Page 96 of Ever Dark

I cup his face in my hands. “Nothing. They’re beautiful.Youare beautiful.”

He wraps his arms around me while his tail slithers around my waist. “You kept your promise. I would have kept loving you anyway, but now I love you even more. I’m yours, dark one. Use me.Fuck me. Tear my skin apart with your teeth if I ever anger you. You own me.”

I rest my head on his chest. “I want to serve you, Nox.”

He threads his claws through my hair. “You will serve all of us well, my love.”

We hold each other for a few more minutes before I break away. “I need to talk to them too.”

“I’ll wait for you here.”

My heart almost bursts at his words. He’s not my nightmare anymore. I don’t even know what sleep will bring for me now. But I’m euphoric just knowing that he will behereevery time I wake up.

I find the three of them lingering by the front door. The tension and anxiety are so thick I’d need the raven’s blade to cut it.

“We have to go to work now, little lamb.” Aries slips on his jacket before planting a kiss on my cheek.

“Our team will be arriving later today to start harvesting thebaneberry for production. They’ve been instructed not to bother you,” Draven huffs. He won’t look at me.

I block his path. “Hey, don’t shut me out. We’ve come so far.”

Without warning, he grabs my face and kisses me hard. Our tongues swirl hungrily around each other in response, ravenous and desperate. It sends butterflies to my belly. “I never want the taste of cherry to leave my lips… I’m not shutting you out, just processing.”

I nod, relieved that he’s not having second thoughts. “See you here later tonight, then?”

“You’re never getting rid of us, Trouble.”

Bones inspects my hand again. “Keep this wrapped. I’ll change it when we get back.”

I tease him with a salute. “Yes, sir.”

“Ooh, I like hearing you call me that.” He flashes me a grin before heading out the door.

As I peer out the window, I spot Rodrick waiting for them in the limousine. He’s a good man—loyal, dutiful, and he doesn’t judge.

Nerves mix with excitement at the thought of sharing myself with all four of them. There’s so much I want to explore and experience. And I hope in time, they will share each other.

I return to the kitchen to find Nox exactly where I left him. “You know you’re free to go anywhere you like. This is your house too now.”

“I want to see your artwork. The ones you’ve told me about. Show me.”

My stomach knots. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. “Okay,” I squeak out.

We head upstairs to the study. When I switch on the lights and reveal all the canvases, another flicker of nerves eats away at me. I fold my arms over my chest, watching him as he takes his time looking at each one.

“They’re all ofme.” His voice is richer than I remember, deeper and full of ache.

I fidget with the zipper on my hoodie. “Um, yeah. It’s always been you.”

He strips out of his clothes and sprawls out on the floor. “Will you paint me now?”

“I-I haven’t been able to paint in a long time.” I feel sick. What if he hates it?

“Will you try? For me. Please. I want to see you in your element.” He spreads his legs and rests his tail to the side.

He’s so beautiful. So perfect. This is the first time I don’t have to paint him from memory. I nod. “Of course. I’ve always wanted this.”

As I dip my brush in the paint, butterflies dance in my belly.This is Nox in the flesh. I touch the brush to the empty canvas and begin. I wince slightly from the ache in my palm. The bandage makes it awkward to hold the brush at first. But I soon adjust and find my grip.

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