Page 67 of Of Bone and Ash

“Kiss me,” I whisper without thinking. I open my eyes when Teos’ hand freezes, his breath hitching as he stares at me with wide eyes.

“W-what?” he stutters and I realize I just demanded that he kiss me without asking. Shit, not good.

“I mean. Want you to… fuck no, that’s not right. Will you—” I try to say, moving to step back and give him space just in case, but my words are cut off as Teos’ grip tightens on me, one hand staying on my neck while the other curves around me, lifting me up enough that I feel his warm breath against my lips.

“You want me to kiss you?” he asks, voice dropping an octave as he holds me tight. I nod, my words sticking in my throat. “Hmm. What if I want you to kiss me?” he asks, and I frown, looking him in the eyes before looking at his soft lips.

“I can do that?” I stupidly ask out loud. Teos chuckles, his whole body shaking slightly as he nods.

“I would love it if you did.” I nod and slowly, so fucking slowly, I lean close. I can smell Teos' warm vanilla scent as I close my eyes, ignoring how my heart feels like it's about to burst out of my chest. There’s still some lingering fear there. What if I lose control of my magic? The more rational side of my brain replies with you idiot, you already saw him come back from the dead right in front of your eyes just hours ago; he’ll be fine.

“Bella?” he whispers when I stop only a hair’s breadth away. “You don’t have to,” he reassures me, and his words are enough for me to close the distance, pressing my lips to his and kissing him like I’ve always wanted to since high school.

THIRTY-ONE

Teos

Istand there, frozen in shock for all of ten seconds before I moan, wrapping my girl up tight and lifting her off her feet, encouraging her to wrap her legs around me as I turn and press her back against the door frame.

Serafina is kissing me! My Belladonna kissed me! I didn't kiss her like the last two times. She kissed me! If teenager me could see where we are right now, he would never believe it. I feel like screaming, shouting, and bouncing up and down all at the same time as I kiss her with everything I have.

Her spiced berry scent fills my senses as my Phoenix stirs under my skin, practically purring in happiness at having her so close once again. He’s been starved for her so long and now craves every look, touch, and smile she gives us.

“Teos,” she breathes against my lips, her small hands moving from my chest up and over my shoulders before tangling themselves in my hair. She wraps my curls around her fingers, tugging at the roots and making me moan into her open mouth as she tentatively flicks the tip of her tongue against mine.

“I should let you shower,” I whisper, not wanting to scare her away. I’ve already gotten so much more from her in the last twenty-four hours than I ever thought I would. I don't want to push my luck. But it’s like ripping a piece of my heart out of my body as I pull back from our kiss, my chest rising and falling with rapid breaths as I stare down at her. Even covered in blood and dirt, she’s the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on.

The moment I saw her for the first time back in high school, I knew she was going to be my mate. My Phoenix hadn’t even selected her yet, but I knew. The pull to her was instant. The need to make sure she was safe and happy was an urge that fueled my every waking moment. Phoenixes aren’t as overprotective as Wolf or Dragon shifters. But we do covet our mate more than anyone else in the Fae world.

Like Dragons, we mate for life. And if that happens to be with another Phoenix shifter, then we take that literally. If one mated Phoenix dies, the other follows instantly. Which is probably why it's now a common practice to seek out a mate who has a different Fae race. Now when we lose a mate, we simply exist until we die and can finally join them. To me, it sounds like a fate worse than death, and I actively looked for a female Phoenix to possibly bond myself to. That was until Serafina Covington stepped into my classroom on the first day of my junior year. Everything changed at that moment, and I knew there was going to be no female Phoenix in my story. Serafina was my happily ever after.

“Yeah, probably,” she whispers with a small nod leaning against the door frame, her hands slowly releasing my hair as I step back. “I’m covered in filth,” she says with a nervous chuckle, looking down at her dirty and torn clothes.

I frown as I sweep my thumb over the small bruise on her forehead, glad that she was able to hurt whoever it was in the forest, but upset that she’s injured again. “Who was that? The red guy,” I ask, trying to recall everything that I saw. After a rebirth, the memories from right before are oftentimes fuzzy and take a while to come back to me completely.

“Darius. He's the one I had a run-in with before,” she admits, and I feel my brows furrow.

“Is he the one who’s been taking the girls? He didn’t look like a Demon,” I admit, and she nods and then shakes her head.

“He’s not a Demon. Or I guess he is. He’s a Reaper too,” she says, then rubs her temples, wincing. “And I’m not sure. I think he’s the one doing the killings or, at the very least, is a part of it, but I thought he would try to kill me if he was. And he hasn’t,” she muses, and I snort, remembering how fucked up she was earlier. The bruises around her neck and down her back. Whoever this Darius guy is, his days are fucking numbered.

“Wait, how did you know they were looking for a Demon?” she asks, looking up at me, and I snort.

“Bella. We live next to the void. The known breeding grounds of the Demons. Of course, it was a Demon. The students come here knowing exactly what they’re getting into. We’re not stupid, despite what the Balaur Patrol thinks.”

“I didn't say you were stupid. I was just under the impression that students didn’t know. Your mother seems to think they have no idea.”

“My mother is delirious and lives in a fictional world where everyone follows the rules,” I mutter bitterly.

Bella’s eyes widen, realizing she’s stumbled on somewhat of a sour spot for me, and nods, dropping the topic and stepping into the bathroom, allowing me my space if I want it. Which I don’t. When it comes to space between Serafina and me, I want it to be nonexistent.

“Sorry,” I whisper, my hand coming up to tug at my neck as I step close to her again, relaxing a little when she doesn’t immediately step back from me. “I’ll let you shower, all right?”

“Or,” she whispers, eyes flying from mine, cheeks flushing as she reaches out and grabs my hand when I step back to give her some privacy.

“Or?” I ask, confused. She sighs, her cold, gray eyes darting all over the room, looking at everything but me. I grab her chin gently so I don't risk hurting any other injury she might have and force her to meet my eye. “Or?” I repeat when she finally gives in and looks up at me, her thick lashes fluttering a few times, making my heart stall.

“Or you could stay,” she whispers after a long, heart-wrenching silence.

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