Page 92 of The Princess and the Demon

“Elora is here too.”

At the mention of my name, Amon’s eyes fly open, and he struggles, trying to get up.

“No!” He breathes. “Allocer! Get her out of here!”

I gasp as he struggles against the furs.

He starts to cough, and I grab him by the shoulders, forcing him down.

“Amon!” I say, grasping his face in my hands. “Amon! Look at me!”

His clouded eyes find mine, and he relaxes, grasping my wrist with clawed fingers.

“Elora…” He says, his voice pained and gravelly.

“Can we get him some water?” I ask Allocer over my shoulder. He moves to the table near the fireplace, pouring a cup before bringing it to me.

I thank him as I take it before tipping it to Amon’s mouth. He takes a few sips before his head falls back, sputtering.

When he looks at me again, I can tell he’s actually seeing me, because his features relax. He raises a hand to brush clawed fingers across my face wearily.

“You came back?”

I nod, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Yes, Amon, I came back.” I grasp his hand to my face once more, turning into his palm to kiss it. “I came back because I love you.”

The words come out on a whisper, and I watch as something in his eyes shift.

I lean down, brushing my lips across his gently. They are so dry and chapped, but still just as full as I remember.

“I love you, Amon.”

I say it again as I look down at him, willing him to understand my words.

He squeezes his eyes shut in pain, and a sob escapes me as I lay my head against his chest.

Allocer reaches out, placing a hand against my back.

“Elora, if you make a bond with him right now, it will strengthen him long enough for you two to seal your mate bond.”

I turn to look at Allocer, pausing only a second before pointing to the bookshelf across the room.

“Amon has a letter opener tucked into one of those nooks.” I say.

Allocer walks to the other side of the room, digging around before producing an ornate letter opener.

He walks to me, twirling the small blade in his hand deftly before placing it in my mine, handle first.

My eyes meet his before I turn back to Amon.

His dim amber eyes bore into mine, pleading with me, but he doesn’t move to stop me.

I reach out, slicing the letter opener against the flesh over his heart. Blood wells before spilling down the side of his chest into the furs beneath him.

“Amon,” I start, “I bind myself to you, body and blood.”

I let out a shaky breath as I run the blade over the palm of my hand.

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