the final scream of a God fills the air as Death falls to his knees. The magic stops mid-stream, like a tap being suddenly turned off. I groan and tilt forward against Anton, who catches me and holds me against his chest. “Shit, June,”
“Just a little longer, June. She’ll do it.” But what if she doesn’t? What if…what if I’m inches from oblivion, and this is it? My heart strains in my chest, my wolf shaking like a leaf from snout to tail. But still, I will myself to hope. To trust in my friend. “I know,” I reply, letting my ey
I gasp, my shoulders trembling under the sheer weight of Death’s magic that flows over and around us, my shield barrier straining and buckling under its might. “June,” Anton breathes, eyes wide as he looks up at the magic streaming over us in an unending torrent. “Shit – are you –“ I crouch besi
The wish presses against Death for a moment and then sinks into him, dissolving into his chest. He sighs with happiness and what looks like ecstasy, tilting his head back to the sky as the magic disappears into him. Beatrice steps away, tucking her hands behind her back, beaming at the God she jus
Before I can get more than three steps after Laila, Anton lunges forward, his paws landing on either side of me as he snatches at the back of my gown with his teeth, holding me back. His fierce growl reminds me that I need to stay here – that Death took Laila because he wants me to come rushing onto