Page 97 of Líadan's Code

Pushing the button down hard, I watch the smug or amused faces change to horror as the explosives detonate. The floor swallows them whole as they scream, falling down into the basement. The gasoline lights up from the spark of the explosion, and I can feel the warmth on my skin as I continue to walk back with Brendan, until he pulls me out the side door.

The screams follow me as we walk out to a car whose keys he lifted off someone inside, but the smile remains on my face. No one will survive this.

We took the bus here, but a car does make things easier when escaping a crime scene.

I don’t bother to call emergency services, because there’s nothing close enough to burn down. By the time anyone notices, everyone and everything will be ash.

“How do you feel, milseán?” Brendan asks as he turns onto the road.

Turning in my seat, I watch as smoke slowly begins to curl out of the building. The fist that’s been tightly holding my heart loosens, allowing me to take a deep breath. I feel an emotion I don’t understand as I sit back in my seat, though my eyes remain dry.

“I… don’t know how to describe it,” I say softly. “The inner noise in my head is so quiet. It’s kind of peaceful.”

“Good,” he says with a nod. “I hope they use their souls to roast marshmallows over in Hell.”

A giggle escapes me, surprising me as I clap my hand over my mouth. It’s incredibly inappropriate to laugh about this, but Brendan and I aren’t normal. A moment later, we both burst into laughter, unable to help ourselves.

My best friend and lover has to pull over to the side of the road, because he can’t drive properly, pulling me into his lap.

“God, I love you so much,” he says, his lips slanting over mine to kiss me hard. “You’re so resilient, this is just the beginning. Soon, all the chains of your past will be gone and we can rebuild. Do whatever we want.”

Sighing, I lay my head down on his chest with a small smile. I can’t necessarily do whatever I want, due to the damage to my body left by Bruin. As much sex as I have with Brendan, I’d already be pregnant if I could.

“Where did you just go, Lía?” he asks gruffly as I take a shuddering breath.

“I was just thinking about things that I shouldn’t want,” I whisper. “Or rather, things I can’t have.”

“You can have whatever you want, baby,” he growls, tugging my head back as his fingers entangle in my hair. “We haven’t spoken to specialists because you weren’t ready.”

“Why should I wish for something when my uterus is useless now?” I ask, the tears hot behind my eyes. “No matter what I do, nothing can fix that.”

“You get a period every month, even if it’s a bit sporadic,” he reminds me. “Just… hold onto hope for a bit longer, okay? If it doesn’t happen, then we’ll decide what to do from there. I don’t want you to give up so quickly on something you so obviously want.”

“You would give me the world if you could, wouldn’t you?” I murmur as I look up at him.

“You bet your beautiful ass I would,” he mutters. “I plan to move us into a better location after today and fuck you on the balcony while you scream.”

“You’re going to have me freezing my tits off,” I tease him, even as I shiver with need. “Do I get to come on your knife too?”

“Fuck, you’re perfect. I wouldn’t have it any other way, baby,” he says, devouring my lips again. “Now get in your seat and buckle up. I promised you fudge before torture.”

“Yes, you did,” I grin, scooting back to my side of the car. Pulling the seat belt on, I click it into place as Brendan pulls back onto the road.

His phone buzzes, and Brendan frowns.

“Lía, will you check who it is? I want to make sure Rory isn’t running into problems,” he grunts as he drives. Snow flurries are tumbling from the sky, and I squeeze my thighs together as I watch them.

Being fucked in the snow is one of my favorite things ever. There’s something about the dichotomy between the chill and the warmth of Brendan’s body as he fucks me, that never fails to make me detonate.

Forcing myself to focus, I unlock Brendan’s phone to check the message.

Rory:

Did you finish your errand alright?

My lips twitch at his words, thinking it sweet that he’s checking on us. Rory has been very protective recently, as he’s realized the full extent of what my life’s been like. If I’m a princess, then I must be a cursed one.

Me:

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