Page 67 of The Salvation

“So, you’re like my addiction?” I lift a brow.

A shadow darkens his eyes. “Displeased?”

I shake my head and press myself against him. “Never. But...” he stiffens beneath me, and I press my cheek against his lower chest to explain, “You left me. You always leave me after. You never stay...in bed.”

A heavy sigh departs from his mouth before he captures the back of my head and draws me closer. “I anticipated we would discuss this sooner. I should have raised the issue, but I did not wish to impede upon the precious time we have spent. Nor risk offending you.”

“Oh, for the love of mercy, Shade! You’re the God of Souls. Offend me already!” I huff and struggle against him.

He does not grip me tighter, only maintains his firm hold upon my waist while his other hand drifts back to my hair, toying with the ends. “After your ordeal with my brother, given he and I are lamentable twins, the last thing I wished was to traumatize you by sleeping next to you...in bed.”

I screw my brows low, frowning. “If that’s your rationality, then why would you fuck me?”

He shrugs. “Because I am still bound to you and know when you are in need. You are still a woman. And mortal. And in the presence of a god. I would not deprive you of mortal needs. Forgive me for not knowing what your mind may desire as surely as I know your body and soul.”

A soft smile forms on my lips as I lift my chin to gaze up at him. “So, in reality, you were trying to respect me?”

He nods. “Yes, darling Qora.”

“What happens now?”

He blinks and brushes his knuckles across my cheek. “What do you want?”

“You mentioned you took a portion of my mortal essence. What does that mean?”

“I thought it was quite obvious when I fucked you the first time in the woods. I reaped the soul inside you and granted ita new home until it could rebirth into a form untainted by my brother. But the God of Souls may never do anything without a cost as is the laws of the cosmos by which I was created. The cost was half your soul—another reason you are bound to me and why I am your addiction.”

I stop short, dissecting the information, remembering his respect. Should he have mentioned it before? Perhaps. But it’s not like I asked. And he was waiting for me to ask. Because as dominant and possessive as Shade is, he is a damn gentleman. And a gentleman is what I’ve needed. A master of respect, a tender ruler—one I have no qualms about bending my knee in submission.

“Qora...” he summons me, nudging my chin up with his fist. “You are crying. Please...forgi?—”

“Did you devour it?” I ask him, my voice cracking.

At first, he pauses, blinking. My heart pitches into my throat until he reaches into his robe, retrieves something—a vial filled with a glowing light, my glowing light. My breath catches in my chest, and my eyes widen.

He shakes his head. “It is not quite half, but a soul such as yours is not one I may devour in one swallow. It is a delicacy, one I prefer to...savor.”

I almost break down and cry, falling to my knees right here. His eyes crease in concern, and he opens his mouth to say something else, but I interrupt him and say, “It’s yours, Shade. Anything is yours.”

I throw my arms around him again, pressing my body against his, flush, wondering if this is what love must feel like. I can’t help but wonder if this is what Quintessa feels with her monsters. Now, it makes perfect sense why she chose them over me.

After placing the vial back in the safety of his robes, Shade embraces me, holds me for as long as I need before tilting myhead up, so he may meet my eyes. “Is there anything else you need? Any questions you have? Any request I may grant?”

I purse my lips because I want to follow him, become his shadow as it were, but first...“What’s that place?” I point to the black gates and the illusions beyond them.

He inclines his head to my gesturing finger before offering me a smile, one not filled with knowing mischief, but there’s still a hint of playfulness.

“It is called the Hollows,” he informs me. “While I may enter the domain, I have not had the pleasure of doing so in a long time. However, I do have some business to tend to. When I am finished, we will have supper together, and I will stay with you tonight, Qora. But in the meantime...” he lowers one hand to the small of my back and leads me toward the black gates, “...why don’t you go in and take a look around?”

I chew on my inner cheek, hesitating. “Is it dangerous?”

“Quite dangerous,” he says with a dark chuckle before cupping my chin and leaning in to kiss my brow. “But not for you, my darling. Not when you bear my soul signature, along with the evidence of our lovemaking still dripping down your legs. I imagine you will find some...clarity there.” He tilts his head, and the constellation points in his eyes seem to light up all the more. “And if you should run into the Queen of the Hollows, simply tell her that Shade sends his regards. No harm will come to you, darling Qora.”

He takes my hand, rubs his lips along the back, and bids me farewell until supper.

Curious, intrigued by the illusions spinning before my vision, I suck in a deep breath, approach the black gates, and marvel at the sight before me after the gates part by some invisible force.

Because the netting I believed was fog is not fog at all.

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