Page 107 of Malice

Everyone takes their spots and Jocelyn holds Otto. Farnsworth unfurls the scroll, and a glowing string of light appears.

“Please extend your arms.”

Aster glances at me, smiling as he holds his arm out to Farnsworth. I do the same, watching in awe as Farnsworth directs the string of light to wrap around our wrists with only his finger, like a conductor leading a symphony orchestra.

The light feels warm, tight against my skin. Farnsworth pulls the cork from the vial and a swirl of red smoke rises from it. He releases it and it floats in the air between us.

“Wow,” Jocelyn whispers.

I think I should feel nervous, but I’ve honestly never felt calmer. It’s happening. I get to keep this forever, and no one can break this bond.

Farnsworth begins to read from the scroll, but the words make absolutely no sense to me. I glance at Aster to find him gazing back at me with the most serene expression on his face.

He loves me.

I could never believe he doesn’t. Not with the way he looks at me like I’m the only person in the world. This is what love is supposed to feel like. I know that for sure.

As Farnsworth reads, I feel an unmistakable tugging in my chest, drawing me closer to Aster. His breath hitches as a smile tugs at his lips. The red smoke from the vial blooms into a cloud, engulfing the two of us within it, but it feels warm and safe, like the comfiest blanket ever.

Our chests press together as our bound arms extend towards Farnsworth. A white mist rises from Aster, billowing from his mouth into mine. My eyelids flutter and his well with tears.

“Hudson?” Farnsworth’s voice reaches me, sounding far away but clear. “Do you bind your eternal soul to Chaser AMC33, known to you as Aster Michael Charboneau?”

“Yes.”

“Do you accept his life source, knowing it is everlasting?”

“Yes.”

“Do you fully understand the risk of premature death and the consequences of such?”

“Straight to the Below.”

“Correct.”

“But I’d still be with him. I understand.”

Aster trembles as the mist rolls out of him, but I can see the happiness in his eyes.

Farnsworth rattles off a bunch of meaningless words, but as he does, the string of light around our wrists sizzles into our skin, completely absorbed and painless.

The white mist coming out of Aster dissipates and his trembling stops.

“Your love bond is complete,” Farnsworth says. “May your eternity be sweet.”

Aster practically collapses into my arms, and I wrap mine around him to support his weight.

“Is he okay?”

Farnsworth nods, stepping out of the cloud of red smoke that is also quickly fading. “He is. Just a bit drained. He did give you part of his soul, after all.”

The reality of that is sobering. “Right.”

“He felt far more than you did, but he’ll be fine in a minute or two.”

Just like that, Aster’s head snaps up and he coughs, stepping back and dragging in a few deep breaths. “Wow.”

“We did it, Aster.”

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