Page 79 of Angel's Enemy Omega

But instead Arsene releases him. He unclasps the jewel that sits in the middle of his chest, the one that’s the same color as his eyes, and holds it out to Nur.

“This pendant was my vergis father’s. It’s the only thing he left me with when he sent me to the nursery to be raised by strangers. He never visited, not once. To this day I don’t know his name. Still, for years, I thought it meant I was loved.” His hand trembles, making the light dance through the gem. “It took me a long time to realize I wasn’t. After that, I swore to myself one day my childish dream would come true. I would be loved. I wouldn’t be alone. That’s why I’ve always wanted a mate.”

Nur’s throat squeezes around a lump. “Arsene…”

“But love isn’t just something you take. It’s something you give.” Arsene folds his hands around the gem. “I promise you won’t lose me. I’ll always come back to you.”

“You can’t promise that,” Nur chokes. The gem digs into his palm.

“I can. I do.”

He shudders. In the aether, Arsene glows like a star. Dimmed by distance, but not gone. Nur traces his fingers over Arsene’s pale cheek and Arsene’s eyes flutter shut.

“You’re not alone,” he whispers.

Chapter 44

ARSENE

Arsene loseshimself to the pain. Days pass and he drifts. The only constant is Nur, a spot of light in the dark. He ties his whole self to that light. The outside world blurs as his soul knits back together and his body recovers from the scouring corruption, cleansing the fragments of Nur’s soul. It seems like their souls become one. What he gives back to Nur is both of them together.

It feels right.

When the universecomes back into focus, the first thing Arsene registers is a winking blue-green gem glimmering in a beam of sunlight. The curve of the breastbone beneath it is familiar and dear. He reaches out, letting his fingers trail across the bare collar.

Nur jolts out of sleep, his eyes flying open. His heart leaps under Arsene’s hand.

“Arsene!” Nur tumbles forward onto the sick-bed, grasping his face too tightly with both hands. His eyes search Arsene’s and his soul reaches for Arsene’s soul through the bond.

Arsene’s lips curl into a grin without his permission. A hoarse laugh erupts from his chest. Nur’s cheeks flush and he buries his face in Arsene’s shoulder.

“I’m angry at you,” he growls, muffled.

Arsene can’t stop laughing.

“Okay,” he manages between breaths. He grabs Nur with shaky arms and pulls him close.

His mate digs his hands into Arsene’s ribs. “Never do that again.”

His laughter slows, strangled by the weight on his chest, and he sighs gladly against Nur’s dark head. “I swear if I ever meet another lost creature who bonds with me, drives me mad, and makes me fall for him, I won’t try to cleanse his soul of Hell’s corruption with my own body.”

Nur growls again. “Because you’re mine.”

His heart lifts. “That’s right.”

Nur’s scent is lighter, sweeter, the bitterest undertones smoothed away.Hisscent, on the other hand, is muddled by days of sweat, dust, and grime, so much that even Nur wrinkles his nose subtly when he finally pulls back. Arsene is eager to strip away the remnants of the last week and a half, and he lets Nur bully him to his feet. He props Arsene up and leads him to the wash pit, a spot on the stone pavilion that’s in full sun, a little away from the camp. A water purification system has been set up, with a small fire to heat the water and a series of pipes to collect steam. Nur sits on the edge of the pit and watches while Arsene strips down slowly and opens the spigot.

The water is warm, a pleasant surprise. He sighs as it sluices over him and washes his myriad sins onto the stone. Nur’s gaze pricks him like lightning.

When he’s clean and dry, Nur digs in the bin next to the fire and pulls out a new set of clothes.

Nothing like his previous uniform, they’re plain, ill-fitting, and coarse. But Nur casts an assessing look over him and says, “Much improved,” and he’s buoyant.

“Glad to be of service.” Arsene bows, then nearly falls over when his legs wobble and give way.

Nur is at his side in an instant, inserting strong hands under Arsene’s armpits. “You’re still weak.”

“I’ll be fine.” He tries to stand, but his limbs aren’t interested in cooperating. Washing sapped his strength. With a sigh, he lets his weight rest on Nur. “Alright—I could use a break.”

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