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.
I gasp, appalled, starting to wriggle against his arm.He grins down at me, enjoying the hell out of himself and keeping me locked against him. “If,” he continues, “it was a sexless marriage of political convenience, of course.”I go still, staring up at him. Because…what?“Yeah, because it’s not go
My toes curl and I bite my lip, my wolf telling me to do fucking ridiculous things – like vanish all of my clothes – and his too – to bite him – to sink my teeth deep into his skin and taste his blood – somewhere high on his neck so everyone can see that he’s mine –Fucking mine –But Anton slips a
“Junie,” Anton says, laughing a little, wrapping his hand gently around my wrist and tugging my hand away from my mouth. “What? What is it?”“Tony,” I whisper, still horrified, my throat tightening with my guilt. “I – there’s no wish anymore – I ended the stupid fucking Game which means there’s no m
“And then you really sealed the deal when you poured your wine all over his shoes,” Anton murmurs, again pressing his lips to my skin once more before tilting me back up so he can see my face. Little laughs still pulse through me as I shake my head at him, sliding my hands down to my nose so I can s
I give a sad little cry of disappointment when Anton moves his mouth from mine.“Nooo,” I whine, tightening my arms around his neck, pulling him back to me.Anton laughs, his shoulders tightening, resisting. “Juniper, you’ve got to sleep –““No I don’t, I’m magic –“He laughs harder now, grinning at
“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