Page 51 of Magic and Mayhem

She asked why, and while I cannot tell her the exact moment I fell in love with her, I can give her this. The only gift I truly know how to give.

“You sold your soul to this monster in exchange for my protection. I failed you, but got to watch as you rose to become your own hero. So, today I hand it back to you to do with what you wish.”

She stares at me, cascading a finger down my cheek before her hands rake through my hair again and stroke my horns.

“You keep it. It’s yours now. Forever.”

My lips press to hers in a bruising kiss.

“Be my mate?” I ask against her mouth.

A loud sound causes us to separate, trees bending as the atmosphere shifts.

Glancing to the side, I see the veil of the carnival not far from us, and Evolet gasps before turning her attention back to me. Lilu won't be able to keep the location here for long, but she must have found the spell to retrieve us so that Evolet and I can give the power of our bond to the Corrupt Carnival.

“Aren’t I already your mate?”

My fangs brush her lip as I slide the sensitive flesh between my teeth, knowing exactly what we’re supposedto do.

“Not yet, but if you will have me, I will ensure you are bound to me for eternity, and we’ll pass the time by playing all of our favorite games together.”

“All of the games?”

I nod.

“Tell me why you got so mad the first time you saw me.”

“The markings on your skin had me losing control. But it was when I heard your name that a soft voice came back to me, one I thought I heard years ago and every once in a while in my dreams. It was you. Your name means living violet, and my flames called to you like they were as much yours as they are mine.”

She looks so confused, and I no longer feel the need to hold anything back from this powerful creature in my arms.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was still learning as I got to know you. I was also afraid Lucifer would take you, force you to bond with me, then trap you in Hell to do his bidding. All bonds must be sealed on Hell's soil.”

Evolet covers her mouth in shocked horror. “Can he do that?”

I nod. “Hedoesdo that.”

Her jaw clenches, the determination and flare of defiance in her eyes making me realize all the more just how perfect she is for me.

“Are you going to do anything about it?”

“We’re working on it.”

She narrows her eyes. “We?”

“Everyone at the Corrupt Carnival has a role to play—they just don’t know it yet.”

Evolet ponders this for a minute. “Why did it hurt whenwe were separated?”

She rubs the mark on her flesh, and I hate myself for causing her that pain.

“Bonds are meant to be sealed quickly. When they’re not and mates are parted, it causes physical pain because it angers the Fates when you deny their gift. If we were to not accept it, then one of us would pay with our life.”

Evolet looks up at the moon peeking through the clouds, and the wind moves around us as if the forest itself were speaking to her. Nature always has a way of making itself known, the power it holds far greater than anything that lives within us.

When those violet eyes look back at me, the ones that mirror my own, I press my forehead to hers and she cups my face in her palms.

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