Page 143 of Immortal Sun

Her head rests on my shoulder, her arms are wrapped around my neck. I feel her everywhere, smell her everywhere. She surrounds me…is inside of me. I would burn this world for her and never look back. I’d let the flames swallow all of humanity whole, and I would have no regrets.

“What now?” she asks. “What do we do now?”

I press a kiss to her forehead and keep walking. “Now, we exist for a few hours.”

“And die later?” she asks.

I don’t respond.

I keep walking.

And as we make our way down the icy walkway towards the beach. I look over my shoulder and whisper, “Ken, I’ll owe you a favor, nobody leaves the island until the sacrifice.”

Even saying it has my body filled with rage. Why this? Why now?

Water rises up over the walkway crashing against it, slowly one black tentacle lifts into the air, followed by another, and another until all eight tentacles surround the island in a tumultuous wave of water.

Once my feet hit the sand on the beach I turn around with Cleo still in my arms, and I see Ken’s face for the first time in a thousand years.

His blue eyes lock on mine, his round head has sharp spears shoved into it from the battles he’s faced with sailors, he wears them the way a soldier wears armor.

Black, silver, and gold spears, all form around his chin and shoulders, and while his mouth stays shut, I know what he’s saying, I can read his thoughts the way he can read mine.

Of course he’s always grumpy considering he’s always in pain, but today—he’s sad.

My heart pains me.

“Thank you, old friend,” I whisper.

He nods his head once and turns toward the island, lifting all his tentacles to create a barrier.

I walk back carrying a shocked Cleo, knowing I have less than twenty-four hours before her screams go from ecstasy to death.

CHAPTER 36

CYRUS

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”?C.S. Lewis

“Did I just see a kraken?” Cleo asks in a terrified voice.

“You just saw a kraken.” I’m torn between wanting to grip her tighter and hold her softly because she’s so precious. “He’ll guard the island and prevent any intruders from crossing the path.”

She’s warm in my arms, I don’t look down at her. I’m afraid that I won’t make it. I don’t understand my own body’s reaction to her or the warmth that continues to spread from my chest outwards, tingling that spirals down my arms to my fingertips.

I know she’s in shock, her pulse is wild when I step into the cave with her and set her down on the bed.

I lie to myself and say just one more time. I’ll hold her one more time, then I’ll worship her with my mouth, and then I’ll leave.

I’ll be able to break away from her and do my job, just one more taste, one more act. It’s the best for both of us.

Cleo wrings her hands together and looks up at me, her mismatched eyes glow under the moonlight. I did that. My essence flows through her now.

The stars sparkle up and down her skin as if drinking it in.

I can’t do it. I back away from her, one foot after another, until I’m at the mouth of the cave.

“You’re leaving?” Her face falls.

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