Page 42 of Raising the Sun

I threaded my fingers through Ash’s hair and dragged him in for a kiss, moaning as his tongue grazed mine. It was filthy and deep, and when we eventually parted, his eyelashes fluttered dazedly.

“What was that for?”

I shrugged. “Just realised something important.”

“Pray tell.”

“I’m not a failure,” I said with conviction, my chest swelling with pride. It felt good to say out loud, like the restraints I’d worn for years finally snapped, freeing me. “I am good enough, and I… actually believe I can do this.”

Ash stared as if seeing me for the first time, assessing, before a slow grin curved his lips. Without warning, he rolled on top of me, wildfire in his eyes. “About damned time. I was beginning to wonder if I’d been tied to a hopeless cause.”

I laughed softly, curling my hands over his hips as he straddled me. “Sorry to disappoint,” I said, and there was thatsmile lighting up his face again. Not a smirk, but something more genuine that had me convinced I’d never be able to ignore my feelings.

And I didn’t want to.

“I’ve told you before…” he said, bending down until our mouths were barely a few inches apart. “You could never disappoint me, my darling.”

Chapter ten

AMADEUS

The tether was broken.

I was free to leave now that my little petal had, at long last, recognised his merit.

The fact that it hadn’t taken a lifetime should have thrilled me. I could return to my realm, could go back to decadence and immorality. But while there was a pang of mourning in my chest for the loss of the familiarities of my manor, as I stared down at the pretty creature’s sleeping form, recalling his beaming smile as the spell had shattered, it occurred to me that I hadn’t the desire to. I’d persisted this far, and it seemed a waste to leave before the contest.

Or before he’d even grown sick of me.

Despite its many flaws, I’d become used to the human realm, and it would have been terribly moronic of me to spoil our routine now, especially when there was so much left to discover about the charming florist who’d managed to worm his way into my good graces. It had been unintentional, theaffection I’d developed for Isaac over the last two months—a gradual affair, but no less true. I felt a kinship with him that was more than a need to use him for entertainment. In fact, the very thought of using him for anything he wasn’t willingly begging for had me ready to tear out my own throat.

A wild response to admit in itself, but it was my reflex reaction, nonetheless.

To be clear, I wasn’t the type for domestication. I still craved depravity and chaos, not corniness and mush, but my human saw that and didn’t shun me for it. He was tolerant of my whims and fancies, was fascinated with knowing more, and feeding off that curiosity was an addiction all on its own. I enjoyed his company, even found myself seeking out his presence more and more, not only for sex, but conversation.

Just…him.

At first, I’d suspected it was all the hidden workings of the spell, the bond in my chest making me unnaturally dependent, but I wasn’t so sure anymore. Yes, the effects of the summoning had prevented me from leaving as I typically would after having my fun, but had the situation been intolerable, without hesitation, I would’ve seen to it that the human fell into permanent sleep sooner than nature intended. I had no qualms about murder, particularly when it involved my freedom—or lack thereof—but I’d made the conscious decision to keep him alive. What was that if not my own inclination?

Fascination, eagerness, and pride had all led to the sudden rush of caring. His brashness at our meeting had halted any rash actions, my desire to ruin him had held my attention, and watching him bloom under my guidance had opened my eyes. Before I’d fully grasped it, I couldn’t backtrack as I was already fond of him.Genuinefondness. Not the type I felt for killing or torture, but the type that had me yearning for reciprocation.

I should have paused to assess the development sooner, but it had progressed so steadily that I’d realised it too late.

That magician had bound us together knowing we were the solution to the other’s needs. His intentions—I reluctantly admitted—appeared not to have been as nefarious as I’d suspected. He had brought me here not only for the purpose of fulfilling the human’s wishes, but also my own. The emptiness I’d felt was not caused by the inane repetition of my life, but rather the lack of someone to share it with.

It had been unthinkable. The possibility that the void in my soul was longing for a companion had never once crossed my mind, yet all it took was an oversight on the human’s part, a little tolerance on mine, and everything had clicked.

I’d never known love or tenderness, and it seemed absurd to mourn that which I had no experience of, but it couldn’t be denied that in such a short span of time, I already felt fuller, morewhole, than I ever had before. The fact that no one had even attempted to figure out my whereabouts was telling. Not that any of them would have needed to enter the human realm for it, but a siege and rescue would have been nice.

My father doubtless already knew my fate and had decided it wasn’t worth the effort to bring me back. He had spares, after all. I’d made my peace with that and expected no more. It worked in my favour, meant I was able to carve out my own place in the universe, and was freer to make my own choices.

Whatever those might be.

Isaac mumbled in his sleep, instinctively shuffling closer and smiling once he felt my warmth. I combed my fingers through his blond curls, an ache welling in my chest at his sweet little sigh.

I laughed faintly.

Him. He was my choice. The fates had been perfectly clear the moment they’d placed him in my path. I’d only needed a little longer to grasp it.

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