Page 123 of Bound in Blood

I wrap an arm around her shoulders, and she snakes one of hers around my waist. “After everything that happened, isn’t all of that even more reason to enjoy life, to bask in the company of friends while we have them?”

I draw in a breath and rest my chin on top of her head. She also has a point.

“I’m sorry you can’t join us, Ani,” she says.

Ani snorts. He considers such human pastimes as eating dinner together so far beneath him, I am surprised he does nottake flight in a dramatic huff at the mere suggestion. But then I feel a sudden change in him. Not exactly sadness, but longing, perhaps.Elpis and I will be leaving before twilight, Ophelia.

Her lip trembles.Returning to the netherworld?

It would be too great a risk to breach the veil again when it is only so recently sealed. We will venture somewhere south. Somewhere less densely populated than here.

She stares up at him, her blue eyes shining with unshed tears.I am sorry you can’t return to your kind, Ani.

It is what it is, Chosen One.He bends his head low and nudges her shoulder, and I am warmed by the affection he shows for her.Elpis and I will have each other, and that is all we have ever needed.

She wipes a tear from her eye, and I press a kiss on the top of her head.I’m going to miss you, but we’ll still see you, right?

Perhapsis his only reply. Elusive as ever.

I am filled with nostalgia for times of old when he and Elpis would have remained by my side. But the world is a different one now. There is only one thing I can ask of him.Do not stray too far, old friend.

Of course not, Dragon Whisperer.He dips his head in my direction, then again, deeper, for Ophelia—the most profound sign of respect from a dragon. With a final shake of his scales, he takes flight, his vast wings stretching out and blocking what little remains of the sunlight, leaving Ophelia and me in his shadow.

“It still astounds me that people can’t see him,” she says.

“Can you imagine the ensuing chaos if they could?” I cup her chin and give her a gentle kiss before turning in the direction of our house. “So, tell me what culinary delights Malachi and Osiris have cooked up for supper this evening, then.”

“Well, Osiris said to tell you he’s reserved you his juiciest Kobe filet and that he will merely introduce it to the heat of a skillet before serving.”

I growl my appreciation. A good, very rare steak is one of the few human foods I enjoy.

“He also said he won’t bother with any of the trimmings because they’d be wasted on your caveman palate.” She holds her hand to her mouth and giggles, and the sound is music to my ears. My beautiful, gentle elementai. No longer the Chosen One or the world’s redemption—simply my chosen one and the redeemer of my soul.

Chapter

Sixty-Seven

MALACHI

CHRISTMAS EVE

“Just look at it though. It’s all so shiny!” Ophelia squeals with delight, clapping her hands together. Her beautiful face is illuminated by the colored lights of the Christmas tree as they twinkle in the otherwise unlit room. We remodeled the house after the “incident,” and the professor’s quarters, with the exception of his study, have been combined with the main house to make one huge open-plan living area. All of which has been decorated with garlands and wreaths and colorful Christmas ornaments. I don’t believe there’s a square inch that has not been bedazzled by Christmas. Even Alexandros’s old leather chair has been adorned with a Santa cushion. He’s sitting on it now, reading his newspaper. At least he’s pretending to, but his eyes keep drifting to the excitable bundle of elementai in the middle of the room.

There must be a hundred wrapped gifts stowed underneath the tree, adorned in a variety of shimmering red, gold, and green wrapping paper. I’d bet at least half of them are for her. We all decided to spoil our girl for the first Christmas we’re celebratingtogether, especially given how we spent our last one. I can’t wait to see her face when she opens her presents. There’s nothing overly extravagant, but I can still imagine her face lighting up with each book, plushie, and unicorn-themed anything she opens.

Xavier wraps his arms around her waist and presses his lips against her neck. “You’re shiny, Cupcake.”

Dressed in sparkly green pajamas that make her look like an elf, she is fucking adorable, and I could eat her on the spot. A sentiment Axl, Xavier, and Alexandros all share in my head.

“You like my Christmas jammies?” she asks, giggling.

He snaps the waistband of her pants. “Yeah, I do. Gonna fuck my little elf soon.”

“Am I to understand there are equally green and sparkly affairs upstairs that you’d like for us to wear?” I ask her.

“Nope.” Xavier shakes his head. “Not being caught dead in no elf pajamas.”

“Not dressing like an elf for anyone, princess. Not even you.” Axl winks at her, while Alexandros remains conspicuously silent.

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