Page 42 of Taken to the Shadow Realm

I growled at Eros and sent her a glare before managing to somewhat control myself. “Thank you,” I spat. “You may go.”

Eros opened her mouth to say something, but Oros grabbed her and gave me a wave before they disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

When they were finally gone, I finally allowed my claws to run through Iris’s hair, soothing her. I had never been so terrified to lose something. Never once had my heart twisted so painfully in my chest that I feared it would break.

I was a mess. Unable to think. Unable to breathe. And knowing that it was my fault made it even worse.

I could have prevented this. I could have stayed with her, kept her safe and wrapped in the comfort of my shadows… but I allowed revenge to get the better of me. And almost messed it all up.

“I knew she was wrong,” she said, looking up at me with tears still falling down her face. “I knew you wouldn’t have done that.”

“It was my fault,” I replied as I wiped her tears from her cheeks. “I should have been more careful. I never thought she would here and?—”

She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and pressed her lips to mine, silencing me.

I couldn’t help but melt into her. Needed to feel her against me. Needing reassurance that she was still here. Knowing I needed her with me, but also knowing that, with her being an empath, she would always be coveted by others. And I wouldn’t be able to bear this happening again. I needed to know she was safe.

With that nagging feeling in my chest weighing me down, I had to pull myself away from her.

“Iris,” I whispered, placing my forehead against hers. “I need to let you go.”

Iris

Just when I thought my heart couldn’t break any further, she dropped those words.

Her face looked pained as she said them, her black aura somehow going even darker. Pitch black.

She didn’t want to let me go. I could feel it.

How dare she?

“The fuck you are,” I growled and stepped away from her, my tears no longer falling. “You think I’m gonna let us go through that and have you just throw me away like trash? What is it? Are you done playing with your toy?”

Surprised and hurt flitted across her face.

“I never thought of you as trash,” she said, offense obvious in her tone. “I have never felt such pain in my existence as when you were taken from me. Never such fear as when I tried to bargain to get you back and was denied. My soul aches for you. You, Iris, will never be trash to me. I will never be done with you.”

Her words caused heat to expand in my chest.

“Then why would you even think about letting me go?” I asked, my voice cracking.

Her shadows stretched out around her, and her face took on a contemplative expression.

“It is not safe for you here,” she explained. “Demons will come for you. They will try to eat you. You think this was the end of it? If you stay here, all you’re signing up for is danger.”

I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face.

“Stupid demon,” I said and reached out, bringing her back to me for a quick kiss. “I’m staying because I love you. Because I never want to be apart from you. Getting taken from you was my worst nightmare, and when I was there, all I could think about was you.”

“Love?” she whispered, a light blush running up her neck and spreading across her face.

How fucking cute.

I slapped my hand across her chest playfully.

“What else do you think this is?” I asked with a laugh. “I may have been purchased to be your companion, but we are the real deal now. And you are not getting rid of me that easily.”

Her face hardened.

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