Page 196 of Crowned In Venom

The magic flares, wrapping around us like an unbreakable thread, threading through our very beings. It seeps into my bones, into my heart, into the deepest parts of me.

And I feel her.

Her pulse. Her breath. Her soul.

For the first time, there is no separation.

No distance.

Only her.

Only us.

Anya trembles, gripping my hands tighter. She feels it too.

The Ghost steps back, nodding once. It is done.

But I am not finished.

I pull her close.

"From now until the end of time, you are mine," I murmur, my lips a breath away from hers.

Her fingers curl into my robes, pulling me closer.

"And you are mine," she whispers back.

I kiss her.

And the world shifts.

Magic surges around us, sealing the bond with fire and light, sinking deep into our very existence.

This is not just a vow.

It is truth.

It is forever.

When we pull apart, her eyes shine with unshed tears.

"We are one," I murmur.

She nods, her thumb brushing my lips.

"Forever."

The flames of the temple burn brighter.

The shadows stretch, embracing us.

And for the first time in my life?—

I am free.

I am whole.

I am hers.

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