Page 41 of Shadowkissed

I close the distance, towering over her, not threatening—justsure.

“But if I have to choose between walking away or fighting for you—withyou—I’ll bleed for you a thousand times over.”

Her breath stutters.

“You don’t get to protect me from this, Liora. You’re not a monster. You’re not cursed. You’re not some weapon with no control. You’re you. And Ichooseyou with every part of me. Nothing has been so clear as this is.”

She blinks fast like she’s trying to hold something in—but her lip trembles just enough that I know she’s losing the fight.

Still, she shakes her head.

“You’re not supposed to love me,” she whispers.

“Says who?”

“Everyone.”

I soften, finally closing the space between us. My hands come up to her face—gentle, steady. I cradle her like she’s made of starfire, like she’s holy.

“Screw everyone, because I do. I love you. I know this is real and this is more than just a calling. You’re it for me.”

She closes her eyes. One tear escapes. Just one.

“You deserve something good,” she says.

“You’re good.”

“I’m dangerous.”

“So am I.”

Her eyes open, glowing faintly violet in the low light. That magic of hers is coiled under her skin again, like it’s listening.

“I’ve been running so long,” she whispers.

“Then stop. Don’t leave again,” I say, my voice rough, the words like gravel scraping out of my throat. “Don’t run. If you need to fight, we fight. If you need to fall apart, I’ll hold you together.”

She doesn’t move.

Doesn’t speak.

Justlooksat me.

And then she turns. Walks two steps toward the door. And I feel my chest split open. But she doesn’t leave. She stops.

She spins on her heel and I see her tear streaked ethereal face. Liora crashes into me letting her trust and hope pour out unguarded, probably for the first time in her life.

Her arms wrap around my neck, her mouth on mine before I can even breathe. It’s desperate, it’s messy, it’severything.Her fingers twist in my shirt like she’s afraid I’ll vanish if she lets go.

I don’t. I never will.

I catch her around the waist, lifting her off the ground as her kiss deepens, hungry and raw and real. Her shadows wrap around us like they’re claiming me too.

And maybe they are. Let them. Because this isn’t a bond I’m running from. This is avow.And I’m not breaking it.

Not for anything.

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