Page 57 of Moth to Her Flame

For a long moment, we simply lie here, our breaths mingling, our hearts beating as one. I can feel the energy flowing between us, a constant, reassuring presence that tells me that she is mine, and I am hers. The knowledge fills me with a profound sense of contentment and peace, a feeling I’ve never experienced before.

Chelsea lifts her head, propping herself up on one elbow to look down at me. Her eyes are soft, her expression one of pure, unadulterated love. “That was… incredible,” she whispers, her voice filled with a mix of awe and satisfaction.

I reach up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering on the soft skin of her cheek. “It was more than that,” I murmur. “It was the culmination of everything we’ve been through, everything we’ve felt. It was the completion of our bond, the final piece clicking into place.”

Her eyes search mine, and I can see the understanding dawning in their depths. “I can feel it,” she says, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I can feel you, inside me, not just physically, but… spiritually. Like our souls are intertwined.”

I nod, a soft smile playing on my lips. “That’s because they are. We’re bound together in a way that transcends the physical. Our connection goes beyond that—it’s a merging of our very essences.”

She bites her lower lip, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “It’s beautiful, Riven. It’s… overwhelming, but in the best possible way.”

I pull her into a gentle kiss, my wings tightening around us, cocooning us in a world of our own. When we break apart, I stroke her cheek, wiping away a stray tear with the pad of my thumb. “We’ll navigate this bond, this new reality, as a team.”

Chelsea nods, snuggling closer to me, her head resting on my chest. “Mmm.” I wonder if she’s nodded off, but after a few minutes, she brushes her fingertips along the edge of my wings. “I like the new color scheme. Gold is so…” her lips tip into a smile, “last year. I’ve always been partial to blues and purples.”

I pay attention to my wings for the first time since we completed the bond. “You’re right. A definite improvement. The crystals in the walls seem to agree.” Some of them have lost their yellow glow and are mimicking my wing colors.

We lie there for a while, basking in the afterglow of our lovemaking and the warmth of our newly completed bond. It’s a peaceful, serene moment, a stark contrast to the chaos and danger that awaits us outside our sanctuary.

Eventually, Chelsea breaks the comfortable silence, her voice tinged with a hint of playfulness. “You know, I never would have imagined that being mated to a Mothman could be so… transcendent. But here we are, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”

A low chuckle rumbles in my chest, and I squeeze her gently. “I’m glad you feel that way, because you’re stuck with me now, my love.”

Chapter Forty-Four

Chelsea

“Is it my imagination, or are you literally glowing?” Marina’s silvery scales ripple with amusement as I emerge from Riven’s chamber for the first time in days.

Heat floods my cheeks, but before I can respond, Dante approaches from the south wing. His usual sardonic grin widens as he studies my face. “Not imagination. Check out those golden flecks in her eyes. Very fetching. Though not quite as impressive as lover-boy’s new wing colors.”

Riven’s wings, now shimmering with unprecedented brilliance as well as purple and jade colors that weren’t there before, curl around me protectively. The iridescent patterns shifting across their surface put the aurora borealis to shame.

“If you’re quite finished discussing our appearances…” My attempt at dignity fails when Volt’s thunderous laugh echoes through the great hall.

“Oh, we’re just getting started,” he rumbles. “Wait until you see what your combined energy did to the crystal formations in the east tunnel. We’ve got actual flowers growing from the rock.”

Dr. Andrews looks up from where she’s resting on a cushioned seat near the falls, still pale but recovering her strength.

“The crystalline growth patterns are fascinating,” she murmurs, making notes on her ever-present tablet. Dante hovers nearby, ostensibly adjusting her monitoring equipment, though his tail keeps curling protectively whenever she shifts position.

Cypher materializes, whiskers twitching. “The brownies are gambling about whether your first offspring will glow in the dark. Marina’s in charge of the pool if you wish to place a bet.”

“I hate all of you,” I mutter, but there’s no heat in it.

Dante scoffs. “Do you two think you were subtle? You lit up half the mountain.”

“Only half?” The retort escapes before I can think better of it. “We’ll have to put more effort into it.”

Dead silence falls as they process my unexpected sass. Then Marina bursts out laughing, her scales shimmering with mirth. “Oh, she’s definitely one of us now.”

Looking around at these impossible beings who’ve become family—at Volt’s proud grin, Cypher’s approving nod, Dante’s delighted cackle, and Cliff’s soft smile—something shifts in my chest. This is home now. These are my people.

“Speaking of light shows…” Dante’s expression turns serious as he pulls out his tablet. “You might want to see what your combined energy surge did to Apex’s monitoring equipment. I guess they weren’t totally off base when they were so keen on better understanding your mate bond. It’s powerful stuff, bro. And wait until you hear what else we found in their encrypted files…”

Riven’s wings tighten around me as we gather around the stone table. Time to get back to work. But first…

“Hey Marina?” I call, schooling my face to look school-marm-serious.

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