Page 79 of Hollyhocks

“They don’t need to die when they haven’t bothered me in fifteen years. Don’t kill them. Okay? Promise me.”

I grumble, toying with my hair.

“Holly,” he singsongs playfully. “Promise me.”

I blow out an annoyed breath. “Fine. I promise I won’t kill them. Your dad is still on my hitlist though.”

“You can do whatever you want to him. I don’t care.”

“Really? You mean it?” I grip the back of his head and kiss him senselessly. “Thanks, Doe Eyes.”

“Anything to sate you.” He deepens the kiss, slow and easy as if we have all day to lie in bed. His tongue flicks out, teasing mine.

When he breaks the kiss, I’m breathless, and the suckers inside me flutter against his cock.

“Your existence has brought me happiness,” he whispers against my lips.

We hold onto one another for a while until the tentacled knot locking us together begins to unravel. Fitz is thoughtful as he pulls out of me, taking his time to ease out. He looks down, watching as the black ink veins up his body, wrap around his shoulder, and then swirl down his left arm.

It finally stops at his ring finger.

“Wild,” he says, turning his arm over to see that the black ink has used his veins as their map.

“You’re all mine now.”

“Wildflower, I’ve been yours. You just had to trust me enough to show you.”

I tug his arm, lying him down next to me, and I can’t look at him. I’m ashamed. I draw small circles on his chest with my finger. “I didn’t know how to reveal myself to you when I barely knew how to look at myself. I was turned into this. I was human once too, you know. I have so many urges, mostly violent, but with you, the violence fades. How could I show you what I looked like? I’m not normal.”

“That’s what I love, Holly.” He scoots closer, pushing my hair behind my ear. “When I found out DNA experiments existed—”

“Your friends?” I cut him off. “Creed and Rhett?”

He smirks, bopping my nose with his finger. “How long have you been stalking me?”

“All day every day,” I admit. “I didn’t want to leave you without protection, especially when your dad came back.”

His happiness fades and the rare bitter scent of his rage returns.

I don’t like it.

I want his happiness back.

“Yeah, you saw that? That makes sense. I knew I felt someone around.”

“I’m always around, Fitz. You’ll never be alone again.” I place my hand over his and I’m not sure what caused it but he breaks.

A soft sob breaks free from him, and he sits up, turning away from me. Not wanting him to hide from me, I follow him, folding my wings out in front of him. I spin him around by his shoulders, hating to see the tears fighting not to fall from his lash line.

My sensitive, Doe Eyes.

The gold in his eyes seems to glow, somehow brighter than ever before.

“What is it, Fitz? You can talk to me.”

“You said I won’t ever have to be alone again,” he answers, looking away from me. “I’ve always been alone.”

Hate is a mistress fueling my need to kill anyone who has ever made my Fitz feel like this.

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